2019 Edition

Background

A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 19.1% in 2018.

Area

Land

410,335 sq km

Total

450,295 sq km

Water

39,960 sq km

Area Comparative

almost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California

Climate

temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Coastline

3,218 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Lowest Point

reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m

Mean Elevation

320 m

Environment Current Issues

marine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soils and lakes; air pollution; inappropriate timber harvesting practices

Environment International Agreements

Party To

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed But Not Ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic Coordinates

62 00 N, 15 00 E

Geography Note

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; Sweden has almost 100,000 lakes, the largest of which, Vanern, is the third largest in Europe

Irrigated Land

1,640 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Finland 545 km, Norway 1666 km

Total

2,211 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

7.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

6.4% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

1.1% (2011 est.)

Forest

68.7% (2011 est.)

Other

23.8% (2011 est.)

Location

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

Continental Shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Exclusive Economic Zone

agreed boundaries or midlines

Territorial Sea

12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)

Natural Hazards

ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Natural Resources

iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower

Population Distribution

most Swedes live in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found all along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated

Terrain

mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Age Structure

0 14 Years

17.54% (male 904,957 /female 855,946)

15 24 Years

11.06% (male 573,595 /female 537,358)

25 54 Years

39.37% (male 2,005,422 /female 1,947,245)

55 64 Years

11.67% (male 588,314 /female 583,002)

65 Years And Over

20.37% (male 946,170 /female 1,098,986) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

12.1 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

10.9% (2016)

Death Rate

9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

31.1 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

3.2 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

58.5 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

27.4 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

100% of population

Improved Total

100% of population

Improved Urban

100% of population

Unimproved Rural

0% of population

Unimproved Total

0% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population

Education Expenditures

7.7% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

Swedish 80.9%, Syrian 1.8%, Finnish 1.4%, Iraqi 1.4%, other 14.5% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.2% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2016 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

2.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

2.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

2.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Swedish (official)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

84.3 years

Male

80.3 years

Total Population

82.2 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

1.608 million STOCKHOLM (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

42.2 years

Male

40.1 years

Total

41.1 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

29.1 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Swedish

Noun

Swede(s)

Net Migration Rate

5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

20.6% (2016)

Physicians Density

5.4 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

10,040,995 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.8% (2018 est.)

Religions

Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 60.2%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.5%, none or unspecified 31.3% (2017 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

99.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

99.3% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

99.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

0.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0.7% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

20 years (2016)

Male

18 years

Total

19 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.06 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.07 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.03 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.86 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

1 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.87 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

17% (2017 est.)

Male

18.8%

Total

17.9%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.05% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

87.7% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland

Capital

Daylight Saving Time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Geographic Coordinates

59 20 N, 18 03 E

Name

Stockholm

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship By Birth

no

Citizenship By Descent Only

the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown

Dual Citizenship Recognized

no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily

Residency Requirement For Naturalization

5 years

Constitution

Amendments

proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; amended several times, last in 2014 (changes to the "Instrument of Government") (2016)

History

several previous; latest adopted 1 January 1975

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Kingdom of Sweden

Conventional Short Form

Sweden

Etymology

name ultimately derives from the North Germanic Svear tribe, which inhabited central Sweden and is first mentioned in the first centuries A.D.

Local Long Form

Konungariket Sverige

Local Short Form

Sverige

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Pamela TREMONT (since April 2019)

Embassy

Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm

Fax

[46] (08) 661 19 64

Mailing Address

American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750

Telephone

[46] (08) 783 53 00

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

Chancery

The House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Karin Ulrika OLOFSDOTTER (since 17 September 2017)

Consulate's General

New York, San Francisco

Fax

[1] (202) 536-1501

Telephone

[1] (202) 536-1500

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

Chief Of State

King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree (daughter of the monarch, born 14 July 1977)

Elections Appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister

Head Of Government

Prime Minister Stefan LOFVEN (since 3 October 2014); Deputy Prime Minister Isabella LOVIN (since 25 May 2016); note - Prime Minister Stefan LOFVEN was ousted in a no-confidence vote on 25 September 2018 and headed a caretaker government until the next government was formed; LOFVEN was reelected as Prime Minister and took office on 21 January 2019

Flag Description

blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors reflect those of the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field

Government Type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Independence

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president)

Judge Selection And Term Of Office

Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the Government; following a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent

Subordinate Courts

first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents

Legal System

civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; 310 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote and 39 members in "at-large" seats directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - SAP 28.3%, M 19.8%, SD 17.5%, C 8.6%, V 8%, KD 6.3%, L 5.5%, MP 4.4%, other 1.6%; seats by party - SAP 100, M 70, SD 62, C 31, V 28, KD 22, L 20, MP 16; composition - men 188, women 161, percent of women 46.1%

Elections

last held on 9 September 2018 (next to be held in 2022)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Richard DYBECK/traditional

Name

"Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)

National Holiday

National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day

National Symbol S

three crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow

Political Parties And Leaders

Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C [Annie LOOF] Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD [Ebba Busch THOR] Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP [Isabella LOVIN and Per BOLUND] Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V [Jonas SJOSTEDT] Liberal Party (Liberalerna) or L [Jan BJORKLUND] Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M [Ulf KRISTERSSON] Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or SAP [Stefan LOFVEN] Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD [Jimmie AKESSON]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk

Budget

Expenditures

264.4 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

271.2 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2016

-0.5%

31 December 2017

-0.5%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

2%

31 December 2017

1.93%

Current Account Balance

2016

$21.84 billion

2017

$17.79 billion

Debt External

31 March 2015

$929.4 billion

31 March 2016

$939.9 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

1992

25

2013

24.9

Economy Overview

Sweden’s small, open, and competitive economy has been thriving and Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. Sweden remains outside the euro zone largely out of concern that joining the European Economic and Monetary Union would diminish the country’s sovereignty over its welfare system. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of a manufacturing economy that relies heavily on foreign trade. Exports, including engines and other machines, motor vehicles, and telecommunications equipment, account for more than 44% of GDP. Sweden enjoys a current account surplus of about 5% of GDP, which is one of the highest margins in Europe. GDP grew an estimated 3.3% in 2016 and 2017 driven largely by investment in the construction sector. Swedish economists expect economic growth to ease slightly in the coming years as this investment subsides. Global economic growth boosted exports of Swedish manufactures further, helping drive domestic economic growth in 2017. The Central Bank is keeping an eye on deflationary pressures and bank observers expect it to maintain an expansionary monetary policy in 2018. Swedish prices and wages have grown only slightly over the past few years, helping to support the country’s competitiveness. In the short and medium term, Sweden’s economic challenges include providing affordable housing and successfully integrating migrants into the labor market.

Exchange Rates

2013

6.8612

2014

8.4335

2015

8.5605

2016

8.5605

2017

8.442

Currency

Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$151.4 billion

2017

$165.6 billion

Exports Commodities

machinery (26%), motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals (2016 est.)

Exports Partners

Germany 11%, Norway 10.2%, Finland 6.9%, US 6.9%, Denmark 6.9%, UK 6.2%, Netherlands 5.5%, China 4.5%, Belgium 4.4%, France 4.2% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

45.3% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

26% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

44.1% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-41.1% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

24.9% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.8% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

1.6% (2017 est.)

Industry

33% (2017 est.)

Services

65.4% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$535.6 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$50,100

2016

$50,800

2017

$51,200

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$494 billion

2016

$507.3 billion

2017

$518 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

4.5%

2016

2.7%

2017

2.1%

Gross National Saving

2015

28.8% of GDP

2016

28.8% of GDP

2017

28.9% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

24% (2012)

Lowest 10

3.4%

Imports

2016

$140.2 billion

2017

$153.2 billion

Imports Commodities

machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports Partners

Germany 18.7%, Netherlands 8.9%, Norway 7.7%, Denmark 7.2%, China 5.5%, UK 5.1%, Finland 4.7%, Belgium 4.7% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

4.1% (2017 est.)

Industries

iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

1.1%

2017

1.9%

Labor Force

5.361 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

2%

Industry

12%

Services

86% (2014 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2010

$581.2 billion

31 December 2011

$470.1 billion

31 December 2012

$560.5 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

15% (2014 est.)

Public Debt

2016

42.3% of GDP

2017

40.8% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$59.39 billion

31 December 2017

$62.22 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$273.9 billion

31 December 2017

$329.2 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$479.3 billion

31 December 2017

$523.5 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$390.5 billion

31 December 2017

$458.2 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$749.6 billion

31 December 2017

$929.1 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$273.9 billion

31 December 2017

$329.2 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

50.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

7%

2017

6.7%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

52.31 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

14,570 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

400,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

133.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

26.02 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

5% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

22% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

32% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

14.29 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

40.29 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

152.9 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

764.5 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

764.5 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

323,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

371,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

229,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

413,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

38 (2017 est.)

Total

3,735,884

Broadcast Media

publicly owned TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately owned TV broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50 local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; roughly 100 privately owned local radio stations with some consolidating into near national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently

Internet Country Code

.se

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

91.5% (July 2016 est.)

Total

9,041,427

Telephone System

Domestic

fixed-line 28 per 100 and mobile-cellular 125 per 100; coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels (2018)

General Assessment

highly developed telecommunications infrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line, mobile-cellular, Internet, and broadband penetration; best developed LTE infrastructures in the region; first in the world to deliver 5G services (2018)

International

country code - 46; landing points for Botina, SFL, SFS-4, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, Eastern Light, Sweden-Latvia, BCS North-Phase1, EE-S1, LV-SE1, BCS East-West Interlink, NordBalt, Baltica, Denmark-Sweden-15,-17,-18, Scandinavian Ring -North,-South, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Donica North, Kattegate-1,-2, Energinet Laeso-Varberg and GC2 submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

28 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

2,794,418

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

125 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

12,435,709

Airports

231 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

75 (2013)

2 438 To 3 047 M

12 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

22 (2013)

Over 3 047 M

3 (2013)

Total

149 (2013)

Under 914 M

37 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

5 (2013)

Total

82 (2013)

Under 914 M

77 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

SE (2016)

Heliports

2 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 66, oil tanker 22, other 271 (2018)

Total

359

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

0 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

11,623,930 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

219 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

8 (2015)

Pipelines

1626 km gas (2013)

Ports And Terminals

Lng Terminal's Import

Brunnsviksholme, Lysekil

Major Seaport S

Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby

Railways

Narrow Gauge

65 km 0.891-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2016)

Standard Gauge

14,062 km 1.435-m gauge (12,322 km electrified) (2016)

Total

14,127 km (2016)

Roadways

Paved

140,100 km (2016)

Total

573,134 km (includes 2,050 km of expressways) (2016)

Unpaved

433,034 km (2016)

Waterways

2,052 km (2010)

Military And Security Forces

Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

1.14% of GDP

2015

1.08% of GDP

2016

1.06% of GDP

2017

1.03% of GDP

2018

1.04% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; compulsory military service, abolished in 2010, was reinstated in January 2018; conscription is selective, includes both female and male (age 18), and requires 9-12 months of service (2018)

Disputes International

none

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees Country Of Origin

109,343 (Syria), 27,653 (Eritrea), 28,204 (Afghanistan), 21,032 (Somalia), 12,693 (Iraq), 6,485 (Iran) (2018)

Stateless Persons

31,819 (2018); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia