2022 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 20% in 2021.  

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 South 2,100 m

lowest point

reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m

mean elevation

320 m

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

519 sq km (2013)

Land boundaries

border countries

Finland 545 km; Norway 1,666 km

total

2,211 km

Land use

agricultural land

7.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1.1% (2018 est.)

forest

68.7% (2018 est.)

other

23.8% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Malaren - 1,140 sq km

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

17.71% (male 928,413/female 878,028)

15-24 years

10.8% (male 569,082/female 532,492)

25-54 years

39.01% (male 2,016,991/female 1,962,617)

55-64 years

11.9% (male 610,521/female 603,795)

65 years and over

20.59% (male 974,410/female 1,126,142) (2020 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

2.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

10.83 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

70.3% (2017)

note

note: percent of women aged 16-49

Current health expenditure

10.9% of GDP (2019)

Death rate

9.46 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

32.3

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

60.8

youth dependency ratio

28.5

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 99.7% of population

improved: total

total: 99.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.2% of population

Education expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Swedish 80.3%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.4%, other 15% (2020 est.)

note

note: data represent the population by country of birth; the indigenous Sami people are estimated to number between 20,000 and 40,000

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

male

2.52 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

Swedish (official)

major-language sample(s)

The World Factbook, den obestridliga källan för grundläggande information. (Swedish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note

note: Finnish, Sami, Romani, Yiddish, and Meankieli are official minority languages

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.58 years (2022 est.)

male

80.94 years

total population

82.7 years

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

1.700 million STOCKHOLM (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

42.1 years (2020 est.)

male

40.1 years

total

41.1 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.7 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Swedish

noun

Swede(s)

Net migration rate

3.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)

Physicians density

7.09 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

10,483,647 (2022 est.)

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

Population growth rate

0.5% (2022 est.)

Religions

Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 57.6%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 33.5% (2019 est.)

note

note: estimates reflect registered members of faith communities eligible for state funding (not all religions are state-funded and not all people who identify with a particular religion are registered members) and the Church of Sweden

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

21 years (2020)

male

18 years

total

20 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.69 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Tobacco use

female

18.2% (2020 est.)

male

29.8% (2020 est.)

total

24% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.67 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.7% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

24.1% (2021 est.)

male

25.3%

total

24.8%

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

etymology

stock and holm literally mean "log" and "islet" in Swedish, but there is no consensus as to what the words refer to

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; The Instrument of Government - amended several times, last in 2018; The Act of Succession - changed in 1937, 1980; The Freedom of the Press Act - amended several times, last in 2019; The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression - amended several times, last in 2018

history

Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991)

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 Erik D. RAMANATHAN (since 20 January 2022)

email address and website

STKACSinfo@state.govhttps://se.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm

FAX

[46] (08) 661-19-64

mailing address

5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC  20521-5750

telephone

[46] (08) 783-53-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Karin Ulrika OLOFSDOTTER (since 8 September 2017)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

ambassaden.washington@gov.sehttps://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/

FAX

[1] (202) 467-2699

telephone

[1] (202) 467-2600

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 Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022); Deputy Prime Minister Ebba BUSCH (since 18 October 2022)

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), UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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 open party-list proportional representation vote and 39 members in "at-large" seats directly elected by open party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - S/SAP 30.3%, M 19.1%, SD 20.5%, C 6.7%, V 6.7%, KD 5.3%, L 4.6%, MP 5.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - S/SAP 107, M 68, SD 73, C 24, V 24, KD 19, L 16, MP 18; composition as of mid-2022 - men 188, women 161, percent of women 46%

elections

last held on 11 September 2022

National anthem

lyrics/music

Richard DYBECK/traditional

name

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

note

note: in use since 1844; also known as "Sang till Norden" (Song of the North), is based on a Swedish folk tune; it has never been officially adopted by the government; "Kungssangen" (The King's Song) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c); Laponian Area (m); High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n); Birka and Hovgården (c); Hanseatic Town of Visby (c); Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (c); Naval Port of Karlskrona (c); Rock Carvings in Tanum (c); Engelsberg Ironworks (c); Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c)

total World Heritage Sites

15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)

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 resigned on 15 September 2022]Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD [Ebba BUSCH]Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP [Marta STEVENI and Per BOLUND]Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V [Nooshi DADGOSTAR]Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M [Ulf KRISTERSSON]Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD [Jimmie AKESSON]Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or S/SAP [Magdalena ANDERSSON]The Liberals (Liberalerna) or L [Johan PEHRSON]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

wheat, milk, sugar beet, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, rye, triticale

Budget

expenditures

264.4 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

271.2 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

AAA (2004)

Moody's rating

Aaa (2002)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AAA (2004)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

$13.902 billion (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

$22.339 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$1,012,171,000,000 (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$911.317 billion (2019 est.)

Economic 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

Currency

Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

6.8612 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

8.4335 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

9.01895 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

9.52915 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

8.49085 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$254.25 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2019

$254.53 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$240.08 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, lumber (2019)

Exports - partners

Germany 10%, Norway 9%, United States 8%, Denmark 7%, Finland 6%, United Kingdom 5%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2019)

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)

$531.35 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1992

25 (1992)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

28.8 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24% (2012)

lowest 10%

3.4%

Imports

Imports 2018

$241.53 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2019

$232.81 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$217.68 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers (2019)

Imports - partners

Germany 18%, Netherlands 9%, Denmark 7%, Norway 7%, China 6%, Finland 5%, Belgium 5%, Poland 5% (2019)

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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.7% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

1.9% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

1.7% (2019 est.)

Labor force

5.029 million (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2%

industry

12%

services

86% (2014 est.)

Population below poverty line

17.1% (2018 est.)

Public debt

note

note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Public debt 2016

42.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

40.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$532.67 billion (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$539.96 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$524.75 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

2.82% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

2.06% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

1.29% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$52,300 (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$52,500 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$50,700 (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$59.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$62.22 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

50.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2018

6.33% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate 2019

6.78% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

24.1% (2021 est.)

male

25.3%

total

24.8%

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

7.38 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

2.359 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

38.406 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

48.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

3.328 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

24,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

2.144 million metric tons (2020 est.)

production

1.07 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

1 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

124.609 billion kWh (2020 est.)

exports

36.824 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

11.827 billion kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

43.499 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

10.434 billion kWh (2020 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

6.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

44.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

29.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

17.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

210.882 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

1,275,785,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports

34.886 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

imports

1,310,671,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

403,200 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

295,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

10,600 bbl/day (2021 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

41 (2020 est.)

total

4,179,574 (2020 est.)

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

95% (2020 est.)

total

9,835,769 (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line just over 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 128 per 100; coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels (2020)

general assessment

Sweden’s telecom market includes mature mobile and broadband sectors which have been stimulated by the progressive investment of the main telcos in developing new technologies; the country retains one of the best developed LTE infrastructures in the region, while its MNOs have benefited from the January 2021 auction of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band which will enable them to expand services nationally; the country also has one of the highest fiber broadband penetration rates in Europe; the focus of FttP is aimed at fulfilling the government’s target of providing a 1Gb/s service to 98% of the population by 2025; the methodology to achieve this has rested on regulatory measures supported by public funds, as well as on the auction of spectrum in different bands; in the fixed-line broadband segment, the number of DSL subscribers is falling steadily as customers continue to migrate to fiber networks; there is also competition from HFC infrastructure, offering fiber-based broadband and investing in services based on the DOCSIS3.1 standard; this report assesses key aspects of the Swedish telecom market, providing data on fixed network services and profiling the main players; it also reviews the key regulatory issues, including interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability, carrier preselection and NGN open access; the report also analyses the mobile market, providing data on network operators and their strategies in a highly competitive environment; in addition, the report considers the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband markets, including analyses of market dynamics and the main operators, as well as providing subscriber forecasts (2021)

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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

1,478,610 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

128.49 (2019)

total subscriptions

12,895,900 (2019)

Airports

total

231 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

75

2,438 to 3,047 m

12

914 to 1,523 m

22

over 3,047 m

3

total

149

under 914 m

37 (2021)

Airports - with unpaved runways

914 to 1,523 m

5

total

82

under 914 m

77 (2021)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

SE

Heliports

2 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 49, oil tanker 22, other 299 (2021)

total

370

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

316

number of registered air carriers

11 (2020)

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

standard gauge

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

total

14,127 km (2016)

Roadways

note

note: includes 98,500 km of state roads, 433,034 km of private roads, and 41,600 km of municipal roads

paved

140,100 km (2016)

total

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

unpaved

433,034 km (2016)

Transportation - note

Sweden operates four PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreakers in the Baltic Seanote - PC indicates a Polar Class vessel: PC 3 - year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 2.5 m); PC 4 - year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 120 cm)

Waterways

2,052 km (2010)

Military - note

Sweden maintains a policy of military non-alignment, but cooperates with NATO and regional countries; it joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and has contributed to NATO-led missions, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo; Sweden applied for NATO membership in May 2022the Swedish military cooperates closely with the military forces of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and contributes to CSDP missions and operations (2022)

Military and security forces

Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (2022)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 15,000 continuous service/full-time troops (7,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force; 2,000 other, including staff, logistics, support, medical, cyber, intelligence, etc); approximately 21,000 Home Guard; approximately 12,000 temporary service personnel (2022)

note

note: Swedish Armed Forces' (SAF) personnel are divided into continuously serving (full-time) and temporary service troops (part-timers who serve periodically and have another main employer or attend school); additional personnel have signed service agreements with the SAF and mostly serve in the Home Guard; the SAF also has about 9,000 civilian employees

Military deployments

approximately 200 Mali (MINUSMA) (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the inventory of the SAF is comprised of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of military hardware to Sweden; Sweden's defense industry produces a range of air, land, and naval systems (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2017

1% of GDP (2017) (approximately $6.04 billion)

Military Expenditures 2018

1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $6.26 billion)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $6.78 billion)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

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 men and women (age 18), and requires 9-12 months of service (2022)

note

note 1: Sweden conscripts about 5,500 men and women each yearnote 2: as of 2021, women made up about 11% of the military's full-time personnel

Disputes - international

none identified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

114,995 (Syria), 28,744 (Afghanistan), 26,911 (Eritrea), 11,574 (Somalia), 11,153 (Iraq), 7,516 (Iran) (2020); 49,789 (Ukraine) (as of 20 December 2022)

stateless persons

50,098 (mid-year 2021); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

43.25 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

4.42 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

5.89 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

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-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

7.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 1.1% (2018 est.)

forest

68.7% (2018 est.)

other

23.8% (2018 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Malaren - 1,140 sq km

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.21% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

174 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

75 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

1.345 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

955 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.7% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

4.377 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

1,416,835 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

32.4% (2015 est.)