Sweden Travel Guide - Facts on Sweden

History		Top of Page
	A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system combined with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment, rising maintenance costs, and a declining position in world markets. Indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EU until 1995. Sweden's voters declined to enter the European Economic Union (EEC) and waived the introduction of the euro in 2003. The Swedish Krona remains the official currency.
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic Coordinates	62 00 N, 15 00 E
Area	Total: 449,964 sq km Water: 39,030 sq km Land: 410,934 sq km
Area - Comparative	Slightly larger than California
Land Boundaries	Total: 2,205 km Border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline	3,218 km
Climate	Temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain	Mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation Extremes	Lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m Highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural Resources	Zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower
Geography Note	Strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
Natural hazards	Ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
People		Top of Page
Population	9,016,596 (July 2006 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 16.7% (male 775,433/female 732,773) 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,001,928/female 2,918,242) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 689,756/female 898,464) (2006 est.)
Nationality	Noun: Swede(s) Adjective: Swedish
Ethnic Groups	Indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions	Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist
Language	Swedish Note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden Conventional short form: Sweden Local short form: Sverige Local long form: Konungariket Sverige
Government Type	Constitutional monarchy
Capital	Stockholm
Administrative Divisions	21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas, Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens, Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands
Independence	16 June 1523 (Gustav Vasa elected king)
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)
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole of the 20th century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and of jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal discipline resulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cut by more than half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown, declining revenue, and increased spending. The Swedish central bank (the Riksbank) focuses on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003, but picked up in 2004 and 2005. Presumably because of generous sick-leave benefits, Swedish workers report in sick more often than other Europeans. In September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system, concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.
Currency	Swedish krona
Currency Code	SEK
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	General assessment: excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system
Internet Country Code	.se
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	total: 11,481 km standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (9,400 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways	total: 424,981 km paved: 132,339 km (including 1,544 km of expressways) unpaved: 292,642 km (2003)
Waterways	2,052 km Note: navigable to small steamers and barges
Ports and Harbors	Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
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	Sweden Travel Guide: Facts on Sweden
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Facts on Sweden