ARCHIVE // SE // 1995
Sweden
1995 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadcast media
(Radio)
[time series]
broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0 radios: 7 million
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
8,200,000 telephones; excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system local: NA intercity: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic; parallel microwave network carries TV, radio, and some additional telephone channels international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 EUTELSAT earth station
Broadcast media
(Television)
[time series]
broadcast stations: 880 (mostly repeaters) televisions: 3.5 million
Defense Forces
Military and security forces
(Branches)
[time series]
Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
Military expenditures
(Defense expenditures)
[time series]
exchange rate conversion - $5.4 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY94/95) SWITZERLAND
Manpower availability
[time series]
males age 15-49 2,133,420; males fit for military service 1,864,258; males reach military age (19) annually 52,937 (1995 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture)
[time series]
animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes; Sweden is about 50% self-sufficient in most products
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $47.9 billion expenditures: $70.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93/94)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere
Economic aid
[time series]
donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion
Electricity
[time series]
capacity: 34,560,000 kW production: 141 billion kWh consumption per capita: 14,891 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
[time series]
Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 7.4675 (January 1995), 7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188 (1990)
Exports
[time series]
$59.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products partners: EC 55.8% (Germany 15%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.2%, France 5.8%), EFTA 17.4% (Norway 8.4%, Finland 5.1%), US 8.2%, Central and Eastern Europe 2.5% (1992)
Debt - external
(External debt)
[time series]
$NA
Fiscal year
[time series]
1 July - 30 June
Illicit drugs
[time series]
transshipment point for narcotics shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market
Imports
[time series]
$49.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EC 53.6% (Germany 17.9%, UK 6.3%, Denmark 7.5%, France 4.9%), EFTA (Norway 6.6%, Finland 6%), US 8.4%, Central and Eastern Europe 3% (1992)
Industrial production growth rate
(Industrial production)
[time series]
growth rate 9% (1994)
Industries
[time series]
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.5% (1994 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(National product)
[time series]
GDP - purchasing power parity - $163.1 billion (1994 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(National product per capita)
[time series]
$18,580 (1994 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(National product real growth rate)
[time series]
2.4% (1994 est.)
Economic overview
(Overview)
[time series]
Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, 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 that is 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. In 1990, agriculture accounted for only 1.2% of GDP and 1.9% of the jobs, Sweden being about 50% sufficient in most products. In the last few years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Although Prime Minister BILDT's center-right minority coalition had hoped to charge ahead with free-market-oriented reforms, a skyrocketing budget deficit - about 14% of GDP in FY93/94 projections - and record unemployment have forestalled many of the plans. Unemployment in 1994 is estimated at around 9% with another 5% in job training. Continued heavy foreign exchange speculation forced the government to cooperate in late 1992 with the opposition Social Democrats on two crisis packages - one a severe austerity pact and the other a program to spur industrial competitiveness - which basically set economic policy through 1997. In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU, and the krona has since depreciated about 25% against the dollar. The boost in export competitiveness from the depreciation helped lift Sweden out of its 3-year recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, the new Social Democratic government is proposing cuts in welfare benefits, subsidies, defense, and foreign aid. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995.
Unemployment rate
[time series]
8.8% (1994 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total area: 449,964 sq km land area: 410,928 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than California
Climate
[time series]
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Coastline
[time series]
3,218 km
Environment - current issues
(Environment)
[time series]
current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Disputes - international
(International disputes)
[time series]
none
Irrigated land
[time series]
1,120 sq km (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total 2,205 km, Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 64% other: 27%
Location
[time series]
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
[time series]
zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential
Note
[time series]
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
Terrain
[time series]
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
24 provinces (lan, singular and plural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
Capital
[time series]
Stockholm
Constitution
[time series]
1 January 1975
Digraph
[time series]
SW
Diplomatic representation in the US
(Diplomatic representation in US)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King (born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Ingvar CARLSSON (since 6 October 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mona SAHLIN (since 6 October 1994) cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[46] (8) 661 19 64
Flag
[time series]
blue with a yellow cross that extends 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)
Independence
[time series]
6 June 1809 (constitutional monarchy established)
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
Legal system
[time series]
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral
International organization participation
(Member of)
[time series]
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Country name
(Names)
[time series]
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige
National holiday
[time series]
Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Legislative branch
(Parliament (Riksdag))
[time series]
elections last held 18 September 1994 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - Social Democrats 45.4%, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals 7.2%, Left Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New Democracy Party 1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democrats 162, Moderate Party (Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22, Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New Democracy Party did not receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.8% of votes for a seat in parliament
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Social Democratic Party, Ingvar CARLSSON; Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's Party, Maria LEISSNER; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; Christian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; New Democracy Party, Vivianne FRANZEN; Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader but party spokesperson is Birger SHLAUG
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type
(Type)
[time series]
constitutional monarchy
Diplomatic representation from the US
(US diplomatic representation)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 19% (female 810,859; male 854,553) 15-64 years: 64% (female 2,761,060; male 2,856,012) 65 years and over: 17% (female 887,597; male 651,678) (July 1995 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
13.19 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
10.84 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Ethnic groups
(Ethnic divisions)
[time series]
white, Lapp (Sami), foreign born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
4.552 million (84% unionized,1992) by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)
Languages
[time series]
Swedish note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak native languages
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 78.43 years male: 75.64 years female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.) total population: 99%
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish
Net migration rate
[time series]
2.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Population
[time series]
8,821,759 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.46% (1995 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
total: 253 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 84 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 26 with paved runways under 914 m: 129 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 135,859 km paved: 97,818 km (including 936 km of expressways) unpaved: gravel 38,041 km (1991)
Waterways
(Inland waterways)
[time series]
2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 157 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,872,350 GRT/2,075,722 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 24, chemical tanker 25, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, oil tanker 31, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 37, short-sea passenger 8, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 12
Pipelines
[time series]
natural gas 84 km
Ports
[time series]
Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
Railways
(Railroads)
[time series]
total: 12,000 km (includes 953 km of privately owned railways) standard gauge: 10,742 km 1.435-m gauge (7,502 km electrified and 1,152 km double track); 8 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified; privately owned) narrow gauge: 61 km 0.891-m gauge (electrified; privately owned) other: 1,189 km NA-m gauge (1994)