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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

7.272 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay network carries some additional telephone channels international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; 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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

13 million (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

163 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

3.5 million

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk

Budget [time series]

revenues: $109.4 billion expenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$66.5 billion (1994)

Economic aid (Economic aid--donor) [time series]

ODA, $1.7 billion (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole twentieth 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 2% of the jobs. In recent years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by budgetary difficulties, inflation, high unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995. Sweden decided not to join the euro system at its outset in January 1999 but plans to hold a referendum in 2000 on whether to join. Annual GDP growth is forecast for 2.2% and 2.6% in 1999 and 2000 respectively. Budgetary problems and shaky business confidence will constrain government plans to reduce unemployment.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

141.392 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

9.7 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

15.9 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

135.192 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 9.75% hydro: 37.52% nuclear: 52.62% other: 0.11% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1--7.8193 (January 1999), 7.9499 (1998), 7.6349 (1997), 6.7060 (1996), 7.1333 (1995), 7.7160 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$85.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

EU 55% (Germany 11%, UK 9%, Denmark 6%, Finland 5%), Norway 8%, US 8% (1994)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$175 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 2.2% industry: 30.5% services: 67.3% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$19,700 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

2.9% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$66.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

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

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

EU 68% (Germany 19%, UK 10%, Denmark 8%, France 6%), Norway 8%, US 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.4% (1998)

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% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.552 million (1992)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9%, communications 7.2%, construction 7%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.3% plus about 5% in training programs (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 449,964 sq km land: 410,928 sq km water: 39,036 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger 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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

62 00 N, 15 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

Irrigated land [time series]

1,150 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 68% other: 24% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, 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 (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Stockholm

Constitution [time series]

1 January 1975

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr. embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Rolf EKEUS chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

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 monarch (born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister elected by the Parliament; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote--131 votes out of 349

Flag (Flag description) [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)

Government type [time series]

constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king); 6 June 1809 (constitutional monarchy was established)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges are appointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--Social Democrats 36.5%, Moderates 22.7%, Left Party 12%, Christian Democrats 11.8%, Center Party 5.1%, Liberal Party 4.7%, Greens 4.5%; seats by party--Social Democrats 131, Moderates 82, Left Party 43, Christian Democrats 42, Center Party 18, Liberal Party 17, Greens 16

National holiday [time series]

Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Social Democratic Party [Goran formal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Having long lost its military prowess of the 17th century, Sweden has evolved into a prosperous and peaceful constitutional monarchy with a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements. As the 20th century comes to an end, this long successful formula is being undermined by high unemployment; the rising cost of a "cradle to the grave" welfare state; the decline of Sweden's competitive position in world markets; and indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe. A member of the European Union, Sweden chose not to participate in the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$4.9 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2.2% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,076,903 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,817,554 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 52,486 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 19% (male 856,819; female 812,958) 15-64 years: 64% (male 2,896,383; female 2,802,571) 65 years and over: 17% (male 651,549; female 891,016) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

3.91 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Swedish note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.29 years male: 76.61 years female: 82.11 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1979 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish

Net migration rate [time series]

1.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

8,911,296 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.29% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

minor transshipment point for and consumer of narcotics shipped via the CIS and Baltic states; increasing consumer of European amphetamines

Transportation

Airports [time series]

255 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 145 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 24 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 110 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 105 (1998 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 138,000 km paved: 105,018 km (including 1,330 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,982 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 154 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,894,783 GRT/1,528,077 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 28, chemical tanker 28, combination ore/oil 4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 24, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 39, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 13 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 84 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall

Railways [time series]

total: 13,415 km (includes 3,594 km of privately-owned railways) standard gauge: 13,415 km 1.435-m gauge (7,917 km electrified and 1,152 km double track) (1996)

Waterways [time series]

2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges