Sweden :: Europe
Introduction
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.
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Geography
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
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total:
450,295 sq km
land:
410,335 sq km
water:
39,960 sq km
country comparison to the world: 57
Area - comparative:
almost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total:
2,211 km
border countries (2):
Finland 545 km, Norway 1666 km
Coastline:
3,218 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
exclusive economic zone:
agreed boundaries or midlines
continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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:
mean elevation:
320 m
lowest point:
reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m
highest point:
Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Land use:
agricultural land:
7.5%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
6.4%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
1.1%
(2011 est.)
forest:
68.7%
(2011 est.)
other:
23.8%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
1,640 sq km
(2012)
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
Natural hazards:
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
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
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
People and Society
Population:
10,202,491
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Nationality:
noun:
Swede(s)
adjective:
Swedish
Ethnic groups:
Swedish 80.9%, Syrian 1.8%, Finnish 1.4%, Iraqi 1.4%, other 14.5%
(2018 est.)
note: data represent the population by country of birth; the indigenous Sami people are estimated to number between 20,000 and 40,000
Languages:
Swedish (official)
note: Finnish, Sami, Romani, Yiddish, and Meankieli are official minority languages
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.)
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); an estimated 57.7% of Sweden's population were members of the Church of Sweden in 2018
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.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
61.2
youth dependency ratio:
28.4
elderly dependency ratio:
32.8
potential support ratio:
3.1
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
41.1 years
male:
40.1 years
female:
42.1 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Population growth rate:
0.79%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Birth rate:
12.1 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Death rate:
9.4 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Net migration rate:
5.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
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
Urbanization:
urban population:
88% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
1.05% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
1.633 million STOCKHOLM (capital)
(2020)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
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:
0.87 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
29.3 years
(2015 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
4 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Infant mortality rate:
total:
2.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
2.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
2.3 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
82.4 years
male:
80.4 years
female:
84.5 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Total fertility rate:
1.87 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
100% of population
rural:
100% of population
total:
100% of population
unimproved:
urban:
0% of population
rural:
0% of population
total:
0% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
11%
(2017)
Physicians density:
3.98 physicians/1,000 population
(2016)
Hospital bed density:
2.2 beds/1,000 population
(2017)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
100% of population
rural:
100% of population
total:
100% of population
unimproved:
urban:
0% of population
rural:
0% of population
total:
0% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
20.6%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 97
Education expenditures:
7.6% of GDP
(2017)
country comparison to the world: 10
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
20 years
male:
19 years
female:
21 years
(2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:
16.8%
male:
18%
female:
15.5%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Government
Country name:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form:
Sweden
local long form:
Konungariket Sverige
local short form:
Sverige
etymology:
name ultimately derives from the North Germanic Svear tribe, which inhabited central Sweden and is first mentioned in the first centuries A.D.
Government type:
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name:
Stockholm
geographic coordinates:
59 20 N, 18 03 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
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
Independence:
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)
National holiday:
National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day
Constitution:
history:
several previous; latest adopted 1 January 1975
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")
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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)
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
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections/appointments:
the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
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)
elections:
last held on 9 September 2018 (next to be held in 2022)
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%
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
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]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Karin Ulrika OLOFSDOTTER (since 17 September 2017)
chancery:
The House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
[1] (202) 536-1500
FAX:
[1] (202) 536-1501
consulate(s) general:
New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kenneth A. HOWERY (since 10 October 2019)
telephone:
[46] (08) 783 53 00
embassy:
Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address:
American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
FAX:
[46] (08) 661 19 64
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
National symbol(s):
three crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow
National anthem:
name:
"Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)
lyrics/music:
Richard DYBECK/traditional
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
Economy
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.
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++ 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.
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++ 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.
GDP real growth rate:
1.29%
(2019 est.)
2.06%
(2018 est.)
2.82%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7%
(2019 est.)
1.9%
(2018 est.)
1.7%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Credit ratings:
Fitch rating:
AAA
(2004)
Moody's rating:
Aaa
(2002)
Standard & Poors rating:
AAA
(2004)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$478.68 billion
(2019 est.)
$472.245 billion
(2018 est.)
$462.847 billion
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$531.35 billion
(2019 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$59,699
(2019 est.)
$59,279
(2018 est.)
$58,491
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
country comparison to the world: 18
Gross national saving:
28.9% of GDP
(2017 est.)
28.8% of GDP
(2016 est.)
28.8% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
1.6%
(2017 est.)
industry:
33%
(2017 est.)
services:
65.4%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
44.1%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
26%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
24.9%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
0.8%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
45.3%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-41.1%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
98.0
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Industries:
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:
4.1%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Labor force:
5.029 million
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
2%
industry:
12%
services:
86%
(2014 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.78%
(2019 est.)
6.33%
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Population below poverty line:
15%
(2014 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
3.4%
highest 10%:
24%
(2012)
Budget:
revenues:
271.2 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
264.4 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
50.6% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
1.3% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Public debt:
40.8% of GDP
(2017 est.)
42.3% of GDP
(2016 est.)
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
country comparison to the world: 124
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Current account balance:
$22.339 billion
(2019 est.)
$13.902 billion
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Exports:
$302.65 billion
(2019 est.)
$291.846 billion
(2018 est.)
$279.461 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
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)
Exports - commodities:
machinery (26%), motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
(2016 est.)
Imports:
$276.622 billion
(2019 est.)
$273.125 billion
(2018 est.)
$262.597 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
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)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$62.22 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$59.39 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Debt - external:
$939.9 billion
(31 March 2016 est.)
$929.4 billion
(31 March 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Exchange rates:
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar -
8.49085
(2020 est.)
9.52915
(2019 est.)
9.01895
(2018 est.)
8.4335
(2014 est.)
6.8612
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
100%
(2020)
Electricity - production:
152.9 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - consumption:
133.5 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - exports:
26.02 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - imports:
14.29 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
40.29 million kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
5% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
22% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
42% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
32% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Crude oil - exports:
14,570 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Crude oil - imports:
400,200 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Refined petroleum products - production:
413,200 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
323,100 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Refined petroleum products - exports:
371,100 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Refined petroleum products - imports:
229,600 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - consumption:
764.5 million cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
Natural gas - imports:
764.5 million cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m
(1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
52.31 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
1,941,360
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
19.18
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
12,785,850
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
126.32
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Telecommunication systems:
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
(2020)
domestic:
fixed-line 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular 126 per 100; coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels
(2019)
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: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
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:
total:
9,251,773
percent of population:
92.14%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
3,973,622
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
40
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
11
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
316
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
SE
(2016)
Airports:
231
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 25
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
149
(2013)
over 3,047 m:
3
(2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
12
(2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m:
75
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
22
(2013)
under 914 m:
37
(2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
82
(2013)
914 to 1,523 m:
5
(2013)
under 914 m:
77
(2013)
Heliports:
2
(2013)
Pipelines:
1626 km gas
(2013)
Railways:
total:
14,127 km
(2016)
standard gauge:
14,062 km
1.435-m gauge (12,322 km electrified)
(2016)
narrow gauge:
65 km
0.891-m gauge (65 km electrified)
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 20
Roadways:
total:
573,134 km
(includes 2,050 km of expressways)
(2016)
paved:
140,100 km
(2016)
unpaved:
433,034 km
(2016)
note: includes 98,500 km of state roads, 433,034 km of private roads, and 41,600 km of municipal roads
country comparison to the world: 13
Waterways:
2,052 km
(2010)
country comparison to the world: 40
Merchant marine:
total:
360
by type:
general cargo 51, oil tanker 20, other 289
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 50
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
LNG terminal(s) (import):
Brunnsviksholme, Lysekil
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force; Home Guard
(2019)
Military expenditures:
1.1% of GDP
(2019)
1% of GDP
(2018)
1% of GDP
(2017)
1.1% of GDP
(2016)
1.1% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 114
Military and security service personnel strengths:
the Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten) have approximately 15,000 active duty troops (6,200 Army; 2,500 Navy; 2,800 Air Force; 3,500 other, including staff, logistics, support, intelligence, etc); 22,000 Home Guard
(2019 est.)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the inventory of the Swedish Armed Forces is comprised of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of military hardware to Sweden, followed by France and Germany; Sweden's defense industry is capable of providing most of the military's equipment requirements, including advanced aircraft and submarines
(2019 est.)
Military deployments:
200 Mali (MINUSMA and EUTM; plans to send an additional 150 personnel to the Sahel/Mali in early 2021)
(2020)
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)
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s):
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
(2019)
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
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
none
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin):
113,418 (Syria), 27,933 (Eritrea), 30,546 (Afghanistan), 17,593 (Somalia), 12,460 (Iraq), 7,408 (Iran) (2019)
stateless persons:
30,305 (2019); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia
