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{{Short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{About|the country}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox Country
{{pp|small=yes}}
|native_name=''Konungariket Sverige''
{{pp-move}}
|conventional_long_name=Kingdom of Sweden
{{Use British English|date=December 2021}}
|common_name=Sweden
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
|image_flag=Flag of Sweden.svg
{{Infobox country
|image_coat=Coat of Arms of Sweden.svg
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Sweden
|image_map=EU-Sweden.svg
| common_name = Sweden
|map_caption={{map caption|location_color=dark green|region=]|region_color=dark grey|subregion=the ]|subregion_color=light green|legend=EU-Sweden.svg}}
| native_name = {{native name|sv|Konungariket Sverige}}
|national_motto=<span style="line-height:1.33em;">]&nbsp;"''{{lang|sv|För Sverige i tiden}}''"{{Ref label|aaa|a}}&nbsp;<br /><small>"For Sweden &ndash; With the Times"&nbsp;</small></span>
| image_flag = Flag of Sweden.svg
|national_anthem={{lang|sv|'']''}}{{Ref label|bbb|b}}<br /><small>''Thou ancient, thou free''</small>
| image_coat = Great coat of arms of Sweden.svg
|royal_anthem={{lang|sv|'']''}}<br /><small>''The Song of the King''</small>
| symbol_type = ]
|official_languages=]{{Ref label|ccc|c}}
| national_anthem = <br />"{{lang|sv|]|i=no}}"{{efn|"{{lang|sv|Du gamla, du fria|i=no}}" has never been officially adopted as national anthem, but is so ].}}<br />({{langx|en|"Thou ancient, Thou free"}})<br /><div style="padding-top:0.5em;">{{center|]}}</div>
|demonym=] or ]
| royal_anthem = <br />"{{lang|sv|]|i=no}}"<br />(English: "Song of the King")<div style="padding-top:0.5em;">{{center| }}</div>
|ethnic_groups={{Ref label|ddd|d}} 81.9% ]<ref name="SCB Bef">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25785.aspx?produktkod=BE0101&displaypressrelease=true&pressreleaseid=257212|title=Befolkningsstatistik|publisher=www.scb.se|date=|accessdate=2009-06-16}}</ref><br />5.1% ]<ref>See ].</ref>
| image_map = {{Switcher|]|Show globe|]|Show map of Europe|default=1}}
13.0% ] (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____26041.aspx|title=Summary of Population Statistics 1960 - 2008|publisher=www.scb.se|accessdate=2010-06-03}}</ref><ref>Note that ] or other Swedish-speakers born outside Sweden might self-identify as ''Swedish'' despite being born abroad. Moreover, people born within Sweden may not be ethnic Swedes.</ref>
| map_caption = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the ] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Sweden.svg}}
|capital=]
| capital = ]
|latd=59|latm=21|latNS=N|longd=18|longm=4|longEW=E
| coordinates = {{Coord|59|21|N|18|4|E|type:city}}
|largest_city=capital
| largest_city = capital
|government_type=] and ]
| official_languages = ]{{efn|Since 1 July 2009.<ref name="Swedish" /><ref name="Swedish2" /> The ] also has a special status as the official national sign language.}}
|leader_title1=]
| languages_type = National minority languages
|leader_name1=]
| languages = {{hlist | ] | ] | ] | ] | ]{{efn|All five ] since 1999<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119#item100400 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206102022/http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119 |archive-date=6 February 2014 |title=Är svenskan också officiellt språk i Sverige? |trans-title=Is Swedish also an official language in Sweden? |publisher=] |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=22 June 2008 |language=sv}}</ref>}}}}
|leader_title2=]
| ethnic_groups =
|leader_name2=] (])
| ethnic_groups_year =
|leader_title3=]
| demonym = {{hlist |] |]}}
|leader_name3=] (])
| government_type = Unitary parliamentary ]
|sovereignty_type=]
| leader_title1 = ]
|sovereignty_note=
| leader_name1 = ]
|established_event1=]
| leader_title2 = ]
|established_date1=June 17, 1397
| leader_name2 = ]
|established_event2=''de facto'' independent kingdom
| leader_title3 = ]
|established_date2=June 6, 1523
| leader_name3 = ]
|established_event3=end of Scandinavian union ratified
| legislature = ]
|established_date3=1524
| sovereignty_type = ]
|established_event4=] begins
| established_event1 = A unified Swedish kingdom established
|established_date4=November 4, 1814
| established_date1 = By the late 10th century
|established_event5=] ends
| established_event2 = Part of the ]
|established_date5=August 13, 1905
| established_date2 = 17 June 1397 – 6 June 1523
|accessionEUdate=1 January 1995
| established_event3 = ]
|EUseats=19
| established_date3 = 1611–1721
|area_rank=57th
| area_km2 = 450,295<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=Sweden country profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17955808 |website=BBC News |access-date=6 December 2023 |date=6 December 2023 |archive-date=19 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119130130/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17955808 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|area_magnitude=1 E11
| area_rank = 55th
|area_km2=449,964
|area_sq_mi=173,745 | area_sq_mi = 172,751
| percent_water = 8.97 (2022)<ref>{{cite web|title=Land- och vattenareal per den 1 januari efter region och arealtyp. År 2012 - 2022|access-date=11 January 2023|publisher=] (SCB)|url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/sv/ssd/START__MI__MI0802/Areal2012N/|archive-date=10 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710000241/https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/sv/ssd/START__MI__MI0802/Areal2012N/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|percent_water=8.7
| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 10,540,886<ref name=population> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629104711/https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/befolkning/befolkningens-sammansattning/befolkningsstatistik/ |date=29 June 2021 }} ]. Retrieved 8 July 2021.</ref>
|population=
| population_estimate_year = 7 July 2021
|population_estimate_rank=88th
| population_estimate_rank = 87th
|population_census=9,354,462<ref name="population">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx|title=Befolkningsstatistik|publisher=Statistiska centralbyrån|accessdate=2010-05-18}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 25
|population_census_year=2009
| population_density_sq_mi = 65
|population_density_km2=20.6
| population_density_rank = 198th
|population_density_sq_mi=53.3
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $763.589 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.SE">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/October/weo-report?c=144,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2029&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2024 Edition. (Sweden) |publisher=] |website=www.imf.org |date=22 October 2024 |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref>
|population_density_rank=192nd
| GDP_PPP_year = 2024
|GDP_PPP=$331.504 billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=144&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=10&pr.y=12|title=Sweden|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = | GDP_PPP_rank = 40th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $71,730<ref name="IMFWEO.SE" />
|GDP_PPP_year=2009
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 17th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita=$35,965<ref name="imf2"/>
| GDP_nominal = {{increase}} $609.039 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.SE" />
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank=
| GDP_nominal_year = 2024
|GDP_nominal=$405.440 billion<ref name="imf2"/>
|GDP_nominal_rank = | GDP_nominal_rank = 25th
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $57,212<ref name="IMFWEO.SE" />
|GDP_nominal_year=2009
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 12th
|GDP_nominal_per_capita=$43,986<ref name="imf2"/>
| Gini = 27.6 <!--number only-->
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank=
| Gini_year = 2022
|Gini=23
| Gini_change = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
|Gini_year=2005
| Gini_ref = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey |publisher=] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=25 November 2023 |archive-date=9 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009091832/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>
|Gini_category=<span style="color:#090;">low</span>
| Gini_rank =
|HDI={{increase}} 0.963<ref>. The United Nations. Retrieved 5 October 2009.</ref>
| HDI = 0.952 <!--number only-->
|HDI_rank=7th
| HDI_year = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
|HDI_year=2007
| HDI_change = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
|HDI_category=<span style="color:#090;">very&nbsp;high</span>
| HDI_ref = <ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2024 |title=Human Development Report 2023/2024 |url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2024 |access-date=13 March 2024 |publisher=] |language=en}}</ref>
|currency=]
| HDI_rank = 5th
|currency_code=SEK
| currency = ]
|country_code=SWE
| currency_code = SEK
|time_zone=]
| time_zone = ]
|utc_offset=+1
| utc_offset = +1
|time_zone_DST=]
|utc_offset_DST=+2 | utc_offset_DST = +2
| time_zone_DST = ]
|date_format=yyyy-mm-dd,<br />d/m yyyy,<br />dd-mm-yyyy,<br />dd-mm-yy
|drives_on=right{{Ref label|eee|e}} | drives_on = right{{efn|Since ]}}
| cctld = ]{{efn|The ] domain is also used, as it is shared with other ] member states.}}
|cctld=]{{Ref label|fff|f}}
| today =
|calling_code=]
| official_website =
|footnotes=
a. {{note|aaa}} {{lang|sv|''För Sverige - I tiden''}} has been adopted by Carl XVI Gustaf as his personal motto.<br />
b. {{note|bbb}} {{lang|sv|'']''}} has never been officially adopted as national anthem, but is so by convention.<br />
c. {{note|ccc}} Since July 1, 2009.<ref name="Swedish">{{cite web|url=http://www.sprakforsvaret.se/sf/fileadmin/PDF/spraklagen_200509.pdf|title=Språklagen|date=2009-07-01|work=Språkförsvaret|language=Swedish|accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref><ref name="Swedish2">{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20404/20090701/|title=Swedish becomes official 'main language'|last=Landes|first=David|date=2009-07-01|work=The Local|publisher=thelocal.se|accessdate=2009-07-15}}</ref> Five other languages are officially recognized as minority languages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119#item100400|title=Är svenskan också officiellt språk i Sverige?|publisher=Språkrådet (Language Council of Sweden)|date=2008-02-01|accessdate=2008-06-22|language=Swedish}}</ref> They are: ], ], ], ], and ]. The ] also has a special status.<br />
d. {{note|ddd}} As of 2008, 18% of the population had foreign origins (13% if excluding Finns and 9% if also excluding other Scandinavians), with 14% foreign-born and another 4% born in Sweden of two foreign-born parents.<ref> (proportion of foreign background, including foreign-born and Swedish-born with two foreign-born parents)</ref><br />
e. {{note|eee}} Since 3 September 1967.
f. {{note|fff}} The ] domain is also used, as it is shared with other ] member states. The ] domain is another commonly used top-level domain ("nu" means "now" in Swedish).
}} }}
'''Sweden''' (pronounced {{Audio-IPA|en-us-Sweden.ogg|/ˈswiːdən/}} {{respell|SWEE|dən}}, {{lang-sv|Sverige}} {{IPA-sv|ˈsvær.jə|}}), officially the '''Kingdom of Sweden''' (]: {{Audio|Sv-Konungariket_Sverige.ogg|''Konungariket Sverige''}}), is a ] on the ] in ]. Sweden has land borders with ] to the west and ] to the northeast, and water borders with ], ] and ] to the south and ], ], ] and ] to the east. Sweden is also connected to Denmark by a ] across the ].


'''Sweden''',{{efn|{{langx|sv|Sverige}} {{IPA|sv|ˈsvæ̌rjɛ||Sv-Sverige.ogg}}; {{langx|fi|Ruotsi}}; {{langx|fit|Ruotti}}; {{langx|se|Ruoŧŧa}}; {{langx|smj|Svierik}}; {{langx|sje|Sverji}}; {{langx|sju|Sverje}}; {{langx|sma|Sveerje}} or {{lang|sma|Svöörje}}; {{langx|yi|שוועדן|Shvedn}}; {{langx|rmu|Svedikko}}; {{langx|rmf|Sveittiko}}<!--; ]: {{lang|rmn|Švedia}}; {{langx|rmy|label=]|Shvedo}}; {{langx|rom|label=]|Švedo}}-->.}} formally the '''Kingdom of Sweden''',{{efn|The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of Sweden. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110801231428/http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/geonames/ |date=1 August 2011}}.}}{{efn|{{langx|sv|links=no|Konungariket Sverige}} {{IPA|sv|ˈkôːnɵŋaˌriːkɛt ˈsvæ̌rjɛ||Sv-Konungariket Sverige.ogg}}}} is a ] located on the ] in ]. It borders ] to the west and north, and ] to the east. At {{convert|450295|km2|sqmi}},<ref name="auto"/> Sweden is the largest Nordic country and the ] in Europe. Its ] and largest city is ].<!-- see ] for ambiguity about Stockholm's population --> Sweden has a population of 10.6 million,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sweden Population 2024 (Live) |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/sweden-population |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref> and a low population density of {{convert|25.5|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}; 88% of ] reside in urban areas.<ref name=SCBdensity2020>https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-and-urban-areas-2020/ Increasing proportion of people live in urban areas (24 November 2021)</ref> They are mostly in the central and southern half of the country. Sweden's urban areas together cover 1.5% of its land area. Sweden has a diverse ] owing to the length of the country, which ranges from ] to ].
At 450,295&nbsp;km², Sweden is the third largest country in the ] in terms of area, with a total population of about 9.4 million.<ref name="population"/> Sweden has a low ] of {{convert|21|PD/sqkm|PD/sqmi}} but a considerably higher density in the southern half of the country. About 85% of the population live in urban areas, and it is expected that these numbers will gradually rise as a part of the ongoing urbanization.<ref name="publikationer2007">
Statistics Sweden. ''Yearbook of Housing and Building Statistics 2007''. Statistics Sweden, Energy, Rents and Real Estate Statistics Unit, 2007. ISBN 978-91-618-1361-2. Available online in </ref> Sweden's ] is ], which is also the largest city in the country (population of 1.3 million in the urban area and with 2 million in the metropolitan area).<ref>{{cite web | title=Folkmängd i riket, län och kommuner 31 december 2009 och befolkningsförändringar 2009 | publisher=] | url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____287608.aspx}}</ref>


Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the ]. In the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the ]. The empire grew to be one of the ]s of Europe in the 17th and early 18th century. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden, present-day Finland, was lost to ] in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a ] which lasted until 1905. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and ] in wartime.<ref></ref> Sweden has been inhabited since ] around 12,000 BC. The inhabitants emerged as the ] ({{langx|sv|Götar|links=no}}) and ] ({{lang|sv|Svear}}), which together constituted the sea-faring peoples known as the ]. A unified Swedish state was established during the late 10th century. In 1397, Sweden joined Norway and Denmark to form the Scandinavian ],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/sverige-under-medeltiden-:del-3-av-3-kalmarunionens-tid. |title=Artikelarkiv |website=SO-rummet |access-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009181105/https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/sverige-under-medeltiden-:del-3-av-3-kalmarunionens-tid. |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which Sweden left in 1523. When Sweden became involved in the ] on the Protestant side, an expansion of its territories began, forming the ], which remained one of the ]s of Europe until the early 18th century. During this era Sweden ]. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden, present-day Finland, was lost to ] in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a ], a union which lasted until 1905.


Sweden is a highly developed country ranked fifth in the ].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-2023-24 |title=Human Development Report 2023-24: Breaking the gridlock: Reimagining cooperation in a polarized world |date=13 March 2024 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |isbn= |pages= |access-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318221638/https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-2023-24 |archive-date=18 March 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a ] and a ] democracy, with ] vested in the 349-member ] {{lang|sv|]}}. It is a ], divided into ] and ]. Sweden maintains a ] that provides ] and ] for its citizens. It has the ] and ] in ], ], ], protection of ], economic competitiveness, ], ] and ].<ref name="OECD Better Life Index">{{cite web |title=OECD Better Life Index |url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |publisher=] |access-date=27 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901021731/http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |archive-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wefcomp" /> Sweden joined the ] on 1 January 1995 and ] on 7 March 2024. It is also a member of the ], the ], the ], the ], the ] and the ] (OECD).
Today, Sweden is a ] with a ] of government and a highly developed economy. It ranks first in the world in '']'''s ] and seventh in the ]' ]. Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995 and is a member of the ].


==Etymology== == Etymology ==
{{Main|Etymology of Sweden}} {{Main|Name of Sweden}}
The modern name ''Sweden'' is derived through ] from Old English ''Swēoþēod'', which meant "people of the Swedes" (Old Norse ''Svíþjóð'', Latin ''Suetidi''). This word is derived from ''Sweon/Sweonas'' (Old Norse ''Sviar'', Latin S''uiones''). The Swedish name ''Sverige'' (a conjunction of the words ''Svea'' and ''Rike'' – rige still spelt with the letter ''g'' in modern Danish) literally means "Kingdom of the ]", excluding the ]s in ].


The name for Sweden is generally agreed to derive from the ] root *], meaning "one's own", referring to one's own tribe from the tribal period.<ref> (English translation), p. 1493</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Friesen (von) |first=O. |title=Verdandis småskrifter (Verdandis Pamphlets) nr. 200. |year=1915}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |url=https://archive.org/details/svensketymologis00hell |trans-title=Swedish etymological dictionary |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerup |language=sv |page=}}</ref> The native Swedish name, {{Lang|sv|Sverige}} (a compound of the words {{Lang|sv|Svea}} and {{Lang|sv|rike}}, first recorded in the cognate {{Lang|ang|Swēorice}} in '']''),<ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |trans-title=Swedish etymological dictionary |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerup |language=sv |page=917 |url=https://runeberg.org/svetym/1005.html |access-date=30 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828081321/http://runeberg.org/svetym/1005.html |archive-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> translates as "realm of the ]", which excluded the ] in ].
Variations of the name ''Sweden'' are used in most languages, with the exception of ] and ] using ''Sverige'', ] ''Svíþjóð'', and the more notable exception of some ] where ''Ruotsi'' (]) and ''Rootsi'' (]) are used, names commonly considered etymologically related to the English name for ], referring to the people, '']'', originally from the coastal areas of ], ].


The contemporary English variation was derived in the 17th century from ] and ]. As early as 1287, references are found in Middle Dutch referring to a {{Lang|dum|lande van sweden}} ("land of Swedes"), with {{Lang|dum|swede}} as the singular form.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420214552/https://gtb.ivdnt.org/iWDB/search?actie=article&wdb=VMNW&id=ID4508&lemmodern=Zweden |date=20 April 2021 }}, '']''</ref> In ] the country was known as {{Lang|ang|Swéoland}} or {{Lang|ang|Swíoríce}}, and in ] as {{Lang|ang|Swedeland}}.<ref>{{OED|Sweden|ID=195631}}</ref> Some ], such as ] and ], use the terms {{Lang|fi|Ruotsi}} and {{Lang|et|Rootsi}}; these variations refer to the ] who inhabited the coastal areas of ] in ] and who gave their name to Russia.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Elgan |first1=Elisabeth |last2=Scobbie |first2=Irene |date=2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of Sweden |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iJpCgAAQBAJ&dq=ruotsi+rus+russia+sweden&pg=PA287 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |page=287 |isbn=978-1-4422-5071-0 |access-date=9 September 2022 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113159/https://books.google.com/books?id=8iJpCgAAQBAJ&dq=ruotsi+rus+russia+sweden&pg=PA287#v=onepage&q=ruotsi%20rus%20russia%20sweden&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>
The etymology of ''Swedes'', and thus ''Sweden'', is generally not agreed upon but may derive from ] ''Swihoniz'' meaning "one's own",<ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerups förlag |location=Stockholm |page=915}}</ref> referring to one's own Germanic tribe.


==History== ==History==
{{Main|History of Sweden}} {{Main|History of Sweden}}

===Prehistory=== ===Prehistory===
{{Main|Prehistoric Sweden}} {{Main|Prehistoric Sweden}}
] helmet, at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities]]
Sweden's prehistory begins in the ] c. 12,000 BC with Late ] ]-hunting camps of the ] at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province. This period was characterized by small bands of ] using ] technology.
Sweden's prehistory begins in the ], a warm period around 12,000 BC,<ref name="DelsonTattersall2004">{{cite book|author1=Eric Delson|author2=Ian Tattersall|author3=John Van Couvering|title=Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory|edition=Second|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6GFGsswTIO8C&pg=PA569|year=2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-58228-9|page=569|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113159/https://books.google.com/books?id=6GFGsswTIO8C&pg=PA569#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> with Late ] ]-hunting camps of the ] at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province, ]. This period was characterised by small clans of ]s who relied on ] technology.<ref name="Price2015">{{cite book|author=Theron Douglas Price|title=Ancient Scandinavia: An Archaeological History from the First Humans to the Vikings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbC6BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA43|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-023197-2|page=43|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113201/https://books.google.com/books?id=dbC6BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA43#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>
Farming and animal husbandry, along with monumental burial, polished flint axes and decorated pottery, arrived from the Continent with the ] in c. 4,000 BC. Sweden's southern third was part of the stock-keeping and agricultural ] Culture's area, most of it being peripheral to the culture's Danish centre. The period began in c. 1,700 BC with the start of ] imports from Europe. ] mining was never tried locally during this period, and Scandinavia has no ] deposits, so all metal had to be imported.


Sweden and its people were first described by ] in his '']'' (98 AD).<ref name="ElgánScobbie2015">{{cite book|author1=Elisabeth Elgán|author2=Irene Scobbie|title=Historical Dictionary of Sweden|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iJpCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA5|year=2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-5071-0|page=5|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113203/https://books.google.com/books?id=8iJpCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> In ] he mentions the Swedes (''Suiones'') as a powerful tribe with ships that had a ] at each end (]s).<ref name="Brunsdale2016">{{cite book|author=Mitzi M. Brunsdale|title=Encyclopedia of Nordic Crime Fiction: Works and Authors of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden Since 1967|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAQXDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA368|year=2016|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-7536-0|page=368|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113204/https://books.google.com/books?id=qAQXDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA368#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> Which kings ({{Lang|gem-x-proto|kuningaz}}) ruled these Suiones is unknown, but ] presents a long line of legendary and semi-legendary kings going back to the last centuries BC. The ] was in use among the south Scandinavian elite by at least the second century AD, but all that has survived from the Roman Period is curt inscriptions demonstrating that the people of south Scandinavia spoke ] at the time, a language ancestral to Swedish and other ].<ref name="McIntosh2019">{{cite book|author=Christopher McIntosh|title=Beyond the North Wind: The Fall and Rise of the Mystic North|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6vpwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA71|year=2019|publisher=Red Wheel Weiser|isbn=978-1-63341-090-9|pages=71–72|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113219/https://books.google.com/books?id=6vpwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA71#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>
The Nordic Bronze Age was entirely pre-urban, with people living in hamlets and on farmsteads with single-story wooden ]s.


In the sixth century, ] names two tribes living in ], both of which are now considered to be synonymous with the Swedes: the {{Lang|la|Suetidi}} and {{Lang|la|Suehans}}.<ref name="Berend2007">{{cite book|author=Nora Berend|title=Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' c.900–1200|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmFrVUb5DSwC&pg=PA174|year=2007|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-46836-7|page=174|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113205/https://books.google.com/books?id=UmFrVUb5DSwC&pg=PA174#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> The {{Lang|la|Suehans}} were known to the Roman world as suppliers of black fox skins and, according to Jordanes, had very fine horses, similar to those of the '']'' of {{Lang|la|Germania}} ({{Lang|la|alia vero gens ibi moratur Suehans, quae velud Thyringi equis utuntur eximiis}}).
In the absence of any ] occupation, Sweden's Iron Age is reckoned up to the introduction of stone architecture and monastic orders around the 12th century. Much of the period is ], that is, there are written sources, but most are of low credibility. The scraps of written matter are either much later than the period in question, written in distant areas, or, while local and ], extremely brief.


===Viking Age===
] in ], southern Sweden. This ship setting is a ] burial monument, most likely from the 7th century, raised for the ] prince ].]]
{{See also|Early Swedish history|Foundation of Modern Sweden|Varangians}}
The climate took a turn for the worse, forcing farmers to keep cattle indoors over the winters, leading to an annual build-up of manure that could for the first time be used systematically for soil improvement.
] expeditions (blue lines)]]


The Swedish ] lasted roughly from the eighth century to the 11th century. It is believed that Swedish Vikings and ] mainly travelled east and south, going to Finland, Estonia, the ], Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the ] and even as far as ]. Their routes passed ] south to ], on which they carried out numerous raids. The ] ] noticed their great skills in war, and invited them to serve as his personal bodyguard, known as the ]. The Swedish Vikings, called ] are believed to be the founders of ].<ref name="MartinMartin1995">{{cite book|author1=Janet L. B. Martin|author2=John D. Martin|title=Medieval Russia, 980–1584|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRCc3TtL9bIC&pg=PA2|year=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-36832-2|page=2|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113205/https://books.google.com/books?id=sRCc3TtL9bIC&pg=PA2#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> The Vikings were described by many outside sources, such as the Arab traveler ].<ref>''A History of the Vikings''. Oxford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|978-0-19-280134-0}}. Page 164.</ref> The actions of these ] are commemorated on many ]s in Sweden, such as the ] and the ]. There was also considerable participation in expeditions westwards, which are commemorated on stones such as the ]. The last major Swedish Viking expedition appears to have been the ill-fated expedition of ] to ], the region south-east of the ]. Its members are commemorated on the ], none of which mentions any survivor.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Robert |title=The Hammer and the Cross: A New History of the Vikings |date=2009 |publisher= Penguin Books Limited|isbn=978-0-14-192387-1 |language=en}}</ref>
A Roman attempt to move the Imperial border forward from the ] to the ] was aborted in AD 9 when Germans under Roman-trained leadership defeated the legions of ] by ambush in the ]. About this time, there was a major shift in the material culture of Scandinavia, reflecting increased contact with the Romans.


] dating from 800 to 1099, example of Viking art]]
Starting in the 2nd century, much of southern Sweden's agricultural land was parcelled out with low stone walls. They divided the land into permanent infields and meadows for winter fodder on one side of the wall, and wooded outland where the cattle grazed on the other side. This principle of landscape organization survived into the 19th century. The Roman Period also saw the first large-scale expansion of agricultural settlement up the Baltic coast of the country's northern two thirds.


During the early stages of the Viking Age, a centre of trade in northern Europe developed at ] on the island of ], not far from where Stockholm was later constructed, in mid-latitude Sweden. Birka was founded around 750 AD as a trading port by a king or merchants trying to control trade.<ref name=":birka">{{Cite journal|last1=Price|first1=T. Douglas|last2=Arcini|first2=Caroline|last3=Gustin|first3=Ingrid|last4=Drenzel|first4=Leena|last5=Kalmring|first5=Sven|date=March 2018|title=Isotopes and human burials at Viking Age Birka and the Mälaren region, east central Sweden|journal=]|volume=49|pages=19–38|doi=10.1016/j.jaa.2017.10.002|doi-access=free |issn = 0278-4165}}</ref> Birka was the ] link in the ] through ] (''Aldeigja'') and ] (''Holmsgard'') to the ] and the ].<ref>2006 ]. Article "Birca".</ref> It was abandoned around 975, at about the same time ] was founded as a town some 35&nbsp;km to the northeast. It has been estimated that the population in Viking Age Birka was between 500 and 1000 people.<ref name=":birka" /> Archaeological finds indicate that Birka still was wealthy in the 9th and 10th centuries. Thousands of graves, coins, jewelry and other luxury items have been found there.<ref>Andersson (1975), p. 34</ref>
Sweden enters proto-history with the '']'' of ] in AD 98. In ] he mentions the Swedes ('']'') as a powerful tribe (''distinguished not merely for their arms and men, but for their powerful fleets'') with ships that had a ] in both ends (]s). Which kings (''kuningaz'') ruled these Suiones is unknown, but ] presents a long line of legendary and semi-legendary kings going back to the last centuries BC. As for literacy in Sweden itself, the ] was invented among the south Scandinavian elite in the 2nd century, but all that has come down to the present from the Roman Period is curt inscriptions on artefacts, mainly of male names, demonstrating that the people of south Scandinavia spoke ] at the time, a language ancestral to Swedish and other ].


===Kingdom of Sweden===
In the 6th century ] named two tribes he calls the ''Suehans'' and the ''Suetidi'' who lived in ]. These two names are both considered to refer to the same tribe. The ''Suehans'', he says, has very fine horses just as the "Thyringi" tribe (''alia vero gens ibi moratur Suehans, quae velud Thyringi equis utuntur eximiis''). ] wrote that the contemporary Swedish king ] (Eadgils) had the finest horses of his days. The Suehans were the suppliers of black fox skins for the Roman market. Then Jordanes names the ''Suetidi'' which is considered to be the Latin form of '']''. He writes that the Suetidi are the tallest of men together with the ] who were of the same stock. Later he mentions other Scandinavian tribes for being of the same height.
]
The actual age of the kingdom of Sweden is unknown.<ref name="sh">{{cite book |last1=Hadenius |first1=Stig |last2=Nilsson |first2=Torbjörn |last3=Åselius |first3=Gunnar |title=Sveriges historia: vad varje svensk bör veta |trans-title=History of Sweden: what every Swede should know |year=1996 |publisher=Bonnier Alba |language=sv |isbn=978-91-34-51784-4}}</ref> Determining its age depends mostly on whether Sweden is considered a nation when the {{Lang|sv|]}} (Swedes) ruled Svealand or when the {{Lang|sv|Svear}} and the {{Lang|sv|]}} (Geats) of Götaland were united under a single ruler. In the former case, Svealand was first mentioned as having one single ruler in the year 98 by Tacitus, but it is almost impossible to know for how long it had been this way. The epic poem ''Beowulf'' describes semi-legendary ] in the sixth century.


However, historians typically start the line of ] from when Svealand and Götaland were ruled under the same king, namely ] and his son ] in the tenth century. These events are often described as the ], although substantial areas were conquered and incorporated later. In this context, "Götaland" primarily refers to the provinces of ] and ]. The island of ] was contested by various groups, including the Danes, the ], and the local ]. ] was of little interest at the time due to its deep pine forests, with only the city of ] and its castle holding any significant importance. There were also Swedish settlements along the southern coastline of ], one of the four ].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peterson |first=Gary Dean |title=Warrior Kings of Sweden: The Rise of an Empire in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries |date=2014 |publisher= McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0411-4 |language=en}}</ref>
Originating in semi-legendary Scandza, believed to be somewhere in modern ], Sweden, a ] population had crossed the ] before the 2nd century AD, reaching ] at the coast of the ] in modern ] where Goths left their archaeological traces in the ]. In the 5th and 6th centuries, they became divided as the ] and the ], and established powerful successor-states of the ] in the ] and ].<ref>. Britannica Online Encyclopedia.</ref> ] communities appear to have survived intact in ] until the late 18th century.
<ref></ref>


] is traditionally credited with introducing Christianity to Sweden in 829, but the new religion did not begin to fully replace ] until the 12th century. During that century, Sweden was undergoing dynastic struggles between the ] and ] clans. The conflict ended when a third clan married into the Erik clan, founding the ] dynasty, which gradually consolidated Sweden into a stronger state. According to the ''Legend of ]'' and the '']'', Swedish kings conducted ] to pagan Finland and started conflicts with the ], who by then had no further connections with Sweden.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bagge |first=Sverre |chapter=The Scandinavian Kingdoms |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History |editor-first=Rosamond |editor-last=McKitterick |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-521-36289-4 |page=724 |quote=Swedish expansion in Finland led to conflicts with Rus', which were temporarily brought to an end by a peace treaty in 1323, dividing the Karelian peninsula and the northern areas between the two countries.}}</ref> The ] of the coastal areas of Finland began in the 12th and 13th centuries.<ref>{{Cite book|title=När kom svenskarna till Finland?|editor-first=Ann-Marie|editor-last=Ivars|editor-first2=Lena|editor-last2= Hulden|publisher=Studier utg. av Svenska Litteratursällskapet i Finland 646|year=2002}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Meinander |first=Carl Fredrik |year=1983 |title=Om svenskarnes inflyttningar till Finland |journal=] |volume= |issue=3}}</ref> By the 14th century, this colonisation became more organised, and by the end of the century, several of the coastal areas of Finland were inhabited mostly by Swedes.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sveriges Österland: Från forntiden till Gustav Vasa. Finlands svenska historia 1. Skrifter utgivna av Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland 702:1.|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland; Stockholm: Atlantis|year=2008}}</ref>
===Viking and Middle Ages===
{{See also|Early Swedish history|Foundation of Modern Sweden|Varangians}}
The Swedish ] lasted roughly between the eighth and eleventh centuries. During this period, it is believed that the ] expanded from eastern Sweden and incorporated the ] to the south.<ref></ref> It is believed that Swedish Vikings and ] mainly travelled east and south, going to Finland, the Baltic countries, Russia, ], ] the ] and further as far as ]. Their routes passed ] down south to ], on which they did numerous raids. The ] ] noticed their great skills in war and invited them to serve as his personal bodyguard, known as the ]. The Swedish Vikings, called "]" are also believed to be the founding fathers of ]. The Arabic traveller "]" described these Vikings as following: {{quote|I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the ]. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy; they wear neither tunics nor caftans, but the men wear a garment which covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free. Each man has an axe, a sword, and a knife, and keeps each by him at all times. The swords are broad and grooved, of Frankish sort.|<ref>Quoted from: Gwyn Jones. ''A History of the Vikings''. Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-19-280134-1. Page 164.</ref>}} The adventures of these Swedish Vikings are commemorated on many ]s in Sweden, such as the ] and the ]. There was also considerable participation in expeditions westwards, which are commorated on stones such as the ]. The last major Swedish Viking expedition appears to have been the ill-fated expedition of ] to ], the region south-east of the ]. Its members are commemorated on the ], none of which mentions any survivor. What happened to the crew is unknown, but it is believed that they died of sickness.


Except for the provinces of Scania, Blekinge, and Halland in the southwest of the Scandinavian peninsula, which were part of the Kingdom of Denmark during this period, ] never developed in Sweden as it did in much of Europe.<ref>{{cite book |first=Franklin D. |last=Scott |title=Sweden: The Nation's History |url=https://archive.org/details/swedennationshis00scot |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=1977 |page=|isbn=978-0-8166-0804-1 }}</ref> As a result, the peasantry remained largely a class of free farmers throughout most of Swedish history. ], also known as ]dom, was not common in Sweden,<ref>{{cite book |url=https://runeberg.org/nfcj/0106.html |title=Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi. Bd 30 |editor-last=Westrin |editor-first=Theodor |editor-link=Theodor Westrin |edition=New, rev. and richly ill. |year=1920 |publisher=Nordisk familjeboks förl|pages=159–160 |access-date=17 September 2014 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620062821/http://runeberg.org/nfcj/0106.html |archive-date=20 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the institution gradually diminished due to the spread of Christianity, the difficulty of obtaining slaves from lands east of the Baltic Sea, and by the development of cities before the 16th century.<ref>Scott, p. 55.</ref> Indeed, both slavery and ] were abolished altogether by a decree of King ] in 1335. Sweden remained a poor and economically underdeveloped country, where barter was the primary means of exchange.<ref>Scott, pp. 55–56.</ref>
], a site of religious and political importance in the early days of Sweden.]]
It is not known when and how the kingdom of Sweden was born, but the ] is drawn from the first kings who ruled ] (Sweden) and ] (Gothia) as one with ]. Sweden and Gothia were two separate nations long before that. It is not known how long they existed, '']'' described semi-legendary ] in the 6th century.


In 1319, Sweden and Norway were united in a ] under King Magnus Eriksson, the grandson of King ] of Sweden and of King ] of Norway. Magnus Eriksson also ruled Scania from 1332 to 1360. In the mid-14th century, Sweden was struck by the ].<ref>Scott, pp. 56–57.</ref> The population of Sweden and most of Europe was decimated. The population did not reach its pre-1348 levels until the beginning of the 19th century, with one third of the population dying between 1349 and 1351. During this period, the cities began to acquire greater rights and were heavily influenced by German merchants of the ], active especially at ]. In 1397, Queen ] (the former daughter-in-law of Magnus Eriksson) established the personal union of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through the ]. However, Margaret's successors, whose rule was centred in Denmark, were unable to control the Swedish nobility.
During the early stages of the Scandinavian Viking Age, ] in ] and ] on ], in present-day Sweden, were flourishing trade centres. Remains of what is believed to have been a large market have been found in Ystad dating from 600–700 AD.<ref name="Sawyer" /> In Paviken, an important centre of trade in the Baltic region during the ninth and tenth century, remains have been found of a large Viking Age harbour with shipbuilding yards and handicraft industries. Between 800 and 1000, trade brought an abundance of silver to Gotland, and according to some scholars, the Gotlanders of this era hoarded more silver than the rest of the population of Scandinavia combined.<ref name="Sawyer">Sawyer, Birgit and Peter Sawyer (1993). ''Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500''. University of Minnesota Press, 1993. ISBN 0-8166-1739-2, pp. 150–153.</ref>


] ] Sweden from ], ending the ]. He established the ] which ruled Sweden and Poland until the 17th century.]]
] introduced ] in 829, but the new religion did not begin to fully replace ] until the 12th century. During the 11th century, Christianity became the most prevalent religion, and from 1050 Sweden is counted as a Christian nation. The period between 1100 and 1400 was characterized by internal power struggles and competition among the Nordic kingdoms. Swedish kings also began to expand the Swedish-controlled territory in Finland, creating conflicts with the Rus who no longer had any connection with Sweden.<ref>Bagge, Sverre (2005) "The Scandinavian Kingdoms". In ''The New Cambridge Medieval History''. Eds. Rosamond McKitterick et al. Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-521-36289-X, p. 724: "Swedish expansion in Finland led to conflicts with Rus', which were temporarily brought to an end by a peace treaty in 1323, dividing the Karelian peninsula and the northern areas between the two countries."</ref>


In 1520, King ], who attempted to restore the Union of Kalmar through military force, ordered the massacre of Swedish nobles in Stockholm, an event known as the "]." This atrocity incited the Swedish nobility to renew their resistance, and on 6 June 1523 (now celebrated as ]), they made ] their king.<ref name="Scott, p. 121">Scott, p. 121.</ref> This is sometimes considered as the ]. Shortly afterwards the new king rejected Catholicism and led Sweden into the ].<ref name="Scott, p. 121"/> The term {{Lang|sv|riksdag}} was used for the first time in the 1540s, although the first meeting where representatives of different social groups were called to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole took place as early as 1435, in the town of ].<ref name=Riksdagen>{{cite web|title=The history of the Riksdag|url=http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-history-of-the-Riksdag/|publisher=]|access-date=9 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520020027/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-history-of-the-Riksdag/|archive-date=20 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> During the ] of 1527 and 1544, under King Gustav Vasa, representatives of all four ] (clergy, ], ] and ]s) were called on to participate for the first time.<ref name="Riksdagen" /> The monarchy became hereditary in 1544.<ref name="v348">{{cite web | title=Decisions that have changed Sweden 1523–2023 | website=www.riksdagen.se | url=https://www.riksdagen.se/en/news/from-royal-power-to-peoples-power---500-years-of-parliament-in-sweden/decisions-that-have-changed-sweden-15232023/ | access-date=4 June 2024 | archive-date=4 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604150655/https://www.riksdagen.se/en/news/from-royal-power-to-peoples-power---500-years-of-parliament-in-sweden/decisions-that-have-changed-sweden-15232023/ | url-status=live }}</ref> When Gustav Vasa broke the monopoly power of the ], he was regarded as a hero by the Swedish people.<ref>Scott, p. 132.</ref> Furthermore, when Sweden did develop, freed itself from the Hanseatic League, and entered its golden era, the fact that the peasantry had traditionally been free meant that more of the economic benefits flowed back to them rather than going to a feudal landowning class.<ref>Scott, pp. 156–157.</ref>
Except for the province of ], on the southern most tip of Sweden which was under Danish control during this time, ] never developed in Sweden as it did in the rest of Europe.<ref>Franklin D. Scott, ''Sweden: The Nation's History'' (University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis, 1977) p. 58.</ref> Therefore, the peasantry remained largely a class of free farmers throughout most of Swedish history. ] (also called ]dom) was not common in Sweden,<ref>. Nordisk familjebok / Uggleupplagan. 30. Tromsdalstind &ndash; Urakami /159&ndash;160, 1920. (In Swedish)</ref> and what slavery there was tended to be driven out of existence by the spread of Christianity, the difficulty in obtaining slaves from the lands east of the Baltic Sea, and by the development of cities before the 16th century<ref>Scott, p. 55.</ref> Indeed, both slavery and ] were abolished altogether by a decree of King Magnus Erickson in 1335. Former slaves tended to be absorbed into the peasantry and some were became laborers in the towns. Still, Sweden remained a poor and economically backward country in which barter was the means of exchange. For instance, the farmers of the province of ] would transport their butter to the mining districts of Sweden and exchange it there for iron, which they would then take down to the coast and trade the iron for fish they needed for food while the iron would be shipped abroad.<ref>Scott, pp. 55-56.</ref>


The end of the 16th century was marked by a final phase of rivalry between the remaining Catholics and the new Protestant communities. In 1592, Gustav Vasa's Catholic grandson and ], ], ascended the Swedish throne.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfB5DwAAQBAJ&q=sigismund+vasa+1592&pg=PA35|title=British and Irish Emigrants and Exiles in Europe, 1603–1688|first=David|last=Worthington|date=2010|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-474-4458-9|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113205/https://books.google.com/books?id=gfB5DwAAQBAJ&q=sigismund+vasa+1592&pg=PA35#v=snippet&q=sigismund%20vasa%201592&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> He pursued to strengthen ] influence by initiating ] and created a dual monarchy that temporarily became known as the ]. His despotic rule, strongly characterised by intolerance towards the Protestants, sparked a ] that plunged Sweden into poverty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ba08AAAAIAAJ&q=war+against+sigismund&pg=PA172|title=the cambridge modern history|date=2019|publisher=CUP Archive|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113233/https://books.google.com/books?id=ba08AAAAIAAJ&q=war+against+sigismund&pg=PA172#v=snippet&q=war%20against%20sigismund&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> In opposition, Sigismund's uncle and successor, ], summoned the ] in 1593 which officially confirmed the modern ] as ]. Following his ] in 1599, Sigismund attempted to reclaim the throne sparing no expense, and hostilities between ] and Sweden continued for the next hundred years.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b912JnKpYTkC&q=poland+and+sweden&pg=PA327|title=God's Playground A History of Poland: Volume 1: The Origins to 1795|first=Norman|last=Davies|date=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-925339-5|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113206/https://books.google.com/books?id=b912JnKpYTkC&q=poland+and+sweden&pg=PA327#v=snippet&q=poland%20and%20sweden&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>
] takes control over Swedish ]. The final fight outside the walls of Visby ended with a total massacre of 1,800 Gotlanders.]]
In the 14th century, Sweden was struck by the ]. The population of Sweden was decimated.<ref>Scott, pp. 56-57.</ref> During this period the Swedish cities also began to acquire greater rights and were strongly influenced by German merchants of the ], active especially at ]. In 1319, Sweden and Norway were united under King ], and in 1397 Queen ] effected the personal union of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through the ]. However, Margaret's successors, whose rule was also centred in Denmark, were unable to control the Swedish nobility.


===Swedish Empire===
Real power was held for long periods by regents (notably those of the ] family) chosen by the Swedish parliament. King ], who asserted his claim to Sweden by force of arms, ordered a massacre in 1520 of Swedish nobles at Stockholm. This came to be known as the “]” and stirred the Swedish nobility to new resistance and, on 6 June (now Sweden's national holiday) in 1523, they made ] their king.<ref>Scott, p. 121.</ref> This is sometimes considered as the ]. Shortly afterwards he rejected ] and led Sweden into the ]. Economically, Gustav Vasa broke the monopoly of the Hanseatic League over Swedish Baltic Sea trade.<ref>Scott, p. 132.</ref>
{{See also|History of Sweden (1611–1648)|Swedish Empire|Swedish overseas colonies|Age of Liberty|Gustavian era|Union between Sweden and Norway}}
] at the ] in 1631]]
] between 1560 and 1815; its peak was between 1658 and 1660]]
Sweden rose to prominence on a continental scale during the reign of king ], seizing territories from Russia and the ] in multiple conflicts.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=102}} During the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered approximately half of the Holy Roman states and defeated the Imperial army at the ] in 1631.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} Gustavus Adolphus planned to become the new ], ruling over a united Scandinavia and the Holy Roman states, but he was killed at the ] in 1632. After the ] in 1634, Sweden's only significant military defeat of the war, pro-Swedish sentiment among the German states faded.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} These German provinces broke away from Swedish power one by one, leaving Sweden with only a few northern German territories: ], ] and ]. From 1643 to 1645, during the last years of the war, Sweden and ] fought the ]. The result of that conflict and the conclusion of the Thirty Years' War helped establish postwar Sweden as a major force in Europe.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} The ] in 1648 granted Sweden territories in northern Germany.


In the middle of the 17th century, Sweden was the third-largest country in Europe by land area. Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of ] after the ] in 1658, following Charles X's ].<ref name="HayesPSH">"A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1./Hayes..." Hayes, Carlton J. H. (1882–1964), ''Title: A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1.'', 2002-12-08, Project Gutenberg, webpage: . {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117105207/http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext04/7hsr110.htm |date=17 November 2007}}</ref><ref>However, Sweden's largest territorial extent lasted from 1319 to 1343 with ] ruling all of the ] and Norway.</ref> The foundation of Sweden's success during this period is credited to Gustav I's major changes to the ] in the 16th century, and his introduction of ].<ref name="GusEB">"Gustav I Vasa – Britannica Concise" (biography), ''Britannica Concise'', 2007, webpage: .</ref> One-third of the Finnish population died in the devastating ] that struck the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm|title=Finland and the Swedish Empire|publisher=]|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226013534/http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm|archive-date=26 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Famine also hit Sweden, killing roughly 10% of Sweden's population.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Ewan |first2=Janay |last2=Nugent |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153 |title=Finding the family in medieval and early modern Scotland |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |page=153 |isbn=978-0-7546-6049-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905194502/https://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The Hanseatic League had been officially formed at Lubeck on the northern coast of Germany in 1356. The League sought privileges from the princes and royalty of the countries and cities along the coasts of the Baltic Sea.<ref>Robert S. Hoyt & Stanley Chodorow, ''Europe in the Middle Ages'' (Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich, Inc.: New York, 1976) p. 628.</ref> In exchange they offered a certain amount of protection. Having their own navy the Hansa were able to sweep the Baltic Sea free of pirates.<ref>John B. Wolfe, ''The Emergence of European Civilization'' (Harper & Row Pub.: New York, 1962) pp. 50-51.</ref> The privileges obtained by the Hansa included assurances that only Hansa citizens would be allowed to trade from the ports where they were located. They also sought agreement to be free of all customs and taxes. With these concessions, Lubeck merchants flocked to Stockholm, Sweden and soon came to dominate the economic life of that city and made the port city of Stockholm into the leading commercial and industrial city of Sweden.<ref>Scott, p. 52.</ref> Under the Hanseatic trade 2/3rds of Stockholm's imports consisted of textiles and 1/3 of salt. Exports from Sweden consisted of iron and copper.<ref>Scott</ref>


In the 17th century, Sweden was engaged in many wars, for example with Poland–Lithuania, with both sides competing for territories of today's ]. The Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629) ended with a ceasefire in ] (]) on 26 September 1629 that was in favour of the Swedes, to whom Poland ceded the larger part of ] together with its important port of ]. The Swedes also got the right to tax Poland's trade on the Baltic (3.5% on the value of goods), and kept control of many of the cities in Royal and ] (including Piława (]), ] and ] (Elbing). The Swedes later conducted a series of invasions into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the ].{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=156}} After more than half a century of almost constant warfare, the Swedish economy had deteriorated. It became the lifetime task of Charles X's son, ], to rebuild the economy and refit the army.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=216}} His legacy to his son, the coming ruler of Sweden, ], was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great fleet.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=222}} Russia, the most serious threat to Sweden at this time, had a larger army but lagged far behind in both equipment and training.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=232}}
However, the Swedes began to resent the monopoly trading position of the Hansa (mostly German citizens) and to resent the income they felt they lost to the Hansa. Consequently, when Gustav Vasa or ] broke the monopoly power of the Hanseatic League he was regarded as a hero to the Swedish people. History now views Gustav I as the father of the modern Swedish nation. The foundations laid by Gustave would take time to develop. Furthermore, when Sweden did develop, freed itself from the Hanseatic League and entered its golden era, the fact the peasantry had traditionally been free meant that more of the economic benefits flowed back to them rather than going to a feudal landowning class.<ref>Scott, pp. 156-157.</ref> This was not the case in other countries of Europe like ] were the peasantry was still bound by serfdom and a strong feudalistic land owning system.


After the ] in 1700, one of the first battles of the ], the Russian army was so severely devastated that Sweden had an open chance to invade Russia.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=230}} However, Charles XII did not pursue the Russian army, instead ] and defeating the Polish king, ], and his Saxon allies at the ] in 1702.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=272}} This gave Russia time to rebuild and modernise its army.
===Swedish Empire===
] following the ] of 1658. Dominions in ], held from 1629 to 1635, do not appear on this map.
----
{{legend|#E6570C|]}}
{{legend|#007500|]}}
{{legend|#00FF00|]}}
{{legend|#000075|]}}
{{legend|#FF00FF|]}}
{{legend|#B9B9B9|], ] and ]}}
{{legend|#757536|], ], ], ] and ]}}
{{legend|#0075FF|] and ]}}
{{legend|#75FFFF|], ], ] & ]}}]]
{{See also|History of Sweden (1611–1648)|Swedish Empire|Swedish overseas colonies|Sweden and the Great Northern War|Absolute Monarchy in Sweden|Sweden-Finland|Union between Sweden and Norway}}


] in 1709. In the following years, Russia and her allies occupied all ] on the Baltic coast and even Finland.]]
During the 17th century Sweden emerged as a European ]. Before the emergence of the Swedish Empire, Sweden was a very poor and scarcely populated country on the fringe of European civilization, with no significant power or reputation. Sweden rose to prominence on a continental scale during the tenure of king ], seizing territories from Russia and ] in multiple conflicts, including the ].


After the success of invading Poland, Charles XII decided to make an attempt at ], but this ended in a decisive Russian victory at the ] in 1709.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=290}} After a long march exposed to ] raids, the Russian Tsar ]'s ] techniques and ], the Swedes stood weakened with a shattered morale and were enormously outnumbered against the Russian army at Poltava.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=286}} The defeat meant the beginning of the end for the Swedish Empire. In addition, ] devastated the Swedish dominions and reached Central Sweden in 1710.<ref>{{cite book|last=Frandsen|first=Karl-Erik|title=The Last Plague in the Baltic Region. 1709–1713|year=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F3bNWrVRMb8C|page=80|publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press |isbn=978-87-635-0770-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Engström|first=Nils Göran|title=Pesten i Finland 1710|trans-title=The plague in Finland in 1710|journal=Hippokrates. Suomen Lääketieteen Historian Seuran Vuosikirja|volume=11|year=1994|pages=38–46|pmid=11640321}}</ref> Returning to Sweden in 1715, Charles XII launched ] in 1716 and 1718, respectively. During the second attempt, he was shot to death during the ] fortress.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=295}} The Swedes were not militarily defeated at Fredriksten, but the whole structure and organisation of the campaign fell apart with the king's death. Forced to cede large areas of land in the ] in 1721, Sweden also lost its place as an empire and as the dominant state on the Baltic Sea.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=296}} With Sweden's lost influence, Russia emerged as an empire and became one of ]. As the war finally ended in 1721, Sweden had lost an estimated 200,000 men, 150,000 of those from the area of present-day Sweden and 50,000 from the ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ericson|first=Lars|title=Svenska knektar|publisher=Historiska media|year=2004|language=sv|page=92}}</ref>
During the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered approximately half of the Holy Roman states. Gustav Adolphus planned to become the new ], ruling over a united Scandinavia and the Holy Roman states, but he died at the ] in 1632. After the ], Sweden's only significant military defeat of the war, pro-Swedish sentiment among the German states faded. These German provinces excluded themselves from Swedish power one by one, leaving Sweden with only a few northern German territories: ], ] and ]. The Swedish armies may have destroyed up to 2,000 castles, 18,000 villages and 1,500 towns in ], one-third of all German towns.<ref name="Population-HLS">{{cite web
Executive power was historically shared between the King and an aristocratic ] until 1680, followed by the King's ] initiated by the commoner estates of the Riksdag. As a reaction to the failed Great Northern War, a parliamentary system was introduced in 1719, followed by three different flavours of constitutional monarchy in 1772, 1789 and 1809, ] granting several civil liberties. Already during the first of those three periods, the 'Era of Liberty' (1719–72) the Swedish Rikstag had developed into a very active Parliament, and this tradition continued into the nineteenth century, laying the basis for the transition towards modern democracy at the end of that century.<ref>{{cite book|author=Baten, Jörg |title=A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present.|date=2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=22|isbn=978-1-107-50718-0}}</ref>
|url=http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/population_thirty_years_war.htm|title=Population|publisher=History Learningsite|accessdate=2008-05-24}}</ref>
In the 18th century, Sweden did not have enough resources to maintain its territories outside Scandinavia, and most of them were lost, culminating with ] of eastern Sweden to Russia, which became the highly autonomous ] in ].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Eino|last1=Jutikkala|first2=Kauko|last2=Pirinen|title=A History of Finland|year=2003|isbn=978-951-0-27911-3|page=287}}</ref>


In interest of re-establishing Swedish dominance in the Baltic Sea, Sweden allied itself against its traditional ally and benefactor, France, in the ]. However, in 1810, a French Marshal, ], was chosen as heir presumptive to ]; in 1818, he established the ], taking the ] of Charles XIV. Sweden's role in the ] gave it the authority to force Denmark–Norway, an ally of France, to cede Norway to the King of Sweden on 14 January 1814 in exchange for the northern German provinces, at the ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Schäfer|first=Anton|title=Zeittafel der Rechtsgeschichte. Von den Anfängen über Rom bis 1919. Mit Schwerpunkt Österreich und zeitgenössischen Bezügen|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l_GeQfwJufAC|year=2002|publisher=Edition Europa Verlag|isbn=978-3-9500616-8-0|edition=3|page=|language=de}}</ref> The Norwegian attempts to keep their status as a sovereign state were rejected by the Swedish king, ]. He launched a ] on 27 July 1814, ending in the ], which forced Norway into a ] with Sweden under the Swedish crown, which lasted until 1905.<ref name=NEsvno>{{cite web|last1=Norborg|first1=Lars-Arne|title=svensk–norska unionen|url=http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/svensk-norska-unionen|website=ne.se|publisher=]|access-date=6 August 2015|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/svensk-norska-unionen|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.norgeshistorie.no/grunnlov-og-ny-union/artikler/1333-mossekonvensjonen.html |title=Mossekonvensjonen |work=Norges historie |publisher=] |last=Ottosen |first=Morten Nordhagen |date=25 November 2015 |access-date=9 December 2019 |language=no |archive-date=3 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703150932/https://www.norgeshistorie.no/grunnlov-og-ny-union/artikler/1333-mossekonvensjonen.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The 1814 campaign was the last time Sweden was at war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20140814/sweden-and-norway-celebrate-200-years-of-peace|title=Sweden and Norway celebrate peace treaty|publisher=The Local Europe AB|date=14 August 2014|access-date=9 December 2019|archive-date=3 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703150937/https://www.thelocal.se/20140814/sweden-and-norway-celebrate-200-years-of-peace|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the middle of the 17th century Sweden was the third largest country in Europe by land area, only surpassed by ] and ]. Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of ] after the ] in 1658.<ref name="HayesPSH">
"A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1./Hayes..."
Hayes, Carlton J. H. (1882–1964),
''Title: A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1.'',
2002-12-08, Project Gutenberg, webpage:
.
</ref><ref>However, Sweden's largest territorial extent lasted from 1319 to 1343 with ] ruling all of the ] and Norway.</ref>
The foundation of Sweden's success during this period is credited to ]'s major changes on the Swedish economy in the 16th century, and his introduction of ].<ref name="GusEB">
"Gustav I Vasa – Britannica Concise" (biography),
''Britannica Concise'', 2007, webpage:
.
</ref> In the 17th century, Sweden was engaged in many ]s, for example with the ] with both sides competing for territories of today's ], with the disastrous ] being one of the highlights.<ref></ref> One-third of the Finnish population died in the devastating famine that struck the country in 1696.<ref>. Source: ''U.S. Library of Congress''</ref> Famine also hit Sweden.<ref>. Hans Högman.</ref>


===Modern history===
The Swedes conducted a series of invasions into the ], known as the ]. After more than half a century of almost constant warfare, the Swedish economy had deteriorated. It became the lifetime task of Charles' son, ], to rebuild the economy and refit the army. His legacy to his son, the coming ruler of Sweden ], was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great fleet. Sweden's largest threat at this time, Russia, had a larger army but was far behind in both equipment and training.
{{See also|Modernization of Sweden|Swedish emigration to the United States}}
]]]
] in 1905]]
The ] began in 1731. The obvious choice of home port was ] at Sweden's west coast, the mouth of ] is very wide and has the county's largest and best harbour for high-seas journeys. The trade continued into the 19th century, and caused the little town to become Sweden's second city.<ref>Tore Frängsmyr, "Ostindiska Kompaniet", Publisher- "Bokförlaget Bra Böcker", ], 1976. (No ISBN to be found), backside overview and</ref>
Between 1750 and 1850, the population in Sweden doubled. According to some scholars, mass emigration to America became the only way to prevent famine and rebellion; over 1% of the population emigrated annually during the 1880s.<ref name="Einhorn">{{cite book |last1=Einhorn |first1=Eric |first2=John |last2=Logue |year=1989 |title=Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia |publisher=Praeger Publishers |page= |isbn=978-0-275-93188-9 |quote=Though Denmark, where industrialization had begun in the 1850s, was reasonably prosperous by the end of the nineteenth century, both Sweden and Norway were terribly poor. Only the safety valve of mass emigration to America prevented famine and rebellion. At the peak of emigration in the 1880s, over 1% of the total population of both countries emigrated annually. |url=https://archive.org/details/modernwelfaresta00einh_0/page/9 }}</ref> It is thought that between 1850 and 1910 more than one million ].<ref>Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989), p. 8.</ref> Nevertheless, Sweden remained poor, retaining a nearly entirely agricultural economy even as Western European countries began to industrialise.<ref name=Einhorn /><ref>{{cite book |last=Koblik |first=Steven |year=1975 |title=Sweden's Development From Poverty to Affluence, 1750–1970 |url=https://archive.org/details/swedensdevelopme0000kobl |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |pages= |isbn=978-0-8166-0766-2 |quote=In economic and social terms the eighteenth century was more a transitional than a revolutionary period. Sweden was, in light of contemporary Western European standards, a relatively poor but stable country. ...It has been estimated that 75–80% of the population was involved in agricultural pursuits during the late eighteenth century. One hundred years later, the corresponding figure was still 72%.}}</ref>


Despite the slow rate of industrialisation into the 19th century, many important changes were taking place in the agrarian economy due to constant innovations and a rapid population growth.<ref name="Koblik9-10">Koblik, pp. 9–10.</ref> These innovations included government-sponsored programmes of ], aggressive exploitation of agricultural lands, and the introduction of new crops such as the potato.<ref name="Koblik9-10" /> The Swedish farming culture began to take on a critical role in Swedish politics, which has continued through modern times with modern Agrarian party (now called the Centre Party).<ref>Koblik, p. 11: "The agrarian revolution in Sweden is of fundamental importance for Sweden's modern development. Throughout Swedish history the countryside has taken an unusually important role in comparison with other European states."</ref> Between 1870 and 1914, Sweden began developing the industrialised economy that exists today.<ref>Koblik, p. 90. "It is usually suggested that between 1870 and 1914 Sweden emerged from its primarily agrarian economic system into a modern industrial economy."</ref>
] at the ].]]
After the ] in 1700, one of the first battles of the ], the Russian army was so severely decimated that Sweden had an open chance to invade Russia. However, Charles did not pursue the Russian army, instead turning against Poland-Lithuania and defeating the Polish king ] and his Saxon allies at the ] in 1702. This gave Russia time to rebuild and modernize its army.


Strong grassroots movements sprang up in Sweden during the latter half of the 19th century (trade unions, ] groups, and independent religious groups), creating a strong foundation of democratic principles. These movements precipitated Sweden's migration into a modern parliamentary democracy, achieved by the time of World War I. As the ] progressed during the 20th century, people gradually moved into cities to work in factories and became involved in socialist unions. A communist revolution was avoided in 1917, following the re-introduction of ], and the country was ].
After the success of invading Poland, Charles decided to make an invasion attempt of Russia which ended in a decisive Russian victory at the ] in 1709. After a long march exposed to ] raids, Russian Tsar ]'s ] techniques and the ], the Swedes stood weakened with a shattered morale and enormously outnumbered against the Russian army at Poltava. The defeat meant the beginning of the end for the Swedish Empire.


===World War I and World War II===
] in 1709. In the years following Poltava, Russia occupied all the Swedish annexations on the Baltic coast and even Finland.]]
{{Main|Sweden during World War I|Sweden during World War II}}
Charles XII attempted to invade Norway 1716; however, he was shot dead at ] in 1718. The Swedes were not militarily defeated at Fredriksten, but the whole structure and organization of the Norwegian campaign fell apart with the king's death, and the army withdrew.


Sweden was officially neutral during ]. However, under pressure from the ], they did take steps which were detrimental to the ] – most notably, mining the ] channel, thus closing it to Allied shipping, and allowing the Germans to use Swedish facilities and the Swedish ] to transmit secret messages to their overseas embassies.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Siney|first=Marion C.|title=Swedish neutrality and economic warfare in World War I|journal=Conspectus of History|year=1975|volume=1|issue=2|url=http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/ConspectusH&CISOPTR=410&REC=1|access-date=12 May 2014|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113722/https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/ConspectusH/id/410|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden also allowed volunteers to fight alongside the Germans for the ] against the ] and Russians in the ], and briefly occupied ] in cooperation with the German Empire.
Forced to cede large areas of land in the ] in 1721, Sweden also lost its place as an empire and as the dominant state on the Baltic Sea. With Sweden's lost influence, Russia emerged as an empire and became one of Europe's dominant nations. As the war finally ended in 1721, Sweden had lost an estimated 200,000 men, 150,000 of those from the area of present-day Sweden and 50,000 from the ] part of Sweden.<ref>''.'' (Swedish)</ref>


As in the First World War, Sweden remained officially neutral during ], although its neutrality has been disputed.<ref name="Koblik303-313">Koblik, pp. 303–313.</ref><ref>Nordstrom, p. 315: "Sweden's government attempted to maintain at least a semblance of neutrality while it bent to the demands of the prevailing side in the struggle. Although effective in preserving the country's sovereignty, this approach generated criticism at home from many who believed the threat to Sweden was less serious than the government claimed, problems with the warring powers, ill feelings among its neighbours, and frequent criticism in the postwar period."</ref> Sweden was under German influence for much of the war, as ties to the rest of the world were cut off through blockades.<ref name="Koblik303-313" /><!---Koblik, pg. 307. "Through the blockade of foreign trade that culminated in the establishment of the ] blockade in connection with the German invasion of Denmark and Norway in April 1940, Swedish imports were reduced by approximately one-half and exports by about one-third in comparison with the average volume of 1936–1938."---> The Swedish government unofficially supported Finland in the ] and the ] by allowing volunteers and ] to be shipped to Finland. However, Sweden supported Norwegian resistance against Germany, and in 1943 helped ] from deportation to ].
In the 18th century, Sweden did not have enough resources to maintain its territories outside Scandinavia, and most of them were lost, culminating with the 1809 loss of eastern Sweden to Russia which became the semi-autonomous ] in ].


During the last year of the war, Sweden began to play a role in humanitarian efforts, and many refugees, among them several thousand Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, were rescued thanks to the ] and partly because Sweden served as a haven for refugees.<ref name="NB313-319" /><!---Nordstrom, p. 317: "In the last year of the war, Sweden became a factor in humanitarian efforts and attempts to end the war. It also became a haven for refugees from ''Norden'' and the Baltic states, and Swedes were involved in rescuing Scandinavian victims of internment camps." --- Nordstrom, p. 318: "By late 1943 Sweden was a haven for some 11,000 refugees from Denmark, including over 7,000 Danish Jews, and about 30,000 Norwegians."---> The Swedish diplomat ] and his colleagues ensured the safety of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/wallenberg.html |title=Raoul Wallenberg |website=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=28 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205181950/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/wallenberg.html |archive-date=5 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Nevertheless, both Swedes and others have argued that Sweden could have done more to oppose the Nazis' war efforts.<ref name="NB313-319">Nordstrom, pp. 313–319.</ref>
In interest of reestablishing Swedish dominance in the Baltic Sea, Sweden allied itself against its traditional ally and benefactor, ], in the ]. Sweden's role in the ] gave it the authority to force Denmark-Norway, an ally of France, to cede ] to the King of Sweden on 14 January 1814 in exchange for northern German provinces, at the ]. The Norwegian attempts to keep their status as a sovereign state were rejected by the Swedish king, ]. He launched a military campaign against Norway on July 27, 1814, ending in the ], which forced Norway into a ] with Sweden under the Swedish crown, which was not dissolved until 1905. The 1814 campaign was the last war in which Sweden participated as a combatant. Swedish troops partake in peace-keeping missions and currently have forces deployed in ] and ].


===Modern history=== ===Post-war era===
] (left), Prime Minister under the ruling ] from 1946 to 1969]]
{{See also|Modernization of Sweden|Swedish emigration to the United States}}
Sweden was officially a neutral country and remained outside ] and ] membership during the ], but privately Sweden's leadership had strong ties with the United States and other western governments. Following the war, Sweden took advantage of an intact industrial base, social stability and its natural resources to expand its industry to supply the rebuilding of Europe.<ref name="NB335-339">Nordstrom, pp. 335–339.</ref><!---Recovery from the material damage and economic shocks of the war was more rapid than many expected."---> Sweden received aid under the ] and participated in the OECD. During most of the post-war era, the country was governed by the ] largely in co-operation with ] and industry. The government actively pursued an internationally competitive manufacturing sector of primarily large corporations.<ref name="svensteinmo" />


Sweden was one of the founding states of the ] (EFTA). During the 1960s the EFTA countries were often referred to as the Outer Seven, as opposed to the ] of the then-] (EEC).<ref>{{cite news |title=Finland: Now, the Seven and a Half |newspaper=] |date=7 April 1961 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |access-date=18 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104144427/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |archive-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
] in 1905.]]
There was a significant population increase during the 18th and 19th centuries, which the writer ] in 1833 attributed to ''"the peace, the (]) ], and the ]"''.<ref>{{cite book|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=Paul Robert Magocsi|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|location=|isbn=0-8020-2938-8|page=1220|author=Paul Robert Magocsi, editor.}}</ref> Between 1750 and 1850, the population in Sweden doubled. According to some scholars, mass emigration to America became the only way to prevent famine and rebellion; over 1% of the population emigrated annually during the 1880s.<ref name="Einhorn">
Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989).
''Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social''
''Democratic Scandinavia''. Praeger Publishers, p.9: "Though
Denmark, where industrialization had begun in the 1850s, was
reasonably prosperous by the end of the nineteenth century, both
Sweden and Norway were terribly poor. Only the safety valve of
mass emigration to America prevented famine and rebellion. At
the peak of emigration in the 1880s, over 1% of the total
population of both countries emigrated annually."
</ref>
Nevertheless, Sweden remained poor, retaining a nearly entirely agricultural economy even as Denmark and Western European countries began to industrialize.<ref name=Einhorn/><ref>Koblik, Steven (1975).
''Sweden's Development from Poverty to Affluence 1750–1970'',
University of Minnesota Press, p.8–9, "In economic and social
terms the eighteenth century was more a transitional than a
revolutionary period. Sweden was, in light of contemporary
Western European standards, a relatively poor but stable country.
It has been estimated that 75–80% of the population was
involved in agricultural pursuits during the late eighteenth
century. One hundred years later, the corresponding figure was
still 72%."
</ref>


Like many industrialised countries, Sweden entered a period of economic decline and upheaval following the oil embargoes of 1973–74 and 1978–79.<ref>Nordstrom, p. 344: "During the last 25 years of the century a host of problems plagued the economies of Norden and the West. Although many were present before, the 1973 and 1980 global oil crises acted as catalysts in bringing them to the fore."</ref> In the 1980s several key Swedish industries were significantly restructured. Shipbuilding was discontinued, wood pulp was integrated into modernised paper production, the steel industry was concentrated and specialised, and mechanical engineering was robotised.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lobell |first1=Håkan |last3=Krantz |first3=Olle |first2=Lennart |last2=Schön |date=June 2008 |title=Swedish Historical National Accounts, 1800–2000: Principles and Implications of a New Generation |journal=Scandinavian Economic History Review |volume=56 |issue=2 |pages=142–159 |publisher=Almqvist and Wiksell International |doi=10.1080/03585520802191282 }}{{Page needed|date=February 2016}}</ref> Swedish GDP per capita ranking declined during this time.<ref name="svensteinmo">''Globalization and Taxation: Challenges to the Swedish Welfare State''. By Sven Steinmo.</ref>
Many looked towards America for a better life during this time. It is believed that between 1850 and 1910 more than one million Swedes moved to the ].<ref>Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989), p.8.</ref>
In the early 20th century, more Swedes lived in ] than in ] (Sweden's second largest city).<ref>Ulf Beijbom, , The House of Emigrants, Växjö, Sweden.</ref> Most Swedish immigrants moved to the ], with a large population in ]. Some Swedes moved to ]. Some also moved to ] and others in smaller numbers to ].


===Recent history===
Despite the slow rate of industrialization into the 19th century, many important changes were taking place in the agrarian economy because of innovations and the large population growth.<ref name="Koblik9-10">Koblik, pp. 9–10.</ref> These innovations included government-sponsored programs of ], aggressive exploitation of agricultural lands, and the introduction of new crops such as the potato.<ref name="Koblik9-10"/> Because the Swedish peasantry had never been enserfed as elsewhere in Europe,<ref> (2007). In'' Encyclopædia Britannica''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 19 February 2007.</ref> the Swedish farming culture began to take on a critical role in the Swedish political process, which has continued through modern times with modern Agrarian party (now called the Centre Party).<ref>Koblik, p. 11: "The agrarian revolution in Sweden is of fundamental importance for Sweden's modern development. Throughout Swedish history the countryside has taken an unusually important role in comparison with other European states."</ref> Between 1870 and 1914, Sweden began developing the industrialized economy that exists today.<ref>Koblik, p. 90. "It is usually suggested that between 1870 and 1914 Sweden emerged from its primarily agrarian economic system into a modern industrial economy."</ref>
{{See also|History of Sweden (1991–present)}}
A bursting real estate bubble caused by inadequate controls on lending combined with an international recession and a policy switch from anti-unemployment policies to anti-inflationary policies resulted in a ] in the early 1990s.<ref>Englund, P. 1990. "Financial deregulation in Sweden." European Economic Review 34 (2–3): 385–393. Korpi TBD. Meidner, R. 1997. "The Swedish model in an era of mass unemployment." Economic and Industrial Democracy 18 (1): 87–97. Olsen, Gregg M. 1999. "Half empty or half full? The Swedish welfare state in transition." Canadian Review of Sociology & Anthropology, 36 (2): 241–268.</ref> Sweden's GDP declined by around 5%. In 1992, a run on the currency caused the central bank to briefly increase interest rates to 500%.<ref>{{cite news|author=Swisher, Kara|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1025624.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215084954/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1025624.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=Sweden's 'Crazy' 500% Interest Rate; Fails to Faze Most Citizens, Businesses; Hike Seen as Short-Term Move to Protect Krona From Devaluation |newspaper=The Washington Post|via=Highbeam.com |date=18 September 1992 |access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFh9qk0wBYC&pg=PA44 |title=The Great Financial Crisis in Finland and Sweden |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-84844-305-1 |last1=Jonung |first1=Lars |last2=Kiander |first2=Jaakko |last3=Vartia |first3=Pentti |year=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905193823/https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFh9qk0wBYC&pg=PA44 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>


] in 2007.]]
Strong grassroots movements sprung up in Sweden during the latter half of the nineteenth century (]s, ] groups, and independent religious groups), creating a strong foundation of democratic principles. In 1889 The Swedish Social Democratic Party was founded. These movements precipitated Sweden's migration into a modern parliamentary democracy, achieved by the time of ]. As the ] progressed during the twentieth century, people gradually began moving into cities to work in factories and became involved in ] unions. A socialist revolution was avoided in 1917, following the re-introduction of ], and the country was ].
The response of the government was to cut spending and institute a multitude of reforms to improve Sweden's competitiveness, among them reducing the ] and ] public services and goods. ] passed with 52.3% in favour of joining the EU on 13 November 1994. Sweden joined the ] on 1 January 1995. In a 2003 referendum the Swedish electorate ] joining the ] currency. Sweden held the chair of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2009.


On 28 September 1994, the ] as the ship was crossing the Baltic Sea, en route from Tallinn, Estonia, to Stockholm, Sweden. The disaster claimed the lives of 852 people (501 of them were Swedes<ref>{{cite web |title=Sweden pays tribute |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20140928/sweden-pays-tribute-to-estonia-disaster-victims |website=thelocal.se |date=28 September 2014 |access-date=4 September 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113746/https://www.thelocal.se/20140928/sweden-pays-tribute-to-estonia-disaster-victims |url-status=live }}</ref>), being one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite news |last=Henley |first=Jon |title=Estonia ferry disaster inquiry backs finding bow door was to blame |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/23/estonia-ferry-disaster-inquiry-backs-finding-bow-door-was-to-blame |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 January 2023 |access-date=4 September 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113713/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/23/estonia-ferry-disaster-inquiry-backs-finding-bow-door-was-to-blame |url-status=live }}</ref>
===World Wars===
{{See also|Sweden during World War II}}
].]]
Sweden remained officially neutral during World War I and ], although its neutrality during World War II has been disputed.<ref name="Koblik303-313">Koblik, pp. 303–313.</ref><ref>Nordstrom, p. 315: "Sweden's government attempted to maintain at least a semblance of neutrality while it bent to the demands of the prevailing side in the struggle. Although effective in preserving the country's sovereignty, this approach generated criticism at home from many who believed the threat to Sweden was less serious than the government claimed, problems with the warring powers, ill feelings among its neighbours, and frequent criticism in the postwar period."</ref> Sweden was under German influence for much of the war, as ties to the rest of the world were cut off through blockades.<ref name="Koblik303-313"/><!---Koblik, pg. 307. "Through the blockade of foreign trade that culminated in the establishment of the ] blockade in connection with the German invasion of Denmark and Norway in April 1940, Swedish imports were reduced by approximately one-half and exports by about one-third in comparison with the average volume of 1936-1938."---> The Swedish government felt that it was in no position to openly contest Germany,<ref name="NB313-319"/><!---Nordstrom, pg. 315 "Charting a path that might ensure the survival of the state was the government's primary goal."---><!---Nordstrom, p. 319 "For a time virtually all of Sweden's production of industrial goods and raw materials went to Germany in exchange for necessary fuels, food stuffs, and manufactured goods."---> and therefore made some concessions.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zubicky|first=Sioma|year=1997|title=Med förintelsen i bagaget|language=]|publisher=Bonnier Carlsen|location=Stockholm|isbn=91-638-3436-7|page=122}}</ref> Sweden also supplied steel and machined parts to Germany throughout the war. However, Sweden supported Norwegian resistance, and in 1943 helped rescue Danish Jews from deportation to ].


Until 2022, Sweden generally remained non-aligned militarily, although it participated in some joint military exercises with the ] (NATO) and some other countries, stationed its troops under NATO command in ], took part in EU-sponsored ] operations in ], ], and ], and ] a ] over Libya during the ]. In addition, there was extensive cooperation with other European countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry; some Swedish-made weaponry was used by ] militaries in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207 |title=New Swedish weapon in Iraq |newspaper=] |date=7 February 2006 |access-date=10 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429052619/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207 |archive-date=29 April 2013}}</ref> In response to the ], Sweden moved to formally join NATO, alongside Finland.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/29/world/europe/nato-sweden-finland.html|title=NATO formally invites Finland and Sweden to join the alliance.|first1=Steven|last1=Erlanger|first2=Michael D.|last2=Shear|newspaper=The New York Times|date=29 June 2022|access-date=30 June 2022|archive-date=30 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630025533/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/29/world/europe/nato-sweden-finland.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After many months of delays caused by the objections of Turkey and Hungary, Sweden became a NATO member on 7 March 2024.<ref>{{cite news | title= Turkey's Erdogan to back Sweden joining Nato | url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66160319.amp | access-date= 10 July 2023 | archive-date= 10 July 2023 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230710195636/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66160319.amp | url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="Krisztina Than 2024 j792">{{cite web | last=Krisztina Than | first=Niklas Pollard | title=Sweden clears final hurdle to join NATO as Hungary approves accession | website=Reuters | date=26 February 2024 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hungary-set-ratify-swedens-nato-accession-clearing-last-hurdle-2024-02-26/ | access-date=28 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="NATO Sweden Accession Protocol" />
Toward the end of the war, Sweden began to play a role in humanitarian efforts and many refugees, among them many Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, were saved partly because of the Swedish involvement in rescue missions at the internment camps and partly because Sweden served as a haven for refugees, primarily from the ] and the ].<ref name="NB313-319"/><!---Nordstrom, p. 317: "In the last year of the war, Sweden became a factor in humanitarian efforts and attempts to end the war. It also became a haven for refugees from ''Norden'' and the Baltic states, and Swedes were involved in rescuing Scandinavian victims of internment camps." --- Nordstrom, p. 318: "By late 1943 Sweden was a haven for some 11,000 refugees from Denmark, including over 7,000 Danish Jews, and about 30,000 Norwegians."---> Nevertheless, internal and external critics have argued that Sweden could have done more to resist the Nazi war effort, even if risking occupation.<ref name="NB313-319">Nordstrom, pp. 313–319.</ref>


In recent decades Sweden has become a more culturally diverse nation due to significant immigration; in 2013, it was estimated that 15% of the population was foreign-born, and an additional 5% of the population were born to two immigrant parents. The influx of immigrants has brought new social challenges. Violent incidents have ]<ref>{{cite news |title=Rioting breaks out in Malmö suburb |url=http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ |newspaper=] |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726145940/http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ |archive-date=26 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fires and rioting after Malmö suburb unrest |url=http://www.thelocal.se/26354/20100429/ |newspaper=] |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205114737/http://www.thelocal.se/26354/20100429/ |archive-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> including the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden Riots Put Faces to Statistics as Stockholm Burns|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-26/sweden-riots-put-faces-to-statistics-as-stockholm-burns.html|publisher=]|access-date=30 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708032558/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-26/sweden-riots-put-faces-to-statistics-as-stockholm-burns.html|archive-date=8 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In response to these violent events, the ] opposition party, the ], promoted their anti-immigration policies, while the ] opposition blamed growing inequality caused by the ] government's socioeconomic policies.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |last=Higgins |first=Andrew |date=26 May 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/swedens-riots-put-its-identity-in-question.html?pagewanted=all |title=In Sweden, Riots Put an Identity in Question |newspaper=] |access-date=1 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531100256/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/swedens-riots-put-its-identity-in-question.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Cold War===
Sweden publicly claimed to be a neutral country and the image was forcefully maintained, but unofficially Sweden's leadership had strong ties with the ]. In the early 1960s Sweden and the United States agreed to deploy ]s off the Swedish west coast. In the same year Sweden made a defence pact with the United States.


Sweden was heavily affected by the ], eventually forcing the government to tighten regulations of entry to the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/world/europe/sweden-denmark-border-check-migrants.html?_r=0|title=Sweden and Denmark add border controls to stem flows of migrants|newspaper=]|first=Dan|last=Bilefsky|date=5 January 2016|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107062853/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/world/europe/sweden-denmark-border-check-migrants.html?_r=0|archive-date=7 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the asylum restrictions were relaxed again later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190619/sweden-rolls-back-strict-rules-on-family-reunification|title=Immigration: Sweden rolls back strict rules on family reunification|date=19 June 2019|access-date=7 August 2019|archive-date=17 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717112506/https://www.thelocal.se/20190619/sweden-rolls-back-strict-rules-on-family-reunification|url-status=live}}</ref>
Following the war, Sweden took advantage of an intact industrial base, social stability and its natural resources to expand its industry to supply the rebuilding of Europe.<ref name="NB335-339">Nordstrom, pp. 335–339.</ref><!---Recovery from the material damage and economic shocks of the war was more rapid than many expected."---> Sweden was part of the ] and participated in the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (]). During most of the post-war era, the country was governed by the ] (in ]: ''Socialdemokraterna''). Social democrats imposed ] policies: favouring big capitalist corporations and big unions, especially ], affiliated with Social Democrats.<ref name="svensteinmo">''Globalization and Taxation: Challenges to the Swedish Welfare State''. By Sven Steinmo.</ref> The amount of bureaucrats rose from normal levels in the 1960s to very high levels by the 1980s.<ref name="svensteinmo"/> Sweden was open to trade and pursued an internationally competitive manufacturing sector. Growth was good until 1970s.


On 30 November 2021, ] became Sweden's first female prime minister.<ref name="reuters1">{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Simon |last2=Pollard |first2=Niklas |title=Sweden's first female premier returns days after quitting |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/swedish-parliament-elects-social-democrat-leader-new-pm-again-2021-11-29/ |work=Reuters |date=29 November 2021 |language=en |access-date=1 December 2021 |archive-date=14 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214180125/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/swedish-parliament-elects-social-democrat-leader-new-pm-again-2021-11-29/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news |title=Magdalena Andersson: Sweden's first female PM returns after resignation |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59459733 |work=BBC News |date=29 November 2021 |access-date=1 December 2021 |archive-date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129132906/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59459733 |url-status=live }}</ref> The September 2022 general ] ended in a narrow win to a bloc of right-wing parties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=Maddy |last2=Wertheimer |first2=Tiffany |date=15 September 2022 |title=Magdalena Andersson: Swedish PM resigns as right-wing parties win vote |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62908902 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914204453/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62908902 |archive-date=14 September 2022 |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=]}}</ref> On 18 October 2022, ] of the Moderate Party became the new Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Michael |date=18 October 2022 |title=Ulf Kristersson names ministers in his three-party government |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/ulf-kristersson-names-ministers-in-his-three-party-government |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018101540/https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/ulf-kristersson-names-ministers-in-his-three-party-government |archive-date=18 October 2022 |accessdate=18 October 2022 |newspaper=]}}</ref>
Sweden, like countries around the globe, entered a period of economic decline and upheaval, following the oil embargoes of 1973–74 and 1978–79.<ref>Nordstrom, p. 344: "During the last twenty-five years of the century a host of problems plagued the economies of Norden and the West. Although many were present before, the 1973 and 1980 global oil crises acted as catalysts in bringing them to the fore."</ref> In the 1980s pillars of Swedish industry were massively restructured. Shipbuilding was discontinued, wood pulp was integrated into modernized paper production, the steel industry was concentrated and specialized, and mechanical engineering was robotized.<ref>Krantz, Olle and Lennart Schön. 2007. Swedish Historical National Accounts, 1800–2000. Lund: Almqvist and Wiksell International.</ref>


==Geography==
Between 1970 and 1990 the overall tax burden rose by over 10%, and the growth was very low compared to most other countries in Western Europe. The marginal income tax for workers reached over 80%. Eventually government spent over half of the country's ]. Sweden steadily declined from its perennial top five GDP per capita ranking. Since the late 1970s, Sweden's economic policies were increasingly questioned by economists and Ministry of Finance officials.<ref name="svensteinmo"/>
{{Main|Geography of Sweden}}
]]]
Situated in Northern Europe, Sweden lies west of the ] and ], providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the ]. To the west is the ] ({{Lang|sv|Skanderna}}), a range that separates Sweden from Norway. Finland is located to its north-east. It has maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, ], ] and ], and it is also linked to Denmark (south-west) by the ]. Its border with Norway (] long) is the longest uninterrupted border within Europe.


Sweden lies between latitudes ] and ], and mostly between longitudes ] and ] (part of ] island is just west of 11°).
] has been Sweden's king and ] since 1973.
] island, ]]]


At {{convert|449964|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, Sweden is the 55th-largest country in the world,<ref>{{cite web |title=Country Comparison: Area |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Sweden&countryCode=sw&regionCode=eu&rank=55#sw |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602150716/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Sweden&countryCode=sw&regionCode=eu&rank=55#sw |archive-date=2 June 2010 |access-date=19 August 2010 |publisher=]}}</ref> the ] in Europe, and the largest country in Northern Europe. The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of Lake Hammarsjön, near ], at {{convert|-2.41|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} below sea level. The highest point is ] at {{convert|2111|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} ].
===Recent history===
{{See also|History of Sweden (since 1989)}}
].]]
A bursting ] bubble caused by inadequate controls on lending combined with an ] recession and a policy switch from anti-unemployment policies to anti-inflationary policies resulted in a fiscal crisis in the early 1990s.<ref>Englund, P. 1990. "Financial deregulation in Sweden." European Economic Review 34 (2–3): 385–393. Korpi TBD. Meidner, R. 1997. "The Swedish model in an era of mass unemployment." Economic and Industrial Democracy 18 (1): 87–97. Olsen, Gregg M. 1999. "Half empty or half full? The Swedish welfare state in transition." Canadian Review of Sociology & Anthropology, 36 (2): 241–268.</ref> Sweden's GDP declined by around 5%. In 1992, there was a run on the currency, with the central bank briefly jacking up interest to 500%.


Sweden has 25 ] or {{Lang|sv|landskap}}. While these provinces serve no political or administrative purpose, they play an important role in people's ]. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large '']'', parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. The sparsely populated Norrland encompasses almost 60% of the country. Sweden also has the ], one of the largest protected areas in Europe, totaling 562,772 ha (approx. 5,628&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}).
The response of the government was to cut spending and institute a multitude of reforms to improve Sweden's competitiveness, among them reducing the ] and ] public services and goods. Much of the political establishment promoted EU membership, and the Swedish referendum passed with 52% in favour of joining the EU on 13 November 1994. Sweden joined the ] on 1 January 1995.


About 15% of Sweden lies north of the ]. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65% of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests. The highest population density is in the ] in southern Sweden, along the western coast up to central Bohuslän, and in the valley of lake ] and Stockholm. Gotland and ] are Sweden's largest ]; ] and ] are its largest lakes. Vänern is the third largest in Europe, after ] and ] in Russia. Combined with the third- and fourth-largest lakes Mälaren and ], these lakes take up a significant part of southern Sweden's area. Sweden's extensive waterway availability throughout the south was exploited with the building of the ] in the 19th century, shortening the potential distance between the Baltic Sea south of ] and ] by using the lake and river network to facilitate the canal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotakanal.se/en/|title=Göta kanal official website|publisher=]|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112033839/http://www.gotakanal.se/en/|archive-date=12 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sweden remains non-aligned militarily, although it participates in some joint military exercises with ] and some other countries, in addition to extensive cooperation with other European countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry. Among others, Swedish companies export weapons that are used by the American military in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207|title=New Swedish weapon in Iraq|author=The Local|accessdate=2007-06-23}}</ref> Sweden also has a long history of participating in international military operations, including most recently, ], where Swedish troops are under NATO command, and in EU sponsored peacekeeping operations in ] protectorate ], ], and ]. Sweden held the chair of the ] from July 1st to December 31st, 2009.


Sweden also has ] draining the lakes. Northern and central Sweden have several wide rivers known as {{Lang|sv|älvar}}, commonly sourced within the Scandinavian Mountains. The longest river is ]-], which originates in ] in central Norway, running {{convert|720|mi|km|order=flip}} before it enters the sea at ]. In southern Sweden, narrower rivers known as {{Lang|sv|åar}} are also common. The vast majority of municipal seats are set either on the sea, a river or a lake and the majority of the country's population live in coastal municipalities.
==Geography and climate==
] map of Sweden]]
{{Main|Geography of Sweden}}
].]]
Situated in ] ], Sweden lies west of the ] and ], providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the ]. To the west is the ] (Skanderna), a range that separates Sweden from ]. ] is located to its northeast. It has maritime borders with ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], and it is also linked to ] (southwest) by the ].
At {{convert|449964|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, Sweden is the 55th largest country in the world. It is the 5th largest in Europe, and the largest in Northern Europe. The land area is equal to ] with a population in 2008 of over 9.2 million people.


===Climate===
The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of ], near ] at {{convert|-2.41|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} below sea level. The highest point is ] at {{convert|2111|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} ].
{{Main|Climate of Sweden}}
Most of Sweden has a ], despite its northern ], with largely four distinct seasons and mild temperatures throughout the year. The winter in the far south is usually weak and is manifested only through some shorter periods with snow and sub-zero temperatures; autumn may well turn into spring there, without a distinct period of winter. The northern parts of the country have a ] while the central parts have a ]. The coastal south can be defined as having either a ] using the 0&nbsp;°C isotherm, or an ] using the -3&nbsp;°C isotherm.


Due to the increased maritime moderation in the peninsular south, summer differences between the coastlines of the southernmost and northernmost regions are about {{convert|2|C-change|0}} in summer and {{convert|10|C-change}} in winter. This grows further when comparing areas in the northern interior where the winter difference in the far north is about {{convert|15|C-change}} throughout the country. The warmest summers usually happen in the ] around ]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smhi.se/data/meteorologi/dataserier-med-normalvarden-for-perioden-1991-2020-1.167775|title=Dataserier med normalvärden för perioden 1991–2020|publisher=]|language=sv|access-date=1 November 2021|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528152859/https://www.smhi.se/data/meteorologi/dataserier-med-normalvarden-for-perioden-1991-2020-1.167775|url-status=live}}</ref> due to the vast landmass shielding the middle east coast from Atlantic low-pressure systems in July. Daytime highs in Sweden's municipal seats vary from {{convert|19|C|F}} to {{convert|24|C|F}} in July and {{convert|-9|C|F}} to {{convert|3|C|F}} in January. The colder temperatures are influenced by the higher elevation in the northern interior. At sea level, the coldest average highs range from {{convert|21|C|F}} to {{convert|-6|C|F}}. As a result of the mild summers, the arctic region of ] has some of the northernmost ] in the world.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 October 2021 |title=Det norrländska klimatets fördelar |trans-title=The Norrland climate's advantages |url=https://www.slu.se/fakulteter/vh/samverkan/regional-jordbruksforskning-for-norra-sverige/rjn-det-norrlandska-klimatets-fordelar/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101183237/https://www.slu.se/fakulteter/vh/samverkan/regional-jordbruksforskning-for-norra-sverige/rjn-det-norrlandska-klimatets-fordelar/ |archive-date=1 November 2021 |access-date=1 November 2021 |publisher=] |language=sv}}</ref>
Sweden has 25 ] or ''landskap'' (landscapes), based on ], geography and ]; ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. While these provinces serve no political or administrative purpose, they play an important role for people's self-identification. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large '']'', parts, the northern ], the central ] and southern ]. The sparsely populated Norrland encompasses almost 60% of the country.


Sweden is much warmer and drier than other places at a similar latitude, and even somewhat farther south, mainly because of the combination of the ]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml |publisher=BBC |title=BBC Climate and the Gulf Stream |access-date=29 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928040727/http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml |archive-date=28 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ |title=The Gulf Stream Myth |journal=Monthly Weather Review |volume=28 |issue=9 |pages=393–394 |access-date=29 October 2008 |bibcode=1900MWRv...28..393W |last1=Watts |first1=Harvey Maitland |year=1900 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1900)282.0.CO;2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225021029/http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ |archive-date=25 February 2011 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> and the general west wind drift, caused by the direction of Earth's rotation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm |publisher=] |title=Global Climate Maps |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117173015/http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/sustdev/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm |archive-date=17 November 2006}}</ref> Because of Sweden's high latitude, the length of daylight varies greatly. North of the Arctic Circle, the ] for part of each summer, and ] for part of each winter. In the capital, ], daylight lasts for more than 18 hours in late June but only around 6 hours in late December. Sweden receives between 1,100 and 1,900 hours of sunshine annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Normal solskenstid för ett år |trans-title=Normal daylight hours for a year |url=http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826085626/http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |archive-date=26 August 2010 |access-date=27 January 2010 |publisher=] |language=sv}}</ref>
About 15% of Sweden lies north of the ]. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65% of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests. The highest population density is in the ] region in southern Sweden and in the valley of lake ] near to Stockholm. ] and ] are Sweden's largest ]; ] and ] are its largest lakes. Vänern is the third largest in Europe, after ] and ] in Russia.


The highest temperature ever recorded in Sweden was {{convert|38|°C|°F|abbr=on}} in ] in 1947,{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} while the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-52.6|°C|1|abbr=on}} in ] on 2 February 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data.php?month=02&year=1966&id=SWE00140744&path=weather_stations/sw000000000_szz99999999/SWE00140744.dly&name=Vuoggatjalme&country=Sweden |title=Weather Data: Sweden, Vuoggatjalme, 1966, February |publisher=geographic.org |access-date=27 June 2020 |archive-date=29 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629142510/https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data.php?month=02&year=1966&id=SWE00140744&path=weather_stations/sw000000000_szz99999999/SWE00140744.dly&name=Vuoggatjalme&country=Sweden |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Climate===


On average, most of Sweden receives between {{convert|500|and|800|mm|0|abbr=on}} of precipitation each year, making it considerably drier than the ]. The south-western part of the country receives more precipitation, between {{convert|1000|and|1200|mm|0|abbr=on}}, and some mountain areas in the north are estimated to receive up to {{convert|2000|mm|0|abbr=on}}. Despite northerly locations, southern and central Sweden may have almost no snow in some winters. Most of Sweden is located in the ] of the Scandinavian Mountains through Norway and north-west Sweden. It is predicted that as the ] gets less frozen in the coming winters, becoming thus "Atlantified", additional evaporation will increase future snowfalls in Sweden and much of continental Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Arctic sea-ice loss fuels extreme European snowfall|journal=]|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00719-y|last1=Bailey|first1=Hannah|date=1 April 2021|last2=Hubbard|first2=Alun|last3=Klen|first3=Eric S.|last4=Mustonen|first4=Kaisa-Riikka|last5=Akers|first5=Pete D.|last6=Marttila|first6=Hannu|last7=Welker|first7=Jeffrey M.|volume=14|issue=5|pages=283–288|doi=10.1038/s41561-021-00719-y|issn=1752-0894|bibcode=2021NatGe..14..283B|hdl=10037/20941|s2cid=232765992|hdl-access=free|access-date=3 April 2021|archive-date=28 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128085554/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00719-y|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{wide image|Kebnekaise Panorama.jpg|900px|The ].}}


===Vegetation===
Most of Sweden has a ], despite its northern ], with four distinct seasons and mild temperatures throughout the year. The country can be divided into three types of climate; the southernmost part has an ], the central part has a ] and the northernmost part has a ].<ref>{{cite web|author=Česky |url=http://en.wikipedia.org/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification |title=Climate classification |publisher=En.wikipedia.org |date= |accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref>
{{See also|Wildlife of Sweden}}
However, Sweden is much warmer and drier than other places at a similar latitude, and even somewhat further south, mainly because of the ].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml | title=BBC Climate and the Gulf Stream | accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ | title=The Gulf Stream Myth | accessdate=2008-10-29}}</ref> For example, central and southern Sweden has much warmer winters than many parts of Russia, Canada, and the northern United States.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm | title=Global Climate Maps}}</ref> Because of its high latitude, the length of daylight varies greatly. North of the ], the sun never sets for part of each summer, and it never rises for part of each winter. In the capital, ], daylight lasts for more than 18 hours in late June but only around 6 hours in late December. Sweden receives between 1,100 to 1,900 hours of sunshine annually.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7608&a=21429&l=sv | title=Number of hours with sunshine (map) | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |title=Normal solskenstid för ett år &#124; SMHI |language={{sv icon}} |publisher=Smhi.se |date= |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref>
]
Sweden has a considerable south to north distance which causes large climatic difference, especially during the winter. The related matter of the length and strength of the four seasons plays a role in which plants that ''naturally'' can grow at various places. Sweden is divided into five major vegetation zones. These are:
* The southern deciduous forest zone
* The southern coniferous forest zone
* The northern coniferous forest zone, or the ]
* The alpine-birch zone
* The bare mountain zone


Southern deciduous forest zone, also known as the nemoral region, the southern deciduous forest zone is a part of a larger vegetation zone which also includes Denmark and large parts of Central Europe. It has to a rather large degree become agricultural areas, but larger and smaller forests still exist. The region is characterised by a large wealth of trees and shrubs. The ] is the most dominant tree, but ] can also form smaller forests. ] at one time formed forests, but have been heavily reduced due to ]. Other important trees and shrubs in this zone include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] along creeks, and in sandy soil ] compete with ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Södra lövskogsregionen |url=https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-lovskogsregionen/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044304/https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-lovskogsregionen/ |archive-date=12 October 2017 |access-date=11 October 2017 |website=Skogskunskap |publisher=] |language=sv}}</ref> ] is not native but between approximately 1870 and 1980, large areas were planted with it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Skog och bebyggelse |trans-title=Forest and Buildings |url=http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/historia-utveckling/skogens-landskap/skog-och-bebyggelse/Pages/index.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012055002/http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/historia-utveckling/skogens-landskap/skog-och-bebyggelse/Pages/index.aspx |archive-date=12 October 2017 |website= |publisher=] |language=sv |quote=Granskogen, som spreds norrifrån, nådde inte Skåne förrän mot slutet av 1800-talet. Under 1900-talets första hälft planterades stora arealer granskog. |trans-quote=The spruce forest, which spread from the north, did not reach Scania until the end of the 19th century. During the first half of the 20th century, large areas of spruce forest were planted.}}</ref> During the last 40–50 years large areas of former spruce plantings have been replanted with deciduous forest.<ref>About the 1984 "Ädellövskogslagen" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044321/http://www.naturait.se/adellovskogen/|date=12 October 2017}} – "''I Sydsverige (Skåne, Halland och Blekinge) skall minst 70% av beståndet utgöras av ädellöv. Enligt ädellövskogslagen skall efter slutavverkning, alltid ny ädellövskog anläggas på sådana marker.''" or "In southern Sweden (Scania, Halland and Blekinge) at least 70% of the stock must be of ]. According to the 'edible deciduous forests law', after ever harvesting, new deciduous forests must always be planted on such fields." (in these three provinces)</ref>
Temperatures vary greatly from north to south. Southern and central parts of the country have warm summers and cold winters, with average high temperatures of {{convert|20|to|25|°C|F|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7628&a=21614&l=sv | title=July average high temperature map | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
and lows of {{convert|12|to|15|°C|F|0|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7628&a=21654&l=sv | title=July average low temperature map | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
in the summer, and average temperatures of {{convert|-4|to|2|°C|F|0|abbr=on}} in the winter,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7628&a=21572&l=sv | title=January daily average temperature map | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
while the northern part of the country has shorter, cooler summers and longer, colder and snowier winters, with temperatures that often drop below freezing from September through May.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7628&a=21704&l=sv | title=Date of first autumn frost (map) | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7628&a=21706&l=sv | title=Date of last spring frost (map) | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref>
Occasional heatwaves can occur a few times each year, and temperatures above 25&nbsp;°C (77&nbsp;°F) occur on many days during the summer, sometimes even in the north.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Sweden was 38&nbsp;°C in ] in 1947, while the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-52.6|°C|1|abbr=on}} in ] in 1966.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7522&a=20978&l=sv | title=Low temperature extremes | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7522&a=20974&l=sv | title=High temperature extremes | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref>


Southern coniferous forest zone, also known as the boreo-nemoral region, is delimited by the ]'s northern natural limit (''limes norrlandicus'') and the ]'s southern natural limit,<ref>{{cite web |title=Södra barrskogsregionen |url=https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-barrskogsregionen/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013120343/https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-barrskogsregionen/ |archive-date=13 October 2017 |access-date=13 October 2017 |website=Skogskunskap |publisher=]}}</ref> between the southern deciduous zone and the ] farther north. In the southern parts of this zone the coniferous species are found, mainly ] and ], mixed with various deciduous trees. ] grows largely everywhere. The ]'s northern boundary crosses this zone. Although in its natural area, also ''planted'' Spruce are common, and such woods are very dense, as the spruces can grow very tight, especially in this vegetation zone's southern areas.
On average, most of Sweden receives between 500 and 800&nbsp;mm (20 and 31&nbsp;in) of precipitation each year, making it considerably drier than the ]. The southwestern part of the country receives more precipitation, between 1000 and 1200&nbsp;mm (39 and 47&nbsp;in), and some mountain areas in the north are estimated to receive up to 2000&nbsp;mm (79&nbsp;in). Snowfall mainly occurs from December through March in southern Sweden, from November through April in central Sweden, and from October through May in northern Sweden. Despite northerly locations, southern and central Sweden tend to be virtually free of snow in some winters.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=7618&a=21516&l=sv | title=Annual precipitation map | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}}</ref><ref name="Sweden's climate">{{cite web | url=http://www.smhi.se/cmp/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=5441 | title=Sweden's climate | publisher=Swedish Meteorological Institute}} (in Swedish, see also the )</ref>


The northern coniferous forest zone or the ] begins north of the natural boundary of the ]. Of deciduous species the ] is the only one of significance. ] and ] are dominant, but the forests are slowly but surely more sparsely grown the farther towards the north it gets. In the extreme north is it difficult to state the trees forms true forests at all, due to the large distances between the trees.<ref name="RydénMigula2003">{{cite book|author1=Lars Rydén|author2=Pawel Migula|author3=Magnus Andersson|title=Environmental science: understanding, protecting and managing the environment in the Baltic Sea region|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VIopLSQyI5MC&pg=PA82|year=2003|publisher=Baltic University Press|isbn=978-91-970017-0-0|page=82|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113713/https://books.google.com/books?id=VIopLSQyI5MC&pg=PA82#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;background:#e8eafa;"|'''Average high and low temperatures in various cities in Sweden (°C)<ref>{{cite web|author=weather |url=http://www.msn.com/weather |title=Local, National, and International Weather - Forecasts, Radar Maps, Video, and News |publisher=Msn.com |date= |accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref>
|-
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black; height:17px;"| City
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Jan
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Feb
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Mar
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Apr
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | May
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Jun
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Jul
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Aug
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Sep
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Oct
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Nov
! style="background:#e5afaa; color:black;" | Dec
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:black; height:16px;"| ]
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | -10/-16
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | -8/-15
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | -4/-13
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 2/-7
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 8/0
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 14/6
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 17/8
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 14/6
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 9/2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 1/-4
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | -5/-10
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | -8/-15
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:black; height:16px;"| ]
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | -5/-10
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | -3/-9
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 0/-6
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 5/-2
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 12/3
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 16/8
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 18/10
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 17/10
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 12/6
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 6/2
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 0/-3
| style="text-align:center; background:*f8f3ca; color:black;" | -3/-8
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:black; height:16px;"| ]
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 1/-2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 1/-3
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 4/-2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 11/3
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 16/8
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 20/12
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 23/15
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 22/14
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 17/10
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 10/6
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 5/2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 1/-1
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:black; height:16px;"| ] ''(Göteborg)''
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 2/-1
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 4/-1
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 6/0
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 11/3
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 16/8
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 19/12
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 22/14
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 22/14
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 18/10
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 12/6
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 7/3
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 3/-1
|-
! style="background:#c5dfe1; color:black; height:16px;"| ]
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 1/-2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 1/-3
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 3/-2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 9/1
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 14/6
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 18/10
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 21/13
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 20/13
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 16/9
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 10/6
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 5/2
| style="text-align:center; background:#c5dfe1; color:black;" | 2/0
|-
! style="background:#f8f3ca; color:black; height:16px;"| ]
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 3/-1
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 3/-1
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 6/0
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 12/3
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 17/8
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 19/11
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 22/13
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 22/14
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 18/10
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 12/6
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 8/4
| style="text-align:center; background:#f8f3ca; color:black;" | 4/1
''
|}


The alpine-birch zone, in the Scandinavian mountains, depending on both latitude and altitude, is an area where only a smaller kind of ] (''Betula pubescens'' or ''B.tortuosa'') can grow. Where this vegetation zone ends, no trees grow at all: the bare mountain zone.<ref>Swedish Encyclopedia "Bonniers Lexikon", vol 13 of 15, article "Sverige", Sweden, columns 1046–1050</ref>
==Government==
{{Main|Politics of Sweden}}


Sweden had a 2019 ] mean score of 5.35/10, ranking it 103rd globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G }}</ref> Sweden was ranked sixth in the ] in 2024. The index combines various indicators around known issues around the world, and measures how good they fit in among each countries on a scale. Sweden scores good in parameters like air pollution, air quality, waste management, sanitation and drinking water etc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Environmental Performance Index - Sweden |url=https://epi.yale.edu/country/2024/SWE |access-date=15 October 2024 |website=Environmental Performance Index |language=en}}</ref>
Sweden is a ], in which ] is head of state, but royal power has long been limited to official and ceremonial functions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/CommonPage____2713.aspx |title=Sweden in Brief/A Political Society |publisher=Sweden.se |accessdate=2007-02-14}}</ref> The ], while acknowledging that democracy is difficult to measure, listed Sweden in first place in its index of democracy assessing 167 countries.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/DEMOCRACY_TABLE_2007_v3.pdf |title=Economist Intelligence Unit democracy index 2006 |accessdate=2007-10-09 |year=2007 |format=PDF |publisher=] }}</ref> The nation's legislative body is the ] (Swedish Parliament), with 349 members, which chooses the ]. Parliamentary elections are held every four years, on the third Sunday of September.
]


===Counties and municipalities=== ==Government and politics==
{{multiple image
{{Main|Counties of Sweden|Municipalities of Sweden}}
| align = right
| total_width = 320


| image1 = King Carl XVI Gustaf at National Day 2009 Cropped.png
Sweden is a ], currently divided into ] ({{lang|sv|'']''}}): ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].
| alt1 = Monarch
| caption1 = ] <br/> ] <Br/> since 1973


| image2 = Ulf Kristersson, June 2023 (cropped).jpg
Each county has a ] or ''länsstyrelse'', which is appointed by the ] (the first Swedish County Administrative Board was made up by the Swedish Prime Minister ] in 1634). In each county there is also a separate ] or ''landsting'', which is elected directly by the people.
| alt2 = Prime Minister
| caption2 = ] <br/> ] <Br/> since 2022


| footer =
Each county further divides into a number of ] or ''kommuner'', with a total of 290 municipalities in 2004. ] government in Sweden is similar to ] and ]. A legislative municipal assembly ''(])'' of between 31 and 101 members (always an uneven number) is elected from ] at municipal elections, held every four years in conjunction with the national parliamentary elections.
}}


Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements" ({{Lang|sv|Folkrörelser}}), the most notable being trade unions, the independent Christian movement, the temperance movement, the ], and the ] movements. Sweden was the first country in the world to outlaw ] of children by their parents (parents' right to spank their own children was first removed in 1966, and it was explicitly prohibited by law from July 1979<ref name="Durrant 1996">{{cite book |last=Durrant |first=Joan E. |editor1=Frehsee, Detlev |display-editors=etal |title=Family Violence Against Children: A Challenge for Society |date=1996 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-014996-8 |page=20 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8IyJkWAAXjkC&q=%22swedish+ban+on+corporal+punishment%22 |chapter=The Swedish Ban on Corporal Punishment: Its History and Effects |access-date=17 September 2020 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113712/https://books.google.com/books?id=8IyJkWAAXjkC&q=%22swedish+ban+on+corporal+punishment%22#v=snippet&q=%22swedish%20ban%20on%20corporal%20punishment%22&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>).
The municipalities are divided into a total of 2,512 ], or ''församlingar''. These have traditionally been a subdivision of the ] but still have importance as districts for census and elections.
There are older historical divisions, primarily the ] and ], which still retain cultural significance.
{{See|Subdivisions of Sweden|National Areas of Sweden}}


Sweden is currently leading the EU in statistics measuring ] in the political system and equality in the education system.<ref name=EUEqualityReport>{{cite web|publisher=] |work=] |title=Report On The Equality Between Men And Women |url=http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf |date=February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817175053/http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2007}}</ref> The ''Global Gender Gap Report 2006'' ranked Sweden as the number one country in terms of ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Nordic countries rank highest in gender equality |url=http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?lang=6&id=6605 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821110128/http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?id=6605&lang=6 |archive-date=21 August 2007 |access-date=6 May 2009 |publisher=]}}</ref>
===Political history===
] (Swedish) and ] (Geats) in the 12th century, with modern borders in grey]]
The actual age of the kingdom of Sweden is unknown.<ref name="sh">Hadenius, Stig; Nilsson, Torbjörn; Åselius, Gunnar (1996) ''Sveriges historia: vad varje svensk bör veta''. Bonnier Alba, Borås. ISBN 91-34-51857-6 (in Swedish) (1996:13):
{|
|-
| &nbsp;
|Hur och när det svenska riket uppstod vet vi inte. Först under 1100-talet börjar skriftliga dokument produceras i Sverige i någon större omfattning
| &nbsp;
|How and when the Swedish kingdom appeared is not known. It is not until the 12th century that written document begin to be produced in Sweden in any larger extent
|}</ref> It depends mostly on whether Sweden should be considered a nation when the '']'' (Swedes) ruled ] or if the emergence of the nation started with the ''Svear'' and the '']'' (]) of ] being united under one ruler. In the first case, Sweden was first mentioned as having one single ruler in the year 98 by ], but it is almost impossible to know for how long it had been this way. However, historians usually start the line of ] from when Svealand and Götaland were ruled under the same king, namely ] and his son ] in the 10th century. These events are often described as the ], although substantial areas were conquered and incorporated later.


===Constitutional framework===
Earlier kings, for which no reliable historical sources exist, can be read about in ] and ]. Many of these kings are only mentioned in various ] and blend with ].
{{Main|Politics of Sweden}}
], in central ], has been the seat of the Government since 1981.<ref name="The Swedish Government Offices – a historical perspective">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/4140/ |title=The Swedish Government Offices – a historical perspective |publisher=] |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024144929/http://www.government.se/sb/d/4140/ |archive-date=24 October 2014}}</ref>]]


Sweden has four ] ({{langx|sv|grundlagar}}) which together form the ]: the Instrument of Government ({{langx|sv|Regeringsformen}}), the ] ({{langx|sv|Successionsordningen}}), the ] ({{langx|sv|Tryckfrihetsförordningen}}), and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression ({{langx|sv|Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen}}).<ref name="The Constitution">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/| title = The Constitution| publisher = The ]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141110215202/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/| archive-date = 10 November 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Petersson:38-40">]: pp. 38–40.</ref>
The title ''Sveriges och Götes Konung'' was last used for ], after which the title became "], ] and ]" (''Sveriges, Götes och Vendes Konung'') in official documentation. Up until the beginning of the 1920s, all laws in Sweden were introduced with the words, "We, the king of Sweden, of the Goths and Wends". This title was used up until 1973.<ref>. SFS 1973:702. Justitiedepartementet L6, 19 September 1973.</ref> The present King of Sweden, ], was the first monarch officially proclaimed "King of Sweden" (''Sveriges Konung'') with no additional peoples mentioned in his title.


The public sector in Sweden is divided into two parts: the ] known as the State ({{langx|sv|staten}}){{efn|The State ({{langx|sv|staten}}) is also descriptively translated into English as the "central government", not to be confused with the ], i.e. the cabinet which is but one organ of the State.}} and local authorities:{{efn|An alternate English translation is "local governments".}} the latter include ] ({{langx|sv|regioner}}) (renamed from county councils (''landsting'') in 2020<ref>{{cite web |last=Riksdagsförvaltningen |title=En ny beteckning för kommuner på regional nivå och vissa frågor om regionindelning Konstitutionsutskottets Betänkande 2019/20:KU3 - Riksdagen |url=https://riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/arende/betankande/en-ny-beteckning-for-kommuner-pa-regional-niva_H701KU3 |access-date=4 January 2020 |website=riksdagen.se |date=20 November 2019 |language=sv |archive-date=17 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217121509/https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/arende/betankande/en-ny-beteckning-for-kommuner-pa-regional-niva_H701KU3 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Viktigare lagar och förordningar inför årsskiftet 2019/202 |url=https://www.regeringen.se/4b0986/contentassets/05ff51dfa3c84ed18813b1d8815c29a0/viktigare-lagar-och-forordningar-infor-arsskiftet-2019_2020.pdf |website=] |access-date=4 September 2022 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230082658/https://www.regeringen.se/4b0986/contentassets/05ff51dfa3c84ed18813b1d8815c29a0/viktigare-lagar-och-forordningar-infor-arsskiftet-2019_2020.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>) and local ] ({{langx|sv|kommuner}}).<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:16-18">]: pp. 16–18.</ref><ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215">]: pp. 212–215.</ref><ref name="Petersson:92">]: p. 92.</ref><ref name="Petersson:174">]: p. 174.</ref> The local authorities, rather than the State, make up the larger part of the public sector in Sweden.<ref name="Petersson:79">]: p. 79.</ref> Regional Councils and Municipalities are independent of one another, the former merely covers a larger geographical area than the latter.<ref name="Petersson:79" /><ref name="Larsson & Bäck:210">]: p. 210.</ref> The local authorities have self-rule, as mandated by the Constitution, and their own tax base.<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215" /><ref name="Petersson:79-82">]: pp. 79–82.</ref> Notwithstanding their self-rule, local authorities are nevertheless in practice dependent upon the State, as the parameters of their responsibilities and the extent of their jurisdiction are specified in the Local Government Act ({{langx|sv|Kommunallagen}}) passed by the ].<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215" /><ref name="Petersson:80-82">]: pp. 80–82.</ref>
The term ''Riksdag'' was used for the first time in the 1540s, although the first meeting where representatives of different social groups were called to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole took place as early as 1435, in the town of ].<ref name="Riksdagen">The Swedish Parliament. . Retrieved 13 February 2007.</ref> During the assemblies of 1527 and 1544, under King ], representatives of all four ] (], ], ] and ]) were called on to participate for the first time.<ref name="Riksdagen"/> The monarchy became hereditary in 1544.


Sweden is a ], and ] ] is the ], but the role of the monarch is limited to ceremonial and representative functions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Monarchy: A modern royal family |url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Monarchy/Facts/Monarchy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425154216/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Monarchy/Facts/Monarchy/ |archive-date=25 April 2013 |access-date=13 March 2013 |publisher=]}}</ref> Under the provisions of the 1974 Instrument of Government, the King lacks any formal political power.<ref name="The Instrument of Government">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Instrument-of-Government/| title = The Instrument of Government| publisher = The ]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141024155000/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Instrument-of-Government/| archive-date = 24 October 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="The Head of State">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/2853/nocache/true/a/21785/dictionary/true |title=The Head of State |publisher=] |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225235411/http://www.government.se/sb/d/2853/nocache/true/a/21785/dictionary/true |archive-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> The King opens the annual Riksdag session, chairs the Special Council held during a change of Government, holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Government, chairs the meetings of the ''Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs'' ({{langx|sv|Utrikesnämnden}}), and receives ] of foreign ambassadors to Sweden and signs those of Swedish ambassadors sent abroad.<ref name="Duties of the Monarch">{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html | title = Duties of the Monarch | publisher = ] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150316041821/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html | archive-date = 16 March 2015 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="A new government is formed">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/A-new-government-is-formed/ | title = A new government is formed | publisher = The ] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141109002503/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/A-new-government-is-formed/ | archive-date = 9 November 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> In addition, the King pays ] and hosts those incoming.<ref name="Duties of the Monarch" />
Executive power was historically shared between the King and a noble ] until 1680, followed by the King's ] initiated by the common estates of the Parliament. As a reaction to the failed ], a ] was introduced in 1719, followed by three different flavours of ] in 1772, 1789 and 1809, ] granting several civil liberties. The monarch remains as the formal, but merely symbolic, ] with ] duties.


] is vested in the ] Riksdag with 349 members. ] are held every four years. Legislation may be initiated by the Government or by members of the Riksdag. Members are elected on the basis of ] to a four-year term. The internal workings of the Riksdag are, in addition to the Instrument of Government, regulated by the Riksdag Act ({{langx|sv|Riksdagsordningen}}).<ref name="The Riksdag Act – almost a fundamental law">{{cite web|url=https://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Riksdag-Act---almost-a-fundamental-law/ |title=The Riksdag Act – almost a fundamental law |publisher=The ] |access-date=9 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024155003/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Riksdag-Act---almost-a-fundamental-law/ |archive-date=24 October 2014}}</ref> The fundamental laws can be altered by the Riksdag alone; only an absolute majority with two separate votes, separated by a general election in between, is required.<ref name="The Constitution" />
The ] consisted of two chambers. In 1866 Sweden became a ] with a ] parliament, with the First Chamber indirectly elected by ]s, and the Second Chamber directly elected in national elections every four years. In 1971 the Riksdag became ]. Legislative power was (symbolically) shared between king and parliament until 1975. Swedish ] is controlled by the ] (parliament).


The ] ({{langx|sv|Regeringen}}) operates as a ] and consists of the ]{{mdash}}nominated by the ] and elected by a vote in the ]{{mdash}}and other ]s ({{langx|sv|Statsråd}}), appointed and dismissed at the sole discretion of the Prime Minister.<ref name="Forming a government">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/| title = Forming a government| publisher = The ]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141009160056/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/| archive-date = 9 October 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref> The Government is the supreme executive authority and is ].<ref name="IG">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | title = The Instrument of Government (as of 2012) | publisher = The ] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141008133940/http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | archive-date = 8 October 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
===Modern political system===
]]]
Constitutionally, the 349-member Riksdag (]) holds supreme authority in modern Sweden. The Riksdag is responsible for choosing the prime minister, who then appoints the government (the ministers). The ] is then shared between the parliament and the Prime Minister led government. The ] is exercised by the government, while the ] is independent. Sweden lacks compulsory ], although the non-compulsory review carried out by ''lagrådet'' (Law Council) is mostly respected in technical matters but less so in controversial political matters. Acts of the parliament and government decrees can be made inapplicable at every level if they are manifestly against constitutional laws. However, because of the restrictions in this form of judicial review and a weak judiciary, this has had little practical consequence.


Most of the State administrative authorities ({{langx|sv|statliga förvaltningsmyndigheter}}) report to the Government. A unique feature of Swedish State administration is that individual cabinet ministers ''do not bear any'' ] for the performance of the agencies within their portfolio; as the ] and other heads of government agencies reports directly to the Government as a whole; and individual ministers are prohibited to interfere; thus the origin of the pejorative in Swedish political parlance term '']'' (English: "ministerial rule") in matters that are to be handled by the individual agencies, unless otherwise specifically provided for in law.
Legislation may be initiated by the cabinet or by members of Parliament. Members are elected on the basis of ] for a four-year term. The ] can be altered by the Riksdag, which requires a simple but absolute majority and two decisions with general elections in between. Sweden has three other constitutional laws: the Act of Royal Succession, the Freedom of Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression.


The ] is independent from the Riksdag, Government and other State administrative authorities.<ref name="The Swedish courts">{{cite web | url = http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/ | title = The Swedish courts | publisher = ] | access-date = 9 November 2014 | date = 27 November 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141019174305/http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/ | archive-date = 19 October 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The role of ] of legislation is not practised by the courts; instead, the ] gives non-binding opinions on legality.{{sfn|Terrill|2009|p=243}} There is no ] in that courts are not bound by ], although it is influential.{{sfn|Terrill|2009|p=246}}
], the ] and head of state]]
The ] has played a leading political role since 1917, after ]s had confirmed their strength and the ] left the party. After 1932, the cabinets have been dominated by the Social Democrats. Only four general elections (1976, 1979, 1991 and 2006) have given the centre-right bloc enough seats in Parliament to form a government. However, poor economic performance since the beginning of the 1970s, and especially the crisis at the beginning of the 1990s, have forced Sweden to reform its political system to become more like other European countries. In the ] the ], allied with the ], ], and the ], with a common political platform, won a majority of the votes. Together they have formed a majority government under the leadership of the Moderate party's leader ]. The next elections will be held in ].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html
|title=Val till riksdagen
|author=The Official Website of the Swedish Election Authority
}}</ref>
], the official seat of the Swedish King]]
Election turnout in Sweden has always been high by international comparison, although it has declined in recent decades, and is currently around 80% (80.11 in ], and 81.99% in ]). Swedish politicians enjoyed a high degree of confidence from the citizens in the 1960s but it has since declined steadily and has a markedly lower level of trust than its Scandinavian neighbours.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Pippa Norris|author=Sören Holmberg|title=Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government|publisher=]|year=1999|pages=103–123|isbn=0198295685}}</ref>


===Elections===
Some Swedish political figures that have become known worldwide include ], ], former ] of the ] ], former Prime Minister ], former Prime Minister and ] ], former President of the ] ], and former ] Iraq inspector ].
{{Main|List of political parties in Sweden|Elections in Sweden}}
] chamber, at the time of a vote, in 2009]]
For over 50 years, Sweden had had five parties who continually received enough votes to gain seats in the Riksdag—the Social Democrats, the ], the ], the ] and the Left Party—before the ] became the sixth party in the ]. In the 1991 election, while the Greens lost their seats, two new parties gained seats for the first time: the ] and ]. It was not until elections in 2010 that an eighth party, the ], gained Riksdag seats. In the elections to the ], parties who have failed to pass the Riksdag threshold have managed to gain representation at that venue: the ] (]), the ] (]), and ] (]).


Election turnout in Sweden has always been high by international comparison. Although it declined in recent decades, the latest elections saw an increase in voter turnout (80.11% in ], 81.99% in 2006, 84.63% in 2010, 85.81 in ])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster – Val 2014|publisher=]|language=sv|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503192853/http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|archive-date=3 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and 87.18% in ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Röster – Val 2018 |url=https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217125738/https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html |archive-date=17 December 2018 |access-date=18 January 2019 |website=]}}</ref> Swedish politicians enjoyed a high degree of confidence from the citizens in the 1960s, However, that level of confidence has since declined steadily, and is now at a markedly lower level than in its Scandinavian neighbours.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Norris, Pippa |author=Holmberg, Sören |title=Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government|publisher=]|year=1999|pages=103–123|isbn=978-0-19-829568-6}}</ref>
===Political movements===
Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements" (''Folkrörelser''), the most notable being ], the independent Christian movement, the ], the ] and more recently the sports{{Clarify|date=April 2009}} and ] movements.


===Administrative divisions===
Sweden is currently leading the EU in statistics measuring ] in the political system and equality in the ] system.<ref name=EUEqualityReport>European Commission Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs And Equal Opportunities, ''Report On The Equality Between Men And Women'',http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf February 2006</ref> The ''Global Gender Gap Report 2006'' ranked Sweden as the number one country in terms of ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?lang=6&id=6605 |title=Nordic countries rank highest in gender equality |publisher=Norden.org |date= |accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref>
{{Main|Regions of Sweden|Municipalities of Sweden|County Administrative Boards of Sweden|Administrative divisions of Sweden}}
]
Sweden is a ] divided into 21 regions ({{Lang|sv|regioner}}) and 290 municipalities ({{Lang|sv|kommuner}}). Every region corresponds to a ] ({{Lang|sv|län}}) with a number of municipalities per county. Regions and municipalities are both local governments but have different roles and separate responsibilities. Health care, public transport and certain cultural institutions are administered by regional councils. Preschools, primary and secondary schooling, public water utilities, garbage disposal, elderly care and rescue services are administered by the municipalities. ] is a special case of being a region with only one municipality and the functions of region and municipality are performed by the same organisation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Municipalities and regions |url=https://skr.se/skr/tjanster/englishpages/municipalitiesandregions.1088.html |access-date=21 November 2021 |website=skr.se |language=en |archive-date=21 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121063424/https://skr.se/skr/tjanster/englishpages/municipalitiesandregions.1088.html |url-status=live }}</ref>


Municipal and region government in Sweden is similar to ] and ] government. Both levels have legislative assemblies (] and region assemblies of between 31 and 101 members (always an uneven number) that are elected from ] at the general election which are held every four years in conjunction with the national parliamentary elections.
===Law, law enforcement, and judicial system===
{{Main|Judicial system of Sweden}}


Municipalities are also divided into a total of 2,512 ] ({{Lang|sv|församlingar}}). These have no official political responsibilities but are traditional subdivisions of the ] and still have some importance as census districts.
The ] is the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. Before a case can be decided by the ], leave to appeal must be obtained, and with few exceptions, leave to appeal can be granted only when the case is of interest as a ]. The Supreme Court consists of 16 Councillors of Justice or ''justitieråd'' which are appointed by the ], but the court as an institution is independent of the ], and the government is not able to interfere with the decisions of the court.


The Swedish central government has 21 ] ({{langx|sv|länsstyrelser}}), which are responsible for regional state administration not assigned to other government agencies or local government. Each county administrative board is led by a ] ({{langx|sv|landshövding}}) appointed for a term of six years. The list of previous officeholders for the counties stretches back, in most cases, to 1634 when the counties were created by ] Count ]. The main responsibility of the County Administrative Board is to co-ordinate the development of the county in line with goals set by the Riksdag and Government.
] is carried out by several government entities. The ] is a ] concerned with ] matters. The ] is a national ] unit within the ]. ]'s responsibilities are ], anti-] activities, protection of the ] and protection of sensitive objects and people.


There are older historical divisions, primarily the twenty-five ] and three ], which still retain cultural significance.
According to a victimization survey of 1,201 residents in 2005, Sweden has above average ]s compared to other EU countries. Sweden has high or above average levels of assaults, sexual assaults, hate crimes, and consumer fraud. Sweden has low levels of burglary, car theft and drug problems. Bribe seeking is rare.<ref name="burdenofcrime2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf|format=PDF|title=EUICS report, The Burden of Crime in the EU, A Comparative Analysis of the|last=van Dijk|first=Jan|coauthors=Robert Manchin, John van Kesteren, Sami Nevala, Gergely Hideg|year=2005}}</ref>


===Foreign policy=== ===Judicial system===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Sweden}} {{Main|Judiciary of Sweden}}
The courts are divided into two parallel and separate systems: The general courts ({{lang|sv|allmänna domstolar}}) for criminal and civil cases, and general administrative courts ({{lang|sv|allmänna förvaltningsdomstolar}}) for cases relating to disputes between private persons and the authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dom.se/templates/DV_InfoPage____2317.aspx |publisher=] |title=The Swedish courts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209002918/http://www.dom.se/templates/DV_InfoPage____2317.aspx |archive-date=9 February 2009|date=10 March 2005 }}</ref> Each of these systems has three tiers, where the top tier court of the respective system typically only will hear cases that may become ]. There are also a number of special courts, which will hear a narrower set of cases, as set down by legislation. While independent in their rulings, some of these courts are operated as divisions within courts of the general or general administrative courts.
Throughout the twentieth century, ] was based on the principle of non-alignment in peacetime and ] in wartime.<ref name="NB335-339"/><!---Nordstrom, p. 335---> "Sweden's government was left to pursue an independent course based on a foreign policy defined as nonalignment in times of peace so that neutrality would be possible in the event of war."


] in Stockholm, seat of the ]]]
Sweden's doctrine of neutrality is often traced back to the 19th century as the country has not been in a ] since the end of the ] in 1814. During World War II Sweden joined neither the ] nor ] powers. This has sometimes been disputed since in effect Sweden allowed in select cases the Nazi regime to use its railroad system to transport troops and goods,<ref name="Koblik303-313" /><!---Koblik, p. 313---><ref name="NB313-319"/> especially iron ore from mines in northern Sweden, which was vital to the German war machine.<ref name="NB313-319"/><ref>Nordstrom p. 302: "In fact, the plans were mostly a ruse to establish control of the crucial Norwegian port of Narvik and the iron mines of northern Sweden, which were vitally important to the German war efforts."</ref>
The ] ({{langx|sv|Högsta domstolen}}) is the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. The Supreme Court consists of 16 Justices ({{langx|sv|justitieråd}}), appointed by the Government, but the court as an institution is independent of the Riksdag, and the Government is not able to interfere with the decisions of the court.


According to a victimisation survey of 1,201 residents in 2005, Sweden has above-average ]s compared to other EU countries. Sweden has high or above-average levels of assaults, sexual assaults, hate crimes, and consumer fraud. Sweden has low levels of burglary, car theft and drug problems. Bribe seeking is rare.<ref name="burdenofcrime2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf |title=EUICS report, The Burden of Crime in the EU, A Comparative Analysis of the |last=van Dijk |first=Jan |author2=Robert Manchin |author3=John van Kesteren |author4=Sami Nevala |author5=Gergely Hideg |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428050421/http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2008}}</ref> A mid-November 2013 news report announced that four prisons in Sweden were closed during the year due to a significant drop in the number of inmates, with prison numbers in Sweden falling by around 1% a year since 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden closes four prisons as number of inmates plummets|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets|access-date=15 November 2013|newspaper=]|date=11 November 2013|last=Orange|first=Richard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115000627/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets|archive-date=15 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
During the early ] era, Sweden combined its policy of non-alignment with a low profile in international affairs, although it also pursued a ] based on strong ] to deter attack.<ref>Nordstrom, p 336: "As a corollary, a security policy based on strong national defences designed to discourage, but not prevent, attack was pursued. For the next several decades, the Swedish poured an annual average of about 5% of GDP into making their defenses credible."</ref> At the same time, the country maintained relatively close informal connections with the Western bloc, especially in the realm of intelligence exchange. In 1952, a Swedish ] was ] over the Baltic Sea by a Soviet ] ] ]. Later investigations revealed that the plane was actually gathering information for ].<ref>National Geographical News, web article, ''Cold War Spy Plane Found in Baltic Sea'' 10 November 2003.</ref> Another plane, a ] ] plane, was sent out a few days later and shot down by the Soviets as well. Olof Palme, the former prime minister of Sweden, visited ] during the 1970s and showed his support for Cuba in his speech.


=== Foreign relations ===
Beginning in the late 1960s, Sweden for a period attempted to play a more significant and independent role in international relations. This involved significant activity in international peace efforts, especially through the ], and in support to the ]. Since the assassination of ] in 1986 and the end of the Cold War, this has been significantly toned down, although Sweden remains comparatively active in peace keeping missions and maintains a generous foreign aid budget.
{{Main|Foreign relations of Sweden}}
] at the ], 2023]]


Throughout the 20th century, ] was based on the principle of non-alignment in peacetime and ] in wartime. Sweden's government pursued an independent course of nonalignment in times of peace so that neutrality would be possible in the event of war.<ref name="NB335-339" />
In 1981 a Soviet ] ran aground close to the Swedish naval base at ] in the southern part of the country. It has never been clearly established whether the submarine ended up on the shoals through a navigational mistake or if it was a matter of ] against Swedish military potential. The incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Sweden and the Soviet Union.


During the early Cold War era, Sweden combined its policy of non-alignment and a low profile in international affairs with a ] based on strong ].<ref>As context, according to ], "To be neutral you must be ready to be highly militarized, like Switzerland or Sweden." – ''see'' {{cite news |last=Chapin |first=Emerson |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DC163AF931A3575AC0A966958260&scp=1&sq=edwin+o+reischauer&st=nyt |title=Edwin Reischauer, Diplomat and Scholar, Dies at 79 |newspaper=] |date=2 September 1990 |access-date=16 February 2016 |archive-date=25 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425013411/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/02/obituaries/edwin-reischauer-diplomat-and-scholar-dies-at-79.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The function of the Swedish military was to deter attack.<ref>Nordstrom, p 336: "As a corollary, a security policy based on strong national defences designed to discourage, but not prevent, attack was pursued. For the next several decades, the Swedish poured an annual average of about 5% of GDP into making their defenses credible."</ref> Beginning in the late 1960s, Sweden attempted to play a more significant and independent role in international relations. It involved itself significantly in international peace efforts, especially through the United Nations, and in support of the ]. Following the ] and with the end of the Cold War, Sweden has adopted a more traditional foreign policy approach. Nevertheless, the country remains active in peacekeeping missions and maintains a considerable foreign aid budget.
Since 1995 Sweden has been a member of the ], and as a consequence of a new world security situation the country's foreign policy doctrine has been partly modified, with Sweden playing a more active role in European security co-operation.


Since 1995 Sweden has been a member of the European Union, and as a consequence of a new world security situation the country's foreign policy doctrine has been partly modified, with Sweden playing a more active role in European security co-operation. In 2022, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden moved to formally join the NATO alliance.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Sweden formally became a member of NATO in 2024.<ref name="NATO Sweden Accession Protocol">{{Cite web |date=7 March 2024 |title=NATO - Sweden Accession Protocol - Notification of Entry Into Force, March 7, 2024 |url=https://www.state.gov/nato-sweden-entry-into-force-march-7-2024/ |access-date=7 March 2024 |website=United States Department of State |language=en |archive-date=7 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307152306/https://www.state.gov/nato-sweden-entry-into-force-march-7-2024 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Military===
{{Main|Swedish Armed Forces}}
] is an advanced Swedish multi-role ] of the ].]]
''Försvarsmakten'' (]) is a government agency reporting to the Swedish ] and responsible for the ] operation of the armed forces of Sweden. The primary task of the agency is to train and deploy peace support forces abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to refocus on the defence of Sweden in the event of war. The armed forces are divided into Army, Air Force and Navy. The head of the armed forces is the ] (''Överbefälhavaren'', ÖB), the most senior officer in the country. Up to 1974 the head of state (=the King) was ''pro forma'' Commander-in-Chief, but in reality it was clearly understood all through the 20th century that the Monarch would have no ''active'' role as a military leader.


=== Military ===
When King ] asserted his right to decide and bypass the government in military matters just before the ] (''"borggårdskrisen"'', the Castle Court Crisis) it was seen as a deliberate provocation against established terms of how the country would be ruled. The office of an appointed Supreme Commander was set up in 1939; before that date, from the late 19th century onwards, the leading men of the army and navy would report directly to the cabinet (and the king), and no fully unified command existed in the professional military sphere itself.
{{Main|Swedish Armed Forces|Law enforcement in Sweden}}
] ] is an advanced Swedish multi-role ] of the ].]]
The ] by several government entities. The Swedish police is a ] concerned with police matters. The ] is a national ] unit within the police force. The ]'s responsibilities are ], anti-terrorist activities, protection of the constitution and protection of sensitive objects and people.


The {{Lang|sv|Försvarsmakten}} (Swedish Armed Forces) are a government agency reporting to the Swedish ] and responsible for the ] operation of the armed forces of Sweden. The primary task of the agency is to train and deploy peacekeeping forces abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to refocus on the defence of Sweden in the event of war. The armed forces are divided into ], ] and ]. The head of the armed forces is the ] ({{Lang|sv|Överbefälhavaren}}, ÖB), the most senior commissioned officer in the country. Up to 1974, the King was ''pro forma'' ], but in reality it was clearly understood through the 20th century that the monarch would have no ''active'' role as a military leader.
] ] ].]]
Until the end of the Cold War, nearly all males reaching the age of ] were ]. In recent years, the number of conscripted males has shrunk dramatically, while the number of female volunteers has increased slightly. Recruitment has generally shifted towards finding the most motivated recruits, rather than solely those otherwise most fit for service. All soldiers serving abroad must by law be volunteers. In 1975 the total number of conscripts was 45,000. By 2003 it was down to 15,000.


], which is produced and used by Sweden]]
Beginning 1 July 2010 Sweden will stop routine conscription, switching to an all volunteer force unless otherwise required for defence readiness.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Rekrytering/Varnplikt/ | title=Värnplikt | accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 | title=Allmänna värnplikten skrotas [General conscription scrapped | accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ | title=Military conscription phase out under fire | accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref> The need to recruit only the soldiers later prepared to volunteer for international service will be emphasized. The total forces gathered would consist of about 60,000 men. This could be compared with the 80s before the fall of the Soviet Union, when Sweden could gather up to 1,000,000 men.
Until the end of the Cold War, nearly all males reaching the age of ] were ]. In recent years, the number of conscripted males has shrunk dramatically, while the number of female volunteers has increased slightly. Recruitment has generally shifted towards finding the most motivated recruits. By law, all soldiers serving abroad must be volunteers. On 1 July 2010, Sweden ended routine conscription, switching to an all-volunteer force unless otherwise required for defence readiness.<ref>{{cite web |title=Värnplikt |trans-title=Conscription |url=https://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/ |access-date=21 April 2010 |publisher=] |language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 |publisher=] |title=Allmänna värnplikten skrotas |trans-title=General conscription scrapped |access-date=21 April 2010 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426203557/http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 |archive-date=26 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ |newspaper=] |title=Military conscription phase out under fire |access-date=21 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122021708/http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ |archive-date=22 January 2010}}</ref> The total forces gathered would consist of about 60,000 personnel. This in comparison with the 1980s, before the fall of the Soviet Union, when Sweden could gather up to 1,000,000 servicemembers.


However, on 11 December 2014, due to tensions in the Baltic area, the ] reintroduced one part of the ], ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/repetitionsutbildning/fragor-och-svar-om-repetitionsutbildning/|title=Frågor och svar om repetitionsutbildning|last=Försvarsmakten|website=Försvarsmakten|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101191751/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/repetitionsutbildning/fragor-och-svar-om-repetitionsutbildning/|archive-date=1 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2 March 2017, the government decided to reintroduce the remaining part of the Swedish conscription system, basic military training. The first recruits began their training in 2018. As the law is now gender neutral, both men and women may have to serve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2017/03/regeringen-ateraktiverar-monstring-och-grundutbildning-med-varnplikt/|title=Regeringen återaktiverar mönstring och grundutbildning med värnplikt|first=Regeringen och|last=Regeringskansliet|date=2 March 2017|website=Regeringskansliet|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113222119/http://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2017/03/regeringen-ateraktiverar-monstring-och-grundutbildning-med-varnplikt/|archive-date=13 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
Swedish units have taken part in peacekeeping operations in the ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].


Sweden decided not to sign the UN treaty on the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sweden declines to sign UN nuclear ban treaty |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190712/sweden-declines-to-sign-un-nuclear-treaty |work=The Local |date=12 July 2019 |access-date=8 August 2019 |archive-date=15 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715234702/https://www.thelocal.se/20190712/sweden-declines-to-sign-un-nuclear-treaty |url-status=live }}</ref> Swedish units have taken part in peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Chad.
Currently, one of the most important tasks for the Swedish Armed Forces has been to form a Swedish-led ] to which Norway, Finland, Ireland and Estonia will also contribute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/9133/a/82276|title=The EU Battlegroup Concept and the Nordic Battlegroup|accessdate=2008-01-19|author=Swedish Ministry of Defence|last=|first=|authorlink=|coauthors=|date=2008-01-08|work=|publisher=Government Offices of Sweden|archiveurl=|archivedate=|quote=}}</ref>
The ] (NBG) had a 10-day deployment readiness during the first half of 2008 and, although Swedish led, had its Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in ], outside London.


==Economy== ==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Sweden}} {{Main|Economy of Sweden}}
{{Multiple image
] (GRP) per capita in thousands of kronor (2004).]]
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Sweden is an export-oriented ] featuring a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external ], and a skilled ] force. ], ], and ] constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward ]. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. ] accounts for 2 percent of ] and employment.
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| image1 = 2018 Volvo XC90 Inscription D5 PowerPulse AWD 2.0.jpg
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| caption1 = Sweden is home to ], an automobile company with its headquarters in ].
| image2 = IKEA (8020223012).jpg
| alt2 =
| caption2 = ], a Swedish multinational conglomerate, is the world's largest furniture retailer.
| image3 = H&M Canal City Hakata shop.JPG
| alt3 =
| caption3 = ], one of the world's largest fashion retailers
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Sweden is the twelfth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita and a high ] is experienced by its citizens. Sweden is an export-oriented ]. Timber, ] and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy with a heavy emphasis on ]. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports, while telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. Sweden is the ninth-largest ]. ] accounts for 2% of GDP and employment. The country ranks among the highest for telephone and Internet access penetration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ |publisher=] |work=] |title=EUROPE :: SWEDEN |access-date=16 February 2016 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118143648/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Trade unions, employers' associations and collective agreements cover a large share of the employees in Sweden.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2019) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617171546/https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/en/publications/kollektivavtalens-tackningsgrad-samt-organisationsgraden-hos-arbetsgivarfoerbund-och-fackfoerbund(384bb031-c144-442b-a02b-44099819d605).html |date=17 June 2019 }}, Department of Sociology, Lund University. Studies in Social Policy, Industrial Relations, Working Life and Mobility. Research Reports 2019:1, Appendix 3 (in English) Tables A-G (in English)</ref><ref>Anders Kjellberg (2019) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725151859/https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/sv/publications/sweden-collective-bargaining-under-the-industry-norm(11510a6d-057c-4a81-b69b-a82670685caa).html|date=25 July 2019}}, in Torsten Müller & Kurt Vandaele & Jeremy Waddington (eds.) ''Collective bargaining in Europe: towards an endgame'', European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) Brussels 2019. Vol. III (pp. 583–604)</ref> The high coverage of collective agreements is achieved despite the absence of state mechanisms extending collective agreements to whole industries or sectors. Both the prominent role of collective bargaining and the way in which the high rate of coverage is achieved reflect the dominance of self-regulation (regulation by the labour market parties themselves).<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2017) In Mia Rönnmar and Jenny Julén Votinius (eds.) ''Festskrift till Ann Numhauser-Henning''. Lund: Juristförlaget i Lund 2017, pp. 357–383</ref> When the Swedish ] was changed in 2007, resulting in considerably raised fees to unemployment funds, a substantial decline in union density and density of unemployment funds occurred.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2011) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312071120/http://portal.research.lu.se/portal/files/3462138/2064087.pdf |date=12 March 2017 }} ''Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies'' (NJWLS) Vol. 1. No 1 (August 2011), pp. 67–93</ref><ref>Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen (2016) {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf|date=9 March 2017}} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp.279–302)</ref>

In 2010, Sweden's income ] was the third lowest among developed countries, at 0.25—slightly higher than Japan and Denmark—suggesting ]. However, Sweden's wealth Gini coefficient at 0.853 was the second highest in developed countries, and above European and North American averages, suggesting high wealth inequality.<ref name=hdr2010>{{cite web|title=The Real Wealth of Nations: Pathways to Human Development (2010 Human Development Report – see Human Development Statistical Tables)|pages=152–156|publisher=]|year=2011|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/|access-date=4 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716143706/http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=cs2010>{{cite web|title=Global Wealth Databook |publisher=] (using Statistics Sweden data) |year=2010 |pages=14–15, 83–86 |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/doc/credit_suisse_global_wealth_databook.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023001729/https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/doc/credit_suisse_global_wealth_databook.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> Even on a disposable income basis, the geographical distribution of Gini coefficient of income inequality varies within different regions and municipalities of Sweden. ], outside Stockholm, has Sweden's highest Gini coefficient of income inequality, at 0.55, while ] near Gävle has the lowest at 0.25. In and around Stockholm and Scania, two of the more densely populated regions of Sweden, the income Gini coefficient is between 0.35 and 0.55.<ref>{{cite book |title=Do unequal societies cause death and disease? |author1=Edvinsson, Sören |author2=Malmberg, Gunnar |author3=Häggström Lundevaller, Erling |year=2011 |publisher=] |url=http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-51702 |access-date=27 August 2012 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113726/https://umu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A487416&dswid=-4507 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In terms of structure, the Swedish economy is characterised by a large, knowledge-intensive and export-oriented manufacturing sector; an increasing, but comparatively small, business ]; and by international standards, a large public service sector. Large organisations, both in manufacturing and services, dominate the Swedish economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004050916/http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |archive-date=4 October 2006 |title=Doing Business Abroad – Innovation, Science and Technology |publisher=Infoexport.gc.ca |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> High and medium-high technology manufacturing accounts for 9.9% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/innovation/high-medium-high-technology-manufacturing.aspx |title=High- and medium-high-technology manufacturing |publisher=Conferenceboard.ca |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923032054/http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/innovation/high-medium-high-technology-manufacturing.aspx |archive-date=23 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 20 largest (by turnover) registered Swedish companies in 2007 were ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.largestcompanies.com/default$/lev2-TopList/lev2Desc-The_largest_companies_in_the_Nordic_countries_by%A0turnover%A0%28excl._national_subsidiaries%29/AdPageId-102/list-2/cc-SE/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120628210238/http://www.largestcompanies.com/default$/lev2-TopList/lev2Desc-The_largest_companies_in_the_Nordic_countries_by%A0turnover%A0(excl._national_subsidiaries)/AdPageId-102/list-2/cc-SE/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2012 |title=20 largest companies in Sweden |publisher=Largestcompanies.com |date=6 October 2009 |access-date=25 August 2010 }}</ref> The vast majority of Sweden's industry is ] controlled, unlike many other industrialised Western countries.

An estimated 4.5 million Swedish residents are employed, and around a third of the workforce completed tertiary education. In terms of GDP per-hour-worked, Sweden was the world's ninth highest in 2006 at US$31, compared to US$22 in Spain and US$35 in the United States.<ref name="oecd2007" /> GDP per-hour-worked is growing 2.5% per year for the economy as a whole and the trade-terms-balanced productivity growth is 2%.<ref name="oecd2007" /> According to the OECD, deregulation, globalisation, and technology sector growth have been key productivity drivers.<ref name="oecd2007" /> Sweden is a world leader in privatised pensions and pension funding problems are relatively small compared to many other Western European countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/Research/SocialSecurity/bg1381.cfm|title=Pension Reform in Sweden: Lessons for American Policymakers|work=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=17 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113085905/http://www.heritage.org/Research/SocialSecurity/bg1381.cfm|archive-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> A pilot program to test the feasibility of a six-hour workday, without loss of pay, will commence in 2014, involving the participation of Gothenburg municipal staff. The Swedish government is seeking to reduce its costs through decreased sick leave hours and increased efficiency.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swedes to give six-hour workday a go|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20140408/swedish-workers-to-test-six-hour-work-days|first=Oliver|last=Gee|access-date=9 April 2014|newspaper=]|date=8 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409200149/http://www.thelocal.se/20140408/swedish-workers-to-test-six-hour-work-days|archive-date=9 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

], Swedish audio streaming service with more than 600 million users]]

The typical worker receives 40% of his or her labour costs after the ]. Total tax collected by Sweden as a percentage of its GDP peaked at 52.3% in 1990.<ref name=oecdtax11 /> The country faced a real estate and banking crisis in 1990–1991, and consequently passed tax reforms in 1991 to implement tax rate cuts and tax base broadening over time.<ref name="AgellEnglund">{{cite journal|title=Tax reform of the Century – the Swedish Experiment|author1=Agell, Jonas|author2=Englund, Peter|author3=Södersten, Jan |journal=National Tax Journal|volume=49|date=December 1996|pages=643–664|url=http://ntj.tax.org/wwtax/ntjrec.nsf/0/c7b05cd84d78235e85256863004b1f50/$file/v49n4643.pdf|issue=4|doi=10.1086/NTJ41789232|s2cid=232211459|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127123312/http://ntj.tax.org/wwtax/ntjrec.nsf/0/c7b05cd84d78235e85256863004b1f50/$file/v49n4643.pdf|archive-date=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="RiksbankHeikensten">{{cite web |url=http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Press-och-publicerat/Tal/1998/Financial-Crisis----Experiences-from-Sweden/ |title=Financial Crisis – Experiences from Sweden, Lars Heikensten (1998) |publisher=] |date=15 July 1998 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202160149/http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Press-och-publicerat/Tal/1998/Financial-Crisis----Experiences-from-Sweden/ |archive-date=2 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1990, taxes as a percentage of GDP collected by Sweden have been dropping, with total tax rates for the highest income earners dropping the most.<ref name="BengtssonHolmlund">{{cite SSRN|title=Lifetime Versus Annual Tax Progressivity: Sweden, 1968–2009|author1=Bengtsson, Niklas |author2=Holmlund, Bertil |author3=Waldenström, Daniel |name-list-style=amp |date=June 2012 |ssrn=2098702}}</ref> In 2010 45.8% of the country's GDP was collected as taxes, the second highest among OECD countries, and nearly double the percentage in the US or South Korea.<ref name=oecdtax11>{{cite web|title=Revenue Statistics – Comparative tables|publisher=OECD, Europe|year=2011|url=http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=21699|access-date=13 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918223747/http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=21699|archive-date=18 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Tax income-financed employment represents a third of the Swedish workforce, a substantially higher proportion than in most other countries. Overall, GDP growth has been fast since reforms—especially those in manufacturing—were enacted in the early 1990s.<ref name="oecd2005">OECD Economic Surveys: Sweden – Volume 2005 Issue 9 by OECD Publishing</ref>


Sweden is the fourth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the ] in its ''] 2012–2013''.<ref name="wefcomp">{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210040419/http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |archive-date=10 December 2014 }}</ref> Sweden is the top performing country in the 2014 ''Global Green Economy Index (GGEI)''.<ref name="ggei">{{cite web |url=http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |title=2014 Global Green Economy Index |publisher=Dual Citizen LLC |date=19 October 2014 |access-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028201432/http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden is ranked fourth in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013.<ref name="imd">{{cite web |url=http://www.imd.org/wcc/news-wcy-ranking/ |title=IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013 |publisher=Imd.ch |date=30 May 2013 |access-date=9 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609063421/http://www.imd.org/wcc/news-wcy-ranking/ |archive-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The 20 largest (by turnover in 2007) companies registered in Sweden are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref></ref> Sweden's industry is overwhelmingly in ] control; unlike some other industrialized Western countries, such as Austria and Italy, publicly owned enterprises were always of minor importance.


Sweden maintains its own currency, the ] (SEK). The Swedish ]—founded in 1668 and thus the oldest central bank in the world—is currently focusing on price stability with an inflation target of 2%. According to the ''Economic Survey of Sweden 2007'' by the OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s, largely because of deregulation and quick utilisation of globalisation.<ref name="oecd2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0,3343,en_2649_34569_38048997_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=Economic survey of Sweden 2007 |publisher=Oecd.org |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426123744/http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0%2C3343%2Cen_2649_34569_38048997_1_1_1_1%2C00.html |archive-date=26 April 2011 }}</ref>
]
Some 4.5 million residents are working, out of which around a third with tertiary education. ] is the world's 9th highest at 31 USD in 2006, compared to 22 USD in Spain and 35 USD in United States.<ref name="oecd2007"/> According to OECD, deregulation, globalization, and technology sector growth have been key productivity drivers.<ref name="oecd2007"/> GDP per hour worked is growing 2½ per cent a year for the economy as a whole and trade-terms-balanced productivity growth 2%.<ref name="oecd2007"/> Sweden is a world leader in privatized pensions and pension funding problems are relatively small compared to many other Western European countries.<ref> by Goran Normann, Ph.D. and Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D. June 29, 2000.</ref>


The largest trade flows are with Germany, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Finland.
The Swedish labour market has become more flexible, but it still has some widely acknowledged problems.<ref name="oecd2007"/> The typical worker receives 40% of his income after the ]. The slowly declining overall taxation, 51.1% of GDP in 2007, is still nearly double of that in the United States or Ireland. The share of employment financed via tax income amounts to a third of Swedish workforce, a substantially higher proportion than in most other countries. Overall, GDP growth has been fast since reforms in the early 1990s, especially in manufacturing.<ref name="oecd2005">OECD Economic Surveys: Sweden - Volume 2005 Issue 9 by OECD Publishing</ref>


===Energy===
The ] 2009-2010 competitiveness index ranks Sweden the 4th most competitive economy in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm |title=World Economic Forum - Global Competitiveness Report |publisher=Weforum.org |date=2009-11-25 |accessdate=2009-11-25}}</ref> Sweden is ranked 9th in the IMD Competitiveness Yearbook 2008, scoring high in private sector efficiency.<ref name="imd"></ref> According to the book, ''The Flight of the Creative Class'', by the U.S. economist, Professor ] of the ], Sweden is ranked as having the best ] in Europe for business and is predicted to become a talent magnet for the world's most purposeful workers. The book compiled an index to measure the kind of creativity it claims is most useful to business—talent, technology and tolerance.<ref>", Invest in Sweden Agency, 25 June 2005.</ref>
{{See also|Energy in Sweden|Electricity in Sweden|Nordic energy market|Nuclear power in Sweden}}
], located south of ]]]
Sweden's energy market is largely privatised. The ] is one of the first liberalised energy markets in Europe and it is traded in ] and ]. In 2006, out of a total electricity production of 139 ], electricity from hydropower accounted for 61 TWh (44%), and ] delivered 65 TWh (47%). At the same time, the use of ]s, ] etc. produced 13 TWh (9%) of electricity, while wind power produced 1 TWh (1%). Sweden was a net importer of electricity by a margin of 6 TWh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svenskenergi.se/upload/Statistik/Tidigare%20statistik/Kraftl%C3%A4get%20i%20%C3%A5r/ve_07-01.pdf |title=Kraftläget i Sverige, Vattensituationen |access-date=19 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080216021232/http://www.svenskenergi.se/upload/Statistik/Tidigare%20statistik/Kraftl%C3%A4get%20i%20%C3%A5r/ve_07-01.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2008 }}</ref> ] is mainly used to produce heat for ] and ] and industry processes.


Sweden joined the ] in 1974, after the ] strengthened Sweden's commitment to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels.<ref name=":02">{{cite web |publisher=] |date=2020 |title=Countries & Regions – Sweden |url=https://www.iea.org/countries/sweden |accessdate=17 May 2022 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328171441/https://www.iea.org/countries/sweden |url-status=live }}</ref> To protect against unexpected oil supply shocks and in accordance with international commitments made through the IEA, Sweden maintains a strategic petroleum reserve of at least 90 days of net oil imports. As of February 2022, Sweden's ] totalled 130 days' worth of net imports.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=] |date=12 May 2022 |title=Oil Stocks of IEA Countries |url=https://www.iea.org/articles/oil-stocks-of-iea-countries |accessdate=17 May 2022 |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516150055/https://www.iea.org/articles/oil-stocks-of-iea-countries |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden has moved to generate electricity mostly from hydropower and nuclear power. The use of nuclear power has been limited, however. Among other things, the accident of ] prompted the Riksdag to ban new nuclear plants. In March 2005, an opinion poll showed that 83% supported maintaining or increasing nuclear power.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 2009 |title=Nuclear Power in Sweden |url=http://world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213132916/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |archive-date=13 February 2010 |access-date=29 January 2010 |publisher=]}}</ref>
Swedes have rejected the ] in a popular vote, and Sweden maintains its own currency, the ] (SEK). The Swedish ]—founded in 1668 and thus making it the oldest central bank in the world—is currently focusing on price stability with its ] target of 2%. According to the ''Economic Survey of Sweden 2007'' by the OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s, largely because of deregulation and quick utilization of globalization.<ref name="oecd2007"></ref>


Sweden is considered a "global leader" in ].<ref name=":02" /> Politicians have made announcements about oil phase-out in Sweden, decrease of nuclear power, and multibillion-dollar investments in ] and energy efficiency.<ref name="Agenda212">{{cite web |date=April 1997 |title=NATURAL RESOURCE ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SWEDEN |url=https://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064226/http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=17 February 2016 |work=] |publisher=]}}</ref><ref name="Vidal2">{{cite news |last=Vidal |first=John |date=8 February 2006 |title=Sweden plans to be world's first oil-free economy |newspaper=] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/oil/story/0,,1704954,00.html |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005113723/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2006/feb/08/frontpagenews.oilandpetrol |url-status=live }}</ref> The country has for many years pursued a strategy of indirect taxation as an instrument of ], including ]es in general and ] taxes in particular.<ref name="Agenda212" /> Sweden was the first nation to implement ], and its carbon prices remain the highest in the world as of 2020. This model has been shown to be particularly effective at decarbonizing the nation's economy.<ref name=":02" />
The largest trade flows are with ], the ], ], the ], ], and ].


===Transport===
==Energy and transport infrastructure==
{{Main|Transport in Sweden}} {{Main|Transport in Sweden}}
] between ] and ] in Denmark]]
{{See also|Nordic energy market|Nuclear power phase-out in Sweden|Oil phase-out in Sweden}}
]/] in central ]]]
] in ].]]
Sweden's energy market is largely privatized. The ] is one of the first liberalized energy markets in Europe and it is traded in ] and ]. In 2006, out of a total electricity production of 139 ], electricity from hydropower accounted for 61 TWh (44%), and ] delivered 65 TWh (47%). At the same time, the use of ]s, ] etc. produced 13 TWh (9%) of electricity, while wind power produced 1 TWh (1%). Sweden was a net importer of electricity by a margin of 6 TWh.<ref></ref> ] is mainly used to produce heat for ] and ] and industry processes.


Sweden has {{convert|162707|km|mi|abbr=on}} of paved road and {{convert|1428|km|mi|abbr=on}} of expressways. ] run through Sweden and over the Øresund Bridge to Denmark. Sweden had left-hand traffic ({{Lang|sv|vänstertrafik}} in Swedish) from approximately 1736, but after the Riksdag passed legislation in 1963 changeover took place on 3 September 1967, known in Swedish as ].
On the other hand, Sweden has proposed ban gasoline ]-driven vehicles by 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trollhattansaab.net/archives/2008/11/sweden-ban-gasoline-driven-vehicles-by-2025.html |title=Sweden: ban gasoline fossil fuel-driven vehicles by 2025 |publisher=Trollhattansaab.net |date= |accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref>


The ] is the only underground system in Sweden and serves the city of Stockholm via 100 stations. The rail transport market is privatised, but while there are many privately owned enterprises, the largest operators are still owned by the state. Operators include ], ], ], ] and ]. Most of the railways are owned and operated by ].
The ] strengthened Sweden's commitment to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels. Since then, ] has been generated mostly from ] and nuclear power. The use of nuclear power has been limited, however. Among other things, the accident of ] (]) prompted the ] to ban new nuclear plants. In March 2005, an opinion poll showed that 83% supported maintaining or increasing nuclear power.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |title=Nuclear Power in Sweden |publisher=] |date=September 2009 |accessdate=2010-01-29}}</ref> Politicians have made announcements about ], decrease of nuclear power, and multi-billion dollar investments in ] and energy efficiency.<ref name="Agenda21"/><ref name="Vidal">Vidal, John. . The Guardian, 2/8/06. Retrieved 2/13/07.</ref> The country has for many years pursued a strategy of indirect taxation as an instrument of ], including ]es in general and ] taxes in particular.<ref name="Agenda21">Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden. ''''. 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997.</ref>


]]]
] between ] and ] in ].]]
Sweden has 162,707&nbsp;km of paved road and 1,428&nbsp;km of expressways. ]s run through Sweden, ] and over the ] to ], ], ] and ]. The system of motorways is still under construction and a new motorway from Uppsala to ] was finished on October 17, 2007. Sweden had left-hand traffic (Vänstertrafik in Swedish) from approximately 1736 and continued to do so well into the 20th century. Voters rejected right-hand traffic in 1955, but after the Riksdag passed legislation in 1963 changeover took place in 1967, known in Swedish as ].


Most tram networks were closed in 1967. But they survived in ], Stockholm and Gothenburg, with ] being the largest. ] in ] on 13 December 2020.
The ] market is privatized, but while there are many privately owned enterprises, many operators are still owned by state or municipalities. Operators include ], ], ], ], ], ], and a number of ] companies. Most of the railways are owned and operated by ].


The largest airports include ] (17.91 million passengers in 2007) 40&nbsp;km north of Stockholm, ] (4.3 million passengers in 2006), and ] (2.0 million passengers). Sweden hosts the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, ] (]) and the transnational company ]. The largest airports include ] (16.1 million passengers in 2009) {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Stockholm, ] (4.3 million passengers in 2008), and ] (2.0 million passengers). Sweden hosts the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, ] (Gothenburg) and the transnational company ]. The most used airport for a large part of Southern Sweden is ] which is located only 12 minutes by train from the closest Swedish railway station, ].


Sweden also has a number of car ferry connections to several neighbouring countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/baltic-sea/|title=Ferry to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Baltic, Russia, Germany.|last=Kowalski|first=Oliver|website=ferrylines.com|access-date=28 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816025904/http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/baltic-sea|archive-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> This includes a route from ] across ] to ] in Finland. There are several connections from the Stockholm area across the ] to ] in ] as well as ] and ] on the Finnish mainland and beyond to Estonia and ] in Russia. Ferry routes from the Stockholm area also connect with Latvia and Poland across the Baltic Sea. The ferry ports of ] and ] in southeastern Sweden serve Poland and Lithuania. Ystad and Trelleborg near the southern tip of Sweden have ferry links with the Danish island of ] and the German ports of ], ] and ], respectively, and ferries run to ], Poland, from both of them. Trelleborg is the busiest ferry port in Sweden in terms of weight transported by lorry.<ref>John Bitton and Nils-Åke Svensson, "Øresund sett från himlen" (Oresund seen from the sky), 2005, {{ISBN|978-91-85305-10-0}}, page 38</ref> Despite the opening of the fixed link to Denmark, the ], the busiest ferry route remains the short link across the narrowest section of the ] between ] and the Danish port of ], known as the ]. There are over seventy departures a day each way; during peak times, a ferry departs every fifteen minutes.<ref>At {{cite web|url=http://www.scandlines.se/tider-och-priser/tidtabell.aspx |title=Tidtabell |access-date=12 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224165755/http://www.scandlines.se/tider-och-priser/tidtabell.aspx |archive-date=24 December 2016 }} please press "Tidtabell 2 jan – 31 maj 2015" (Time table 2. January to 31. May 2015) for PDF download</ref> Ports higher up the Swedish west coast include ], with a ferry connection across the ] to ] in Denmark, and Göteborg, serving ] at the northern tip of Denmark and ] in Germany. Finally, there are ferries from ] near the Norwegian border to destinations around the ] in Norway.
==Public policy==
{{See also|Nordic model|Swedish welfare}}
Sweden has always provided solid support for ] (except agriculture) and strong property rights. After World War II a succession of governments increased the welfare state and the tax burden, and Sweden's GDP per capita ranking fell from the 4th to 14th place in a few decades.<ref name="eu-usa">, Fredrik Bergström & Robert Gidehag</ref> However during this time Sweden radically changed from a divided and often extremely unequal society into one of the most equal and developed on earth. The consistent growth of the welfare state led to Swedes achieving unprecedented levels of social mobility and quality of life—to this day Sweden consistently ranks at the top of league tables for health, literacy and Human Development—far ahead of some much wealthier countries (for example the United States).<ref name = "Equal Societies">, Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett</ref>


Sweden has two domestic ferry lines with large vessels, both connecting Gotland with the mainland. The lines leave from Visby harbour on the island, and the ferries sail to either ] or Nynäshamn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destinationgotland.se/Farja/|title=Boka båtbiljetter till och från Gotland|work=destinationgotland.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093055/http://www.destinationgotland.se/Farja/|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> A smaller car ferry connects the island of ] in Øresund with ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ventrafiken.se/index.php/en/|title=Ventrafiken -Upplev sundets pärla|work=ventrafiken.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501190157/http://www.ventrafiken.se/index.php/en/|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sweden started to move away from this model in the 1980s, and according to the OECD and to ], Sweden has recently been relatively fast in liberalization compared to countries such as ]. Deregulation-induced competition helped Sweden to halt the economic decline and restore strong growth rates in the 2000s.<ref name="oecd2007"/><ref>, ] IMG institute 2006</ref> The current Swedish government is continuing the trend to pursue moderate reforms.<ref name="oecd2007"/><ref>, ] September 13th 2007</ref> Growth has been higher than in many other ] countries.


===Public policy===
Sweden even adopted market-oriented agricultural policies in 1990. Since the 1930s, the agricultural sector had been controlled by an "iron triangle" of special interest farming organizations, politicians, and bureaucrats. This coalition formed a top-down administration that controlled prices and restricted competition, consequently hurting consumers. In the 1980s, a group of economists managed to get agricultural policy on the public agenda. Two prominent publications, ''The Political Economy of the Food Sector: The Case of Sweden'' and ''War Preparedness or Protectionism?'', fueled the debate. An alliance with the Ministry of Finance and public choice analysis exposed the "iron triangle". In June 1990, the Parliament voted for a new agricultural policy marking a significant shift to a freer price system coordinated by competition. As a result, food prices fell somewhat. However, the liberalizations soon became moot because EU agricultural controls supervened.”<ref>Lindberg, Henrik. "The Role of Economists in Liberalizing Swedish Agriculture" (May 2007). </ref>
{{See also|Nordic model|Social welfare in Sweden}}
Sweden has one of the most highly developed welfare states in the world. According to a 2012 OECD report, the country had the second-highest public social spending as a percentage of its GDP after France, and the third-highest total (public and private) social spending at 30.2% of its GDP, after France and Belgium.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Public Finance -> Social Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden spent 6.3% of its GDP, the ninth-highest among 34 OECD countries, to provide equal access to education.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Education -> Education Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> On health care, the country spent 10.0% of its total GDP, the 12th highest.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Health -> Health Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>


Historically, Sweden provided solid support for ] (except agriculture) and mostly relatively strong and stable property rights (both private and public), though some economists have pointed out that Sweden promoted industries with tariffs and used publicly subsidised R&D during the country's early critical years of industrialisation.<ref name="H-J.C-Sweden">{{cite book |title=Kicking Away The Ladder |pages=39–42 |first=Ha-Joon |last=Chang}}</ref> After World War II a succession of governments expanded the welfare state by raising the taxes. A series of successive social reforms transformed the country into one of the most equal and developed on earth. The consistent growth of the welfare state led to Swedes achieving unprecedented levels of social mobility and quality of life—to this day Sweden consistently ranks at the top of league tables for health, literacy and Human Development—far ahead of some wealthier countries (for example the United States).<ref name="Equal Societies">{{cite web |url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/135-interim/$FILE/135%20-%20Submission%20-%20Childrens%20Hospitals%20Australasia%20(Attachment%20C).pdf |publisher=] |title=The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better |first1=Richard |last1=Wilkinson |first2=Kate |last2=Pickett |date=8 March 2009 |access-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205120331/http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/135-interim/$FILE/135%20-%20Submission%20-%20Childrens%20Hospitals%20Australasia%20(Attachment%20C).pdf |archive-date=5 February 2016 }}</ref> A report from the ] predicted that Sweden's rating on the ] will fall from 0.949 in 2010 to 0.906 in 2030.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Asher|first1=Jana|author1-link=Jana Asher|last2=Osborne Daponte|first2=Beth|title=A Hypothetical Cohort Model of Human Development|journal=Human Development Research Paper|page=41|url=http://ww.rrojasdatabank.info/HDRP_2010_40.pdf|access-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219010417/http://ww.rrojasdatabank.info/HDRP_2010_40.pdf|archive-date=19 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
Since the late 1960s, Sweden has had the highest tax quota (as percentage of GDP) in the industrialized world, although today the gap has narrowed and Denmark has surpassed Sweden as the most heavily taxed country among developed countries. Sweden has a two step ] scale with a municipal income tax of about 30% and an additional high-income state tax of 20&ndash;25% when a salary exceeds roughly 320,000 SEK per year. ]es amount to 32%. In addition, a national ] of 25% is added to many things bought by private citizens, with the exception of food (12% VAT), transportation, and books (6% VAT). Certain items are subject to additional taxes, e.g. electricity, petrol/diesel and alcoholic beverages.


Sweden has been relatively quick to adopt ] policies, such as ], ] and ],<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Pierre|editor-first=Jon|date=2016|title=The Oxford Handbook of Swedish Politics (Oxford Handbooks)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDcICwAAQBAJ&pg=PA573|publisher=]|page=573|isbn=978-0-19-966567-9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009201639/https://books.google.com/books?id=hDcICwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA573|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Springer |editor1-first=Simon |editor2-last=Birch |editor2-first=Kean |editor3-last=MacLeavy |editor3-first=Julie |date=2016 |title=The Handbook of Neoliberalism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M5qkDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA569 |publisher=] |page=569 |isbn=978-1-138-84400-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009201645/https://books.google.com/books?id=M5qkDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA569 |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> compared to countries such as France.<ref name="oecd2007" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/mginews/businessweek/swedenbalance.asp|title=Sweden's balancing lessons for Europe|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031224326/http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/mginews/businessweek/swedenbalance.asp|archive-date=31 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The current Swedish government is continuing the trend of moderate rollbacks of previous social reforms.<ref name="oecd2007" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9803876|title=Moderate revolution|newspaper=]|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104025637/http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9803876|archive-date=4 January 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Growth has been higher than in many other ] countries. Since the mid-1980s, Sweden has had the fastest growth in inequality of any developed nation, according to the OECD. This has largely been attributed to the reduction in state benefits and a shift toward the privatisation of public services. Nevertheless, it remains far more egalitarian than most nations.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm|title=Swedish riots rage for fourth night|work=]|date=23 May 2013|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817040239/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm|archive-date=17 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{As of|2007}}, total tax revenue was 47.8% of GDP, the second highest tax burden among developed countries, down from 49.1% 2006.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kenneth |last=Westerlund |title=Danmark har högsta skattetrycket |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |publisher=DN |date=2008-03-11 |accessdate=2008-03-11 }}</ref> Sweden's inverted ] – the amount going to the service worker's wallet – is approximately 15% compared to 10% in Belgium, 30% in Ireland, and 50% in United States.<ref name="eu-usa"/> Public sector spending amounts to 53% of the GDP. State and municipal employees total around a third of the workforce, much more than in most Western countries. Only Denmark has a larger public sector (38% of Danish workforce). Spending on transfers is also high.


Sweden adopted free market agricultural policies in 1990. Since the 1930s, the agricultural sector had been subject to price controls. In June 1990, the Riksdag voted for a new agricultural policy marking a significant shift away from price controls. As a result, ] fell somewhat. However, the liberalisations soon became moot because EU agricultural controls supervened.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=] |last=Lindberg |first=Henrik |title=The Role of Economists in Liberalising Swedish Agriculture |date=May 2007 |url=http://econjwatch.org/issues/volume-4-number-1-may-2007 |volume=4 |issue=2 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193526/http://econjwatch.org/issues/volume-4-number-1-may-2007 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Eighty percent of the workforce is organized through the trade-unions which have the right to elect two representatives to the board in all Swedish companies with more than 25 employees.<ref></ref> Sweden have a relatively high amount of sick leave per worker in ]: the average worker loses 24 days due to sickness.<ref name="oecd2005"/> In December 2008, the number employed in age group 16–64 was 75.0%. The employment tendency was very strong in 2007. The positive trend continued during the first half of 2008, but the rate of increase slackened. According to ], the unemployment rate in December 2008 was at 6.4%.<ref></ref>


In 2015 and 2016, 69 per cent of the employed workers is organised in trade unions. Union density in 2016 was 62% among blue-collar-workers (most of them in the ], LO) and 75% among white-collar workers (most of them in the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, TCO, and the ], SACO).<ref>Yearly averages excluding full-time students working part-time. See Anders Kjellberg {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312031300/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21676527/Kollektivavtalst_ckning_samt_organisationsgrad_2017_LUP.pdf |date=12 March 2017 }}, Department of Sociology, Lund University. Studies in Social Policy, Industrial Relations, Working Life and Mobility. Research Reports 2017:1, Appendix 3 (in English) Table A</ref> Sweden has state-supported union unemployment funds (]).<ref>Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf|date=9 March 2017}} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp.279–302)</ref> Trade unions have the right to elect two representatives to the board in all Swedish companies with more than 25 employees. Sweden has a relatively high amount of sick leave per worker in OECD: the average worker loses 24 days due to sickness.<ref name="oecd2005" />
==Education==
{{Main|Education in Sweden}}
] (est. 1477)]]
Children aged 1–5 years old are guaranteed a place in a public ] (]: ''förskola'' or, colloquially, ''dagis''). Between the ages of 6 and 16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school. In the ] (PISA), Swedish 15-year-old pupils score close to the OECD average.<ref></ref> After completing the 9th grade, about 90% of the students continue with a three-year upper secondary school (''gymnasium''), which can lead to both a job qualification or entrance eligibility to university. The school system is largely financed by taxes.


The unemployment rate was 7.2% in May 2017 while the employment rate was 67.4%, with the workforce consisting of 4,983,000 people while 387,000 are unemployed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/labour-force-surveys/labour-force-surveys-lfs/pong/statistical-news/labour-force-surveys-lfs-may-2017/ |title=Continued increase in the number of employees in the municipal sector |work=Statistics Sweden |date=20 June 2017 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009190725/http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/labour-force-surveys/labour-force-surveys-lfs/pong/statistical-news/labour-force-surveys-lfs-may-2017/ |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/scb-72-procent-ar-arbetslosa |title=SCB: Arbetslösheten minskar i landet |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |agency=Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå |date=20 June 2017 |language=sv |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623040007/https://www.svd.se/scb-72-procent-ar-arbetslosa |archive-date=23 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unemployment among youth (aged 24 or younger) in 2012 was 24.2%, making Sweden the OECD country with the highest ratio of youth unemployment versus unemployment in general.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sweden: Highest ratio of youth unemployment|publisher=], Brussels|year=2012|url=http://www.unric.org/en/youth-unemployment/27411-sweden-highest-ratio-of-youth-unemployment|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202221352/http://www.unric.org/en/youth-unemployment/27411-sweden-highest-ratio-of-youth-unemployment|archive-date=2 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The Swedish government treats public and independent schools equally<ref name="swedishmodeleconomist">, ]</ref> by introducing ]s in 1992 as one of the first countries in the world after ]. Anyone can establish a for-profit school and the municipality must pay new schools the same amount as municipal schools get.
School lunch is free for all students in Sweden, which usually includes one or two different kinds of hot meals, a meal for vegetarians, salad bar, fruit, bread, and milk and/or water for drink. Some schools, especially kindergartens and middle schools, even serve breakfast for free to those who want to eat before school starts.


===Science and technology===
There are a number of different ], the oldest and largest of which are situated in ], ], ] and ]. Only a few countries such as ], the ], ] and ] have higher levels of ] degree holders.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}<!-- and what about non-oecd countries such as Russia and Israel? --> Along with several other European countries, the government also subsidizes tuition of international students pursuing a degree at Swedish institutions, although there has been talk of this being changed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.studyinsweden.se/templates/cs/CommonPage____4962.aspx|title=Fees and costs - study in Sweden|accessdate=2007-06-18|format=|work=}}</ref>
{{Main|Swedish inventions}}
], inventor of dynamite and institutor of the Nobel Prize]]
In the 18th century, Sweden's ] took off. Previously, technical progress had mainly come from mainland Europe.


In 1739, the ] was founded, with people such as ] and ] as early members. ] founded ], and received the Nobel Prize for his ]. ] invented ] and instituted the Nobel Prizes. ] started the company bearing his name, Ericsson, still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. ] was an early pioneer in ] and is along with ] credited as one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system.<ref name="si91e" />
==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Sweden|Swedish people}}
] is the capital and largest city in Sweden.]]
Of the 2007 population, 13.4% (1.23 million) were born abroad.<ref>Statistics Sweden. Befolkningsstatistik i sammandrag 1960-2007. Retrieved 9 February 2009.</ref> This reflects the inter-Nordic migrations, earlier periods of labour immigration, and later decades of refugee and family immigration. Sweden has been transformed from a nation of ] ending after World War I to a nation of ] from World War II onwards. In 2008, immigration reached its highest level since records began with 101,171 people moving to Sweden.<ref>Statistics Sweden. Befolkningsutveckling; födda, döda, in- och utvandring, gifta, skilda 1749 - 2007</ref>


The traditional engineering industry is still a major source of Swedish inventions, but pharmaceuticals, electronics and other high-tech industries are gaining ground. ] was an invention for storing liquid foods, invented by ]. ], an ulcer medicine, was the world's best-selling drug in the 1990s and was developed by ]. More recently ] invented the ], a worldwide standard for shipping and civil aviation navigation. A large portion of the Swedish economy is to this day based on the export of technical inventions.<ref name="si91e">{{cite web|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Education/Research/Facts/Innovation/|title=Innovation, Science/Research: Inventing tomorrow's world|publisher=Sweden.se|access-date=27 January 2011|date=February 2010|work=Fact Sheet FS 4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104021652/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Education/Research/Facts/Innovation/|archive-date=4 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{As of|2008}}, the largest immigrant groups living in Sweden consists of people born in ] (175,113), ] (109,446), the ] (72,285), ] (63,822), ] (57,663), ] (55,960), ] (44,310), ] (44,310), ] (28,118), ] (25,858), ] (25,159) and ] (23,291). In the last decade most immigrants have come from ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>Statistics Sweden. ''Utrikes födda efter region, ålder i tioårsklasser och kön. År 2001-2007''.. Retrieved 7 February 2009.</ref>

Swedish inventors held 47,112 patents in the United States {{as of|2014|alt=in 2014}}, according to the ]. As a nation, only ten other countries hold more patents than Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm |publisher=] |title=Patents By Country, State, and Year – All Patent Types (December 2014) |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226160611/http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm |archive-date=26 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Combined, the public and the private sector in Sweden allocate over 3.5% of GDP to ] (R&D) per year, making Sweden's investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP the second-highest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_res_and_dev_exp_of_gdp-economy-research-development-expenditure-gdp |title=% Of GDP > Research And Development Expenditure statistics – countries compared |publisher=NationMaster |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008062145/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_res_and_dev_exp_of_gdp-economy-research-development-expenditure-gdp |archive-date=8 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For several decades the ] has prioritised scientific and R&D activities. As a percentage of GDP, the Swedish government spends the most of any nation on research and development.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gov_spe_in_res_and_dev-economy-government-spending-research-development |title=Government spending in research and development statistics – countries compared |publisher=NationMaster.com |date=1 April 2007 |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930043550/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gov_spe_in_res_and_dev-economy-government-spending-research-development |archive-date=30 September 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden tops other European countries in the number of published scientific works per capita.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |title=Embassy of Sweden New Delhi – Science & Technology |publisher=Swedenabroad.se |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916211008/http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |archive-date=16 September 2008 }}</ref>

The ] (ESS) was scheduled to begin initial operations in 2019 with construction completion scheduled for 2025. The ESS will give an approximately 30 times stronger neutron beam than any of today's existing neutron source installations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neutron scattering|url=http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2011/file_47455.pdf|publisher=]|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022104114/http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2011/file_47455.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The ], costing some SEK 3 billion, was inaugurated on 21 June 2016. Both facilities have strong implications on material research. Sweden was ranked second in the ] in 2023 and 2024.<ref>{{Cite book |year=2024 |title=Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=6 October 2024 |page=18 |language=en |doi=10.34667/tind.50062 |isbn=978-92-805-3681-2 |last1=Dutta |first1=Soumitra |last2=Lanvin |first2=Bruno |last3=Rivera León |first3=Lorena |last4=Wunsch-Vincent |first4=Sacha |publisher=] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Global Innovation Index 2023, 15th Edition |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |access-date=17 October 2023 |date=12 December 2023 |publisher=] |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |isbn=9789280534320 |language=en |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022042128/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2023/index.html |url-status=live |last1=Dutta |first1=Soumitra |last2=Lanvin |first2=Bruno |last3=Wunsch-Vincent |first3=Sacha |last4=León |first4=Lorena Rivera |last5=World Intellectual Property Organization }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Global Innovation Index 2022, 15th Edition |url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2022/index.html |accessdate=16 November 2022 |year=2022 |publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization |doi=10.34667/tind.46596 |isbn=978-92-805-3432-0 |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221203061259/https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2022/index.html |url-status=live |last1=Dutta |first1=Soumitra |last2=Lanvin |first2=Bruno |last3=Wunsch-Vincent |first3=Sacha |last4=León |first4=Lorena Rivera |last5=World Intellectual Property Organization }}</ref>

=== Waste management ===
Sweden is known for its efficient waste management system. Only 0.7% of the total household waste is disposed, and the rest is reused.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Balaam |first=Kellie |date=20 December 2019 |title=Turning around WA's poor reputation on waste |url=https://westernindependent.com.au/2019/12/20/the-war-on-waste-continues/ |access-date=6 June 2023 |website=Western Independent |language=en-US |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606071915/https://westernindependent.com.au/2019/12/20/the-war-on-waste-continues/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Around 52% of its waste is used for energy production (that is burnt) and 47% recycled.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dirty power: Sweden wants your garbage for energy |url=http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/3/27/sweden-wants-your-garbage-for-energy.html |access-date=6 June 2023 |website=america.aljazeera.com |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606074601/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/3/27/sweden-wants-your-garbage-for-energy.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Eriksson |first1=Ola |last2=Finnveden |first2=Göran |date=2009 |title=Plastic waste as a fuel - CO2-neutral or not? |url=http://xlink.rsc.org/?DOI=b908135f |journal=Energy & Environmental Science |language=en |volume=2 |issue=9 |pages=907 |doi=10.1039/b908135f |issn=1754-5692 |access-date=6 June 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005114222/https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2009/EE/b908135f |url-status=live }}</ref> About two million tonnes of waste are imported from neighbouring countries to make profitable recycling products.<ref name="auto1"/> As of 2023 report, Sweden generated 1.7 billion euros in 2020 (the highest so far was 1.98 billion euros in 2016) from recycling waste.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sweden: waste collection industry turnover 2020 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/430085/turnover-waste-collection-industry-sweden/ |access-date=6 June 2023 |website=Statista |language=en |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606073117/https://www.statista.com/statistics/430085/turnover-waste-collection-industry-sweden/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The works are mostly executed through the public organisation, ] (Avfall Sverige).<ref name="auto1"/>

===Taxes===
{{Main|Taxation in Sweden}}
Since the late 1960s, Sweden has had the highest tax quota (as percentage of GDP) in the industrialised world, although today the gap has narrowed and Denmark has surpassed Sweden as the most heavily taxed country among developed countries. Sweden has a two-step ] scale with a municipal income tax of about 30% and an additional high-income state tax of 20–25% when a salary exceeds roughly 320,000 SEK per year. ]es amount to 32%. In addition, a national ] of 25% is added to many things bought by private citizens. Certain items are subject to additional taxes, e.g. electricity, petrol/diesel and alcoholic beverages. {{As of|2007|alt=In 2007}}, total tax revenue was 47.8% of GDP, the second-highest tax burden among developed countries, down from 49.1% 2006.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kenneth |last=Westerlund |title=Danmark har högsta skattetrycket |trans-title=Denmark has the highest tax burden |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |newspaper=] |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=11 March 2008 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214084943/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |archive-date=14 February 2009}}</ref> Public sector spending amounts to 53% of the GDP. State and municipal employees total around a third of the workforce, much more than in most Western countries. Only Denmark has a larger public sector (38% of Danish workforce). Spending on transfers is also high. On average, 27% of taxpayers' money in Sweden goes to education and healthcare, whereas 5% goes to the police and military, and 42% to social security.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 August 2017|title=Offentliga sektorns utgifter|url=https://www.ekonomifakta.se/Fakta/Offentlig-ekonomi/Offentlig-sektor/Offentliga-sektorns-utgifter/?graph=/10870/all/all/|access-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707010104/https://www.ekonomifakta.se/Fakta/Offentlig-ekonomi/Offentlig-sektor/Offentliga-sektorns-utgifter/?graph=/10870/all/all/|archive-date=7 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Pensions===
{{Main|Social security in Sweden}}
Every Swedish resident receives a state pension. Swedish Pensions Agency is responsible for pensions. People who have worked in Sweden, but relocated to another country, can also receive the Swedish pension. There are several types of pensions in Sweden: occupational and private pensions, and national retirement. A person can receive a combination of the various types of pensions.

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Sweden|Swedes|List of urban areas in Sweden by population|Immigration to Sweden}}
{{Largest cities of Sweden}}
]
The total resident population of Sweden was 10,377,781 in October 2020.<ref name="population" /> The population exceeded 10 million for the first time on Friday 20 January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6610701|title=Swedish population hits 10-million mark – Radio Sweden|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=20 January 2017|language=en|access-date=19 September 2019|archive-date=3 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903151030/https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6610701|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20170120/swedens-population-reaches-historic-ten-million-milestone|title=Sweden's population reaches historic ten million milestone|date=20 January 2017|website=thelocal.se|language=en-GB|access-date=19 September 2019|archive-date=14 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914113554/https://www.thelocal.se/20170120/swedens-population-reaches-historic-ten-million-milestone|url-status=live}}</ref>


The average population density is just over 25 people per km<sup>2</sup> (65 per square mile), with 1 437 persons per km<sup>2</sup> in localities (continuous settlement with at least 200 inhabitants).<ref name="SCB2020">{{Cite web |url=https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-and-urban-areas-2018-population-2019/ |title=Densification in half of Sweden's urban areas |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805131606/https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-and-urban-areas-2018-population-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref><sup>,</sup><ref name="SCB2019">{{Cite web |url=https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-2018/ |title=Roughly 87 percent of the population lives in localities and urban areas |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809160442/https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 88% of the population live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area.<ref name=SCBdensity2020/><ref name="SCB2018"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909021440/https://www.scb.se/contentassets/745b357fd3b74ffd934fc4004ce5cf62/mi0810_2018a01_sm_mi38sm1901.pdf |date=9 September 2020 }} page 33</ref> 63% of Swedes are in large urban areas.<ref name="SCB2018" /> It is substantially higher in the south than in the north. There are more than 2000 localities.<ref name=SCBdensity2020/> The capital city Stockholm has a municipal population of about 950,000 (with 1.5 million in the urban area and 2.3 million in the metropolitan area). The second- and third-largest cities are ] and ]. Outside of major cities, areas with notably higher population density include the agricultural part of Östergötland, the western coast, the area around Lake Mälaren and the agricultural area around Uppsala.
Immigration from the Nordic countries reached a peak of more than 40,000 per year in 1969–70 when immigration law introduced in 1967 had made it more difficult for immigrants from outside the Nordic region to settle in Sweden for labour market policy reasons. Immigration by refugees and immigrating relatives of refugees from outside the Nordic region increased drastically during the late 1980s, with many of the immigrants arriving from Asia and the Americas, especially from Iran and Chile.


], which covers approximately 60% of the Swedish territory, has a very low population density (below five people per square kilometre). The mountains and most of the remote coastal areas are almost unpopulated. Low population density exists also in large parts of western Svealand, as well as southern and central Småland. An area known as ''Finnveden'', which is located in the south-west of Småland, and mainly below the 57th parallel, can also be considered as almost empty of people.
During the 1990s and onwards another large immigrant group came from former Yugoslavia and the Middle East.<ref>Nordstrom, p. 353. (Lists Former Yugoslavia and Iran as top two countries in terms of immigration beside "Other Nordic Countries," based on Nordic Council of Ministers ''Yearbook of Nordic Statistics'', 1996, 46–47)</ref> On December 15, 2008 new labour immigration rules came into effect making it easier to immigrate from outside of the European Union for labour market reasons. Most labour-market immigrants so far are IT specialists and engineers from India, China and the United States.<ref>Migrationsverket.. ''Many IT specialists and engineers among the new labour immigrants'', 6 February 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.</ref>


There are no official statistics on ethnicity, but according to Statistics Sweden, 2,752,572 (26%) inhabitants of Sweden were of a ] in 2021, defined as being born abroad or born in Sweden with both foreign-born parents.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Number of persons with foreign or Swedish background (detailed division) by region, age and sex. Year 2002 – 2021 |url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgFin/ |access-date=15 April 2022 |website=Statistikdatabasen |language=en |archive-date=19 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419170843/http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgFin/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Of these inhabitants, 2,090,503 persons were born abroad and 662,069 persons were born in Sweden to parents born abroad. In addition, 805,340 persons had one parent born abroad with the other parent born in Sweden.<ref name=":0" /> Five minority groups are officially recognized by Sweden: ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sweden's national minorities |url=https://sweden.se/life/equality/swedens-national-minorities |website=sweden.se |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=20 September 2023 |archive-date=1 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201111100/https://sweden.se/life/equality/swedens-national-minorities |url-status=live }}</ref>
During the period between 1820–1930 approximately 1.3 million Swedes, a third of the country's population, ] and most of them to the ]. There are more than 4.4 million ]s according to a 2006 U.S. Census Bureau estimate.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-_lang=en&-_caller=geoselect&-format= | title = U.S. Census | publisher = U.S. Census Bureau | accessdate = 2008-04-13}}</ref> In ], the community of ] is 330,000 strong.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000 |title = Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |accessdate = 2008-06-30}}</ref>


Sweden has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the average age of 41.1 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : SWEDEN|work=]|date=12 July 2018|access-date=23 January 2021|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118143648/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Largest cities===
{{As of|2009}}, the total population of Sweden was estimated to be 9,325,429.<ref>Statistics Sweden.. ''Population statistics'', 1 January 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2007.</ref> The population exceeded 9 million for the first time on approximately 12 August 2004 according to ]. The ] is only 20.6 people per km² (53.3 per square mile) and it is substantially higher in the south than in the north. About 85% of the population live in urban areas.<ref name="publikationer2007"/> The capital city ] has a population of about 800,000 (with 1.3 million in the urban area and 2 million in the metropolitan area). The second and third largest cities are ] and ].


===Language=== ===Language===
{{Main|Swedish language|Languages of Sweden}} {{Main|Swedish language|Languages of Sweden}}
{{See also|Swedish dialects}} {{See also|Swedish dialects}}
The official language of Sweden is Swedish,<ref name="Swedish">{{cite web|url=http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Spraklag-2009600_sfs-2009-600/|title=Språklag (2009:600)|date=28 May 2009|publisher=]|language=sv|access-date=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110205547/http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Spraklag-2009600_sfs-2009-600/|archive-date=10 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Swedish2">{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20090701/20404|title=Swedish becomes official 'main language'|last=Landes|first=David|date=1 July 2009|newspaper=]|access-date=15 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210004646/http://www.thelocal.se/20090701/20404|archive-date=10 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> a North Germanic language, related and very similar to ] and ], but differing in pronunciation and ]. The ], the southernmost part of the country, are influenced by Danish because ] and is nowadays situated closely to it. ] are Sweden's largest linguistic minority, comprising about 5% of Sweden's population,<ref name="Finns">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____255905.aspx |title=På lördag kan 440 000 flagga blått och vitt |trans-title=On Saturday 440 000 can flag blue and white |publisher=] |language=sv |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=16 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820073639/http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____255905.aspx |archive-date=20 August 2010}}</ref> and Finnish is recognised as a minority language.<ref name="Swedish2" /> Owing to a 21st-century influx of native speakers of ], the use of Arabic is likely more widespread in the country than that of Finnish. However, no official statistics are kept on language use.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6003931|title=Hur många språk talas i Sverige?|trans-title=How many languages are spoken in Sweden?|newspaper=]|language=sv|date=29 October 2014|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090814/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6003931|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live|last1=Forsberg|first1=Ingrid}}</ref>
]
The official language of Sweden is ], a ], related and very similar to ] and ], but differing in pronunciation and ]. Norwegians have little difficulty understanding Swedish, and Danes can also understand it, with slightly more difficulty than the Norwegians. ] are Sweden's largest linguistic minority{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}, comprising about 3% of Sweden's population and ] is recognized as a minority language.


Four other ] are also recognized (], ], ], and ]). Swedish became Sweden's official language on 1 July 2009, when a new language law was implemented.<ref name="Swedish2" /> The issue of whether Swedish should be declared the official language has been raised in the past, and the parliament voted on the matter in 2005—but the proposal narrowly failed.<ref>, '']'', 2005-12-07. Retrieved on July 23, 2006. (in Swedish)</ref> Along with Finnish, ] are also recognised: ], ], ], and ]. Swedish became Sweden's official language on 1 July 2009, when a new language law was implemented.<ref name="Swedish2" /> The issue of whether Swedish should be declared the official language had been raised in the past, and the Riksdag voted on the matter in 2005, but the proposal narrowly failed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Svenskan blir inte officiellt språk|newspaper=SVT Nyheter|trans-title=Swedish will not become an official language|url=http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/svenskan-blir-inte-officiellt-sprak|publisher=]|language=sv|access-date=9 June 2013|date=7 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311014951/http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/svenskan-blir-inte-officiellt-sprak|archive-date=11 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>


In varying degrees, depending largely on frequency of interaction with English, a majority of Swedes, especially those born after World War II, understand and speak ] due to trade links, the popularity of overseas travel, a strong Anglo-American influence and the tradition of ] rather than dubbing foreign television shows and films, and the relative similarity of the two languages which makes learning English easier. To varying degrees, a majority of Swedes, especially those born after World War II, understand and speak English, owing to trade links, the popularity of overseas travel, a strong Anglo-American influence and the tradition of ] rather than dubbing foreign television shows and films, and the ] of the two languages which makes learning English easier. In a 2005 survey by ], 89% of Swedes reported the ability to speak English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/pdf/doc631_en.pdf |title=Europeans and their Languages|publisher=] |date=12 March 2012 |access-date=17 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116073533/http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/pdf/doc631_en.pdf |archive-date=16 November 2013}}</ref>


English became a compulsory subject for ] students studying ]s as early as 1849, and has been a compulsory subject for all Swedish students since the late 1940s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |title=English spoken - fast ibland hellre än bra |publisher=Lund University newsletter 7/1999 |language=Swedish}}</ref> Depending on the local school authorities, English is currently a compulsory subject between ] and ], with all students continuing in secondary school studying English for at least another year. Most students also study one and sometimes two additional languages. These include (but are not limited to) ], ], and ]. Some ] and ] is at times also taught as part of Swedish courses for native speakers. English became a compulsory subject for secondary school students studying ]s as early as 1849, and has been a compulsory subject for all Swedish students since the late 1940s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |title=English spoken – fast ibland hellre än bra |publisher=] newsletter 7/1999 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106110733/http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |archive-date=6 January 2006 }}</ref> Most students also study one and sometimes two additional languages. Some Danish and Norwegian is also taught as part of Swedish courses for native speakers. Because of the extensive ] between the three continental ]s, Swedish speakers often use their native language when visiting or living in Norway or Denmark.


===Religion=== ===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in Sweden}} {{Main|Religion in Sweden|Irreligion in Sweden}}
]]] ] in Stockholm]]
Before the 11th century, Swedes adhered to ], worshiping ] gods, with its centre at the ]. With ] in the 11th century, the laws of the country were changed, forbidding worship of other deities into the late 19th century.


After the ] in the 1530s, a change significantly affected by ]'s Swedish associate ], the Church and state were separated and the authority of Roman Catholic bishops abolished, allowing ] to prevail. This process was completed by the ] of 1593. During the era following the ], usually known as the period of ], small groups of non-Lutherans, especially ] ], the ] and ] or ] from ], played a significant role in trade and industry, and were quietly tolerated as long as they kept a low religious profile. The ] originally had their own shamanistic religion, but they were converted to Lutheranism by Swedish missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries. Before the 11th century, Swedes adhered to ], worshiping ] gods, with its centre at the ]. With ] in the 11th century, the laws of the country changed, forbidding worship of other deities until the late 19th century. After the ] in the 1530s, the authority of the ] was abolished and ] became widespread. Adoption of Lutheranism was completed by the ] of 1593, and it became the official religion. During the era following the Reformation, usually known as the period of ], small groups of non-Lutherans, especially ] Dutch, the ] and ] played a significant role in trade and industry, and were quietly tolerated.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gritsch|first1=Eric|title=A History of Lutheranism|date=2010|publisher=Fortress Press|isbn=978-1-4514-0775-4|page=351|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ApWxByVqe-MC&q=lutheranism+history+in+sweden|access-date=29 October 2020|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005114225/https://books.google.com/books?id=ApWxByVqe-MC&q=lutheranism+history+in+sweden#v=snippet&q=lutheranism%20history%20in%20sweden&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> The Sami originally had their own ], but they were converted to Lutheranism by Swedish missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries.


With religious liberalisations in the late 18th century believers of other faiths, including ] and ], were allowed to live and work freely in the country. However, until 1860 it remained illegal for Lutherans to convert to another religion. The 19th century saw the arrival of various ] ]es, and, towards the end of the century, ], leading many to distance themselves from church rituals. Leaving the Church of Sweden became legal with the so-called ] of 1860, but only under the provision of entering another ]. The right to stand outside any religious denomination was formally established in the law on ] in 1951.
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" rules="all" style="width:250px; float:left; margin:1em; background:#fff; border:2px solid #aaa; font-size:100%;"
|- style="background:#ddd;"
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"| '''Church of Sweden<ref>{{sv}}</ref> ''' <br />
|- style="background:#f0f0f0; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Population
! Church members
! Percentage
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1972 || 8,146,000 || 7,754,784 || 95.2 %
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1980 || 8,278,000 || 7,690,636 || 92.9 %
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1990 || 8,573,000 || 7,630,350 || 89.0 %
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2000 || 8,880,000 || 7,360,825|| 82.9 %
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2005 || 9,048,000 || 6,967,498 || 77.0 %
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2006 || 9,119,000 || 6,893,901 || 75.6 %
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2007 || 9,179,000 || 6,820,161 || 74.3 %
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2008|| 9,262,000 || 6,751,952 || 72.9 %
|}
Not until liberalization in the late 18th century, however, were believers of other faiths, including ] and ], allowed to openly live and work in Sweden, and it remained illegal until 1860 for Lutheran Swedes to convert to another religion. The 19th century saw the arrival of various ] ]es, and, towards the end of the century ], leading many to distance themselves from Church rituals. Leaving the ] became legal with the so-called dissenter law of 1860, but only under the provision of entering another denomination. The right to stand outside any religious denomination was established in the Law on ] in 1951.


In 2000, the ] was separated from the state. Sweden was the second ] to ] its ] (after Finland did so in the Church Act of 1869).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Sweden.1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110072754/http://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Sweden.1.pdf|url-status=dead|title=MAARIT JÄNTERÄ-JAREBORG: Religion and the Secular State in Sweden|archive-date=10 January 2016}}</ref>
At the end of 2008, 72.9% of Swedes belonged to the Church of Sweden (Lutheran); this number has been decreasing by about 1% a year for the last two decades. Church of Sweden services are sparsely attended (hovering in the single digit percentages of the population).<ref>, </ref> The reason for the large number of inactive members is partly that until 1996, children became members automatically at birth if at least one of the parents was a member. Since 1996, only children that are christened become members. Some 275,000 Swedes are today members of various free churches (where congregation attendance is much higher), and, in addition, ] has meant that there are now some 92,000 ] and 100,000 ] living in Sweden.<ref>]</ref>


At the end of 2022, 52.8% of Swedes belonged to the ];<ref>{{Cite web |last=Svenska kyrkan |date=2022 |title=Svenska kyrkans medlemsutveckling år 1972-2022 |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/1374643/Medlemmar%20i%20Svenska%20kyrkan%201972-2022.pdf |access-date=23 April 2023 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407004505/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/filer/1374643/Medlemmar%20i%20Svenska%20kyrkan%201972-2022.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> this number has been decreasing by 1-2 percentage points each year since 2001.<ref name="svenskakyrkan.se">{{cite web |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=978164 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220162746/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=978164 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2020 |publisher=] |title=Stift |trans-title=Diocese |format=PDF |language=sv }}</ref><ref name="thelocal1">{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/26878/20100527/ |title=Swedes depart church in droves |newspaper=] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802045112/http://www.thelocal.se/26878/20100527/ |archive-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=] |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik/xls/medlem_diagram.xls |title=Medlemmar 1972–2006 |trans-title=Members 1972–2006 |format=xls |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930212556/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik/xls/medlem_diagram.xls |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> Approximately 2% of the church's members regularly attend Sunday services.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=] |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |title=Liturgy and Worship |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422193814/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |archive-date=22 April 2010}}</ref> The reason for the large number of inactive members is partly that, until 1996, children automatically became members at birth if at least one of the parents was a member. Since 1996, only children and adults who are ] become members. Some 275,000 Swedes are today members of various ] free churches (where congregation attendance is much higher), and due to recent immigration, there are now some 100,000 ] and 92,000 Roman Catholics living in Sweden.<ref>]</ref>
Because of ], Sweden also has a significant ] population. Almost half a million are Muslims by tradition, but approximately 5% (25,000) of these actively practise Islam (in the sense of attending Friday prayer and praying five times a day).<ref></ref> ] stated in 2004 that "we do not think it unreasonable to put the figure of religious ] in Sweden at the time of writing at close to 150 000".<ref>] (2004), “Muslims in Sweden”, in Muhammad Anwar, Jochen Blaschke and Åke Sander, , Berlin : Parabolis; p.218</ref> (See '']''.)


30% are ] or "unspecified".<ref name=Britannica>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Sweden/Religion|title=Religion of Sweden|website=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.|language=en|date=1 September 2024|access-date=1 September 2024}}</ref>
===Health===
{{See also|Healthcare in Sweden|Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare}}
Healthcare in Sweden is similar in quality to other developed nations. Sweden ranks in the top five countries with respect to low ]. It also ranks high in ] and in safe ]. A person seeking care first contacts a clinic for a doctor's appointment, and may then be referred to a specialist by the clinic physician, who may in turn recommend either in-patient or out-patient treatment, or an elective care option. The health care is governed by the 21 ] of Sweden and is mainly funded by taxes, with nominal fees for patients.


8% are "other" (than Church of Sweden).<ref name=Britannica/>
==Science and technology==
Being an advanced ], research plays a key role for economic development as well as for society at large, Sweden's high-quality scientific and technological development is renowned throughout the world.


The first Muslim congregation was established in 1949. Islam's presence in Sweden remained marginal until the 1960s, when Sweden started to receive migrants from ] and Turkey. Further immigration from ] and the ] have brought the estimated ] to 600,000.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808004606/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/238650.pdf |date=8 August 2019}}, U.S. Department Of State.</ref> However, only about 110,000 were members of a congregation around 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article140868.ece |first1=Erik |last1=Magnusson |first2=Olle |last2=Lönnaeus |first3=Niklas |last3=Orrenius |title=Djup splittring bland Malmös muslimer |trans-title=Deep splits among Malmö's Muslims |newspaper=] |language=sv |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113112554/http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article140868.ece |archive-date=13 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sst.a.se/statistik.4.7501238311cc6f12fa580005236.html |title=Statistik |trans-title=Statistics |publisher=Swedish Commission for Government Support to Faith Communities |language=sv |year=2010 |access-date=4 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129111255/http://www.sst.a.se/statistik.4.7501238311cc6f12fa580005236.html |archive-date=29 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arvsfonden.se/upload/utvarderingar/Islam%20och%20muslimer%20i%20Sverige%20Mattias%20Gardell.pdf |first=Mattias |last=Gardell |title=Islam och muslimer i Sverige |trans-title=Islam and Muslims in Sweden |publisher=] |date=May 2010 |language=sv |access-date=4 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813171738/http://www.arvsfonden.se/upload/utvarderingar/Islam%20och%20muslimer%20i%20Sverige%20Mattias%20Gardell.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2010}}</ref>
Altogether, the public and the private sector in Sweden allocate nearly four per cent of ] to ] (R&D), which makes Sweden one of the countries that invest most in R&D in terms of percentage of GDP. The standard of Swedish research is high and Sweden is a world leader in a number of important fields. Sweden tops ] in comparative statistics both in terms of research investments as a percentage of GDP and in the number of published scientific works per capita.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |title=Embassy of Sweden New Delhi - Science & Technology |publisher=Swedenabroad.se |date= |accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref>


===Health===
Though a relatively small country, Sweden has long been at the forefront of research and development. For several decades, the ], committed to strengthening R&D, has set high priorities on scientific and R&D activities. This strong engagement has helped make Sweden a leading country in terms of ].
{{See also|Healthcare in Sweden|Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare}}
Healthcare in Sweden is mainly ], universal for all citizens, and decentralised,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/economics/getting-better-value-for-money-from-sweden-s-healthcare-system_082725005676#.WiiR07pFxPY |title=Getting Better Value for Money from Sweden's Healthcare System {{!}} OECD READ edition |website=OECD iLibrary |access-date=7 December 2017 |archive-date=3 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603073601/https://www.keepeek.com/digital-asset-management/oecd/economics/getting-better-value-for-money-from-sweden-s-healthcare-system_082725005676#.WiiR07pFxPY |url-status=live }}</ref> although private health care also exists. The health care system in Sweden is financed primarily through taxes levied by regional councils and municipalities. A total of 21 councils are in charge of primary and hospital care within the country.


Private healthcare is a rarity in Sweden, and even those private institutions work under the mandated city councils.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/economics/oecd-economic-surveys-sweden-2005/improving-quality-and-value-for-money-in-healthcare_eco_surveys-swe-2005-7-en#.WiiXqLpFxPY|title=Improving Quality and Value for Money in Healthcare {{!}} OECD READ edition|website=OECD iLibrary|language=en|access-date=7 December 2017|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606205718/https://www.keepeek.com/digital-asset-management/oecd/economics/oecd-economic-surveys-sweden-2005/improving-quality-and-value-for-money-in-healthcare_eco_surveys-swe-2005-7-en#.WiiXqLpFxPY|url-status=live}}</ref> The city councils regulate the rules and the establishment of potential private practices. While care for the elderly or those who need psychiatric help is conducted privately in many other countries, in Sweden, publicly funded local authorities are in charge of this type of care.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/apr/28/swedish-council-limit-private-profit-healthcare-public|title=Swedish council becomes first to limit private profits in healthcare|last=Orange|first=Richard|date=28 April 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 December 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=5 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405005519/https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/apr/28/swedish-council-limit-private-profit-healthcare-public|url-status=live}}</ref>
For many years, Sweden has been a leading player among ] countries in terms of its investments in and use of advanced ]. In international comparison, Swedish high-technology manufacturing is relatively large in all high-technology segments, and particularly in ]s and ]s.


Healthcare in Sweden is similar in quality to other developed nations. Sweden ranks in the top five countries with respect to low ]. It also ranks high in ] and in safe ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/sweden/|title=OECD Better Life Index|website=oecdbetterlifeindex.org|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=25 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225020044/http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/sweden/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, health and medical care represented around 11% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sweden.se/society/health-care-in-sweden/|title=Healthcare in Sweden|date=5 May 2020|website=sweden.se|access-date=16 December 2020|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017055443/https://sweden.se/society/health-care-in-sweden/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Statistics show that during the entire period 1970–2003, the Swedish national innovation system was among the leading countries in the OECD in terms of generating technological inventions, measured as international patenting in relation to population size. The statistics evaluating countries in terms of triadic patenting, i.e. patents assigned in the three patenting areas ], ] and ], were even more outstanding. Only ] reported a higher rate of triadic patenting.


=== Education ===
Furthermore, Sweden ranked either as the first or second country publishing the highest number of scientific publications in the fields of ], ] and ] in 2001. Sweden was world-leading in medical science and second only to Switzerland in natural science and engineering in terms of the number of publications in relation to its population size.
{{Main|Education in Sweden}}
] (established 1477)]]
Children aged 1–5 years old are guaranteed a place in a public ] ({{langx|sv|förskola}} or, colloquially, {{Lang|sv|dagis}}). Between the ages of 6 and 16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school. In the ] (PISA), Swedish 15-year-old pupils score close to the OECD average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |publisher=] |title=PISA results for Sweden |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229020307/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |archive-date=29 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> After completing the ninth grade, about 90% of the students continue with a three-year upper secondary school (''gymnasium''), which can lead to both a job qualification or entrance eligibility to university. The school system is largely financed by taxes.


The Swedish government treats public and independent schools equally<ref name="swedishmodeleconomist">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645 |title=The Swedish model |newspaper=] |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226014533/http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645 |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> by introducing ]s in 1992 as one of the first countries in the world after the Netherlands. Anyone can establish a for-profit school and the municipality must pay new schools the same amount as municipal schools get. School lunch is free for all students in Sweden, and providing breakfast is also encouraged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/school_food_in18countries.pdf |title=The provision of school food in 18 countries |publisher=]|date=July 2008|access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301002902/http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/school_food_in18countries.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2013 }}</ref>
In terms of structure, the Swedish economy is characterized by a large knowledge-intensive and export-oriented manufacturing sector, an increasing, but comparatively small, ] ], and by international standards, a large public service sector. Large organizations both in manufacturing and services dominate the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |title=Doing Business Abroad - Innovation, Science and Technology |publisher=Infoexport.gc.ca |date= |accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref>


There are a number of different ], the oldest and largest of which are situated in ], ], ] and ]. In 2000, 32% of Swedish people held a ], making the country fifth in the OECD in that category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_att_ter-education-educational-attainment-tertiary |title=Tertiary > Educational Attainment statistics – countries compared |website=NationMaster.com |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104153515/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_att_ter-education-educational-attainment-tertiary |archive-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Along with several other European countries, the government also subsidises tuition of international students pursuing a degree at Swedish institutions, although a recent bill passed in the Riksdag will limit this subsidy to students from EEA countries and Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studyinsweden.se/Home/News-archive/2010/Tuition-fees-from-2011/ |title=Sweden introduces tuition fees and offers scholarships for students from outside EU |date=21 April 2010 |website=Studyinsweden.se |access-date=3 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628053602/http://www.studyinsweden.se/Home/News-archive/2010/Tuition-fees-from-2011/ |archive-date=28 June 2010}}</ref>
===Inventions===
{{Main|Swedish inventions}}
], inventor of dynamite and institutor of the ].]]
In the 18th century Sweden's ] took off. Previously, technical progress had mainly come from professionals who had immigrated from mainland Europe. In 1739, the ] was founded, with people such as ] and ] as early members. From the 1870s, engineering companies were created at an unmatched rate and engineers became heroes of the age. Many of the companies founded by early pioneers are still internationally familiar. ] founded ], and received the Nobel Prize for his ]. ] invented ] and instituted the ]s. ] started the company bearing his name, ], still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. ] was an early pioneer in ] and is along with ]n inventor ] credited as one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system.<ref name="si91e"/>


The large influx of immigrants to Swedish schools has been cited as a significant part of the reason why Sweden has dropped more than any other European country in the international ] rankings.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 March 2016 |title=Immigrant children in Sweden blamed for country's poor test scores |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/immigrant-children-in-sweden-blamed-for-countrys-poor-test-scores-a6934111.html |work=] |access-date=28 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127202352/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/immigrant-children-in-sweden-blamed-for-countrys-poor-test-scores-a6934111.html |archive-date=27 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=What's behind the rising inequality in Sweden's schools, and can it be fixed? |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20180822/sweden-in-focus-education-inequality-schools |work=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125061419/https://www.thelocal.se/20180822/sweden-in-focus-education-inequality-schools |archive-date=25 November 2018 |date=22 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=16 June 2016 |title=Why Sweden's free schools are failing |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2016/06/why-sweden-s-free-schools-are-failing |work=] |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115014822/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2016/06/why-sweden-s-free-schools-are-failing|archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 2016 |title=Invandring säker faktor bakom Pisa-tappet |url=https://www.dagenssamhalle.se/kronika/invandring-saeker-faktor-bakom-pisa-tappet-22744 |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115082856/https://www.dagenssamhalle.se/kronika/invandring-saeker-faktor-bakom-pisa-tappet-22744 |work=Dagens Samhalle |archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The traditional engineering industry is still a major source of Swedish inventions, but pharmaceuticals, electronics and other high-tech industries are gaining ground. ] is an invention for storing liquid foods, invented by ]. ] invented the ], a worldwide standard for shipping and civil aviation navigation. ], an ulcer medicine, was the world's best-selling drug in the 1990s and was developed by ]. A large portion of the Swedish economy is to this day based on the export of technical inventions, and many large multinational corporations from Sweden have their origins in the ingenuity of Swedish inventors.<ref name="si91e">{{cite web|url = http://www.sweden.se/upload/Sweden_se/english/factsheets/SI/SI_FS91e_Swedish_inventions_and_discoveries/Swedish_inventions_and_discoveries_FS91e_Hires.pdf|format=PDF|title=Swedish inventions and discoveries|accessdate=2007-10-28|year=2007|month=January|work=Fact Sheet FS 91 e|publisher=Swedish Institute}}</ref>

Sweden has a total of 33,523 ]s as of 2007, according to the ], and only ten other countries have more patents than Sweden.<ref>Patents By Country, State, and Year - All Patent Types
(December 2007)</ref>


==Culture== ==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Sweden}} {{Main|Culture of Sweden}}
], painted in the traditional Swedish ].]]
Sweden has many authors of worldwide recognition including ], ], and ] winners ] and ]. In total seven ] have been awarded to Swedes. The nation's most well-known artists are painters such as ] and ], and the sculptors ] and ].

Swedish twentieth-century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days of ], with ] and ]. In the 1920s&ndash;1980s, the filmmaker ] and actors ] and ] became internationally noted people within cinema. More recently, the films of ] and ] have received international recognition.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "]", with ] having particularly been promoted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/Article____12355.aspx |title=The Swedish Myths: True, False, or Somewhere In Between? |publisher=Sweden.se |accessdate=2007-02-14 }}</ref> At the present time, the number of single people is one of the highest in the world. The early Swedish film '']'' (1967) reflected a liberal view of sexuality, including scenes of love making that caught international attention, and introduced the concept of the "Swedish sin".


Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "]", with gender equality having particularly been promoted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Reading/The-Swedish-myths-True-false-or-somewhere-in-between/ |title=The Swedish Myths: True, False, or Somewhere In Between? |publisher=Sweden.se |access-date=27 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917004928/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Reading/The-Swedish-myths-True-false-or-somewhere-in-between/ |archive-date=17 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |first1=Carl |last1=Marklund |title=Hot Love and Cold People. Sexual Liberalism as Political Escapism in Radical Sweden |year=2009 |journal=NORDEUROPAforum |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=83–101 |url=http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2009-1/marklund-carl-83/XML/ |access-date=5 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217062419/http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2009-1/marklund-carl-83/XML/ |archive-date=17 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden has also become very liberal towards ], as is reflected in the popular acceptance of films such as '']''. Since 1 May 2009, Sweden repealed its "registered partnership" laws and fully replaced them with ].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden passes new gay marriage law |newspaper=] |date=2 April 2009 |url=http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/ |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410151816/http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/ |archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> Sweden also offers ]s for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Cohabitation ({{Lang|sv|sammanboende}}) by couples of all ages, including teenagers as well as older couples, is widespread.
Sweden has also become, in recent decades, fairly liberal regarding ], as is reflected in the popular acceptance of films such as '']'', which is about two young ] in the small Swedish town of Åmål. Since 1 May 2009, Sweden repealed its "registered partnership" laws and fully replaced them with ],
<ref>{{cite news
| title = Sweden passes new gay marriage law
| publisher = The Local
| date = 2009-04-02
| url = http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/
| accessdate = 2009-05-05 }}</ref>
Sweden also offers ] for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Cohabitation (''sammanboende'') by couples of all ages, including teenagers as well as elderly couples, is widespread although in recent years it has become administratively problematic with regard to proof in claims of "spousal" social security. Recently, Sweden is experiencing a baby boom.<ref>
{{cite web
| title = Babyboom i Sverige?
| url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____231102.aspx
| accessdate = 2009-05-05}}</ref>


===Music=== ===Music===
<!-- NOTE: Please do not insert your own favorite band into a list here. The examples <!-- NOTE: Please do not insert your own favourite band into a list here. The examples given are meant to be examples, not an exhaustive list of all Swedish bands which have had some international success. The place for that is ] or
some other, more detailed article.-->
given are meant to be examples, not an exhaustive list of all Swedish bands which
has had some international success. The place for that is ] or
some other more detailed article.-->
{{Main|Music of Sweden}} {{Main|Music of Sweden}}
] in April 1974, a few days after they won the ]]]
].]]
Sweden has a rich musical tradition, ranging from mediaeval folk ballads to ]. The music of the pre-Christian Norse has been lost to history, although historical re-creations have been attempted based on instruments found in Viking sites. The instruments used were the '']'' (a sort of trumpet), simple string instruments, wooden flutes and drums. It is possible that the Viking musical legacy lives on in some of the old Swedish folk music. Historical re-creations of Norse music have been attempted based on instruments found in Viking sites. The instruments used were the '']'' (a sort of trumpet), simple string instruments, wooden flutes and drums. Sweden has a significant ] scene. The '']'', a type of Sami music, is a chant that is part of the traditional Sami animistic spirituality. Notable composers include ] and ].


Sweden also has a prominent choral music tradition. Out of a population of 9.5 million, it is estimated that five to six hundred thousand people sing in choirs.<ref>{{cite book |last=Durant |first=Colin |year=2003 |title=Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice |publisher=Routledge |pages=46–47 |isbn=978-0-415-94356-7 |quote=Sweden has a strong and enviable choral singing tradition. All those interviewed placed great emphasis on the social identification through singing and also referred to the importance of Swedish folk song in the maintenance of the choral singing tradition and national identity.}}</ref>
Sweden has a significant ] scene, both in the traditional style as well as more modern interpretations which often mix in elements of rock and jazz. ] is more of a traditionalist group, using a unique, traditional Swedish instrument called the '']'' while ], ], and ] have more modern elements. There is also ] music, called the '']'', which is actually a type of chant which is part of the traditional Saami animistic spirituality but has gained recognition in the international world of folk music. Sweden has a major market for ] and ] or ] aware music, as well a large portion of pop and rock music having ] and ] political messages{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}.


In 2007, with over 800 million dollars in revenue, Sweden was the third-largest music exporter in the world and surpassed only by the US and the UK.<ref name="export music">{{cite web|url=http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615001724/http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2008 |title=Consulate General of Sweden Los Angeles – Export Music Sweden at MuseExpo |publisher=Swedenabroad.com |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>. casgroup.fiu.edu</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2013}} According to one source 2013, Sweden produces the most chart hits per capita in the world, followed by the UK and the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svtplay.se/video/1628310/del-16-av-16 |publisher=] |work=] |title=Del 16 av 16 |trans-title=Part 16 of 16 |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224031/http://www.svtplay.se/video/1628310/del-16-av-16 |archive-date=17 December 2013 }} at 19:45, citing the ].</ref>
] of Swedish band ] performing in 1977.]]
Sweden has a rather lively ] scene. The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research has published an overview of jazz in Sweden by Lars Westin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visarkiv.se/en/jazz/index.htm |title=Lars Westin: Jazz in Sweden – an overview |publisher=Visarkiv.se |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623003444/http://www.visarkiv.se/en/jazz/index.htm |archive-date=23 June 2008}}</ref>
Sweden also has a prominent choral music tradition, deriving in part from the cultural importance of Swedish folk songs. In fact, out of a population of 9.2 million, it is estimated that five to six hundred thousand people sing in choirs.<ref>Durant, Colin (2003). ''Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice'', Routledge, pp. 46–47. ISBN 0-415-94356-6: "Sweden has a strong and enviable choral singing tradition. All those interviewed placed great emphasis on the social identification through singing and also referred to the importance of Swedish folk song in the maintenance of the choral singing tradition and national identity."</ref>


===Architecture===
Sweden is the third largest music exporter in the world,<ref> Consulate General of Sweden New York. Retrieved 1 May 2010.</ref> with over 800 million dollars in 2007 years revenue, surpassed only by the US and the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080615001724/http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx|archivedate=2010-05-05|title=Consulate General of Sweden Los Angeles - Export Music Sweden at MuseExpo |publisher=Swedenabroad.com |date= |accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} ] was one of the first internationally well-known popular music bands from Sweden, and still ranks among the ], with about 370 million records sold. With ABBA, Sweden entered into a new era, in which Swedish pop music gained international prominence. There have been many other internationally successful bands since, such as ], ], ], ], ] and ], to name some of the biggest, and recently there has been a surge of Swedish ] bands such as ], ] and ]. One of the biggest bands in Sweden is the rockband ].
{{Main|Architecture of Sweden}}
]]]
Before the 13th century, almost all buildings were made of timber, but a shift soon began towards stone. Early Swedish stone buildings are the ] churches on the countryside. This would include the ] from the 11th century and the somewhat younger church in ], but also many early ] churches built through influences of the Hanseatic League, such as in Ystad, Malmö and Helsingborg.


Cathedrals in other parts of Sweden were also built as seats of Sweden's bishops. The ] is made of bricks from the 14th century, and the ] in the 15th century. In 1230, the foundations of the ] Cathedral were made, the material was there ], but the building took some 250 years to finish.
Sweden has also become known for a large number of ] (mostly ] and ]) as well as ]- and ] bands. Some of the most popular being ], ], ],and ]. The renowned ] guitarist ] is also from Sweden.


Among older structures are also some significant fortresses and other historical buildings such as at ], ], and ] fortress on the island Öland, the ] fortress and the ].
Sweden has a rather lively jazz scene. During the last sixty years or so it has attained a remarkably high artistic standard, stimulated by domestic as well as external influences and experiences. The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research has published an overview of jazz in Sweden by Lars Westin.<ref></ref>
]]]
In the 1520s, King ] initiated grand mansions, castles, and fortresses to be built. Some of the more magnificent include ], ], and ].


In the next two centuries, Sweden was designated by ] and later the ]. Notable projects from that time include the city ], which has now also been declared a ] and the ].
===Media===
{{Main|Media in Sweden}}


The ], which marked the breakthrough of ], or {{Lang|sv|funkis}} as it became known first surfaced in 1930; the style came to dominate in the following decades. Some notable projects of this kind were the ], offering affordable living in large apartment complexes.
Swedes are among the greatest consumers of ]s in the world, and nearly every town is served by a local paper. The country's main quality morning papers are ] (liberal), ] (liberal), ] (liberal conservative) and ] (liberal). The two largest evening ]s are ] (social democratic) and ] (liberal). The ad-financed, free international morning paper, ], was originally founded in Stockholm, Sweden. The country's news is reported in English by, among others, ] (liberal).


The ], located in Stockholm, is the largest hemispherical building on Earth. Its dome has a diameter of 110 metres (360 feet) and took two and a half years to build.<ref>{{cite web |title=SGM Lights Up World's Largest Hemispherical Building |url=https://sgmlight.com/projects/p-5s-lighting-up-the-world%E2%80%99s-largest-hemispherical-building |access-date=25 August 2022 |website=sgmlight.com |language=en |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825185854/https://sgmlight.com/projects/p-5s-lighting-up-the-world%E2%80%99s-largest-hemispherical-building |url-status=live }}</ref>
The public broadcasting companies held a monopoly on radio and television for a long time in Sweden. Licence funded radio broadcasts started in 1925. A second radio network was started in 1954 and a third opened 1962 in response to pirate radio stations. Non-profit community radio was allowed in 1979 and in 1993 commercial local radio started.


===Media===
The licence funded television service was officially launched in 1956. A second channel, ], was launched in 1969. These two channels (operated by ] since the late '70s) held a monopoly until the 1980s when cable and satellite television became available. The first Swedish language satellite service was ] which started broadcasting from London in 1987. It was followed by ] in 1989 (then known as Nordic Channel) and ] in 1990.
{{Main|Media in Sweden}}
] in Stockholm]]
Swedes are among the greatest consumers of newspapers in the world, and nearly every town is served by a local paper. The country's main quality morning papers are {{lang|sv|]}} (liberal), {{lang|sv|]}} (liberal), '']'' (liberal conservative) and '']'' (liberal). The two largest evening ] are '']'' (social democratic) and '']'' (liberal). The ad-financed, free international morning paper, '']'', was founded in Stockholm, Sweden. The country's news is reported in English by, among others, '']'' (liberal).<ref>{{cite book |first=Kenneth E. |last=Olson |title=The history makers;: The press of Europe from its beginnings through 1965 |publisher=LSU Press |year=1966 |pages=33–49}}</ref>


The public broadcasting companies held a monopoly on radio and television for a long time in Sweden. Licence-funded radio broadcasts started in 1925. A second radio network was started in 1954, and a third opened 1962, in response to ] stations. Non-profit ] was allowed in 1979 and in 1993 commercial local radio started.
In 1991 the government announced it would begin taking applications from private television companies wishing to broadcast on the ]. TV4, which had previously been broadcasting via satellite, was granted a permit and began its terrestrial broadcasts in 1992, becoming the first private channel to broadcast television content from within the country.


The licence-funded television service was officially launched in 1956. A second channel, ], was launched in 1969. These two channels (operated by ] since the late 1970s) held a monopoly until the 1980s when cable and satellite television became available. The first Swedish-language satellite service was ] which started broadcasting from London in 1987. It was followed by ] in 1989 (then known as Nordic Channel) and ] in 1990. TV4 began its terrestrial broadcasts in 1992, becoming the first private channel to broadcast television content from within the country.
Around half the population are connected to cable television. ] started in 1999 and the last analogue terrestrial broadcasts were terminated in 2007.

Around half the population are connected to cable television. ] started in 1999.


===Literature=== ===Literature===
{{Main|Swedish literature}} {{Main|Swedish literature}}
]]]
The first literary text from Sweden is the ], carved during the ] circa 800 AD. With the conversion of the land to Christianity around 1100 AD, Sweden entered the ], during which monastic writers preferred to use Latin. Therefore there are only a few texts in the ] from that period. Swedish literature only flourished when the Swedish language was standardized in the 16th century, a standardization largely due to the full translation of the Bible into Swedish in 1541. This translation is the so-called ].
Sweden has many authors of worldwide recognition including ], ], and Nobel Prize winners ] and ]. In total seven ] have been awarded to Swedes.
].]]
The first literary text from Sweden is the ], carved during the Viking Age {{circa|800 AD}}. With the conversion of the land to Christianity around 1100 AD, Sweden entered the ], during which monastic writers preferred to use Latin. Therefore, there are only a few texts in ] from that period. Swedish literature only began to flourish when the language was standardised during the 16th century. This standardisation was largely due to the full translation of the Bible into Swedish in 1541. This translation is the so-called ].
With improved education and the freedom brought by ], the 17th century saw several notable authors develop the Swedish language further. Some key figures include ] (17th century), who was the first to write classical poetry in Swedish; ] (18th century), the first to write fluent Swedish prose; ] (late 18th century), the first writer of ] ballads; and ] (late 19th century), a socio-realistic writer and playwright who won worldwide fame. The early 20th century continued to produce notable authors, such as ], (] 1909), ] (Nobel laureate 1916) and ] (Nobel laureate 1951).


With improved education and the freedom brought by ], the 17th century saw several notable authors develop the Swedish language further. Some key figures include ] (17th century), who was the first to write classical poetry in Swedish; ] (18th century), the first to write fluent Swedish prose; Carl Michael Bellman (late 18th century), the first writer of ] ballads; and August Strindberg (late 19th century), a socio-realistic writer and playwright who won worldwide fame. The early 20th century continued to produce notable authors, such as Selma Lagerlöf, (Nobel laureate 1909), ] (Nobel laureate 1916) and ] (Nobel laureate 1951).
In recent decades, a handful of Swedish writers have established themselves internationally, including the detective novelist ] and the writer of spy fiction ]. The Swedish writer to have made the most lasting impression on world literature is the children's book writer ], and her books about ], ], and others. In 2008, the second best-selling fiction author in the world was ], whose ''Millennium'' series of crime novels is being published posthumously to critical acclaim.<ref>, 15 January 2009, www.abebooks.com. Retrieved on 5 August 2009.</ref> Larsson drew heavily on the work of Lindgren by basing his central character, Lisbeth Salander, on Longstocking.<ref>, www.buzzle.com. Retrieved on 5 September 2009.</ref>

In recent decades, a handful of Swedish writers have established themselves internationally, including the detective novelist ] and the writer of spy fiction ]. The Swedish writer to have made the most lasting impression on world literature is the children's book writer Astrid Lindgren, and her books about ], ], and others. In 2008, the second best-selling fiction author in the world was ], whose ''Millennium'' series of crime novels is being published posthumously to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/15/bestselling-fiction-authors-in-the-world-for-2008/ |title=Bestselling fiction authors in the world for 2008 |publisher=Abebooks.com |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529183203/http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/15/bestselling-fiction-authors-in-the-world-for-2008/ |archive-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Holidays=== ===Holidays===
{{Main|Public holidays in Sweden}} {{Main|Public holidays in Sweden}}
] bonfire in Sweden.]] ] bonfire in Sweden]]
Apart from traditional Protestant ], Sweden also celebrates some unique holidays, some of a pre-Christian tradition. They include ] celebrating the summer ]; ] (''Valborgsmässoafton'') on 30 April lighting bonfires; and ] or Mayday on 1 May is dedicated to socialist demonstrations. The day of giver-of-light ], 13 December, is widely acknowledged in elaborate celebrations which betoken its Italian origin and commence the month-long Christmas season. Apart from traditional Protestant ], Sweden also celebrates some unique holidays, some of a pre-Christian tradition. They include ] celebrating the summer ]; ] ({{Lang|sv|Valborgsmässoafton}}) on 30 April lighting bonfires; and Labour Day or May Day on 1 May is dedicated to socialist demonstrations. The day of giver-of-light ], 13 December, is widely acknowledged in elaborate celebrations which betoken its Italian origin and commence the month-long Christmas season.


6 June is the ] and, as of 2005, a public holiday. Furthermore, there are ] observances and a ] calendar. In August many Swedes have ''kräftskivor'' (crayfish dinner parties). ] Eve is celebrated in ] in November with ''Mårten Gås'' parties, where roast goose and '']'' ('black soup', made of goose stock, fruit, spices, spirits and goose blood) are served. The ], one of Sweden's indigenous minorities, have their holiday on February 6 and Scania celebrate their Scanian Flag day on the third Sunday in July. 6 June is the ] and has since 2005 been a public holiday. Furthermore, there are ] observances and a ] calendar. In August many Swedes have {{Lang|sv|kräftskivor}} (crayfish dinner parties). ] Eve is celebrated in ] in November with {{Lang|sv|Mårten Gås}} parties, where roast goose and '']'' ('black soup') are served. The ], one of Sweden's indigenous minorities, have their holiday on 6 February and Scania celebrate their Scanian Flag day on the third Sunday in July.<ref>{{cite news |author=Lokala Nyheter Skåne |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/skanska-flaggans-dag |title=Så firas skånska flaggans dag &#124; SVT Nyheter |newspaper=SVT Nyheter |date=21 July 2019 |publisher=Svt.se |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308111959/https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/skanska-flaggans-dag |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Cuisine=== ===Cuisine===
{{Main|Swedish cuisine}} {{Main|Swedish cuisine}}
]).]] ]s originated in Sweden and Denmark.]]
Swedish cuisine, like that of the other ]n countries (], ] and ]), was traditionally simple. ] (particularly ]), ] and ]es played prominent roles. Spices were sparse. Famous dishes include Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes and ]; pancakes, '']'', and ], or lavish buffet. '']'' is a popular alcoholic ], and the drinking of '']'' is of cultural importance. The traditional flat and dry ] has developed into several contemporary variants. Regionally important foods are the '']'' (a fermented fish) in Northern Sweden and ] in ] in Southern Sweden.


Swedish cuisine, like that of the other ] (], ] and ]), was traditionally simple. Fish (particularly ]), meat, potatoes and ] played prominent roles. Spices were sparse. Preparations include Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes and ]; ]; '']'', a spiced fried hash of meat and potatoes originally meant to use up any leftovers of meat; '']''; and the '']'', or lavish buffet. '']'' is a popular alcoholic ], and the drinking of '']'' is of cultural importance. The traditional flat and dry ] has developed into several contemporary variants. Regionally important foods are the '']'' (a fermented fish) in northern Sweden and ] in southern Sweden.
===Film===
{{Main|Cinema of Sweden}}
Swedes have been fairly prominent in the film area through the years, several successful Swedish Hollywood actors can be mentioned: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. Amongst several directors who have made internationally successful films can be mentioned: ], ], and ].


In August, at the traditional feast known as crayfish party, '']'', Swedes eat large amounts of ] boiled with dill.
===Fashion===

Interest in fashion is big in Sweden and the country is headquartering famous brands like ] (operating as H&M), ] (operating as JL), ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] within its borders. These companies, however, are comprised largely of buyers who import fashionable goods from throughout Europe and America, continuing the trend of Swedish business toward multinational economic dependency like many of its neighbours.
===Cinema===
{{Main|Cinema of Sweden}}
Swedish 20th-century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days of cinema, with ] and ]. In the 1920s–1980s, the filmmaker ] and actors ] and ] became internationally noted people within cinema. More recently, the films of ], ], and ] have received international recognition.


===Sports=== ===Sports===
{{Main|Sport in Sweden}} {{Main|Sport in Sweden}}
]]]
]]]
Sport activities are a national movement with half of the population actively participating, much thanks to the heavy government subsidies of sport associations (''föreningsstöd''). The two main spectator sports are ] and ]. Second to football, ] have the highest number of practitioners, mostly women. Thereafter follow ], ], and the ]s of ], ], ] and ]. Sport activities are a national movement with half of the population actively participating in organised sporting activities. The two main spectator sports are ] and ]. Second to football, ] (of which most of the participants are women) have the highest number of practitioners. Thereafter, ], ], ], ], and the ]s of ], ], ], ] and ] are the most popular in terms of practitioners.<ref>{{cite web |title=Idrottsrörelsen i siffror |url=https://www.rf.se/globalassets/riksidrottsforbundet/nya-dokument/nya-dokumentbanken/idrottsrorelsen-i-siffror/2019-idrotten-i-siffror---sisu.pdf?w=900&h=900 |website=rf.se |publisher=Swedish Sports Confederation |language=sv |access-date=16 July 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809003931/https://www.rf.se/globalassets/riksidrottsforbundet/nya-dokument/nya-dokumentbanken/idrottsrorelsen-i-siffror/2019-idrotten-i-siffror---sisu.pdf?w=900&h=900 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The ], affectionately known as {{Lang|sv|Tre Kronor}} (English: ]), has won the ] nine times, placing them third in the all-time medal count. {{Lang|sv|Tre Kronor}} also won Olympic gold medals in ] and ]. In 2006, {{Lang|sv|Tre Kronor}} became the first national hockey team to win both the Olympic and world championships in the same year. The ] has seen some success at the World Cup in the past, finishing second when they hosted the tournament in 1958, and third twice, in ] and ].


Sweden hosted the ], ] and the ] in ]. Other big sports events include the ], ], ], ], and several championships of ice hockey, ], athletics, ], ], ] and swimming.
]]]
The Swedish ice hockey team ] is regarded as one of the best in the world. The team has won the ] eight times, placing them third in the all-time medal count. Tre Kronor also won Olympic gold medals in 1994 and 2006. In 2006, Tre Kronor became the first national hockey team to win both the Olympic and world championships in the same year. The ] has seen some success at the World Cup in the past, finishing second when they hosted the tournament in 1958, and third twice, in 1950 and 1994.
] is a ] in ]. The stadium is also the biggest in ].]]
] has enjoyed a surge in popularity due to several successful athletes in recent years, such as: ], ], ], ], ], ].

Sweden is also the ] in the ], as of 2010.

In schools, on meadows and in parks, the game ], a sport similar to ], is commonly played for fun. Other leisure sports are the historical game of ], and ] among the older generation.

Sweden hosted the ] and the ] in ]. Other big sports events held here include ], ], and several championships of ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].

==International rankings==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|+'''Rankings'''
<!-- GDP listed here is drastically different from GDP at top box, ALSO reference re: cia world factbook is incorrect -->
!Name
!Year
!Place
!Out of #
!Reference
|-
|Institute for Economics and Peace -]
|2009
|6th
|144
|
|-
|] – ] ] (])
|2008
|26th
|229
|
|-
|] – ]
|2008
|10th
|223
|
|-
|] – Enabling Trade Index ranking
|2008
|3rd
|118
|
|-
|] / ] – ]
|2008
|3rd
|149
|
|-
|] – '']''
|2008
|3rd
|70
|
|-
|] – ]
|2008
|13th
|140
|
|-
|]'s list of ]s by country
|2007
|11th
|172
|
|-
|] – Mother's Index Rank
|2007
|1st
|141
|
|-
|] – Women's Index Rank
|2007
|1st
|141
|
|-
|] – Children's Index Rank
|2007
|4th
|141
|
|-
|] / ] – ]
|2007
|27th
|157
|
|-
|] – ]
|2007
|6th
|177
|
|-
|] – Global Competitiveness Report 2007–2008
|2007
|4th
|131
|
|-
|] – The Global Gender Gap Report 2007
|2007
|1st
|128
|
|-
|] – ]
|2007
|14th
|178
|
|-
|] – ]
|2007
|5th
|169
|
|-
|] – ]
|2009
|3rd
|180
|
|-
|] – ]
|2007
|1st
|167
|
|-
|] – ] by country as a percentage of GNI
|2006
|1st
|34
|
|-
|] – ] (EU and 11 other selected countries)
|2006
|28th
|36
|
|-
|] – ]
|2009
|53rd
|143
|
|-
|] – ]
|2005
|5th
|111
|
|-
|] – % seats in the national government held by women
|2004
|1st (47%)
|141
|
|-
|] – ]
|
|31st
|100
|
|-
|]'s index of civil and political liberties
|
|13th
|140
|
|-
|]'s index of asylum seekers (per capita)
|2001
|4th
|28
|
|-
|]'s index of economic aid (donor, per capita)
|
|5th
|24
|
|-
|]'s index of total tax wedge (single worker)
|
|4th
|29
|
|-
|]'s index of technological achievement
|
|3rd
|68
|
|}


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Sweden}} {{Portal|Sweden}}
{{Main|Outline of Sweden}} * ]
*] * ]
* ]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=nb}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}


===Bibliography=== ==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|2}} {{Refbegin|30em}}
*Bagge, Sverre (2005). "The Scandinavian Kingdoms". In ''The New Cambridge Medieval History''. Eds. Rosamond McKitterick et al. Cambridge University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-521-36289-X. * Bagge, Sverre (2005). "The Scandinavian Kingdoms". In ''The New Cambridge Medieval History''. Eds. ] et al. Cambridge University Press, 2005. {{ISBN|978-0-521-36289-4}}.
*{{cite web |url=http://lawfam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/4/2/154 |title=Radical principles and the legal institution of marriage: domestic relations law and social democracy in Sweden—BRADLEY 4 (2): 154—International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |accessdate=2007-06-13 |work=}} * {{cite journal |title=Radical principles and the legal institution of marriage: domestic relations law and social democracy in Sweden—BRADLEY 4 (2): 154—International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |journal=International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=154–185 |doi=10.1093/lawfam/4.2.154 |year=1990 |last1=Bradley |first1=David}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118143648/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ |date=18 January 2021 }}. '']''. ].
* {{CIA World Factbook link|sw|Sweden}}
*. * {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx |title=Sweden's population 2012 |publisher=] |access-date=24 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105201119/http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2013}}
*Durant, Colin (2003). ''Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice'', Routledge, pp.&nbsp;46–47. ISBN 0-415-94356-6. * Durant, Colin (2003). ''Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice'', Routledge, pp.&nbsp;46–47. {{ISBN|978-0-415-94356-7}}.
*Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989). ''Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia''. Praeger Publishers, 1989. ISBN 0-275-93188-9. * Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989). ''Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia''. Praeger Publishers, 1989. {{ISBN|978-0-275-93188-9}}.
* {{Cite book |title=The Northern Wars. War, State and Society in Northeastern Europe 1558–1721 |first=Robert I |last=Frost |publisher=Longman |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-582-06429-4}}
*] (ISA) (2005). . Press release, 25 June 2005.
*Koblik, Steven (1975). ''Sweden's Development from Poverty to Affluence 1750–1970''. University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 0-8166-0757-5. * Koblik, Steven (1975). ''Sweden's Development from Poverty to Affluence 1750–1970''. University of Minnesota Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8166-0757-0}}.
* {{cite book |last1=Larsson |first1=Torbjörn |first2=Henry |last2=Bäck |title=Governing and Governance in Sweden |publisher=] AB |year=2008 |isbn=978-91-44-03682-3 |ref=Larsson & Bäck}}
*Magocsi, Paul Robert (1998). ''Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples''. University of Minnesota Press, 1998. ISBN 0-8020-2938-8.
* Magocsi, Paul Robert (1998). ''Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples''. University of Minnesota Press, 1998. {{ISBN|978-0-8020-2938-6}}.
* Agenda 21 – Natural Resource Aspects - Sweden. 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997.
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064226/http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |date=4 March 2016 }} Agenda 21 – Natural Resource Aspects – Sweden. 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997.
*Nordstrom, Byron J. (2000). ''Scandinavia since 1500''. ], 2000. ISBN 0-8166-2098-9.
*Sawyer, Birgit and Peter Sawyer (1993). ''Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500''. University of Minnesota Press, 1993. ISBN 0-8166-1739-2. * Nordstrom, Byron J. (2000). ''Scandinavia since 1500''. ], 2000. {{ISBN|978-0-8166-2098-2}}.
* {{cite book |last=Petersson |first=Olof |title=Den offentliga makten |publisher=SNS Förlag |year=2010 |language=sv |isbn=978-91-86203-66-5 |ref=Petersson}}
*Ståhl, Solveig. (1999). . ''LUM, Lunds universitet med''delar, 7:1999, 3 September 1999. In Swedish.
* {{cite book |last1=Sawyer |first1=Birgit |last2=Sawyer |first2=Peter H. |author2-link=Peter Hayes Sawyer |title=Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=1993 |author-link=Birgit Sawyer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jGJrXOjYvQgC |isbn=978-0-8166-1739-5 |access-date=17 September 2020 |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420120558/https://books.google.com/books?id=jGJrXOjYvQgC |url-status=live}}
*Statistics Sweden. .
* {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____193256.aspx |title=2006 census |publisher=] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731025052/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____193256.aspx |archive-date=31 July 2009}}
*Statistics Sweden. . ''Population statistics'', 1 January 2007.
* {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____25897.aspx |title=Preliminary Population Statistics, by month, 2004–2006 |publisher=] |date=1 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714003037/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____25897.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2009}}
*Statistics Sweden. ''Yearbook of Housing and Building Statistics 2007''. Statistics Sweden, Energy, Rents and Real Estate Statistics Unit, 2007. ISBN 978-91-618-1361-2. Available online in .
* {{cite book |title=Yearbook of Housing and Building Statistics 2007 |publisher=], Energy, Rents and Real Estate Statistics Unit |year=2007 |isbn=978-91-618-1361-2 |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BO0801_2007A01_BR_BO01SA0701.pdf |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325013009/http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BO0801_2007A01_BR_BO01SA0701.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009 |url-status=dead}}
*. In ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', Sixth Edition, 2001–05.
* {{cite book |title=World Criminal Justice Systems: A Survey |first=Richard J. |last=Terrill |publisher=] |year=2009 |edition=7 |isbn=978-1-59345-612-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJaEzC1CBe8C&pg=PA248}}
*. In ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 1911.
* ] – {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604192307/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2880.htm |date=4 June 2019 }}{{ISBN|978-0-521-60367-6}}
* (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
*
*
*Uddhammar, Emil (1993). ''Partierna och den stora staten: en analys av statsteorier och svensk politik under 1900-talet''. Stockholm, City University Press.
*] –
*
*Zuckerman, Phil (2007), Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns PDF i Cambridge Companion to Atheism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-60367-6
{{Refend}} {{Refend}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Sisterlinks|Sweden}} {{Sister project links|Sweden}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
;Government
* . '']''. ].
*
* from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* – Official site
* from the ]
* – Official site
* {{Wikiatlas|Sweden}}
* – Official website of the Swedish Royal House
* {{osmrelation-inline|52822}}
*
* from ]
* Statistics Sweden (governmental)
* government agency * – official guide to studying in Sweden
* Technological Waves and Economic Growth in Sweden 1850–2005
;General information
* — EH.Net Encyclopedia
*{{CIA World Factbook link|sw|Sweden}}
* – a digital library that provides scientific information on the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as the Baltic region as a whole
* entry at '']''
* from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
*{{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Sweden}}
*{{wikiatlas|Sweden}}
;News media
* {{en icon}} – Public service
* – Independent English language news site
;Travel
* – Official travel and tourism website for Sweden
*{{Wikitravel}}
;Other
* – Official guide to studying in Sweden
*
*—EH.Net Encyclopedia
* – a digital library that provides scientific information on the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as the Baltic region as a whole


'''Public sector'''
{{Template group
* — Sweden's official portal
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* – official website
{{Sweden topics|state=expanded}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011091836/https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt.4.367010ad11497db6cba800054503.html |date=11 October 2016 }} – official website of the Swedish Monarchy
{{Template group

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'''News media'''
|list=
* – public service
{{Countries of Europe}}
* {{in lang|sv}} – public service
* {{in lang|sv}}
* {{in lang|sv}}
* – independent English language news site

'''Trade'''
*

'''Travel'''
* – official travel and tourism website for Sweden
{{Sweden topics}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles related to Sweden
|list =
{{Sovereign states of Europe}}
{{Nordic countries}}
{{Countries bordering the Baltic Sea}} {{Countries bordering the Baltic Sea}}
{{Nordic Council}}
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{{European Economic Area (EEA)}}
{{Council of Europe}}
{{OSCE}}
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}} }}
{{Authority control}}
}}
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Latest revision as of 00:42, 26 December 2024

Country in Northern Europe For other uses, see Sweden (disambiguation).

Kingdom of SwedenKonungariket Sverige (Swedish)
Flag of Sweden Flag Coat of arms of Sweden Coat of arms
Anthem: 
"Du gamla, du fria"
(English: "Thou ancient, Thou free")
Royal anthem: 
"Kungssången"
(English: "Song of the King")
Show globeShow map of EuropeLocation of Sweden (dark green)

– in Europe (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (green)  –  [Legend]

Capitaland largest cityStockholm
59°21′N 18°4′E / 59.350°N 18.067°E / 59.350; 18.067
Official languagesSwedish
National minority languages
Demonym(s)
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch Carl XVI Gustaf
• Riksdag Speaker Andreas Norlén
• Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
LegislatureRiksdag
History
• A unified Swedish kingdom established By the late 10th century
• Part of the Kalmar Union 17 June 1397 – 6 June 1523
• Swedish Empire 1611–1721
Area
• Total450,295 km (173,860 sq mi) (55th)
• Water (%)8.97 (2022)
Population
• 7 July 2021 estimateNeutral increase 10,540,886 (87th)
• Density25/km (64.7/sq mi) (198th)
GDP (PPP)2024 estimate
• TotalIncrease $763.589 billion (40th)
• Per capitaIncrease $71,730 (17th)
GDP (nominal)2024 estimate
• TotalIncrease $609.039 billion (25th)
• Per capitaIncrease $57,212 (12th)
Gini (2022)Negative increase 27.6
low inequality
HDI (2022)Increase 0.952
very high (5th)
CurrencySwedish krona (SEK)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Drives onRight
ISO 3166 codeSE
Internet TLD.se
Website
sweden.se

Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At 450,295 square kilometres (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the largest Nordic country and the fifth-largest country in Europe. Its capital and largest city is Stockholm. Sweden has a population of 10.6 million, and a low population density of 25.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (66/sq mi); 88% of Swedes reside in urban areas. They are mostly in the central and southern half of the country. Sweden's urban areas together cover 1.5% of its land area. Sweden has a diverse climate owing to the length of the country, which ranges from 55°N to 69°N.

Sweden has been inhabited since prehistoric times around 12,000 BC. The inhabitants emerged as the Geats (Swedish: Götar) and Swedes (Svear), which together constituted the sea-faring peoples known as the Norsemen. A unified Swedish state was established during the late 10th century. In 1397, Sweden joined Norway and Denmark to form the Scandinavian Kalmar Union, which Sweden left in 1523. When Sweden became involved in the Thirty Years' War on the Protestant side, an expansion of its territories began, forming the Swedish Empire, which remained one of the great powers of Europe until the early 18th century. During this era Sweden controlled much of the Baltic Sea. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden, present-day Finland, was lost to Imperial Russia in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union, a union which lasted until 1905.

Sweden is a highly developed country ranked fifth in the Human Development Index. It is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, with legislative power vested in the 349-member unicameral Riksdag. It is a unitary state, divided into 21 counties and 290 municipalities. Sweden maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens. It has the world's 14th highest GDP per capita and ranks very highly in quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, economic competitiveness, income equality, gender equality and prosperity. Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995 and NATO on 7 March 2024. It is also a member of the United Nations, the Schengen Area, the Council of Europe, the Nordic Council, the World Trade Organization and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Etymology

Main article: Name of Sweden

The name for Sweden is generally agreed to derive from the Proto-Indo-European root *s(w)e, meaning "one's own", referring to one's own tribe from the tribal period. The native Swedish name, Sverige (a compound of the words Svea and rike, first recorded in the cognate Swēorice in Beowulf), translates as "realm of the Swedes", which excluded the Geats in Götaland.

The contemporary English variation was derived in the 17th century from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German. As early as 1287, references are found in Middle Dutch referring to a lande van sweden ("land of Swedes"), with swede as the singular form. In Old English the country was known as Swéoland or Swíoríce, and in Early Modern English as Swedeland. Some Finnic languages, such as Finnish and Estonian, use the terms Ruotsi and Rootsi; these variations refer to the Rus' people who inhabited the coastal areas of Roslagen in Uppland and who gave their name to Russia.

History

Main article: History of Sweden

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric Sweden
A Vendel-era helmet, at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities

Sweden's prehistory begins in the Allerød oscillation, a warm period around 12,000 BC, with Late Palaeolithic reindeer-hunting camps of the Bromme culture at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province, Scania. This period was characterised by small clans of hunter-gatherers who relied on flint technology.

Sweden and its people were first described by Publius Cornelius Tacitus in his Germania (98 AD). In Germania 44 and 45 he mentions the Swedes (Suiones) as a powerful tribe with ships that had a prow at each end (longships). Which kings (*kuningaz) ruled these Suiones is unknown, but Norse mythology presents a long line of legendary and semi-legendary kings going back to the last centuries BC. The runic script was in use among the south Scandinavian elite by at least the second century AD, but all that has survived from the Roman Period is curt inscriptions demonstrating that the people of south Scandinavia spoke Proto-Norse at the time, a language ancestral to Swedish and other North Germanic languages.

In the sixth century, Jordanes names two tribes living in Scandza, both of which are now considered to be synonymous with the Swedes: the Suetidi and Suehans. The Suehans were known to the Roman world as suppliers of black fox skins and, according to Jordanes, had very fine horses, similar to those of the Thyringi of Germania (alia vero gens ibi moratur Suehans, quae velud Thyringi equis utuntur eximiis).

Viking Age

See also: Early Swedish history, Foundation of Modern Sweden, and Varangians
Viking expeditions (blue lines)

The Swedish Viking Age lasted roughly from the eighth century to the 11th century. It is believed that Swedish Vikings and Gutar mainly travelled east and south, going to Finland, Estonia, the Baltic countries, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the Black Sea and even as far as Baghdad. Their routes passed through the Dnieper south to Constantinople, on which they carried out numerous raids. The Byzantine Emperor Theophilos noticed their great skills in war, and invited them to serve as his personal bodyguard, known as the Varangian Guard. The Swedish Vikings, called Rus are believed to be the founders of Kievan Rus'. The Vikings were described by many outside sources, such as the Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan. The actions of these Swedish Vikings are commemorated on many runestones in Sweden, such as the Greece runestones and the Varangian runestones. There was also considerable participation in expeditions westwards, which are commemorated on stones such as the England runestones. The last major Swedish Viking expedition appears to have been the ill-fated expedition of Ingvar the Far-Travelled to Serkland, the region south-east of the Caspian Sea. Its members are commemorated on the Ingvar runestones, none of which mentions any survivor.

The Tjängvide image stone dating from 800 to 1099, example of Viking art

During the early stages of the Viking Age, a centre of trade in northern Europe developed at Birka on the island of Björkö, not far from where Stockholm was later constructed, in mid-latitude Sweden. Birka was founded around 750 AD as a trading port by a king or merchants trying to control trade. Birka was the Baltic link in the Dnieper Trade Route through Ladoga (Aldeigja) and Novgorod (Holmsgard) to the Byzantine Empire and the Abbasid Caliphate. It was abandoned around 975, at about the same time Sigtuna was founded as a town some 35 km to the northeast. It has been estimated that the population in Viking Age Birka was between 500 and 1000 people. Archaeological finds indicate that Birka still was wealthy in the 9th and 10th centuries. Thousands of graves, coins, jewelry and other luxury items have been found there.

Kingdom of Sweden

A rough map of the extent of Swedish rule, c. 1280

The actual age of the kingdom of Sweden is unknown. Determining its age depends mostly on whether Sweden is considered a nation when the Svear (Swedes) ruled Svealand or when the Svear and the Götar (Geats) of Götaland were united under a single ruler. In the former case, Svealand was first mentioned as having one single ruler in the year 98 by Tacitus, but it is almost impossible to know for how long it had been this way. The epic poem Beowulf describes semi-legendary Swedish-Geatish wars in the sixth century.

However, historians typically start the line of Swedish monarchs from when Svealand and Götaland were ruled under the same king, namely Erik the Victorious and his son Olof Skötkonung in the tenth century. These events are often described as the consolidation of Sweden, although substantial areas were conquered and incorporated later. In this context, "Götaland" primarily refers to the provinces of Östergötland and Västergötland. The island of Gotland was contested by various groups, including the Danes, the Hanseatic League, and the local Gutes. Småland was of little interest at the time due to its deep pine forests, with only the city of Kalmar and its castle holding any significant importance. There were also Swedish settlements along the southern coastline of Norrland, one of the four lands of Sweden.

Saint Ansgar is traditionally credited with introducing Christianity to Sweden in 829, but the new religion did not begin to fully replace paganism until the 12th century. During that century, Sweden was undergoing dynastic struggles between the Erik and Sverker clans. The conflict ended when a third clan married into the Erik clan, founding the Bjälbo dynasty, which gradually consolidated Sweden into a stronger state. According to the Legend of Saint Erik and the Erik's Chronicle, Swedish kings conducted a series of Crusades to pagan Finland and started conflicts with the Rus', who by then had no further connections with Sweden. The Swedish colonisation of the coastal areas of Finland began in the 12th and 13th centuries. By the 14th century, this colonisation became more organised, and by the end of the century, several of the coastal areas of Finland were inhabited mostly by Swedes.

Except for the provinces of Scania, Blekinge, and Halland in the southwest of the Scandinavian peninsula, which were part of the Kingdom of Denmark during this period, feudalism never developed in Sweden as it did in much of Europe. As a result, the peasantry remained largely a class of free farmers throughout most of Swedish history. Slavery, also known as thralldom, was not common in Sweden, and the institution gradually diminished due to the spread of Christianity, the difficulty of obtaining slaves from lands east of the Baltic Sea, and by the development of cities before the 16th century. Indeed, both slavery and serfdom were abolished altogether by a decree of King Magnus Eriksson in 1335. Sweden remained a poor and economically underdeveloped country, where barter was the primary means of exchange.

In 1319, Sweden and Norway were united in a personal union under King Magnus Eriksson, the grandson of King Magnus Ladulås of Sweden and of King Haakon V of Norway. Magnus Eriksson also ruled Scania from 1332 to 1360. In the mid-14th century, Sweden was struck by the Black Death. The population of Sweden and most of Europe was decimated. The population did not reach its pre-1348 levels until the beginning of the 19th century, with one third of the population dying between 1349 and 1351. During this period, the cities began to acquire greater rights and were heavily influenced by German merchants of the Hanseatic League, active especially at Visby. In 1397, Queen Margaret I of Denmark (the former daughter-in-law of Magnus Eriksson) established the personal union of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through the Kalmar Union. However, Margaret's successors, whose rule was centred in Denmark, were unable to control the Swedish nobility.

Gustav I liberated Sweden from Christian II of Denmark, ending the Kalmar Union. He established the House of Vasa which ruled Sweden and Poland until the 17th century.

In 1520, King Christian II of Denmark, who attempted to restore the Union of Kalmar through military force, ordered the massacre of Swedish nobles in Stockholm, an event known as the "Stockholm Bloodbath." This atrocity incited the Swedish nobility to renew their resistance, and on 6 June 1523 (now celebrated as Sweden's National Day), they made Gustav Vasa their king. This is sometimes considered as the foundation of modern Sweden. Shortly afterwards the new king rejected Catholicism and led Sweden into the Protestant Reformation. The term riksdag was used for the first time in the 1540s, although the first meeting where representatives of different social groups were called to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole took place as early as 1435, in the town of Arboga. During the Riksdag assemblies of 1527 and 1544, under King Gustav Vasa, representatives of all four estates of the realm (clergy, nobility, townsmen and peasants) were called on to participate for the first time. The monarchy became hereditary in 1544. When Gustav Vasa broke the monopoly power of the Hanseatic League, he was regarded as a hero by the Swedish people. Furthermore, when Sweden did develop, freed itself from the Hanseatic League, and entered its golden era, the fact that the peasantry had traditionally been free meant that more of the economic benefits flowed back to them rather than going to a feudal landowning class.

The end of the 16th century was marked by a final phase of rivalry between the remaining Catholics and the new Protestant communities. In 1592, Gustav Vasa's Catholic grandson and king of Poland, Sigismund, ascended the Swedish throne. He pursued to strengthen Rome's influence by initiating Counter-Reformation and created a dual monarchy that temporarily became known as the Polish-Swedish Union. His despotic rule, strongly characterised by intolerance towards the Protestants, sparked a civil war that plunged Sweden into poverty. In opposition, Sigismund's uncle and successor, Charles Vasa, summoned the Uppsala Synod in 1593 which officially confirmed the modern Church of Sweden as Lutheran. Following his deposition in 1599, Sigismund attempted to reclaim the throne sparing no expense, and hostilities between Poland and Sweden continued for the next hundred years.

Swedish Empire

See also: History of Sweden (1611–1648), Swedish Empire, Swedish overseas colonies, Age of Liberty, Gustavian era, and Union between Sweden and Norway
Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631
The Swedish Empire between 1560 and 1815; its peak was between 1658 and 1660

Sweden rose to prominence on a continental scale during the reign of king Gustavus Adolphus, seizing territories from Russia and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in multiple conflicts. During the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered approximately half of the Holy Roman states and defeated the Imperial army at the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631. Gustavus Adolphus planned to become the new Holy Roman Emperor, ruling over a united Scandinavia and the Holy Roman states, but he was killed at the Battle of Lützen in 1632. After the Battle of Nördlingen in 1634, Sweden's only significant military defeat of the war, pro-Swedish sentiment among the German states faded. These German provinces broke away from Swedish power one by one, leaving Sweden with only a few northern German territories: Swedish Pomerania, Bremen-Verden and Wismar. From 1643 to 1645, during the last years of the war, Sweden and Denmark-Norway fought the Torstenson War. The result of that conflict and the conclusion of the Thirty Years' War helped establish postwar Sweden as a major force in Europe. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 granted Sweden territories in northern Germany.

In the middle of the 17th century, Sweden was the third-largest country in Europe by land area. Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of Charles X after the treaty of Roskilde in 1658, following Charles X's crossing of the Danish Belts. The foundation of Sweden's success during this period is credited to Gustav I's major changes to the Swedish economy in the 16th century, and his introduction of Protestantism. One-third of the Finnish population died in the devastating Great Famine of 1695–1697 that struck the country. Famine also hit Sweden, killing roughly 10% of Sweden's population.

In the 17th century, Sweden was engaged in many wars, for example with Poland–Lithuania, with both sides competing for territories of today's Baltic states. The Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629) ended with a ceasefire in Stary Targ (Truce of Altmark) on 26 September 1629 that was in favour of the Swedes, to whom Poland ceded the larger part of Livonia together with its important port of Riga. The Swedes also got the right to tax Poland's trade on the Baltic (3.5% on the value of goods), and kept control of many of the cities in Royal and Ducal Prussia (including Piława (Pillau), Memel and Elbląg (Elbing). The Swedes later conducted a series of invasions into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the Deluge. After more than half a century of almost constant warfare, the Swedish economy had deteriorated. It became the lifetime task of Charles X's son, Charles XI, to rebuild the economy and refit the army. His legacy to his son, the coming ruler of Sweden, Charles XII, was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great fleet. Russia, the most serious threat to Sweden at this time, had a larger army but lagged far behind in both equipment and training.

After the Battle of Narva in 1700, one of the first battles of the Great Northern War, the Russian army was so severely devastated that Sweden had an open chance to invade Russia. However, Charles XII did not pursue the Russian army, instead turning against Poland and defeating the Polish king, Augustus II the Strong, and his Saxon allies at the Battle of Kliszów in 1702. This gave Russia time to rebuild and modernise its army.

The Battle of Poltava in 1709. In the following years, Russia and her allies occupied all Swedish dominions on the Baltic coast and even Finland.

After the success of invading Poland, Charles XII decided to make an attempt at invading Russia, but this ended in a decisive Russian victory at the Battle of Poltava in 1709. After a long march exposed to Cossack raids, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great's scorched-earth techniques and the extremely cold winter of 1709, the Swedes stood weakened with a shattered morale and were enormously outnumbered against the Russian army at Poltava. The defeat meant the beginning of the end for the Swedish Empire. In addition, the plague raging in East Central Europe devastated the Swedish dominions and reached Central Sweden in 1710. Returning to Sweden in 1715, Charles XII launched two campaigns against Norway in 1716 and 1718, respectively. During the second attempt, he was shot to death during the siege of Fredriksten fortress. The Swedes were not militarily defeated at Fredriksten, but the whole structure and organisation of the campaign fell apart with the king's death. Forced to cede large areas of land in the Treaty of Nystad in 1721, Sweden also lost its place as an empire and as the dominant state on the Baltic Sea. With Sweden's lost influence, Russia emerged as an empire and became one of Europe's dominant nations. As the war finally ended in 1721, Sweden had lost an estimated 200,000 men, 150,000 of those from the area of present-day Sweden and 50,000 from the Finnish part of Sweden. Executive power was historically shared between the King and an aristocratic Privy council until 1680, followed by the King's autocratic rule initiated by the commoner estates of the Riksdag. As a reaction to the failed Great Northern War, a parliamentary system was introduced in 1719, followed by three different flavours of constitutional monarchy in 1772, 1789 and 1809, the latter granting several civil liberties. Already during the first of those three periods, the 'Era of Liberty' (1719–72) the Swedish Rikstag had developed into a very active Parliament, and this tradition continued into the nineteenth century, laying the basis for the transition towards modern democracy at the end of that century. In the 18th century, Sweden did not have enough resources to maintain its territories outside Scandinavia, and most of them were lost, culminating with the loss in 1809 of eastern Sweden to Russia, which became the highly autonomous Grand Principality of Finland in Imperial Russia.

In interest of re-establishing Swedish dominance in the Baltic Sea, Sweden allied itself against its traditional ally and benefactor, France, in the Napoleonic Wars. However, in 1810, a French Marshal, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, was chosen as heir presumptive to Charles XIII; in 1818, he established the House of Bernadotte, taking the regnal name of Charles XIV. Sweden's role in the Battle of Leipzig gave it the authority to force Denmark–Norway, an ally of France, to cede Norway to the King of Sweden on 14 January 1814 in exchange for the northern German provinces, at the Treaty of Kiel. The Norwegian attempts to keep their status as a sovereign state were rejected by the Swedish king, Charles XIII. He launched a military campaign against Norway on 27 July 1814, ending in the Convention of Moss, which forced Norway into a personal union with Sweden under the Swedish crown, which lasted until 1905. The 1814 campaign was the last time Sweden was at war.

Modern history

See also: Modernization of Sweden and Swedish emigration to the United States
Starvation in northern Sweden depicted in an illustration of the Famine of 1867–1869
Swedish emigrants boarding a ship in Gothenburg in 1905

The Swedish East India Company began in 1731. The obvious choice of home port was Gothenburg at Sweden's west coast, the mouth of Göta älv river is very wide and has the county's largest and best harbour for high-seas journeys. The trade continued into the 19th century, and caused the little town to become Sweden's second city. Between 1750 and 1850, the population in Sweden doubled. According to some scholars, mass emigration to America became the only way to prevent famine and rebellion; over 1% of the population emigrated annually during the 1880s. It is thought that between 1850 and 1910 more than one million Swedes moved to the United States. Nevertheless, Sweden remained poor, retaining a nearly entirely agricultural economy even as Western European countries began to industrialise.

Despite the slow rate of industrialisation into the 19th century, many important changes were taking place in the agrarian economy due to constant innovations and a rapid population growth. These innovations included government-sponsored programmes of enclosure, aggressive exploitation of agricultural lands, and the introduction of new crops such as the potato. The Swedish farming culture began to take on a critical role in Swedish politics, which has continued through modern times with modern Agrarian party (now called the Centre Party). Between 1870 and 1914, Sweden began developing the industrialised economy that exists today.

Strong grassroots movements sprang up in Sweden during the latter half of the 19th century (trade unions, temperance groups, and independent religious groups), creating a strong foundation of democratic principles. These movements precipitated Sweden's migration into a modern parliamentary democracy, achieved by the time of World War I. As the Industrial Revolution progressed during the 20th century, people gradually moved into cities to work in factories and became involved in socialist unions. A communist revolution was avoided in 1917, following the re-introduction of parliamentarism, and the country was democratised.

World War I and World War II

Main articles: Sweden during World War I and Sweden during World War II

Sweden was officially neutral during World War I. However, under pressure from the German Empire, they did take steps which were detrimental to the Allied powers – most notably, mining the Øresund channel, thus closing it to Allied shipping, and allowing the Germans to use Swedish facilities and the Swedish cipher to transmit secret messages to their overseas embassies. Sweden also allowed volunteers to fight alongside the Germans for the White Guards against the Red Guards and Russians in the Finnish Civil War, and briefly occupied Åland in cooperation with the German Empire.

As in the First World War, Sweden remained officially neutral during World War II, although its neutrality has been disputed. Sweden was under German influence for much of the war, as ties to the rest of the world were cut off through blockades. The Swedish government unofficially supported Finland in the Winter War and the Continuation War by allowing volunteers and materiel to be shipped to Finland. However, Sweden supported Norwegian resistance against Germany, and in 1943 helped rescue Danish Jews from deportation to Nazi concentration camps.

During the last year of the war, Sweden began to play a role in humanitarian efforts, and many refugees, among them several thousand Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, were rescued thanks to the Swedish rescue missions to internment camps and partly because Sweden served as a haven for refugees. The Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg and his colleagues ensured the safety of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews. Nevertheless, both Swedes and others have argued that Sweden could have done more to oppose the Nazis' war efforts.

Post-war era

Tage Erlander (left), Prime Minister under the ruling Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1946 to 1969

Sweden was officially a neutral country and remained outside NATO and Warsaw Pact membership during the Cold War, but privately Sweden's leadership had strong ties with the United States and other western governments. Following the war, Sweden took advantage of an intact industrial base, social stability and its natural resources to expand its industry to supply the rebuilding of Europe. Sweden received aid under the Marshall Plan and participated in the OECD. During most of the post-war era, the country was governed by the Swedish Social Democratic Party largely in co-operation with trade unions and industry. The government actively pursued an internationally competitive manufacturing sector of primarily large corporations.

Sweden was one of the founding states of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). During the 1960s the EFTA countries were often referred to as the Outer Seven, as opposed to the Inner Six of the then-European Economic Community (EEC).

Like many industrialised countries, Sweden entered a period of economic decline and upheaval following the oil embargoes of 1973–74 and 1978–79. In the 1980s several key Swedish industries were significantly restructured. Shipbuilding was discontinued, wood pulp was integrated into modernised paper production, the steel industry was concentrated and specialised, and mechanical engineering was robotised. Swedish GDP per capita ranking declined during this time.

Recent history

See also: History of Sweden (1991–present)

A bursting real estate bubble caused by inadequate controls on lending combined with an international recession and a policy switch from anti-unemployment policies to anti-inflationary policies resulted in a fiscal crisis in the early 1990s. Sweden's GDP declined by around 5%. In 1992, a run on the currency caused the central bank to briefly increase interest rates to 500%.

Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, and signed the Lisbon Treaty in 2007.

The response of the government was to cut spending and institute a multitude of reforms to improve Sweden's competitiveness, among them reducing the welfare state and privatising public services and goods. A referendum passed with 52.3% in favour of joining the EU on 13 November 1994. Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995. In a 2003 referendum the Swedish electorate voted against joining the Euro currency. Sweden held the chair of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2009.

On 28 September 1994, the MS Estonia sank as the ship was crossing the Baltic Sea, en route from Tallinn, Estonia, to Stockholm, Sweden. The disaster claimed the lives of 852 people (501 of them were Swedes), being one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century.

Until 2022, Sweden generally remained non-aligned militarily, although it participated in some joint military exercises with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and some other countries, stationed its troops under NATO command in Afghanistan, took part in EU-sponsored peacekeeping operations in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Cyprus, and helped enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya during the Arab Spring. In addition, there was extensive cooperation with other European countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry; some Swedish-made weaponry was used by Coalition militaries in Iraq. In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sweden moved to formally join NATO, alongside Finland. After many months of delays caused by the objections of Turkey and Hungary, Sweden became a NATO member on 7 March 2024.

In recent decades Sweden has become a more culturally diverse nation due to significant immigration; in 2013, it was estimated that 15% of the population was foreign-born, and an additional 5% of the population were born to two immigrant parents. The influx of immigrants has brought new social challenges. Violent incidents have periodically occurred including the 2013 Stockholm riots. In response to these violent events, the anti-immigration opposition party, the Sweden Democrats, promoted their anti-immigration policies, while the left-wing opposition blamed growing inequality caused by the centre-right government's socioeconomic policies.

Sweden was heavily affected by the 2015 European migrant crisis, eventually forcing the government to tighten regulations of entry to the country. Some of the asylum restrictions were relaxed again later.

On 30 November 2021, Magdalena Andersson became Sweden's first female prime minister. The September 2022 general election ended in a narrow win to a bloc of right-wing parties. On 18 October 2022, Ulf Kristersson of the Moderate Party became the new Prime Minister.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Sweden
View of the Stora Sjöfallet National Park

Situated in Northern Europe, Sweden lies west of the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia, providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. To the west is the Scandinavian mountain chain (Skanderna), a range that separates Sweden from Norway. Finland is located to its north-east. It has maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and it is also linked to Denmark (south-west) by the Öresund Bridge. Its border with Norway (1,619 km long) is the longest uninterrupted border within Europe.

Sweden lies between latitudes 55° and 70° N, and mostly between longitudes 11° and 25° E (part of Stora Drammen island is just west of 11°).

Sandhamn island, Stockholm archipelago

At 449,964 km (173,732 sq mi), Sweden is the 55th-largest country in the world, the fifth-largest country in Europe, and the largest country in Northern Europe. The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of Lake Hammarsjön, near Kristianstad, at −2.41 m (−7.91 ft) below sea level. The highest point is Kebnekaise at 2,111 m (6,926 ft) above sea level.

Sweden has 25 provinces or landskap. While these provinces serve no political or administrative purpose, they play an important role in people's self-identity. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large lands, parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. The sparsely populated Norrland encompasses almost 60% of the country. Sweden also has the Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Europe, totaling 562,772 ha (approx. 5,628 km).

About 15% of Sweden lies north of the Arctic Circle. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65% of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests. The highest population density is in the Öresund Region in southern Sweden, along the western coast up to central Bohuslän, and in the valley of lake Mälaren and Stockholm. Gotland and Öland are Sweden's largest islands; Vänern and Vättern are its largest lakes. Vänern is the third largest in Europe, after Lake Ladoga and Lake Onega in Russia. Combined with the third- and fourth-largest lakes Mälaren and Hjälmaren, these lakes take up a significant part of southern Sweden's area. Sweden's extensive waterway availability throughout the south was exploited with the building of the Göta Canal in the 19th century, shortening the potential distance between the Baltic Sea south of Norrköping and Gothenburg by using the lake and river network to facilitate the canal.

Sweden also has plenty of long rivers draining the lakes. Northern and central Sweden have several wide rivers known as älvar, commonly sourced within the Scandinavian Mountains. The longest river is Klarälven-Göta älv, which originates in Trøndelag in central Norway, running 1,160 kilometres (720 mi) before it enters the sea at Gothenburg. In southern Sweden, narrower rivers known as åar are also common. The vast majority of municipal seats are set either on the sea, a river or a lake and the majority of the country's population live in coastal municipalities.

Köppen-Geiger climate classification map of Sweden

Climate

Main article: Climate of Sweden

Most of Sweden has a temperate climate, despite its northern latitude, with largely four distinct seasons and mild temperatures throughout the year. The winter in the far south is usually weak and is manifested only through some shorter periods with snow and sub-zero temperatures; autumn may well turn into spring there, without a distinct period of winter. The northern parts of the country have a subarctic climate while the central parts have a humid continental climate. The coastal south can be defined as having either a humid continental climate using the 0 °C isotherm, or an oceanic climate using the -3 °C isotherm.

Due to the increased maritime moderation in the peninsular south, summer differences between the coastlines of the southernmost and northernmost regions are about 2 °C (4 °F) in summer and 10 °C (18 °F) in winter. This grows further when comparing areas in the northern interior where the winter difference in the far north is about 15 °C (27 °F) throughout the country. The warmest summers usually happen in the Mälaren Valley around Stockholm due to the vast landmass shielding the middle east coast from Atlantic low-pressure systems in July. Daytime highs in Sweden's municipal seats vary from 19 °C (66 °F) to 24 °C (75 °F) in July and −9 °C (16 °F) to 3 °C (37 °F) in January. The colder temperatures are influenced by the higher elevation in the northern interior. At sea level, the coldest average highs range from 21 °C (70 °F) to −6 °C (21 °F). As a result of the mild summers, the arctic region of Norrbotten has some of the northernmost agriculture in the world.

Sweden is much warmer and drier than other places at a similar latitude, and even somewhat farther south, mainly because of the combination of the Gulf Stream and the general west wind drift, caused by the direction of Earth's rotation. Because of Sweden's high latitude, the length of daylight varies greatly. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets for part of each summer, and it never rises for part of each winter. In the capital, Stockholm, daylight lasts for more than 18 hours in late June but only around 6 hours in late December. Sweden receives between 1,100 and 1,900 hours of sunshine annually.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Sweden was 38 °C (100 °F) in Målilla in 1947, while the coldest temperature ever recorded was −52.6 °C (−62.7 °F) in Vuoggatjålme on 2 February 1966.

On average, most of Sweden receives between 500 and 800 mm (20 and 31 in) of precipitation each year, making it considerably drier than the global average. The south-western part of the country receives more precipitation, between 1,000 and 1,200 mm (39 and 47 in), and some mountain areas in the north are estimated to receive up to 2,000 mm (79 in). Despite northerly locations, southern and central Sweden may have almost no snow in some winters. Most of Sweden is located in the rain shadow of the Scandinavian Mountains through Norway and north-west Sweden. It is predicted that as the Barents Sea gets less frozen in the coming winters, becoming thus "Atlantified", additional evaporation will increase future snowfalls in Sweden and much of continental Europe.

Vegetation

See also: Wildlife of Sweden
Map of Sweden's five major vegetation zones

Sweden has a considerable south to north distance which causes large climatic difference, especially during the winter. The related matter of the length and strength of the four seasons plays a role in which plants that naturally can grow at various places. Sweden is divided into five major vegetation zones. These are:

  • The southern deciduous forest zone
  • The southern coniferous forest zone
  • The northern coniferous forest zone, or the Taiga
  • The alpine-birch zone
  • The bare mountain zone

Southern deciduous forest zone, also known as the nemoral region, the southern deciduous forest zone is a part of a larger vegetation zone which also includes Denmark and large parts of Central Europe. It has to a rather large degree become agricultural areas, but larger and smaller forests still exist. The region is characterised by a large wealth of trees and shrubs. The beech is the most dominant tree, but oak can also form smaller forests. Elm at one time formed forests, but have been heavily reduced due to Dutch Elm disease. Other important trees and shrubs in this zone include hornbeam, elder, hazel, fly honeysuckle, linden (lime), spindle, yew, alder buckthorn, blackthorn, aspen, European rowan, Swedish whitebeam, juniper, European holly, ivy, dogwood, goat willow, larch, bird cherry, wild cherry, maple, ash, alder along creeks, and in sandy soil birch compete with pine. Spruce is not native but between approximately 1870 and 1980, large areas were planted with it. During the last 40–50 years large areas of former spruce plantings have been replanted with deciduous forest.

Southern coniferous forest zone, also known as the boreo-nemoral region, is delimited by the oak's northern natural limit (limes norrlandicus) and the Spruce's southern natural limit, between the southern deciduous zone and the Taiga farther north. In the southern parts of this zone the coniferous species are found, mainly spruce and pine, mixed with various deciduous trees. Birch grows largely everywhere. The beech's northern boundary crosses this zone. Although in its natural area, also planted Spruce are common, and such woods are very dense, as the spruces can grow very tight, especially in this vegetation zone's southern areas.

The northern coniferous forest zone or the Taiga begins north of the natural boundary of the oak. Of deciduous species the birch is the only one of significance. Pine and spruce are dominant, but the forests are slowly but surely more sparsely grown the farther towards the north it gets. In the extreme north is it difficult to state the trees forms true forests at all, due to the large distances between the trees.

The alpine-birch zone, in the Scandinavian mountains, depending on both latitude and altitude, is an area where only a smaller kind of birch (Betula pubescens or B.tortuosa) can grow. Where this vegetation zone ends, no trees grow at all: the bare mountain zone.

Sweden had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.35/10, ranking it 103rd globally out of 172 countries. Sweden was ranked sixth in the Environmental Performance Index in 2024. The index combines various indicators around known issues around the world, and measures how good they fit in among each countries on a scale. Sweden scores good in parameters like air pollution, air quality, waste management, sanitation and drinking water etc.

Government and politics

MonarchCarl XVI Gustaf
Monarch
since 1973Prime MinisterUlf Kristersson
Prime Minister
since 2022

Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements" (Folkrörelser), the most notable being trade unions, the independent Christian movement, the temperance movement, the women's movement, and the intellectual property pirate movements. Sweden was the first country in the world to outlaw corporal punishment of children by their parents (parents' right to spank their own children was first removed in 1966, and it was explicitly prohibited by law from July 1979).

Sweden is currently leading the EU in statistics measuring equality in the political system and equality in the education system. The Global Gender Gap Report 2006 ranked Sweden as the number one country in terms of gender equality.

Constitutional framework

Main article: Politics of Sweden
Rosenbad, in central Stockholm, has been the seat of the Government since 1981.

Sweden has four fundamental laws (Swedish: grundlagar) which together form the Constitution: the Instrument of Government (Swedish: Regeringsformen), the Act of Succession (Swedish: Successionsordningen), the Freedom of the Press Act (Swedish: Tryckfrihetsförordningen), and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (Swedish: Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen).

The public sector in Sweden is divided into two parts: the legal person known as the State (Swedish: staten) and local authorities: the latter include Regional Councils (Swedish: regioner) (renamed from county councils (landsting) in 2020) and local Municipalities (Swedish: kommuner). The local authorities, rather than the State, make up the larger part of the public sector in Sweden. Regional Councils and Municipalities are independent of one another, the former merely covers a larger geographical area than the latter. The local authorities have self-rule, as mandated by the Constitution, and their own tax base. Notwithstanding their self-rule, local authorities are nevertheless in practice dependent upon the State, as the parameters of their responsibilities and the extent of their jurisdiction are specified in the Local Government Act (Swedish: Kommunallagen) passed by the Riksdag.

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, and King Carl XVI Gustaf is the head of state, but the role of the monarch is limited to ceremonial and representative functions. Under the provisions of the 1974 Instrument of Government, the King lacks any formal political power. The King opens the annual Riksdag session, chairs the Special Council held during a change of Government, holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Government, chairs the meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs (Swedish: Utrikesnämnden), and receives Letters of Credence of foreign ambassadors to Sweden and signs those of Swedish ambassadors sent abroad. In addition, the King pays State Visits abroad and hosts those incoming.

Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Riksdag with 349 members. General elections are held every four years. Legislation may be initiated by the Government or by members of the Riksdag. Members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to a four-year term. The internal workings of the Riksdag are, in addition to the Instrument of Government, regulated by the Riksdag Act (Swedish: Riksdagsordningen). The fundamental laws can be altered by the Riksdag alone; only an absolute majority with two separate votes, separated by a general election in between, is required.

The Government (Swedish: Regeringen) operates as a collegial body with collective responsibility and consists of the Prime Minister—nominated by the Speaker and elected by a vote in the Riksdag—and other cabinet ministers (Swedish: Statsråd), appointed and dismissed at the sole discretion of the Prime Minister. The Government is the supreme executive authority and is responsible for its actions to the Riksdag.

Most of the State administrative authorities (Swedish: statliga förvaltningsmyndigheter) report to the Government. A unique feature of Swedish State administration is that individual cabinet ministers do not bear any individual ministerial responsibility for the performance of the agencies within their portfolio; as the director-generals and other heads of government agencies reports directly to the Government as a whole; and individual ministers are prohibited to interfere; thus the origin of the pejorative in Swedish political parlance term ministerstyre (English: "ministerial rule") in matters that are to be handled by the individual agencies, unless otherwise specifically provided for in law.

The Judiciary is independent from the Riksdag, Government and other State administrative authorities. The role of judicial review of legislation is not practised by the courts; instead, the Council on Legislation gives non-binding opinions on legality. There is no stare decisis in that courts are not bound by precedent, although it is influential.

Elections

Main articles: List of political parties in Sweden and Elections in Sweden
The Riksdag chamber, at the time of a vote, in 2009

For over 50 years, Sweden had had five parties who continually received enough votes to gain seats in the Riksdag—the Social Democrats, the Moderate Party, the Centre Party, the Liberal People's Party and the Left Party—before the Green Party became the sixth party in the 1988 election. In the 1991 election, while the Greens lost their seats, two new parties gained seats for the first time: the Christian Democrats and New Democracy. It was not until elections in 2010 that an eighth party, the Sweden Democrats, gained Riksdag seats. In the elections to the European Parliament, parties who have failed to pass the Riksdag threshold have managed to gain representation at that venue: the June List (2004–2009), the Pirate Party (2009–2014), and Feminist Initiative (2014–2019).

Election turnout in Sweden has always been high by international comparison. Although it declined in recent decades, the latest elections saw an increase in voter turnout (80.11% in 2002, 81.99% in 2006, 84.63% in 2010, 85.81 in 2014) and 87.18% in 2018. Swedish politicians enjoyed a high degree of confidence from the citizens in the 1960s, However, that level of confidence has since declined steadily, and is now at a markedly lower level than in its Scandinavian neighbours.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Regions of Sweden, Municipalities of Sweden, County Administrative Boards of Sweden, and Administrative divisions of Sweden
Municipal divisions of Sweden

Sweden is a unitary state divided into 21 regions (regioner) and 290 municipalities (kommuner). Every region corresponds to a county (län) with a number of municipalities per county. Regions and municipalities are both local governments but have different roles and separate responsibilities. Health care, public transport and certain cultural institutions are administered by regional councils. Preschools, primary and secondary schooling, public water utilities, garbage disposal, elderly care and rescue services are administered by the municipalities. Gotland is a special case of being a region with only one municipality and the functions of region and municipality are performed by the same organisation.

Municipal and region government in Sweden is similar to city commission and cabinet-style council government. Both levels have legislative assemblies (municipal councils and region assemblies of between 31 and 101 members (always an uneven number) that are elected from party-list proportional representation at the general election which are held every four years in conjunction with the national parliamentary elections.

Municipalities are also divided into a total of 2,512 parishes (församlingar). These have no official political responsibilities but are traditional subdivisions of the Church of Sweden and still have some importance as census districts.

The Swedish central government has 21 County Administrative Boards (Swedish: länsstyrelser), which are responsible for regional state administration not assigned to other government agencies or local government. Each county administrative board is led by a County Governor (Swedish: landshövding) appointed for a term of six years. The list of previous officeholders for the counties stretches back, in most cases, to 1634 when the counties were created by Lord High Chancellor Count Axel Oxenstierna. The main responsibility of the County Administrative Board is to co-ordinate the development of the county in line with goals set by the Riksdag and Government.

There are older historical divisions, primarily the twenty-five provinces and three lands, which still retain cultural significance.

Judicial system

Main article: Judiciary of Sweden

The courts are divided into two parallel and separate systems: The general courts (allmänna domstolar) for criminal and civil cases, and general administrative courts (allmänna förvaltningsdomstolar) for cases relating to disputes between private persons and the authorities. Each of these systems has three tiers, where the top tier court of the respective system typically only will hear cases that may become precedent. There are also a number of special courts, which will hear a narrower set of cases, as set down by legislation. While independent in their rulings, some of these courts are operated as divisions within courts of the general or general administrative courts.

Bonde Palace in Stockholm, seat of the Supreme Court of Sweden

The Supreme Court of Sweden (Swedish: Högsta domstolen) is the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. The Supreme Court consists of 16 Justices (Swedish: justitieråd), appointed by the Government, but the court as an institution is independent of the Riksdag, and the Government is not able to interfere with the decisions of the court.

According to a victimisation survey of 1,201 residents in 2005, Sweden has above-average crime rates compared to other EU countries. Sweden has high or above-average levels of assaults, sexual assaults, hate crimes, and consumer fraud. Sweden has low levels of burglary, car theft and drug problems. Bribe seeking is rare. A mid-November 2013 news report announced that four prisons in Sweden were closed during the year due to a significant drop in the number of inmates, with prison numbers in Sweden falling by around 1% a year since 2004.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Sweden
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, 2023

Throughout the 20th century, Swedish foreign policy was based on the principle of non-alignment in peacetime and neutrality in wartime. Sweden's government pursued an independent course of nonalignment in times of peace so that neutrality would be possible in the event of war.

During the early Cold War era, Sweden combined its policy of non-alignment and a low profile in international affairs with a security policy based on strong national defence. The function of the Swedish military was to deter attack. Beginning in the late 1960s, Sweden attempted to play a more significant and independent role in international relations. It involved itself significantly in international peace efforts, especially through the United Nations, and in support of the Third World. Following the 1986 assassination of Olof Palme and with the end of the Cold War, Sweden has adopted a more traditional foreign policy approach. Nevertheless, the country remains active in peacekeeping missions and maintains a considerable foreign aid budget.

Since 1995 Sweden has been a member of the European Union, and as a consequence of a new world security situation the country's foreign policy doctrine has been partly modified, with Sweden playing a more active role in European security co-operation. In 2022, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden moved to formally join the NATO alliance. Sweden formally became a member of NATO in 2024.

Military

Main articles: Swedish Armed Forces and Law enforcement in Sweden
The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is an advanced Swedish multi-role fighter aircraft of the Swedish Air Force.

The law is enforced in Sweden by several government entities. The Swedish police is a Government agency concerned with police matters. The National Task Force is a national SWAT unit within the police force. The Swedish Security Service's responsibilities are counter-espionage, anti-terrorist activities, protection of the constitution and protection of sensitive objects and people.

The Försvarsmakten (Swedish Armed Forces) are a government agency reporting to the Swedish Ministry of Defence and responsible for the peacetime operation of the armed forces of Sweden. The primary task of the agency is to train and deploy peacekeeping forces abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to refocus on the defence of Sweden in the event of war. The armed forces are divided into Army, Air Force and Navy. The head of the armed forces is the Supreme Commander (Överbefälhavaren, ÖB), the most senior commissioned officer in the country. Up to 1974, the King was pro forma Commander-in-Chief, but in reality it was clearly understood through the 20th century that the monarch would have no active role as a military leader.

The Infantry fighting vehicle CV90, which is produced and used by Sweden

Until the end of the Cold War, nearly all males reaching the age of military service were conscripted. In recent years, the number of conscripted males has shrunk dramatically, while the number of female volunteers has increased slightly. Recruitment has generally shifted towards finding the most motivated recruits. By law, all soldiers serving abroad must be volunteers. On 1 July 2010, Sweden ended routine conscription, switching to an all-volunteer force unless otherwise required for defence readiness. The total forces gathered would consist of about 60,000 personnel. This in comparison with the 1980s, before the fall of the Soviet Union, when Sweden could gather up to 1,000,000 servicemembers.

However, on 11 December 2014, due to tensions in the Baltic area, the Swedish Government reintroduced one part of the Swedish conscription system, refresher training. On 2 March 2017, the government decided to reintroduce the remaining part of the Swedish conscription system, basic military training. The first recruits began their training in 2018. As the law is now gender neutral, both men and women may have to serve.

Sweden decided not to sign the UN treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Swedish units have taken part in peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Chad.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Sweden Sweden is home to Volvo Cars, an automobile company with its headquarters in Gothenburg.IKEA, a Swedish multinational conglomerate, is the world's largest furniture retailer.H&M, one of the world's largest fashion retailers

Sweden is the twelfth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita and a high standard of living is experienced by its citizens. Sweden is an export-oriented mixed economy. Timber, hydropower and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy with a heavy emphasis on foreign trade. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports, while telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. Sweden is the ninth-largest arms exporter in the world. Agriculture accounts for 2% of GDP and employment. The country ranks among the highest for telephone and Internet access penetration.

Trade unions, employers' associations and collective agreements cover a large share of the employees in Sweden. The high coverage of collective agreements is achieved despite the absence of state mechanisms extending collective agreements to whole industries or sectors. Both the prominent role of collective bargaining and the way in which the high rate of coverage is achieved reflect the dominance of self-regulation (regulation by the labour market parties themselves). When the Swedish Ghent system was changed in 2007, resulting in considerably raised fees to unemployment funds, a substantial decline in union density and density of unemployment funds occurred.

In 2010, Sweden's income Gini coefficient was the third lowest among developed countries, at 0.25—slightly higher than Japan and Denmark—suggesting Sweden had low income inequality. However, Sweden's wealth Gini coefficient at 0.853 was the second highest in developed countries, and above European and North American averages, suggesting high wealth inequality. Even on a disposable income basis, the geographical distribution of Gini coefficient of income inequality varies within different regions and municipalities of Sweden. Danderyd, outside Stockholm, has Sweden's highest Gini coefficient of income inequality, at 0.55, while Hofors near Gävle has the lowest at 0.25. In and around Stockholm and Scania, two of the more densely populated regions of Sweden, the income Gini coefficient is between 0.35 and 0.55.

In terms of structure, the Swedish economy is characterised by a large, knowledge-intensive and export-oriented manufacturing sector; an increasing, but comparatively small, business service sector; and by international standards, a large public service sector. Large organisations, both in manufacturing and services, dominate the Swedish economy. High and medium-high technology manufacturing accounts for 9.9% of GDP.

The 20 largest (by turnover) registered Swedish companies in 2007 were Volvo, Ericsson, Vattenfall, Skanska, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Electrolux, Volvo Personvagnar, TeliaSonera, Sandvik, Scania, ICA, Hennes & Mauritz, IKEA, Nordea, Preem, Atlas Copco, Securitas, Nordstjernan and SKF. The vast majority of Sweden's industry is privately controlled, unlike many other industrialised Western countries.

An estimated 4.5 million Swedish residents are employed, and around a third of the workforce completed tertiary education. In terms of GDP per-hour-worked, Sweden was the world's ninth highest in 2006 at US$31, compared to US$22 in Spain and US$35 in the United States. GDP per-hour-worked is growing 2.5% per year for the economy as a whole and the trade-terms-balanced productivity growth is 2%. According to the OECD, deregulation, globalisation, and technology sector growth have been key productivity drivers. Sweden is a world leader in privatised pensions and pension funding problems are relatively small compared to many other Western European countries. A pilot program to test the feasibility of a six-hour workday, without loss of pay, will commence in 2014, involving the participation of Gothenburg municipal staff. The Swedish government is seeking to reduce its costs through decreased sick leave hours and increased efficiency.

Spotify, Swedish audio streaming service with more than 600 million users

The typical worker receives 40% of his or her labour costs after the tax wedge. Total tax collected by Sweden as a percentage of its GDP peaked at 52.3% in 1990. The country faced a real estate and banking crisis in 1990–1991, and consequently passed tax reforms in 1991 to implement tax rate cuts and tax base broadening over time. Since 1990, taxes as a percentage of GDP collected by Sweden have been dropping, with total tax rates for the highest income earners dropping the most. In 2010 45.8% of the country's GDP was collected as taxes, the second highest among OECD countries, and nearly double the percentage in the US or South Korea. Tax income-financed employment represents a third of the Swedish workforce, a substantially higher proportion than in most other countries. Overall, GDP growth has been fast since reforms—especially those in manufacturing—were enacted in the early 1990s.

Sweden is the fourth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the World Economic Forum in its Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013. Sweden is the top performing country in the 2014 Global Green Economy Index (GGEI). Sweden is ranked fourth in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013.

Sweden maintains its own currency, the Swedish krona (SEK). The Swedish Riksbank—founded in 1668 and thus the oldest central bank in the world—is currently focusing on price stability with an inflation target of 2%. According to the Economic Survey of Sweden 2007 by the OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s, largely because of deregulation and quick utilisation of globalisation.

The largest trade flows are with Germany, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Finland.

Energy

See also: Energy in Sweden, Electricity in Sweden, Nordic energy market, and Nuclear power in Sweden
Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant, located south of Gothenburg

Sweden's energy market is largely privatised. The Nordic energy market is one of the first liberalised energy markets in Europe and it is traded in NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe and Nord Pool Spot. In 2006, out of a total electricity production of 139 TWh, electricity from hydropower accounted for 61 TWh (44%), and nuclear power delivered 65 TWh (47%). At the same time, the use of biofuels, peat etc. produced 13 TWh (9%) of electricity, while wind power produced 1 TWh (1%). Sweden was a net importer of electricity by a margin of 6 TWh. Biomass is mainly used to produce heat for district heating and central heating and industry processes.

Sweden joined the International Energy Agency in 1974, after the 1973 oil crisis strengthened Sweden's commitment to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels. To protect against unexpected oil supply shocks and in accordance with international commitments made through the IEA, Sweden maintains a strategic petroleum reserve of at least 90 days of net oil imports. As of February 2022, Sweden's oil reserves totalled 130 days' worth of net imports. Sweden has moved to generate electricity mostly from hydropower and nuclear power. The use of nuclear power has been limited, however. Among other things, the accident of Three Mile Island prompted the Riksdag to ban new nuclear plants. In March 2005, an opinion poll showed that 83% supported maintaining or increasing nuclear power.

Sweden is considered a "global leader" in decarbonisation. Politicians have made announcements about oil phase-out in Sweden, decrease of nuclear power, and multibillion-dollar investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The country has for many years pursued a strategy of indirect taxation as an instrument of environmental policy, including energy taxes in general and carbon dioxide taxes in particular. Sweden was the first nation to implement carbon pricing, and its carbon prices remain the highest in the world as of 2020. This model has been shown to be particularly effective at decarbonizing the nation's economy.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Sweden
The Öresund Bridge between Malmö and Copenhagen in Denmark
The west coast motorway E6/E20 in central Gothenburg

Sweden has 162,707 km (101,101 mi) of paved road and 1,428 km (887 mi) of expressways. Motorways run through Sweden and over the Øresund Bridge to Denmark. Sweden had left-hand traffic (vänstertrafik in Swedish) from approximately 1736, but after the Riksdag passed legislation in 1963 changeover took place on 3 September 1967, known in Swedish as Dagen H.

The Stockholm metro is the only underground system in Sweden and serves the city of Stockholm via 100 stations. The rail transport market is privatised, but while there are many privately owned enterprises, the largest operators are still owned by the state. Operators include SJ, Veolia Transport, Green Cargo, Tågkompaniet and Inlandsbanan. Most of the railways are owned and operated by Trafikverket.

Stockholm Central Station

Most tram networks were closed in 1967. But they survived in Norrköping, Stockholm and Gothenburg, with Gothenburg tram network being the largest. A new tram line opened in Lund on 13 December 2020.

The largest airports include Stockholm–Arlanda Airport (16.1 million passengers in 2009) 40 km (25 mi) north of Stockholm, Göteborg Landvetter Airport (4.3 million passengers in 2008), and Stockholm–Skavsta Airport (2.0 million passengers). Sweden hosts the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, Port of Göteborg AB (Gothenburg) and the transnational company Copenhagen Malmö Port AB. The most used airport for a large part of Southern Sweden is Kastrup or Copenhagen Airport which is located only 12 minutes by train from the closest Swedish railway station, Hyllie.

Sweden also has a number of car ferry connections to several neighbouring countries. This includes a route from Umeå across the Gulf of Bothnia to Vaasa in Finland. There are several connections from the Stockholm area across the Sea of Åland to Mariehamn in Åland as well as Turku and Helsinki on the Finnish mainland and beyond to Estonia and St Petersburg in Russia. Ferry routes from the Stockholm area also connect with Latvia and Poland across the Baltic Sea. The ferry ports of Karlskrona and Karlshamn in southeastern Sweden serve Poland and Lithuania. Ystad and Trelleborg near the southern tip of Sweden have ferry links with the Danish island of Bornholm and the German ports of Sassnitz, Rostock and Travemünde, respectively, and ferries run to Świnoujście, Poland, from both of them. Trelleborg is the busiest ferry port in Sweden in terms of weight transported by lorry. Despite the opening of the fixed link to Denmark, the Øresund Bridge, the busiest ferry route remains the short link across the narrowest section of the Øresund between Helsingborg and the Danish port of Helsingør, known as the HH Ferry route. There are over seventy departures a day each way; during peak times, a ferry departs every fifteen minutes. Ports higher up the Swedish west coast include Varberg, with a ferry connection across the Kattegat to Grenaa in Denmark, and Göteborg, serving Frederikshavn at the northern tip of Denmark and Kiel in Germany. Finally, there are ferries from Strömstad near the Norwegian border to destinations around the Oslofjord in Norway.

Sweden has two domestic ferry lines with large vessels, both connecting Gotland with the mainland. The lines leave from Visby harbour on the island, and the ferries sail to either Oskarshamn or Nynäshamn. A smaller car ferry connects the island of Ven in Øresund with Landskrona.

Public policy

See also: Nordic model and Social welfare in Sweden

Sweden has one of the most highly developed welfare states in the world. According to a 2012 OECD report, the country had the second-highest public social spending as a percentage of its GDP after France, and the third-highest total (public and private) social spending at 30.2% of its GDP, after France and Belgium. Sweden spent 6.3% of its GDP, the ninth-highest among 34 OECD countries, to provide equal access to education. On health care, the country spent 10.0% of its total GDP, the 12th highest.

Historically, Sweden provided solid support for free trade (except agriculture) and mostly relatively strong and stable property rights (both private and public), though some economists have pointed out that Sweden promoted industries with tariffs and used publicly subsidised R&D during the country's early critical years of industrialisation. After World War II a succession of governments expanded the welfare state by raising the taxes. A series of successive social reforms transformed the country into one of the most equal and developed on earth. The consistent growth of the welfare state led to Swedes achieving unprecedented levels of social mobility and quality of life—to this day Sweden consistently ranks at the top of league tables for health, literacy and Human Development—far ahead of some wealthier countries (for example the United States). A report from the United Nations Development Program predicted that Sweden's rating on the Human Development Index will fall from 0.949 in 2010 to 0.906 in 2030.

Sweden has been relatively quick to adopt neoliberal policies, such as privatisation, financialisation and deregulation, compared to countries such as France. The current Swedish government is continuing the trend of moderate rollbacks of previous social reforms. Growth has been higher than in many other EU-15 countries. Since the mid-1980s, Sweden has had the fastest growth in inequality of any developed nation, according to the OECD. This has largely been attributed to the reduction in state benefits and a shift toward the privatisation of public services. Nevertheless, it remains far more egalitarian than most nations.

Sweden adopted free market agricultural policies in 1990. Since the 1930s, the agricultural sector had been subject to price controls. In June 1990, the Riksdag voted for a new agricultural policy marking a significant shift away from price controls. As a result, food prices fell somewhat. However, the liberalisations soon became moot because EU agricultural controls supervened.

In 2015 and 2016, 69 per cent of the employed workers is organised in trade unions. Union density in 2016 was 62% among blue-collar-workers (most of them in the Swedish Trade Union Confederation, LO) and 75% among white-collar workers (most of them in the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, TCO, and the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations, SACO). Sweden has state-supported union unemployment funds (Ghent system). Trade unions have the right to elect two representatives to the board in all Swedish companies with more than 25 employees. Sweden has a relatively high amount of sick leave per worker in OECD: the average worker loses 24 days due to sickness.

The unemployment rate was 7.2% in May 2017 while the employment rate was 67.4%, with the workforce consisting of 4,983,000 people while 387,000 are unemployed. Unemployment among youth (aged 24 or younger) in 2012 was 24.2%, making Sweden the OECD country with the highest ratio of youth unemployment versus unemployment in general.

Science and technology

Main article: Swedish inventions
Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite and institutor of the Nobel Prize

In the 18th century, Sweden's scientific revolution took off. Previously, technical progress had mainly come from mainland Europe.

In 1739, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was founded, with people such as Carl Linnaeus and Anders Celsius as early members. Gustaf Dalén founded AGA, and received the Nobel Prize for his sun valve. Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and instituted the Nobel Prizes. Lars Magnus Ericsson started the company bearing his name, Ericsson, still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. Jonas Wenström was an early pioneer in alternating current and is along with Nikola Tesla credited as one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system.

The traditional engineering industry is still a major source of Swedish inventions, but pharmaceuticals, electronics and other high-tech industries are gaining ground. Tetra Pak was an invention for storing liquid foods, invented by Erik Wallenberg. Losec, an ulcer medicine, was the world's best-selling drug in the 1990s and was developed by AstraZeneca. More recently Håkan Lans invented the Automatic Identification System, a worldwide standard for shipping and civil aviation navigation. A large portion of the Swedish economy is to this day based on the export of technical inventions.

Swedish inventors held 47,112 patents in the United States in 2014, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. As a nation, only ten other countries hold more patents than Sweden.

Combined, the public and the private sector in Sweden allocate over 3.5% of GDP to research & development (R&D) per year, making Sweden's investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP the second-highest in the world. For several decades the Swedish government has prioritised scientific and R&D activities. As a percentage of GDP, the Swedish government spends the most of any nation on research and development. Sweden tops other European countries in the number of published scientific works per capita.

The European Spallation Source (ESS) was scheduled to begin initial operations in 2019 with construction completion scheduled for 2025. The ESS will give an approximately 30 times stronger neutron beam than any of today's existing neutron source installations. The MAX IV, costing some SEK 3 billion, was inaugurated on 21 June 2016. Both facilities have strong implications on material research. Sweden was ranked second in the Global Innovation Index in 2023 and 2024.

Waste management

Sweden is known for its efficient waste management system. Only 0.7% of the total household waste is disposed, and the rest is reused. Around 52% of its waste is used for energy production (that is burnt) and 47% recycled. About two million tonnes of waste are imported from neighbouring countries to make profitable recycling products. As of 2023 report, Sweden generated 1.7 billion euros in 2020 (the highest so far was 1.98 billion euros in 2016) from recycling waste. The works are mostly executed through the public organisation, Swedish Waste Management (Avfall Sverige).

Taxes

Main article: Taxation in Sweden

Since the late 1960s, Sweden has had the highest tax quota (as percentage of GDP) in the industrialised world, although today the gap has narrowed and Denmark has surpassed Sweden as the most heavily taxed country among developed countries. Sweden has a two-step progressive tax scale with a municipal income tax of about 30% and an additional high-income state tax of 20–25% when a salary exceeds roughly 320,000 SEK per year. Payroll taxes amount to 32%. In addition, a national VAT of 25% is added to many things bought by private citizens. Certain items are subject to additional taxes, e.g. electricity, petrol/diesel and alcoholic beverages. In 2007, total tax revenue was 47.8% of GDP, the second-highest tax burden among developed countries, down from 49.1% 2006. Public sector spending amounts to 53% of the GDP. State and municipal employees total around a third of the workforce, much more than in most Western countries. Only Denmark has a larger public sector (38% of Danish workforce). Spending on transfers is also high. On average, 27% of taxpayers' money in Sweden goes to education and healthcare, whereas 5% goes to the police and military, and 42% to social security.

Pensions

Main article: Social security in Sweden

Every Swedish resident receives a state pension. Swedish Pensions Agency is responsible for pensions. People who have worked in Sweden, but relocated to another country, can also receive the Swedish pension. There are several types of pensions in Sweden: occupational and private pensions, and national retirement. A person can receive a combination of the various types of pensions.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Sweden, Swedes, List of urban areas in Sweden by population, and Immigration to Sweden
  Largest cities or towns in Sweden
"Kommungruppsindelning 2017". Retrieved 16 September 2017. & "SCB befolkningsstatistik". Retrieved 11 July 2018.
Rank Name County Pop. Metro. Rank Name County Pop. Metro.
Stockholm
Stockholm
Gothenburg
Gothenburg 		1 Stockholm Stockholm 952,058 2,205,105 11 Umeå Västerbotten 125,434 137,800 Malmö
Malmö
Uppsala
Uppsala
2 Gothenburg Västra Götaland 565,496 1,015,974 12 Lund Skåne 121,893 197,300
3 Malmö Skåne 351,749 689,206 13 Borås Västra Götaland 111,354 151,300
4 Uppsala Uppsala 221,141 257,200 14 Huddinge Stockholm 110,335 136,000
5 Linköping Östergötland 158,953 189,800 15 Eskilstuna Södermanland 105,014 110,900
6 Örebro Örebro 150,949 196,700 16 Nacka Stockholm 101,697 114,800
7 Västerås Västmanland 150,564 169,200 17 Gävle Gävleborg 100,825 107,500
8 Helsingborg Skåne 143,671 321,500 18 Halmstad Halland 99,932 119,300
9 Norrköping Östergötland 140,991 149,600 19 Sundsvall Västernorrland 98,837 115,300
10 Jönköping Jönköping 137,863 156,700 20 Södertälje Stockholm 96,254 158,300
Population density in the counties of Sweden.
People/km:
  0–9.9  10–24.9  25–49.9  50–99.9  100–199.9  200+

The total resident population of Sweden was 10,377,781 in October 2020. The population exceeded 10 million for the first time on Friday 20 January 2017.

The average population density is just over 25 people per km (65 per square mile), with 1 437 persons per km in localities (continuous settlement with at least 200 inhabitants). 88% of the population live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area. 63% of Swedes are in large urban areas. It is substantially higher in the south than in the north. There are more than 2000 localities. The capital city Stockholm has a municipal population of about 950,000 (with 1.5 million in the urban area and 2.3 million in the metropolitan area). The second- and third-largest cities are Gothenburg and Malmö. Outside of major cities, areas with notably higher population density include the agricultural part of Östergötland, the western coast, the area around Lake Mälaren and the agricultural area around Uppsala.

Norrland, which covers approximately 60% of the Swedish territory, has a very low population density (below five people per square kilometre). The mountains and most of the remote coastal areas are almost unpopulated. Low population density exists also in large parts of western Svealand, as well as southern and central Småland. An area known as Finnveden, which is located in the south-west of Småland, and mainly below the 57th parallel, can also be considered as almost empty of people.

There are no official statistics on ethnicity, but according to Statistics Sweden, 2,752,572 (26%) inhabitants of Sweden were of a foreign background in 2021, defined as being born abroad or born in Sweden with both foreign-born parents. Of these inhabitants, 2,090,503 persons were born abroad and 662,069 persons were born in Sweden to parents born abroad. In addition, 805,340 persons had one parent born abroad with the other parent born in Sweden. Five minority groups are officially recognized by Sweden: Jews, Romani, Sámi, Finns, and Tornedalers.

Sweden has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the average age of 41.1 years.

Language

Main articles: Swedish language and Languages of Sweden See also: Swedish dialects

The official language of Sweden is Swedish, a North Germanic language, related and very similar to Danish and Norwegian, but differing in pronunciation and orthography. The dialects spoken in Scania, the southernmost part of the country, are influenced by Danish because the region traditionally was a part of Denmark and is nowadays situated closely to it. Sweden Finns are Sweden's largest linguistic minority, comprising about 5% of Sweden's population, and Finnish is recognised as a minority language. Owing to a 21st-century influx of native speakers of Arabic, the use of Arabic is likely more widespread in the country than that of Finnish. However, no official statistics are kept on language use.

Along with Finnish, four other minority languages are also recognised: Meänkieli, Sami, Romani, and Yiddish. Swedish became Sweden's official language on 1 July 2009, when a new language law was implemented. The issue of whether Swedish should be declared the official language had been raised in the past, and the Riksdag voted on the matter in 2005, but the proposal narrowly failed.

To varying degrees, a majority of Swedes, especially those born after World War II, understand and speak English, owing to trade links, the popularity of overseas travel, a strong Anglo-American influence and the tradition of subtitling rather than dubbing foreign television shows and films, and the relative similarity of the two languages which makes learning English easier. In a 2005 survey by Eurobarometer, 89% of Swedes reported the ability to speak English.

English became a compulsory subject for secondary school students studying natural sciences as early as 1849, and has been a compulsory subject for all Swedish students since the late 1940s. Most students also study one and sometimes two additional languages. Some Danish and Norwegian is also taught as part of Swedish courses for native speakers. Because of the extensive mutual intelligibility between the three continental Scandinavian languages, Swedish speakers often use their native language when visiting or living in Norway or Denmark.

Religion

Main articles: Religion in Sweden and Irreligion in Sweden
The Protestant Katarina Church in Stockholm

Before the 11th century, Swedes adhered to Norse paganism, worshiping Æsir gods, with its centre at the Temple in Uppsala. With Christianisation in the 11th century, the laws of the country changed, forbidding worship of other deities until the late 19th century. After the Protestant Reformation in the 1530s, the authority of the Roman Catholic Church was abolished and Lutheranism became widespread. Adoption of Lutheranism was completed by the Uppsala Synod of 1593, and it became the official religion. During the era following the Reformation, usually known as the period of Lutheran orthodoxy, small groups of non-Lutherans, especially Calvinist Dutch, the Moravian Church and French Huguenots played a significant role in trade and industry, and were quietly tolerated. The Sami originally had their own shamanistic religion, but they were converted to Lutheranism by Swedish missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries.

With religious liberalisations in the late 18th century believers of other faiths, including Judaism and Roman Catholicism, were allowed to live and work freely in the country. However, until 1860 it remained illegal for Lutherans to convert to another religion. The 19th century saw the arrival of various evangelical free churches, and, towards the end of the century, secularism, leading many to distance themselves from church rituals. Leaving the Church of Sweden became legal with the so-called Dissenter Act of 1860, but only under the provision of entering another Christian denomination. The right to stand outside any religious denomination was formally established in the law on freedom of religion in 1951.

In 2000, the Church of Sweden was separated from the state. Sweden was the second Nordic country to disestablish its state church (after Finland did so in the Church Act of 1869).

At the end of 2022, 52.8% of Swedes belonged to the Church of Sweden; this number has been decreasing by 1-2 percentage points each year since 2001. Approximately 2% of the church's members regularly attend Sunday services. The reason for the large number of inactive members is partly that, until 1996, children automatically became members at birth if at least one of the parents was a member. Since 1996, only children and adults who are christened become members. Some 275,000 Swedes are today members of various Evangelical Protestant free churches (where congregation attendance is much higher), and due to recent immigration, there are now some 100,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians and 92,000 Roman Catholics living in Sweden.

30% are "none" or "unspecified".

8% are "other" (than Church of Sweden).

The first Muslim congregation was established in 1949. Islam's presence in Sweden remained marginal until the 1960s, when Sweden started to receive migrants from the Balkans and Turkey. Further immigration from North Africa and the Middle East have brought the estimated Muslim population to 600,000. However, only about 110,000 were members of a congregation around 2010.

Health

See also: Healthcare in Sweden and Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare

Healthcare in Sweden is mainly tax-funded, universal for all citizens, and decentralised, although private health care also exists. The health care system in Sweden is financed primarily through taxes levied by regional councils and municipalities. A total of 21 councils are in charge of primary and hospital care within the country.

Private healthcare is a rarity in Sweden, and even those private institutions work under the mandated city councils. The city councils regulate the rules and the establishment of potential private practices. While care for the elderly or those who need psychiatric help is conducted privately in many other countries, in Sweden, publicly funded local authorities are in charge of this type of care.

Healthcare in Sweden is similar in quality to other developed nations. Sweden ranks in the top five countries with respect to low infant mortality. It also ranks high in life expectancy and in safe drinking water. In 2018, health and medical care represented around 11% of GDP.

Education

Main article: Education in Sweden
Uppsala University (established 1477)

Children aged 1–5 years old are guaranteed a place in a public kindergarten (Swedish: förskola or, colloquially, dagis). Between the ages of 6 and 16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school. In the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Swedish 15-year-old pupils score close to the OECD average. After completing the ninth grade, about 90% of the students continue with a three-year upper secondary school (gymnasium), which can lead to both a job qualification or entrance eligibility to university. The school system is largely financed by taxes.

The Swedish government treats public and independent schools equally by introducing education vouchers in 1992 as one of the first countries in the world after the Netherlands. Anyone can establish a for-profit school and the municipality must pay new schools the same amount as municipal schools get. School lunch is free for all students in Sweden, and providing breakfast is also encouraged.

There are a number of different universities and colleges in Sweden, the oldest and largest of which are situated in Uppsala, Lund, Gothenburg and Stockholm. In 2000, 32% of Swedish people held a tertiary degree, making the country fifth in the OECD in that category. Along with several other European countries, the government also subsidises tuition of international students pursuing a degree at Swedish institutions, although a recent bill passed in the Riksdag will limit this subsidy to students from EEA countries and Switzerland.

The large influx of immigrants to Swedish schools has been cited as a significant part of the reason why Sweden has dropped more than any other European country in the international PISA rankings.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Sweden

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "sexual revolution", with gender equality having particularly been promoted. Sweden has also become very liberal towards homosexuality, as is reflected in the popular acceptance of films such as Show Me Love. Since 1 May 2009, Sweden repealed its "registered partnership" laws and fully replaced them with gender-neutral marriage. Sweden also offers domestic partnerships for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Cohabitation (sammanboende) by couples of all ages, including teenagers as well as older couples, is widespread.

Music

Main article: Music of Sweden
The Swedish band ABBA in April 1974, a few days after they won the Eurovision Song Contest

Historical re-creations of Norse music have been attempted based on instruments found in Viking sites. The instruments used were the lur (a sort of trumpet), simple string instruments, wooden flutes and drums. Sweden has a significant folk-music scene. The joik, a type of Sami music, is a chant that is part of the traditional Sami animistic spirituality. Notable composers include Carl Michael Bellman and Franz Berwald.

Sweden also has a prominent choral music tradition. Out of a population of 9.5 million, it is estimated that five to six hundred thousand people sing in choirs.

In 2007, with over 800 million dollars in revenue, Sweden was the third-largest music exporter in the world and surpassed only by the US and the UK. According to one source 2013, Sweden produces the most chart hits per capita in the world, followed by the UK and the US. Sweden has a rather lively jazz scene. The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research has published an overview of jazz in Sweden by Lars Westin.

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Sweden
Djurgårdsbron

Before the 13th century, almost all buildings were made of timber, but a shift soon began towards stone. Early Swedish stone buildings are the Romanesque churches on the countryside. This would include the Lund Cathedral from the 11th century and the somewhat younger church in Dalby, but also many early Gothic churches built through influences of the Hanseatic League, such as in Ystad, Malmö and Helsingborg.

Cathedrals in other parts of Sweden were also built as seats of Sweden's bishops. The Skara Cathedral is made of bricks from the 14th century, and the Uppsala Cathedral in the 15th century. In 1230, the foundations of the Linköping Cathedral were made, the material was there limestone, but the building took some 250 years to finish.

Among older structures are also some significant fortresses and other historical buildings such as at Borgholm Castle, Halltorps Manor, and Eketorp fortress on the island Öland, the Nyköping fortress and the Visby city wall.

Kalmar Cathedral

In the 1520s, King Gustav Vasa initiated grand mansions, castles, and fortresses to be built. Some of the more magnificent include Kalmar Castle, Gripsholm Castle, and Vadstena.

In the next two centuries, Sweden was designated by Baroque architecture and later the rococo. Notable projects from that time include the city Karlskrona, which has now also been declared a World Heritage Site and the Drottningholm Palace.

The Stockholm exhibition, which marked the breakthrough of Functionalism, or funkis as it became known first surfaced in 1930; the style came to dominate in the following decades. Some notable projects of this kind were the Million Programme, offering affordable living in large apartment complexes.

The Avicii Arena, located in Stockholm, is the largest hemispherical building on Earth. Its dome has a diameter of 110 metres (360 feet) and took two and a half years to build.

Media

Main article: Media in Sweden
Headquarters of Sveriges Television in Stockholm

Swedes are among the greatest consumers of newspapers in the world, and nearly every town is served by a local paper. The country's main quality morning papers are Dagens Nyheter (liberal), Göteborgs-Posten (liberal), Svenska Dagbladet (liberal conservative) and Sydsvenska Dagbladet (liberal). The two largest evening tabloids are Aftonbladet (social democratic) and Expressen (liberal). The ad-financed, free international morning paper, Metro International, was founded in Stockholm, Sweden. The country's news is reported in English by, among others, The Local (liberal).

The public broadcasting companies held a monopoly on radio and television for a long time in Sweden. Licence-funded radio broadcasts started in 1925. A second radio network was started in 1954, and a third opened 1962, in response to pirate radio stations. Non-profit community radio was allowed in 1979 and in 1993 commercial local radio started.

The licence-funded television service was officially launched in 1956. A second channel, TV2, was launched in 1969. These two channels (operated by Sveriges Television since the late 1970s) held a monopoly until the 1980s when cable and satellite television became available. The first Swedish-language satellite service was TV3 which started broadcasting from London in 1987. It was followed by Kanal 5 in 1989 (then known as Nordic Channel) and TV4 in 1990. TV4 began its terrestrial broadcasts in 1992, becoming the first private channel to broadcast television content from within the country.

Around half the population are connected to cable television. Digital terrestrial television in Sweden started in 1999.

Literature

Main article: Swedish literature
The writer and playwright August Strindberg

Sweden has many authors of worldwide recognition including August Strindberg, Astrid Lindgren, and Nobel Prize winners Selma Lagerlöf and Harry Martinson. In total seven Nobel Prizes in Literature have been awarded to Swedes. The first literary text from Sweden is the Rök runestone, carved during the Viking Age c. 800 AD. With the conversion of the land to Christianity around 1100 AD, Sweden entered the Middle Ages, during which monastic writers preferred to use Latin. Therefore, there are only a few texts in Old Swedish from that period. Swedish literature only began to flourish when the language was standardised during the 16th century. This standardisation was largely due to the full translation of the Bible into Swedish in 1541. This translation is the so-called Gustav Vasa Bible.

With improved education and the freedom brought by secularisation, the 17th century saw several notable authors develop the Swedish language further. Some key figures include Georg Stiernhielm (17th century), who was the first to write classical poetry in Swedish; Johan Henric Kellgren (18th century), the first to write fluent Swedish prose; Carl Michael Bellman (late 18th century), the first writer of burlesque ballads; and August Strindberg (late 19th century), a socio-realistic writer and playwright who won worldwide fame. The early 20th century continued to produce notable authors, such as Selma Lagerlöf, (Nobel laureate 1909), Verner von Heidenstam (Nobel laureate 1916) and Pär Lagerkvist (Nobel laureate 1951).

In recent decades, a handful of Swedish writers have established themselves internationally, including the detective novelist Henning Mankell and the writer of spy fiction Jan Guillou. The Swedish writer to have made the most lasting impression on world literature is the children's book writer Astrid Lindgren, and her books about Pippi Longstocking, Emil, and others. In 2008, the second best-selling fiction author in the world was Stieg Larsson, whose Millennium series of crime novels is being published posthumously to critical acclaim.

Holidays

Main article: Public holidays in Sweden
Walpurgis Night bonfire in Sweden

Apart from traditional Protestant Christian holidays, Sweden also celebrates some unique holidays, some of a pre-Christian tradition. They include Midsummer celebrating the summer solstice; Walpurgis Night (Valborgsmässoafton) on 30 April lighting bonfires; and Labour Day or May Day on 1 May is dedicated to socialist demonstrations. The day of giver-of-light Saint Lucia, 13 December, is widely acknowledged in elaborate celebrations which betoken its Italian origin and commence the month-long Christmas season.

6 June is the National Day of Sweden and has since 2005 been a public holiday. Furthermore, there are official flag flying day observances and a Namesdays in Sweden calendar. In August many Swedes have kräftskivor (crayfish dinner parties). Martin of Tours Eve is celebrated in Scania in November with Mårten Gås parties, where roast goose and svartsoppa ('black soup') are served. The Sámi, one of Sweden's indigenous minorities, have their holiday on 6 February and Scania celebrate their Scanian Flag day on the third Sunday in July.

Cuisine

Main article: Swedish cuisine
Cinnamon rolls originated in Sweden and Denmark.

Swedish cuisine, like that of the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway and Finland), was traditionally simple. Fish (particularly herring), meat, potatoes and dairy products played prominent roles. Spices were sparse. Preparations include Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes and lingonberry jam; pancakes; pyttipanna, a spiced fried hash of meat and potatoes originally meant to use up any leftovers of meat; lutfisk; and the smörgåsbord, or lavish buffet. Akvavit is a popular alcoholic distilled beverage, and the drinking of snaps is of cultural importance. The traditional flat and dry crisp bread has developed into several contemporary variants. Regionally important foods are the surströmming (a fermented fish) in northern Sweden and eel in southern Sweden.

In August, at the traditional feast known as crayfish party, kräftskiva, Swedes eat large amounts of crayfish boiled with dill.

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Sweden

Swedish 20th-century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days of cinema, with Mauritz Stiller and Victor Sjöström. In the 1920s–1980s, the filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and actors Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman became internationally noted people within cinema. More recently, the films of Lukas Moodysson, Lasse Hallström, and Ruben Östlund have received international recognition.

Sports

Main article: Sport in Sweden
Former world No. 1 tennis player Björn Borg

Sport activities are a national movement with half of the population actively participating in organised sporting activities. The two main spectator sports are football and ice hockey. Second to football, horse sports (of which most of the participants are women) have the highest number of practitioners. Thereafter, golf, orienteering, gymnastics, track and field, and the team sports of ice hockey, handball, floorball, basketball and bandy are the most popular in terms of practitioners. The Swedish national men's ice hockey team, affectionately known as Tre Kronor (English: Three Crowns), has won the World Championships nine times, placing them third in the all-time medal count. Tre Kronor also won Olympic gold medals in 1994 and 2006. In 2006, Tre Kronor became the first national hockey team to win both the Olympic and world championships in the same year. The Swedish national men's football team has seen some success at the World Cup in the past, finishing second when they hosted the tournament in 1958, and third twice, in 1950 and 1994.

Sweden hosted the 1912 Summer Olympics, Equestrian at the 1956 Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 1958. Other big sports events include the UEFA Euro 1992, 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup, 1995 World Championships in Athletics, UEFA Women's Euro 2013, and several championships of ice hockey, curling, athletics, skiing, bandy, figure skating and swimming.

See also

Notes

  1. "Du gamla, du fria" has never been officially adopted as national anthem, but is so by convention.
  2. Since 1 July 2009. The Swedish Sign Language also has a special status as the official national sign language.
  3. All five officially recognised as minority languages since 1999
  4. Since 3 September 1967
  5. The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states.
  6. Swedish: Sverige [ˈsvæ̌rjɛ] ; Finnish: Ruotsi; Meänkieli: Ruotti; Northern Sami: Ruoŧŧa; Lule Sami: Svierik; Pite Sami: Sverji; Ume Sami: Sverje; Southern Sami: Sveerje or Svöörje; Yiddish: שוועדן, romanized: Shvedn; Scandoromani: Svedikko; Kalo Finnish Romani: Sveittiko.
  7. The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of Sweden. UNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden. Archived 1 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. Swedish: Konungariket Sverige [ˈkôːnɵŋaˌriːkɛt ˈsvæ̌rjɛ]
  9. The State (Swedish: staten) is also descriptively translated into English as the "central government", not to be confused with the Government, i.e. the cabinet which is but one organ of the State.
  10. An alternate English translation is "local governments".

References

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  3. "Är svenskan också officiellt språk i Sverige?" [Is Swedish also an official language in Sweden?] (in Swedish). Swedish Language Council. 1 February 2008. Archived from the original on 6 February 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
  4. ^ "Sweden country profile". BBC News. 6 December 2023. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
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  20. Lemma: SWEDEN Archived 20 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal
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