SWEDEN
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SWEDEN
@Sweden:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Map references: Europe
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SWEDEN - MAJOR CITIES
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Latitude, Internat'l Time
Population Longitude Phone Code Zone
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STOCKHOLM 669,000 59.20N, 18.05E 46-8 GMT+1
G”teborg 431,000 57.45N, 12.00E 46-31 GMT+1
Malm” 232,000 55.35N, 13.00E 46-40 GMT+1
Uppsala 162,000 59.55N, 17.38E 46-18 GMT+1
™rebro 120,000 59.18N, 15.05E 46-19 GMT+1
Norrk”ping 119,000 58.35N, 16.10E 46-11 GMT+1
V„ster†s 119,000 59.36N, 16.32E 46-21 GMT+1
Link”ping 119,000 58.25N, 15.35E 46-13 GMT+1
J”nk”ping 110,000 57.45N, 14.10E 46-36 GMT+1
Helsingborg 107,000 56.05N, 12.45E 46-42 GMT+1
Bor†s 101,000 57.44N, 12.55E 46-33 GMT+1
Sundsvall 93,000 62.23N, 17.18E 46-60 GMT+1
Ume† 89,000 63.50N, 20.15E 46-90 GMT+1
G„vle 88,000 60.40N, 17.10E 46-26 GMT+1
Skellefte† 74,000 64.46N, 20.57E 46-910 GMT+1
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Area:
total area: 449,964 sq km
land area: 410,928 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries: total 2,205 km, Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly
cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 2%
forest and woodland: 64%
other: 27%
Irrigated land: 1,120 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the
North Sea and the Baltic Sea
natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in
the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North
Seas
@Sweden:People
Population: 8,821,759 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (female 810,859; male 854,553)
15-64 years: 64% (female 2,761,060; male 2,856,012)
65 years and over: 17% (female 887,597; male 651,678) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.46% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13.19 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 10.84 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.43 years
male: 75.64 years
female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic divisions: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign born or first-generation
immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal
1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Languages: Swedish
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak
native languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
total population: 99%
Labor force: 4.552 million (84% unionized,1992)
by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining
and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%,
banking, insurance 9.0%, communications 7.2%, construction 7.0%,
agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)
@Sweden:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige
Digraph: SW
Type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);
Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan,
Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan,
Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan,
Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan,
Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan,
Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
Independence: 6 June 1809 (constitutional monarchy established)
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir
Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King
(born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Ingvar CARLSSON (since 6 October
1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mona SAHLIN (since 6 October 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Riksdag): elections last held 18 September 1994 (next to
be held NA September 1998); results - Social Democrats 45.4%, Moderate
Party (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals 7.2%, Left
Party 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New Democracy Party
1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democrats 162, Moderate Party
(Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22,
Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New Democracy Party did
not receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.8% of votes
for a seat in parliament
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Ingvar
CARLSSON; Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People's
Party, Maria LEISSNER; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; Christian
Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; New Democracy Party, Vivianne FRANZEN;
Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist Workers' Party,
Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader but party spokesperson is
Birger SHLAUG
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC,
CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, GATT,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR,
NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP,
UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN
chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT
embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (8) 661 19 64
Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag;
the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World
War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard
of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive
welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent
internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force.
Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an
economy that is heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned
firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the
engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In 1990,
agriculture accounted for only 1.2% of GDP and 1.9% of the jobs,
Sweden being about 50% sufficient in most products. In the last few
years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been
clouded by inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of
competitiveness in international markets. Although Prime Minister
BILDT's center-right minority coalition had hoped to charge ahead with
free-market-oriented reforms, a skyrocketing budget deficit - about
14% of GDP in FY93/94 projections - and record unemployment have
forestalled many of the plans. Unemployment in 1994 is estimated at
around 9% with another 5% in job training. Continued heavy foreign
exchange speculation forced the government to cooperate in late 1992
with the opposition Social Democrats on two crisis packages - one a
severe austerity pact and the other a program to spur industrial
competitiveness - which basically set economic policy through 1997. In
November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU, and the krona has
since depreciated about 25% against the dollar. The boost in export
competitiveness from the depreciation helped lift Sweden out of its
3-year recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in
the economy, the new Social Democratic government is proposing cuts in
welfare benefits, subsidies, defense, and foreign aid. Sweden has
harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined
at the start of 1995.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $163.1 billion (1994
est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $18,580 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.8% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $47.9 billion
expenditures: $70.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY93/94)
Exports: $59.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood,
iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products
partners: EC 55.8% (Germany 15%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.2%, France 5.8%),
EFTA 17.4% (Norway 8.4%, Finland 5.1%), US 8.2%, Central and Eastern
Europe 2.5% (1992)
Imports: $49.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
partners: EC 53.6% (Germany 17.9%, UK 6.3%, Denmark 7.5%, France
4.9%), EFTA (Norway 6.6%, Finland 6%), US 8.4%, Central and Eastern
Europe 3% (1992)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 9% (1994)
Electricity:
capacity: 34,560,000 kW
production: 141 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 14,891 kWh (1993)
Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and
telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed
foods, motor vehicles
Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy
products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar
beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes; Sweden
is about 50% self-sufficient in most products
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics shipped via the CIS
and Baltic states for the European market
Economic aid:
donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion
Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 7.4675 (January 1995),
7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188
(1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Sweden:Transportation
Railroads:
total: 12,000 km (includes 953 km of privately owned railways)
standard gauge: 10,742 km 1.435-m gauge (7,502 km electrified and
1,152 km double track); 8 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified; privately
owned)
narrow gauge: 61 km 0.891-m gauge (electrified; privately owned)
other: 1,189 km NA-m gauge (1994)
Highways:
total: 135,859 km
paved: 97,818 km (including 936 km of expressways)
unpaved: gravel 38,041 km (1991)
Inland waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Pipelines: natural gas 84 km
Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar,
Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
Merchant marine:
total: 157 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,872,350 GRT/2,075,722
DWT
ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 24, chemical tanker 25, combination
ore/oil 1, container 2, oil tanker 31, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated
cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 37, short-sea passenger 8, specialized
tanker 4, vehicle carrier 12
Airports:
total: 253
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 84
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 26
with paved runways under 914 m: 129
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
@Sweden:Communications
Telephone system: 8,200,000 telephones; excellent domestic and
international facilities; automatic system
local: NA
intercity: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic;
parallel microwave network carries TV, radio, and some additional
telephone channels
international: 5 submarine coaxial cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)
and 1 EUTELSAT earth station
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
radios: 7 million
Television:
broadcast stations: 880 (mostly repeaters)
televisions: 3.5 million
@Sweden:Defense Forces
Branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,133,420; males fit for
military service 1,864,258; males reach military age (19) annually
52,937 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.4 billion, 2.4% of
GDP (FY94/95)
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