Sweden – country information

Country name	Sweden
Official name	Kingdom of Sweden
Capital	Stockholm
Continent	Europe
Area	449,964 km2
Population	9,651,531 (2014)
Foundation of a state	6/6/1523
The highest mountains	Kebnekaise 2123 m
Longest rivers	Göta-Klar 720 km
The largest lakes	Vänern 5,390 km2
State system	pluralistic constitutional monarchy with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	(agglomeration) Stockholm (capital) 1,540,000, Gothenburg 755,000, Malmö 495,000
Official language	Swedish
Ethnicity/National Composition	Swedes 90.4%, Finns 2.4%, others 7.2%
Religious affiliation	Lutherans 88.2%, Roman Catholics 1.6%, Pentecostals 1.2%, others 9.0%
Currency	1 Swedish crown (SKr) = 100 öre
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$40,304 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	80.51 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture, forestry and fishing 2.6%, mining 0.3%, industry 23.1%, construction 7.5%, services 66.5%

Sweden – neighboring countries

State	Capital	Area	Population
Finland	Helsinki	338,145 km2	5,452,821
Norway	Oslo	385,155 km2	5,109,056

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Sweden, which occupies the greater eastern and southernmost part of the Scandinavian peninsula, is the fourth largest European country by area. Its inhabitants have long enjoyed the benefits of a generous social system and their standard of living is among the highest in the world. Sweden boasts a long tradition of neutrality, developed democracy and protection of human rights.

Country data

Location: Northern Europe

Time zone: CET

Total area: 450,295 km²

Land area: 410,335 km²

Water area: 39,960 km²

Length of the state border: 2,233 km

Bordering countries:
Finland: 614 km
Norway: 1,619 km

Coastline: 3,218 km

Capital: Stockholm

Regions: 21
Blekinge, Dalarnas, Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens, Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 46 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Population

Population: approx. 9.7 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 0.8% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 22

Life expectancy: 80 (male), 84 (female)

Official language: Swedish

Religions:

• 87% Evangelical-Lutheran
• 13% other

Climate

Due to the strong north-south expansion, Sweden can be divided into climatically different regions.

In the north, near the Arctic Circle, winter lasts a very long time and is very cold by European standards. Temperatures can drop as low as -40 ° C.

In southern Sweden winter does not last that long (November – March), but it is still very cold with frequent snowfalls. The summer months are mild and comparable to spring in Germany.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Swedish krona (SEK)

Classification: 1 crown = 100 ore

ATMs: Available in many cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted by a large number of hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

Customs regulations

People over 18 years of age are allowed to bring tobacco products for personal use.

People over 20 years of age are allowed to bring alcoholic beverages for personal use.

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

Due to the current refugee situation, Sweden has reintroduced border controls.

Short-term obstructions in travel and the associated waiting times are to be expected.

Economy

Thanks to Sweden’s large forests, the largest wood processing industry in Europe has developed there.

The mining and processing of ores is also a very large branch of industry in which many residents are employed.

Industries: iron and steel processing, electrical engineering, vehicle construction, wood processing, food production

Natural resources: lead, iron ore, wood, copper, silver, uranium, hydropower, zinc

Land use:

• Usable land: 7%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 1%
• Forests: 68%
• other: 24%

Plants

Large areas of the country are covered with forests. In the deep valleys and flat plains there are mainly coniferous forests of spruce and pine.

The higher areas consist mostly of deciduous forests (birch, oak, willow).

In the mountains, above the tree line, different types of grass and moors shape the landscape.

Animals

In the far north of Sweden you can see lemmings, moose and reindeer.

Wildlife also includes bears, deer, lynx and wolves. However, these are more at home in the forests in the center of the country and in the south.