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Sweden
Background:
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A military power during the 17th
century, Sweden has not participated in any war for almost two
centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars.
Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system
interlarded with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the
1990s by high unemployment and in 2000-02 and 2009 by the global
economic downturns, but fiscal discipline over the past several years
has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Sweden joined the
EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a
2003 referendum.
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Location:
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Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland
and Norway
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Geographic coordinates:
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62 00 N, 15 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 450,295
sq km
country comparison to the world: 55
land:
410,335 sq km
water:
39,960 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than
California
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,233
km
border countries:
Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km
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Coastline:
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3,218 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12
nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
exclusive economic zone:
agreed boundaries or midlines
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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Climate:
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Current Weather
temperate in south with
cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
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Terrain:
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mostly flat or gently
rolling lowlands; mountains in west
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: reclaimed
bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m
highest point:
Kebnekaise 2,111 m
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, copper, lead,
zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber,
hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 5.93%
permanent crops:
0.01%
other:
94.06% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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1,150 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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179 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 2.68
cu km/yr (37%/54%/9%)
per capita:
296 cu m/yr (2002)
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Natural hazards:
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ice floes in the
surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere
with maritime traffic
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Environment - current issues:
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acid rain damage to soils
and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air
Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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strategic location along
Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
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Population:
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9,074,055 (July 2010 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 15.5%
(male 725,864/female 684,459)
15-64 years:
65.2% (male 2,994,552/female 2,920,481)
65 years and over:
19.3% (male 777,219/female 971,480) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 41.7
years
male:
40.6 years
female:
42.9 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.16% (2010 est.)
84
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Birth rate:
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10.14 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
90
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Death rate:
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10.2 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
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Net migration rate:
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1.65 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 85%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.061
male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.8 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 2.74
deaths/1,000 live births
21
male:
2.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
2.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 80.97
years
1
male:
78.69 years
female:
83.4 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.67 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
0
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1% (2007 est.)
26
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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6,200 (2007 est.)
20
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 100 (2007
est.)
48
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Nationality:
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noun: Swede(s)
adjective:
Swedish
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Ethnic groups:
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indigenous population:
Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or
first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians,
Greeks, Turks
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Religions:
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Lutheran 87%, other
(includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and
Buddhist) 13%
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Languages:
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Swedish, small Sami- and
Finnish-speaking minorities
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 16
years
male:
15 years
female:
17 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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7.1% of GDP (2005)
1
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form:
Sweden
local long form:
Konungariket Sverige
local short form:
Sverige
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy
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Capital:
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name: Stockholm
geographic coordinates:
59 20 N, 18 03 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
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Administrative divisions:
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21 counties (lan,
singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland,
Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro,
Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland,
Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland
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Independence:
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6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA
elected king)
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National holiday:
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Swedish Flag Day, 6 June
(1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)
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Constitution:
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1 January 1975
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Legal system:
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civil law system
influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: King
CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess
VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born 14 July
1977)
head of government:
Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5 October
2006)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections:
the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually the prime minister
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or
Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a
proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in
September 2010)
election results:
percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 35%,
Moderates 26.2%, Center Party 7.9%, Liberal People's Party 7.5%,
Christian Democrats 6.6%, Left Party 5.8%, Greens 5.2%; seats by party -
Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, Liberal People's
Party 28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Hogsta
Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Center Party [Maud
OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Goran HAGGLUND]; Environment
Party the Greens [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria
WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerly Communist)
[Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Jan BJORKLUND]; Moderate Party
(liberal-conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party
[Mona SAHLIN]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Children's Rights in
Society; Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees or TCO; Swedish
Federation of Trade Unions or LO
other:
media
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International organization participation:
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ADB (nonregional member),
AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS,
CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURCAT, MONUC, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Jonas HAFSTROM
chancery:
The House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, Washington,
DC 20007
telephone:
[1] (202) 467-2600
FAX:
[1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general:
New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Matthew W. BARZUN
embassy:
Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address:
American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of
State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
telephone:
[46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX:
[46] (08) 661 19 64
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Flag description:
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blue with a golden yellow
cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the
cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish
flag); the colors reflect those of the Swedish coat of arms - three
gold crowns on a blue field
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Economy - overview:
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Aided by peace and neutrality for
the whole of the 20th century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard
of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive
welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent
internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. In
September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system
concerned about the impact on the economy and sovereignty. Timber,
hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy
heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for
about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector
accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for little
more than 1% of GDP and of employment. Until 2008, Sweden was in the
midst of a sustained economic upswing, boosted by increased domestic
demand and strong exports. This and robust finances offered the
center-right government considerable scope to implement its reform
program aimed at increasing employment, reducing welfare dependence, and
streamlining the state's role in the economy. Despite strong finances
and underlying fundamentals, the Swedish economy slid into recession in
the third quarter of 2008 and growth continued downward in the first
half of 2009 as deteriorating global conditions reduced export demand
and consumption.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$333.5 billion (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$348.9
billion (2008 est.)
$350.6
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$402.4 billion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-4.4% (2009 est.)
85
-0.5%
(2008 est.)
2.7%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$36,800 (2009 est.)
8
$38,600
(2008 est.)
$38,800
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1.6%
industry:
26.7%
services:
71.6% (2009 est.)
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Labor force:
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4.91 million (2009 est.)
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 1.1%
industry:
28.2%
services:
70.7% (2008 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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8.3% (2009 est.)
6.2%
(2007 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%:
22.2% (2000)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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23 (2005)
34
25
(1992)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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17.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
20
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Budget:
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revenues: $217.6
billion
expenditures:
$221.1 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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35.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
36.7%
of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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-0.3% (2009 est.)
9
3.5%
(2008 est.)
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Central bank
discount rate:
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2% (31 December 2008)
24
3.5%
(31 December 2007)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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NA% (31 December 2008)
50
4%
(2004)
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Stock of money:
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$185.4 billion (31
December 2008)
1
$217.1
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$54.55 billion (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
$48.49
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$549 billion (31 December
2008)
0
$630.8
billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA (31 December 2009)
3
$252.5
billion (31 December 2008)
$612.5
billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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barley, wheat, sugar
beets; meat, milk
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Industries:
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iron and steel, precision
equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp
and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-9% (2009 est.)
37
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Electricity -
production:
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144 billion kWh (2007
est.)
5
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Electricity -
consumption:
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134.5 billion kWh (2007
est.)
3
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Electricity - exports:
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14.71 billion kWh (2008
est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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12.75 billion kWh (2008
est.)
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Oil - production:
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3,572 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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351,800 bbl/day (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
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Oil - exports:
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219,300 bbl/day (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
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Oil - imports:
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542,100 bbl/day (2008
est.)
4
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2009
est.)
16
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
22
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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913 million cu m (2008
est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
15
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Natural gas - imports:
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913 million cu m (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
28
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Current account balance:
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$29.5 billion (2009 est.)
2
$40.32
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$130.8 billion (2009
est.)
8
$185.9
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery 35%, motor
vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products,
chemicals
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 10.4%, Norway
9.5%, Denmark 7.4%, UK 7.3%, US 6.6%, Finland 6.3%, Netherlands 5.1%,
France 4.9%, Belgium 4.4% (2008)
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Imports:
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$120.5 billion (2009
est.)
7
$167.8
billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery, petroleum and
petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel;
foodstuffs, clothing
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 17.5%, Denmark
9.4%, Norway 8.5%, UK 6.2%, Finland 5.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, France 5%,
Russia 4.4%, China 4.2% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$47.29 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
$29.72
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$669.1 billion (30 June
2009)
4
$617.3
billion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$269.2 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
8
$256.6
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$346.9 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
3
$313.5
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Exchange rates:
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Swedish kronor (SEK) per
US dollar - 7.821 (2009), 6.4074 (2008), 6.7629 (2007), 7.3731 (2006),
7.4731 (2005)
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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5.323 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 30
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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10.988 million (2008)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: highly
developed telecommunications infrastructure; ranked among leading
countries for fixed-line, mobile-cellular, Internet and broadband
penetration
domestic:
coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of
the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some
additional telephone channels
international:
country code - 46; submarine cables provide links
to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and
Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station
with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 124, shortwave 0
(2008)
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Television
broadcast stations:
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252 (2008)
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Internet country code:
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.se
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Internet hosts:
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3.886 million (2009)
0
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Internet users:
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8.1 million (2008)
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Airports:
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249 (2009)
6
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 152
over 3,047 m:
3
2,438 to 3,047 m:
12
1,524 to 2,437 m:
76
914 to 1,523 m:
25
under 914 m:
36 (2009)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 97
914 to 1,523 m:
5
under 914 m:
92 (2009)
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Heliports:
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2 (2009)
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Pipelines:
|
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gas 786 km (2009)
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Railways:
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total: 11,633
km
0
standard gauge:
11,568 km 1.435-m gauge (7,531 km electrified)
narrow gauge:
65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)
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Roadways:
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total: 425,300
km
5
paved:
139,300 km (includes 1,740 km of expressways)
unpaved:
286,000 km (2008)
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Waterways:
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2,052 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 43
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Merchant marine:
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total: 195
country comparison to the world: 34
by type:
bulk carrier 6, cargo 23, carrier 1, chemical
tanker 45, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 15, roll
on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 25
foreign-owned:
41 (Denmark 4, Estonia 2, Finland 12, Germany 5,
Italy 9, Norway 7, UK 2)
registered in other countries:
207 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 4, Barbados 7,
Bermuda 20, Cook Islands 8, Cyprus 2, Denmark 6, Finland 2, France 9,
Germany 1, Gibraltar 13, Isle of Man 1, Italy 1, Liberia 10, Malaysia 3,
Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 28, Netherlands Antilles 1,
Norway 34, Panama 6, Portugal 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2,
Singapore 20, UK 17, US 5) (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Brofjorden, Goteborg,
Helsingborg, Lulea, Malmo, Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
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Military branches:
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Swedish Armed Forces
(Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish
Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2010)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18-47 years of age for
male compulsory or voluntary military service; conscript service
obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air
Force); compulsory military service abolished, exclusively voluntary
recruitment as of July 2010; conscription remains an option in
emergencies; after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve
commitment until age 47; women are eligible for voluntary military
service (2010)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 2,065,782
females age 16-49:
1,995,451 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 1,709,592
females age 16-49:
1,649,875 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 58,937
female:
56,225 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
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| Transnational Issues
::Sweden |
Disputes - international:
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none
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