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Sweden is officially a kingdom and therefore its official name is the Kingdom of Sweden. It is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders Norway and Finland directly and across water Denmark, Germany and Poland to the south and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Russia to the east. To Denmark it is connected via a bridge-tunnel Öresund.
In about the year 1000, the provinces of Sweden combined to form one country. Sweden continued expanding and had taken over Finland during the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1397, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden united under the Danish Queen Margareta. This union broke up in 1524. In the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire, which grew to be one of the great powers. 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 Russia in 1809. In 1814 Sweden forced Norway to create Swedish-Norwegian Union and it was the last war in which Sweden was directly involved. This personal union lasted until 1905. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality in wartime.
With the area of 450,295 square kilometers, Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union, 5th in the whole Europe and 55th in the world. The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of Lake Hammarsjön at -2.41 m below sea level, the highest point is Kebnekaise at 2,111 metres above sea level. About 15% of Sweden lies north of the Arctic Circle. Around 65% of the country is covered with forests. Southern part is predominantly agricultural. Most of Sweden has a temperate climate, 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 oceanic climate, the central part has a humid continental climate and the northernmost part has a subarctic climate.
The population of Sweden is 9.4 million and the population density is very low – only 21 inhabitants per square kilometer. Most of the people live in the southern part of the country, 85% in urban areas. Nearly 82% of population are Swedes, 5% are Finns and the rest are of other nationalities. Official language is Swedish; Finnish is recognized as a minority language together with other four languages: Meänkieli, Sami, Romani and Yiddish. More than 70% of Swedes belong to the Church of Sweden (Lutheran). Other worshipped religions are Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians and Islam. Despite this, Sweden is considered to be one of the least religious countries in the world.
The capital city is Stockholm with more than 1.3 million inhabitants. The second and third largest cities are Gothenburg and Malmö. Sweden has 25 provinces or landskap (landscapes), based on culture, geography and history. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large lands – parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. Administratively, Sweden has 21 municipalities.
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with the unitary parliamentary democracy governmental system. Royal power has long been limited to official and ceremonial functions. The nation's legislative body is the Riksdad (Swedish Parliament), with 349 members, which chooses the Prime Minister.
Sweden is a highly developed mixed economy oriented to export. The resource bases of the economy are timber, hydropower and iron ore, oriented mostly towards foreign trade. Telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. The currency is Swedish krona. It is a member of EU and OECD. Sweden has one of the most highly developed welfare states in the world.
There are a number of different universities and colleges in Sweden. The oldest and largest are Uppsala, Lund, Gothenburg and Stockholm. Only a few countries have higher levels of tertiary education degree holders.
Swedes drive on right. The Internet TLD is .se and calling code is 46.
In about the year 1000, the provinces of Sweden combined to form one country. Sweden continued expanding and had taken over Finland during the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1397, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden united under the Danish Queen Margareta. This union broke up in 1524. In the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire, which grew to be one of the great powers. 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 Russia in 1809. In 1814 Sweden forced Norway to create Swedish-Norwegian Union and it was the last war in which Sweden was directly involved. This personal union lasted until 1905. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality in wartime.
With the area of 450,295 square kilometers, Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union, 5th in the whole Europe and 55th in the world. The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of Lake Hammarsjön at -2.41 m below sea level, the highest point is Kebnekaise at 2,111 metres above sea level. About 15% of Sweden lies north of the Arctic Circle. Around 65% of the country is covered with forests. Southern part is predominantly agricultural. Most of Sweden has a temperate climate, 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 oceanic climate, the central part has a humid continental climate and the northernmost part has a subarctic climate.
The population of Sweden is 9.4 million and the population density is very low – only 21 inhabitants per square kilometer. Most of the people live in the southern part of the country, 85% in urban areas. Nearly 82% of population are Swedes, 5% are Finns and the rest are of other nationalities. Official language is Swedish; Finnish is recognized as a minority language together with other four languages: Meänkieli, Sami, Romani and Yiddish. More than 70% of Swedes belong to the Church of Sweden (Lutheran). Other worshipped religions are Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians and Islam. Despite this, Sweden is considered to be one of the least religious countries in the world.
The capital city is Stockholm with more than 1.3 million inhabitants. The second and third largest cities are Gothenburg and Malmö. Sweden has 25 provinces or landskap (landscapes), based on culture, geography and history. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large lands – parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. Administratively, Sweden has 21 municipalities.
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with the unitary parliamentary democracy governmental system. Royal power has long been limited to official and ceremonial functions. The nation's legislative body is the Riksdad (Swedish Parliament), with 349 members, which chooses the Prime Minister.
Sweden is a highly developed mixed economy oriented to export. The resource bases of the economy are timber, hydropower and iron ore, oriented mostly towards foreign trade. Telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. The currency is Swedish krona. It is a member of EU and OECD. Sweden has one of the most highly developed welfare states in the world.
There are a number of different universities and colleges in Sweden. The oldest and largest are Uppsala, Lund, Gothenburg and Stockholm. Only a few countries have higher levels of tertiary education degree holders.
Swedes drive on right. The Internet TLD is .se and calling code is 46.