"text":"A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both world wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system intermixed 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."
}
},
"Geography":{
"Location":{
"text":"Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway"
"text":"ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic"
},
"Environment - current issues":{
"text":"acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea"
},
"Environment - international agreements":{
"party to":{
"text":"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":{
"text":"none of the selected agreements"
}
},
"Geography - note":{
"text":"strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas"
}
},
"People and Society":{
"Nationality":{
"noun":{
"text":"Swede(s)"
},
"adjective":{
"text":"Swedish"
}
},
"Ethnic groups":{
"text":"indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks"
},
"Languages":{
"text":"Swedish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities"
},
"Religions":{
"text":"Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%"
"text":"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":{
"text":"Prime Minister Stefan LOFVEN (since 3 October 2014); Deputy Prime Minister Asa ROMSON (since 3 October 2014)"
},
"cabinet":{
"text":"Cabinet appointed by the prime minister"
},
"elections/appointments":{
"text":"the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister"
}
},
"Legislative branch":{
"description":{
"text":"unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; 310 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 39 members in \"at-large\" seats directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)"
},
"elections":{
"text":"last held on 14 September 2014 (next to be held in September 2018)"
"text":"percent of vote by party - SAP 31.0%, M 23.3%, SD 12.9%, MP 6.9%, C 6.1%, V 5.7%, FP 5.4%, KD 4.6%, others 4.1%; seats by party - SAP 113, M 84, SD 49, MP 25, C 22, V 21, FP 19, KD 16"
"text":"Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices including the court chairman; Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices including the court president)"
},
"judge selection and term of office":{
"text":"Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Board of Judges, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the Government; following a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent"
},
"subordinate courts":{
"text":"first instance and appellate general and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents"
}
},
"Political parties and leaders":{
"text":"Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C [Annie LOOF] ++ Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD [Goran HAGGLUND] ++ Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP [spokespersons Asa ROMSON and Gustav FRIDOLIN] ++ Left Party (Vansterpartiet) (formerly Communist Party) or V [Jonas SJOSTEDT] ++ Liberal People's Party (Folkpartiet) or FP [Jan BJORKLUND] ++ Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M [Anna KINBERG BATRA] ++ Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or SAP [Stefan LOFVEN] ++ Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD [Jimmie AKESSON]"
},
"Political pressure groups and leaders":{
"text":"Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations or SACO ++ Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees or TCO ++ Swedish Trade Union Confederation (Landsorganisationen) or LO [Wanja LUNDBY-WEDIN]",
"text":"American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750"
},
"telephone":{
"text":"[46] (08) 783 53 00"
},
"FAX":{
"text":"[46] (08) 661 19 64"
}
},
"Flag description":{
"text":"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"
},
"National symbol(s)":{
"text":"three crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow"
},
"National anthem":{
"name":{
"text":"\"Du Gamla, Du Fria\" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)"
},
"lyrics/music":{
"text":"Richard DYBECK/traditional"
},
"note":{
"text":"in use since 1844; also known as \"Sang till Norden\" (Song of the North), is based on a Swedish folk tune; it has never been officially adopted by the government; \"Kungssangen\" (The King's Song) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies"
}
}
},
"Economy":{
"Economy - overview":{
"text":"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. Sweden remains outside the Eurozone because of concerns over its impact on the country’s economy, welfare system, and sovereignty. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for vast majority of industrial output. Agriculture accounts for less than 1% of GDP. Economic growth slowed in 2013, as a result of continued economic weakness in the EU - Sweden’s main export market; however, Sweden’s economy experienced modest growth in 2014, with an adjusted real GDP growth that averaged 2.1%. Sweden’s economy is expected to grow modestly in 2015, although the country continues to struggle with deflationary pressure."
"text":"29.6% of GDP (2014 est.) ++ 29.4% of GDP (2013 est.) ++ 29.2% of GDP (2012 est.)"
},
"GDP - composition, by end use":{
"household consumption":{
"text":"46.5%"
},
"government consumption":{
"text":"26.4%"
},
"investment in fixed capital":{
"text":"22.6%"
},
"investment in inventories":{
"text":"0.1%"
},
"exports of goods and services":{
"text":"44.4%"
},
"imports of goods and services":{
"text":"-39.9% ++ (2014 est.)"
}
},
"GDP - composition, by sector of origin":{
"agriculture":{
"text":"1.8%"
},
"industry":{
"text":"33.4%"
},
"services":{
"text":"64.8% (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Agriculture - products":{
"text":"barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk"
},
"Industries":{
"text":"iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles"
},
"Industrial production growth rate":{
"text":"2.7% (2014 est.)"
},
"Labor force":{
"text":"5.124 million (2014 est.)"
},
"Labor force - by occupation":{
"agriculture":{
"text":"2%"
},
"industry":{
"text":"12%"
},
"services":{
"text":"86% (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Unemployment rate":{
"text":"7.9% (2014 est.) ++ 8% (2013 est.)"
},
"Population below poverty line":{
"text":"14% (2011 est.)"
},
"Household income or consumption by percentage share":{
"lowest 10%":{
"text":"3.4%"
},
"highest 10%":{
"text":"24% (2012)"
}
},
"Distribution of family income - Gini index":{
"text":"24.9 (2013) ++ 25 (1992)"
},
"Budget":{
"revenues":{
"text":"$291.4 billion"
},
"expenditures":{
"text":"$304 billion (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Taxes and other revenues":{
"text":"52.1% of GDP (2014 est.)"
},
"Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)":{
"text":"-2.2% of GDP (2014 est.)"
},
"Public debt":{
"text":"40.2% of GDP (2014 est.) ++ 38.8% of GDP (2013 est.)",
"note":{
"text":"data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions"
}
},
"Fiscal year":{
"text":"calendar year"
},
"Inflation rate (consumer prices)":{
"text":"-0.2% (2014 est.) ++ -0.1% (2013 est.)"
},
"Central bank discount rate":{
"text":"0% (31 December 2014) ++ 1% (31 December 2013)",
"text":"the Discount rate was abolished in 2002, and replaced by a \"Reference rate\" with no bearing on monetary policy; the rate quoted here is the Reference rate"
}
},
"Commercial bank prime lending rate":{
"text":"2.8% (31 December 2014 est.) ++ 3.23% (31 December 2013 est.)"
},
"Stock of narrow money":{
"text":"$256.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $287.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
},
"Stock of broad money":{
"text":"$336.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $371.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
},
"Stock of domestic credit":{
"text":"$742.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) ++ $811.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)"
},
"Market value of publicly traded shares":{
"text":"$560.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) ++ $470.1 billion (31 December 2011) ++ $581.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)"
"Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy":{
"text":"51.08 million Mt (2012 est.)"
}
},
"Communications":{
"Telephones - fixed lines":{
"total subscriptions":{
"text":"3.82 million"
},
"subscriptions per 100 inhabitants":{
"text":"39 (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Telephones - mobile cellular":{
"total":{
"text":"12.3 million"
},
"subscriptions per 100 inhabitants":{
"text":"127 (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Telephone system":{
"general assessment":{
"text":"highly developed telecommunications infrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line, mobile-cellular, Internet and broadband penetration"
},
"domestic":{
"text":"coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels"
},
"international":{
"text":"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) (2011)"
}
},
"Broadcast media":{
"text":"publicly owned TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately owned TV broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50 local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; roughly 100 privately owned local radio stations with some consolidating into near national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently (2008)"
},
"Radio broadcast stations":{
"text":"AM 1, FM 124, shortwave 0 (2008)"
},
"Television broadcast stations":{
"text":"252 (2008)"
},
"Internet country code":{
"text":".se"
},
"Internet users":{
"total":{
"text":"8.7 million"
},
"percent of population":{
"text":"89.1% (2014 est.)"
}
}
},
"Transportation":{
"Airports":{
"text":"231 (2013)"
},
"Airports - with paved runways":{
"total":{
"text":"149"
},
"over 3,047 m":{
"text":"3"
},
"2,438 to 3,047 m":{
"text":"12"
},
"1,524 to 2,437 m":{
"text":"75"
},
"914 to 1,523 m":{
"text":"22"
},
"under 914 m":{
"text":"37 (2013)"
}
},
"Airports - with unpaved runways":{
"total":{
"text":"82"
},
"914 to 1,523 m":{
"text":"5"
},
"under 914 m":{
"text":" ++ 77 (2013)"
}
},
"Heliports":{
"text":"2 (2013)"
},
"Pipelines":{
"text":"gas 1,626 km (2013)"
},
"Railways":{
"total":{
"text":"11,915 km"
},
"standard gauge":{
"text":"11,850 km 1.435-m gauge (7,567 km electrified)"
},
"narrow gauge":{
"text":"65 km 0.891-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2014)"
}
},
"Roadways":{
"total":{
"text":"579,564 km (includes 1,913 km of expressways)"
},
"paved":{
"text":"135,444 km"
},
"unpaved":{
"text":"444,412 km"
},
"note":{
"text":"includes 104,705 km of state roads, 433,034 km of private roads, and 41,825 km of municipal roads (2010)"
}
},
"Waterways":{
"text":"2,052 km (2010)"
},
"Merchant marine":{
"total":{
"text":"135"
},
"by type":{
"text":"bulk carrier 4, cargo 16, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 30, vehicle carrier 17"
},
"foreign-owned":{
"text":"35 (Denmark 4, Estonia 3, Finland 16, Germany 3, Ireland 1, Italy 5, Norway 3)"
},
"registered in other countries":{
"text":"189 (Bahamas 11, Barbados 4, Bermuda 14, Canada 2, Cook Islands 3, Cyprus 5, Denmark 15, Faroe Islands 11, Finland 1, France 4, Gibraltar 11, Italy 1, Liberia 12, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 12, Norway 27, Panama 2, Portugal 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10, Singapore 11, UK 28) (2010)"
}
},
"Ports and terminals":{
"major seaport(s)":{
"text":"Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby"
},
"LNG terminal(s) (import)":{
"text":"Brunnsviksholme, Lysekil"
}
}
},
"Military":{
"Military branches":{
"text":"Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2010)"
},
"Military service age and obligation":{
"text":"18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; Swedish citizenship required; service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); the Swedish Parliament has abolished compulsory military service, with 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 (2013)"
},
"Manpower available for military service":{
"males age 16-49":{
"text":"2,065,691"
},
"females age 16-49":{
"text":"1,996,764 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Manpower fit for military service":{
"males age 16-49":{
"text":"1,709,055"
},
"females age 16-49":{
"text":"1,650,432 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually":{
"male":{
"text":"54,960"
},
"female":{
"text":"52,275 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Military expenditures":{
"text":"1.18% of GDP (2012) ++ 1.17% of GDP (2011) ++ 1.18% of GDP (2010)"
