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Background:
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A
military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not
participated in any war in 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 by the global economic
downturn, but fiscal discipline over the past several
years has allowed the country to weather economic
vagaries. Indecision over the country's role in the
political and economic integration of Europe delayed
Sweden's entry into the EU until 1995, and waived the
introduction of the euro in 1999. |
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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:
449,964 sq km
land: 410,934 sq km
water: 39,030 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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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 -2.41 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: 6.54%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 93.45% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,150 sq
km (1998 est.) |
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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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9,001,774
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 17.1% (male 791,215/female 747,621)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 2,990,436/female
2,904,873)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 677,161/female
890,468) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
40.6 years
male: 39.49 years
female: 41.75 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.17%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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10.36
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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10.36
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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1.67
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
2.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 80.4 years
male: 78.19 years
female: 82.74 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.66
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1%
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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3,600
(2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
100 (2003 est.) |
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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 and 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%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish,
Buddhist |
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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% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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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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Stockholm
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Administrative divisions:
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21
counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas,
Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings,
Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands,
Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands,
Vasterbottens, Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra
Gotalands |
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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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Flag Day,
6 June |
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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 Goran PERSSON
(since 21 March 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following
legislative elections, the prime minister is elected by
the parliament; election last held 15 September 2002
(next to be held NA September 2006)
election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime
minister with 131 out of 349 votes |
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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 15 September 2002 (next to
be held September 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party -
Social Democrats 39.8%, Moderates 15.2%, Liberal Party
13.3%, Christian Democrats 9.1%, Left Party 8.3%, Center
Party 6.1%, Greens 4.6%; seats by party - Social
Democrats 144, Moderates 55, Liberal Party 48, Christian
Democrats 33, Left Party 30, Center Party 22, Greens 17
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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]; Green Party [no formal leader but party
spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter
ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerly Communist) [Lars
OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG];
Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT];
Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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AfDB,
AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE,
UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO,
WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Jan ELIASSON
chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC
20005-1702
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador M. Teel BIVINS
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589
Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm,
Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington,
DC 20521-5750 (pouch)
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)
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Economy - overview:
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Aided by
peace and neutrality for the whole 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. 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 only 2% of GDP and 2%
of the jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal
discipline resulted in a substantial budgetary surplus
in 2001, which was cut by more than half in 2002, due to
the global economic slowdown, declining revenue, and
increased spending. The Swedish central bank (the
Riksbank) focuses on price stability with its inflation
target of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003, but
picked up in 2004. Presumably because of generous
sicktime benefits, Swedish workers report in sick more
often than other Europeans. On 14 September 2003,
Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system,
concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$255.4
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.6%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $28,400 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2%
industry: 29%
services: 69% (2001) |
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Labor force:
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4.46
million (2004 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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5.6%
(2004 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%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.1% (1992) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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25 (1992)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.7%
(2004 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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15.8% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $201.3 billion
expenditures: $199.6 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (2004 est.) |
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Public debt:
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51.6% of
GDP (2004 est.) |
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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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5.5%
(2004 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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142.8
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 4%
hydro: 50.8%
nuclear: 43%
other: 2.3% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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138.1
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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14.8
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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20.1
billion kWh (2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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328,600
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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203,700
bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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553,100
bbl/day (2001) |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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949
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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968
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Current account balance:
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$24.08
billion (2004 est.) |
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Exports:
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$121.7
billion f.o.b. (2004 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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US 10.7%,
Germany 10.2%, Norway 8.6%, UK 7.8%, Denmark 6.7%,
Finland 5.7%, France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8%, Belgium
4.5% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$97.97
billion f.o.b. (2004 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
18.7%, Denmark 9.2%, Norway 7.6%, UK 7.5%, Netherlands
6.8%, Finland 6.4%, France 5.5%, Belgium 4% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$19.99
billion (2003) |
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Debt - external:
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$66.5
billion (1994) |
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Economic aid - donor:
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ODA, $1.7
billion (1997) |
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Currency (code):
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Swedish
krona (SEK) |
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Currency code:
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SEK |
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Exchange rates:
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Swedish
kronor per US dollar - 7.3489 (2004), 8.0863 (2003),
9.7371 (2002), 10.3291 (2001), 9.1622 (2000) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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6,579,200
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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7.949
million (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: excellent domestic and
international facilities; automatic system
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; 5 submarine
coaxial cables; 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
265, shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Radios:
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8.25
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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169 (plus
1,299 repeaters) (1995) |
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Televisions:
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4.6
million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.se |
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Internet hosts:
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945,221
(2004) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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29 (2000)
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Internet users:
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5.125
million (2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
11,481 km
standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (9,400 km
electrified) (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
213,237 km
paved: 167,604 km (including 1,542 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 45,633 km (2002) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 798
km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Goteborg,
Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Oxelosund,
Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
205 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,702,763 GRT/1,884,570
DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 33, chemical
tanker 51, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 37, petroleum
tanker 14, roll on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 22
foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland
11, Germany 6, Italy 7, Japan 2, Netherlands 1, Norway
9)
registered in other countries: 155 (2005) |
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Airports:
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254 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
154
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
100
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 90 (2004 est.) |
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Heliports:
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2 (2004
est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army,
Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN), Air Force (Flygvapnet) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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19 years
of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 7-17 months depending on conscript
role; after completing initial service soldiers have a
reserve commitment until the age of 47 (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 19-49: 1,838,427 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 19-49: 1,493,668 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
58,724 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$5.729
billion (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.7%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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