1.67 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Nationality:
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups:
indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities;
foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs,
Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions:
Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist,
Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
Languages:
Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
7.1% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 21
Government ::Sweden
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
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
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National holiday:
Swedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)
Constitution:
1 January 1975
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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 prime minister is elected by the parliament; election
last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010)
election results: Center-right coalition of Moderate, Center,
Liberal, and Christian Democrats parties win 175 out of 349 votes;
Fredrik REINFELDT becomes prime minister
Legislative branch:
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 37.2%,
Moderates 27.8%, Center Party 8.3%, Liberal People's Party 8.0%,
Christian Democrats 6.9%, Left Party 6.3%, Greens 5.4%; seats by
party - Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, Liberal
People's Party 28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime
minister and the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
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 (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT];
Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Children's Rights in Society; Swedish Confederation of Professional
Employees or TCO; Swedish Federation of Trade Unions or LO
other: media
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO,
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, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP,
Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert J.
SILVERMAN
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
Flag description:
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
Economy ::Sweden
Economy - overview:
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
only 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 fourth as deteriorating global conditions reduced export
demand and consumption. On 3 February 2009, the Swedish Government
announced a $6 billon rescue package for the banking sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$345.1 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$346.5 billion (2007 est.)
$337.4 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$479 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
2.7% (2007 est.)
4.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$38,200 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
$38,400 (2007 est.)
$37,400 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 28%
services: 70.5% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
4.897 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 28.2%
services: 70.7% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.2% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
6.1% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
23 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 134
25 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Budget:
revenues: $259.9 billion
expenditures: $248.1 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
36.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
51.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
2.2% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 129
3.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 140
4% (2004)
Stock of money:
$185.4 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 8
$217.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$54.55 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 28
$48.49 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$549 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 19
$630.8 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 21
$612.5 billion (31 December 2007)
$573.3 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Industries:
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone
parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods,
motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:
-1.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Electricity - production:
144 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - consumption:
134.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - exports:
14.71 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
12.75 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
3,572 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - consumption:
351,800 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Oil - exports:
219,300 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Oil - imports:
542,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - consumption:
913 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 110
Natural gas - imports:
913 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Current account balance:
$40.32 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
$38.42 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$185.9 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$170.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron
and steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners:
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)
Imports:
$167.8 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
$152.2 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor
vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.5%, Denmark 9.4%, Norway 8.6%, UK 6.2%, Finland 5.7%,
Netherlands 5.6%, France 5%, Russia 4.4%, China 4.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$29.72 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$31.04 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$617.3 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 17
$598.2 billion (30 June 2006)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$290.4 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
$252.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$333.9 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$306.4 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 6.4074 (2008 est.), 6.7629
(2007), 7.3731 (2006), 7.4731 (2005), 7.3489 (2004)
Communications ::Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use:
5.323 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 30
Telephones - mobile cellular:
10.988 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 57
Telephone system:
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 124, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
252 (2008)
Internet country code:
.se
Internet hosts:
3.886 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
Internet users:
8.1 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
Transportation ::Sweden
Airports:
249 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 26
Airports - with paved runways:
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)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 97
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 92 (2009)
Heliports:
2 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 786 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 11,633 km
country comparison to the world: 20
standard gauge: 11,528 km 1.435-m gauge (7,531 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 65 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 425,300 km
country comparison to the world: 14
paved: 139,300 km (includes 1,740 km of expressways)
unpaved: 286,000 km (2008)
Waterways:
2,052 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 43
Merchant marine:
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)
Ports and terminals:
Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Lulea, Malmo, Stenungsund,
Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
Military ::Sweden
Military branches:
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish
Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
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); after completing initial
service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; women are
eligible for voluntary military service (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,052,890
females age 16-49: 1,980,550 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,705,746
females age 16-49: 1,645,070 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 62,262
female: 59,340 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Transnational Issues ::Sweden
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Switzerland (Europe)
Introduction ::Switzerland
Background:
The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance
among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined
the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence
from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848,
subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a
centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and
neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and
the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The
political and economic integration of Europe over the past half
century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international
organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its
neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN
member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and
international organizations but retains a strong commitment to
neutrality.
Geography ::Switzerland
Location:
Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates:
47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 41,277 sq km
country comparison to the world: 135
land: 39,997 sq km
water: 1,280 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,
Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy
winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:
mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central
plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources:
hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use:
arable land: 9.91%
permanent crops: 0.58%
other: 89.51% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
53.3 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.52 cu km/yr (24%/74%/2%)
per capita: 348 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
avalanches, landslides; flash floods
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid
rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural
fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements:
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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with
southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has
the highest elevations in the Alps
People ::Switzerland
Population:
7,604,467 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 616,561/female 571,610)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,609,673/female 2,567,245)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 514,761/female 724,617) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 41 years
male: 40 years
female: 42 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.276% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Birth rate:
9.59 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Death rate:
8.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Net migration rate:
1.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Urbanization:
urban population: 73% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.18 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 209
male: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.85 years
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 78.03 years
female: 83.83 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.45 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
25,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Nationality:
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:
German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Muslim 4.3%, Orthodox 1.8%,
other Christian 0.4%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000
census)
Languages:
German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official)
6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish
1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census)
note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national and
official languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.8% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 45
Government ::Switzerland
Country name:
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation
conventional short form: Switzerland
local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German);
Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian);
Confederaziun Svizra (Romansh)
local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera
(Italian); Svizra (Romansh)
Government type:
formally a confederation but similar in structure to a federal
republic
Capital:
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 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
Administrative divisions:
26 cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone
in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell
Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,
Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura,
Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen,
Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
note: 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden,
Appenzell-Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden,
Obwalden - are styled half cantons because they elect only one
member to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a
majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are
required, these six cantons only have a half vote
Independence:
1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:
Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution: