Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0% (2001)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 0 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 0 (2001)
Ethnic groups: Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3%
(1998)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
Literacy: NA
Government Svalbard
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:
Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar
Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann)
residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920)
sovereignty was awarded to Norway
Government type: NA
Capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch: chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since
17 January 1991) head of government: Governor Morten RUUD (since NA
November 1998) and Assistant Governor Odd Redar HUMLEGAARD (since NA)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant
governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy Svalbard
Economy - overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on
Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories
equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian
regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have
mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and
Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The
Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian
population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides
most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal,
polar bear, fox, and walrus.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Budget: revenues: $11.5 million expenditures: $11.5 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% other: NA% hydro:
NA% nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Exports: $NA
Imports: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $8.2 million from Norway (1998)
Currency: Norwegian krone (NOK)
Currency code: NOK
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 8.9684 (January 2002),
8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997)
Communications Svalbard
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: general assessment: probably adequate domestic:
local telephone service international: satellite earth station - 1 of
unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0
(1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Internet country code: .sj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (2000)
Internet users: NA
Transportation Svalbard
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 4 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2001)
Military Svalbard
Military - note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
Transnational Issues Svalbard
Disputes - international: despite recent discussions, Russia and
Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's
fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard
Treaty zone
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Sweden
Introduction
Sweden
Background: 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, rising maintenance costs,
and a declining position in world markets. 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.
Geography Sweden
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 449,964 sq km water: 39,030 sq km land: 410,934 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km,
Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 NM (adjustments made to return a portion of straits
to high seas)
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly
cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point:
Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% other: 93% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in
the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment - current issues: acid rain damage to soils and lakes;
pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic
and North Seas
People Sweden
Population: 8,876,744 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 817,688; female 776,018) 15-64
years: 64.7% (male 2,922,095; female 2,824,770) 65 years and over: 17.3%
(male 651,120; female 885,053) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.02% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 9.81 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 10.6 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 82.64 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.54 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.08% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami
minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs,
Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions: Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim,
Jewish, Buddhist
Languages: Swedish note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 99% (1979 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
Government Sweden
Country name: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Government
type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 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
Independence: 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National holiday: Flag Day, 6 June
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 Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by
the prime minister elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister
elected by the Parliament; election last held NA September 1998 (next
to be held 20 September 2002) election results: Goran PERSSON reelected
prime minister with 131 out of 349 votes
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 20 September 1998 (next to
be held 15 September 2002) election results: percent of vote by party
- Social Democrats 36.5%, Moderates 22.7%, Left Party 12%, Christian
Democrats 11.8%, Center Party 5.1%, Liberal Party 4.7%, Greens 4.5%;
seats by party - Social Democrats 131, Moderates 82, Left Party 43,
Christian Democrats 42, Center Party 18, Liberal Party 17, Greens 16
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 [Alf SVENSSON]; Communist Workers' Party [Rolf
HAGEL]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria
WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or VP (formerly Communist)
[Gudrun SCHYMAN]; Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; Moderate Party
(conservative) [Bo LUNDGREN]; Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6,
G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC,
NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,
UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WEU
(observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Jan ELIASSON consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York FAX: [1]
(202) 467-2699 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 chancery: 1501 M Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005-1702
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Charles A. HEIMBOLD, Jr. embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589
Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of
State, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch) 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)
Economy Sweden
Economy - overview: 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 substantive budgetary surplus in 2001, but is expected to shrink
somewhat in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown, tax cuts, and
spending increases. The Swedish central bank (the Riksbank) is focusing
on price stability with an inflation target of 2% for 2002.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $219 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.6% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $24,700 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 28.7% services:
69.3% (2000)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 25 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 4.4 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74%
(2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.9% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $119 billion expenditures: $110 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
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: 4.5% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 144.621 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 6.06% hydro: 53.81%
other: 2.72% (2000) nuclear: 37.41%
Electricity - consumption: 139.176 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 13.628 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 18.306 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Exports: $96 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products,
pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners: EU 53.6% (Germany 10.6%, UK 9.1%, Denmark 5.3%,
France 5.1%), US 9.5%, Norway 7.5% (2000)
Imports: $89.2 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners: EU 60.3% (Germany 16.3%, UK 8.8%, Denmark 6.7%,
France 5.6%), Norway 8.2%, US 6.7% (2000)
Debt - external: $66.5 billion (1994)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)
Currency: Swedish krona (SEK)
Currency code: SEK
Exchange rates: Swedish kronor per US dollar - 10.4381 (January 2002),
10.3291 (2001), 9.1622 (2000), 8.2624 (1999), 7.9499 (1998), 7.6349 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use: 6.017 million (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3.835 million (October 1998)
Telephone system: 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: 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)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 8.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 4.6 million (1997)
Internet country code: .se
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 29 (2000)
Internet users: 5.64 million (2000)
Transportation Sweden
Railways: total: 12,821 km standard gauge: 12,600 km 1.435-m gauge
(7,918 km electrified) narrow gauge: 221 km 0.891-m gauge (2001)
Highways: total: 210,760 km paved: 162,707 km (including 1,428 km of
expressways) unpaved: 48,053 km (1999)
Waterways: 2,052 km note: navigable to small steamers and barges
Pipelines: natural gas 84 km
Ports and harbors: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall,
Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
Merchant marine: total: 174 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,255,344
GRT/1,609,844 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered
here as a flag of convenience: Denmark 8, Finland 8, Germany 3, Italy 3,
Japan 2, Norway 7 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 37, chemical
tanker 33, combination ore/oil 4, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 27,
railcar carrier 1, roll on/roll off 38, short-sea passenger 4, specialized
tanker 6, vehicle carrier 18
Airports: 255 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 147 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to
3,047 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 25 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 80
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 108 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under
914 m: 102 (2001)
Heliports: 1 (2001)
Military Sweden
Military branches: Army, Royal Navy (including Coast Artillery and
Naval Helicopter Service), Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,060,205 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,800,991
(2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 51,506
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $4,395,100,000 (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Sweden
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Introduction South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Background: The islands lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland
Islands and have been under British administration since 1908 except for
a brief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South
Georgia, was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station. The famed
explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated
attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later
with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue
for the rest of his crew, stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died
in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today, the
station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. The islands
have large bird and seal populations and, recognizing the importance of
preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended
the exclusive fishing zone from 12 NM to 200 NM around each island.
Geography South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean,
east of the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S, 37 00 W
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area: total: 3,903 sq km note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke
Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands,
which consist of some nine islands water: 0 sq km land: 3,903 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: NA km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year
interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are
rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep,
glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic
origin with some active volcanoes
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:
Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (largely
covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting
of grass, moss, and lichen) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather
conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship;
they are also subject to active volcanism
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large
bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in the
21st century, live on South Georgia
People South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: the small military garrison
on South Georgia withdrew in March 2001, to be replaced by a permanent
group of scientists of the British Antarctic Survey, which also has
a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are
uninhabited (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: NA%
Government South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Country name: conventional long form: South Georgia and the South
Sandwich Islands conventional short form: none
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by
Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner,
who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing Queen
ELIZABETH II; Grytviken, formerly a whaling station on South Georgia,
is a scientific base
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: adopted 3 October 1985
Legal system: the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; the senior
magistrate from the Falkland Islands presides over the Magistrates Court
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK,
also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the
UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description: the flag of the UK is used
Economy South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Economy - overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There
is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish and krill. The
islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK,
sale of fishing licenses, and harbor and landing fees from tourist
vessels. Tourism from specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly.
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% other:
NA% nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Communications South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: NA international:
coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Radio broadcast stations: none
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Internet country code: .gs
Transportation South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Grytviken
Airports: none (2001)
Military South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands