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NAVIGATION
Kingdom of Sweden
Konungariket Sverige
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden local short form: Sverige local long form: Konungariket 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 NA 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 [Alf SVENSSON]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or VP (formerly Communist) [Ulla HOFFMAN and Ingrid BURMAN]; Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Bo LUNDGREN]; 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, ECE, 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, 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, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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 |
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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) |
ECONOMY
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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, revenue declines, and spending increases. The Swedish central bank (the Riksbank) is focusing on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. Growth should pick up to 2.3% in 2003, assuming a moderate global recovery. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $227.4 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.8% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $25,400 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2%
industry: 29% services: 69% (2001) |
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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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2.2% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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4.4 million (2000 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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4% (2002 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $119 billion
expenditures: $110 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.) |
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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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0.9% (2002 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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152.9 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 4%
hydro: 50.8% other: 2.2% (2001) nuclear: 43% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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134.9 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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18.45 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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11.14 billion kWh (2001) |
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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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Agriculture - products:
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barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk |
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Exports:
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$80.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 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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EU 54.6% (Germany 10.6%, UK 8.8%, Denmark 6.1%, Finland 5.7%), US 10.5%, Norway 8.6% (2001) |
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Imports:
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$68.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 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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EU 66.3% (Germany 17.8%, UK 8.7%, Denmark 8.2%, Netherlands 6.9%, France 6.5%), Norway 8.5%, US 6.7% (2001) |
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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:
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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 - 9.7371 (2002), 10.3291 (2001), 9.1622 (2000), 8.2624 (1999), 7.9499 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |