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Sweden: country overview

26 July 2012
by Ina Dimireva -- last modified 25 January 2023

Sweden has the largest population among the Nordic countries and is the third-largest country in the European Union by surface area. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The most important sectors of Sweden’s economy in 2015 were public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (24.0 %), industry (20.1 %) and wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (17.0 %). Sweden’s main export partners are Norway, Germany and the US, while its main import partners are Germany, Norway and the Netherlands.


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Swedish flag

Capital: Stockholm

Geographical size: 450,295 km2

Population: 10,483,647 (2022 est.)

Gross domestic product (GDP): EUR 488.5 billion (2019 est.)

Official EU language(s): Swedish

Political system: parliamentary constitutional monarchy

EU member country since: 1 January 1995

Seats in the European Parliament: 20

Currency: Swedish krona SEK

Schengen area member? Yes, Schengen Area member since 25 March 2001.

Presidency of the Council: Sweden has held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU three times: in 2001, 2009 and 2023

Map of Sweden

Country overview

Sweden has the largest population of the Nordic countries. It is separated in the west from Norway by a range of mountains and shares the Gulf of Bothnia to the north of the Baltic Sea with Finland.

The southern part of the country is chiefly agricultural, with forests covering an increasing percentage of the land the further north one goes. Population density is also higher in southern Sweden, with many people living in the valley of Lake Mälaren and the Öresund region.

Political system

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy with a head of government - the prime minister - and a head of state - the monarch. The government exercises executive power. Legislative power is vested in the single-chamber parliament. Sweden is a unitary state, divided into 20 counties and 290 municipalities.

The country has at least 17,000 indigenous Samis among its population – a community that derives most of its income from reindeer. Sweden is also home to a small number of ethnic Finns.

Sweden exports cars, engineering products, steel, electronic devices, communications equipment and paper products.

Swedes played a pioneering role of the early days of cinema. Leading the way were Mauritz Stiller and Victor Sjöström. Later on, directors like Ingmar Bergman and actresses such as Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman and Anita Ekberg made careers abroad. Swedish music is in many minds synonymous with the '70s pop group ABBA.

Swedish cuisine is known for its Smorgåsbord (a buffet of savoury delicacies), Baltic herring, pea soup and pancakes.

Trade and economy

Sweden's small, open, and competitive economy has been thriving and Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. Sweden remains outside the euro zone largely out of concern that joining the European Economic and Monetary Union would diminish the country's sovereignty over its welfare system.

The most important sectors of Sweden's economy in 2020 were public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (21.6%), industry (17.1%) and wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (16.6%).

Intra-EU trade accounts for 52% of Sweden's exports (Germany 11%, Denmark 8% and Finland 7%), while outside the EU 11% go to Norway and 8% to the United States.

In terms of imports, 68% come from EU countries (Germany 18%, the Netherlands 10% and Denmark 7%), while outside the EU 9% come from Norway and 6% from China.

Useful links

Government of Sweden

Tax system in Sweden

Statistical profile of Sweden

Tourist information - Sweden

Life & business in the EU

European jobs portal (EURES)

Source: European Commission, CIA - World Factbook

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