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2 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Sweden
n : a Scandinavian kingdom in the eastern part of the
Scandinavian Peninsula [syn: {Kingdom of Sweden}, {Sverige}]
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
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: 6.8%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 93.2% (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 party to: Air Pollution, Air
agreements: 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: total population: 79.84 years
female: 82.64 years (2002 est.)
male: 77.19 years
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/ 3,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
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: conventional long form: Kingdom of
Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local short form: Sverige
local long form: Konungariket
Sverige
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 NA
leaders:
International organization AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS,
participation: 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 chief of mission: Ambassador Charles
US: 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 lowest 10%: 3.7%
percentage share: highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini 25 (1992)
index:
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 males age 15-49: 1,800,991 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching military males: 51,506 (2002 est.)
age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $4,395.1 million (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 2.1% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Sweden
---------------------------
Disputes - international: none
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