CapitalStockholm
Population10,643,745
Area450,295 km²
GDP per capita$63,300
LanguagesSwedish
CurrencySwedish kronor
Life Expectancy82.9 yr
Governmenta parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Introduction
Background
During the 17th century, Sweden was recognized as a military force, yet it upheld a stance of military non-alignment until its application to join NATO in 2022. The nation has refrained from engaging in any conflicts for the past two hundred years. Throughout both World Wars, Stockholm maintained a policy of armed neutrality. In the years following, Sweden adopted a prosperous economic model that combines a capitalist framework with significant welfare components. Sweden became a member of the EU in 1995; however, the populace declined the adoption of the euro in a referendum held in 2003. The proportion of Sweden's population that was born abroad grew from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% by 2022.
Geography
Area
land
410,335 sq km
water
39,960 sq km
total
450,295 sq km
Climate
the southern region experiences a temperate climate characterized by cold, overcast winters and cool, partially cloudy summers; the northern area has a subarctic climate
Terrain
primarily consists of flat or gently undulating lowlands, with mountainous terrain located in the west
Land use
other
23.8% (2023 est.)
forest
68.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
7.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 6.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Location
situated in Northern Europe, bordered by the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, lying between Norway and Finland
Coastline
3,218 km
Elevation
lowest point
reclaimed section of Lake Hammarsjon's bay, located near Kristianstad at a depth of -2.4 m
highest point
Kebnekaise South 2,100 m
mean elevation
320 m
Irrigated land
510 sq km (2016)
Map references
Europe
Land boundaries
total
2,211 km
border countries
Finland 545 km; Norway 1,666 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone
agreed boundaries or midlines
Natural hazards
ice floes present in adjacent waters, particularly in the Gulf of Bothnia, can disrupt maritime navigation
Geography - note
holds a strategically important position along the Danish Straits that connect the Baltic and North Seas; Sweden boasts nearly 100,000 lakes, with Lake Vanern being the largest, ranking as the third-largest in Europe
Natural resources
natural resources include iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, and hydropower
Area - comparative
nearly three times larger than the state of Georgia; marginally exceeds the size of California
Geographic coordinates
62 00 N, 15 00 E
Population distribution
the majority of the populace resides in the southern region where the climate is more temperate and there is enhanced connectivity to mainland Europe; population centers are primarily located along the eastern Baltic coast, while northern inland areas remain largely uninhabited
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s)
Lake Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Lake Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Lake Malaren - 1,140 sq km
People & Society
Languages
Languages
Swedish (official)
major-language sample(s)
The World Factbook, den obestridliga källan för grundläggande information. (Swedish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 53.9%, other (which encompasses Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 37.2% (2021 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.05 male(s)/female
total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.88 male(s)/female
Birth rate
10.56 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
9.63 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
40.1 years
total
41.2 years (2025 est.)
female
42.1 years
Population
male
5,360,755
total
10,643,745 (2025 est.)
female
5,282,990
Nationality
noun
Swede(s)
adjective
Swedish
Tobacco use
male
25.8% (2025 est.)
total
19.9% (2025 est.)
female
13.9% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
88.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
17.1% (male 934,668/female 880,310)
15-64 years
62.1% (male 3,365,754/female 3,208,248)
65 years and over
20.8% (2024 est.) (male 1,032,279/female 1,168,576)
Ethnic groups
Swedish 79.6%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.3%, other 15.8%
(2022 est.)Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
60.9 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
27.3 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
3 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
33.6 (2025 est.)
Physician density
4.41 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
10.7% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
19% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.66 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
7.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.3% national budget (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total
2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
2 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.51% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.8 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
The majority of the populace resides in the southern region, where the climate is milder and connectivity to mainland Europe is enhanced; population concentrations are located along the eastern Baltic coast, while the northern interior areas remain largely uninhabited.
Life expectancy at birth
male
81.2 years
female
84.7 years
total population
82.9 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
2.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
7.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.700 million STOCKHOLM (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.6% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29.7 years (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.6% (2023 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
17 years (2023 est.)
total
19 years (2023 est.)
female
20 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
the southern region experiences a temperate climate characterized by cold, overcast winters and cool, partially cloudy summers; the northern region has a subarctic climate
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Platåbergens (2023)
total global geoparks and regional networks
1
Land use
other
23.8% (2023 est.)
forest
68.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
7.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 6.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 1.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
88.7% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
9.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
112.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
39.6 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
127.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
4.618 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
39.7% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
marine contamination (Baltic Sea and North Sea); damage to soil and lakes from acid rain; air quality issues; inadequate timber harvesting methods
Total water withdrawal
municipal
699 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
1.267 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
102 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
43.96 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
1.868 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
5.324 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
36.768 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
174 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: a blue flag featuring a golden yellow cross extending to its edges; the cross is positioned toward the left, reminiscent of the Dannebrog (the flag of Denmark)
meaning: the colors are derived from the coat of arms of Sweden
Capital
name
Stockholm
etymology
the city's name likely originates from the Swedish terms stak (meaning bay) or stock (referring to a stake or pole) and holm (meaning island); established in the mid-13th century on the location of a fishing settlement, indicating that the name may refer to construction over prior foundations
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins on the last Sunday in March and concludes on the last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
59 20 N, 18 03 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must hold Swedish citizenship; for a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a Swedish citizen, while the father remains unidentified
dual citizenship recognized
no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
Sweden's Constitution comprises four fundamental laws: The Instrument of Government (with several predecessors; the most recent being from 1974); The Act of Succession (established in 1810; revised in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (with many earlier versions; latest from 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (enacted in 1991)
amendment process
proposed by Parliament; requires a simple majority vote in two successive parliamentary sessions with a general election intervening; also requires simple majority approval in a referendum if a motion for one is supported by one third of Parliament's members; the results of such a referendum are binding only if a majority votes against the proposal
Country name
etymology
the name is derived from the North Germanic Svea tribe that lived in central Sweden; the tribe's name likely stems from the Old German term sweba, meaning "independent;" the local version of the country's name, Sverige, translates to "kingdom of the Svea"
local long form
Konungariket Sverige
local short form
Sverige
conventional long form
Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form
Sweden
Independence
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA was elected as king of Sweden, signifying the end of the Kalmar Union, which included Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)
Legal system
a civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic traditions as well as customary law
Government type
a parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Sweden (comprises 16 justices, including the court's chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (comprises 18 justices, including the court's president)
subordinate courts
first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that deal with matters such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents
judge selection and term of office
justices of the Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court are nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member body made up of senior judges, prosecutors, and Parliament members; justices are appointed by the government; after a probationary period, these appointments become permanent
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
chief of state
King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973)
head of government
Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; typically, after legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition becomes the prime minister
National holiday
National Day, 6 June (1983)
National color(s)
blue, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c); Laponian Area (m); High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n); Birka and Hovgården (c); Hanseatic Town of Visby (c); Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (c); Naval Port of Karlskrona (c); Rock Carvings in Tanum (c); Engelsberg Ironworks (c); Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c)
Political parties
Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C
Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD
Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP
Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V
Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M
Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD
Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or S/SAP
The Liberals (Liberalerna) or L
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
349 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Riksdagen)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/11/2022
expected date of next election
September 2026
percentage of women in chamber
45%
parties elected and seats per party
Social Democratic Party (SAP) (107); Sweden Democrats (SD) (73); Moderate Party (M) (68); Left Party (VP) (24); Centre Party (CP) (24); Christian Democrats (KD) (19); Green Party (Mpg) (18); Other (16)
National anthem(s)
title
"Kungssangen" (Royal Song)
history
adopted in 1844 as the royal anthem, also utilized as the national anthem until 1893; only the first verse is sung in the presence of the monarch
lyrics/music
Carl Wilhelm August Strandberg/Otto Lindblad
National symbol(s)
three crowns, lion
Administrative divisions
21 counties (lan, both 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 467-2699
chancery
2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone
[1] (202) 467-2600
chief of mission
Ambassador Urban AHLIN (since 15 September 2023)
consulate(s) general
New York, San Francisco
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[46] (08) 661-19-64
embassy
Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm
telephone
[46] (08) 783-53-00
mailing address
5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
chief of mission
Ambassador Christine TORETTI (since 21 October 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://se.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with exceptions; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$195.468 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures
$191.095 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$318.203 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$329.332 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$338.852 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$304.101 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$304.194 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$309.526 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
iron and steel, precision instruments (bearings, radio and telephone components, armaments), wood pulp and paper goods, processed food items, automobiles
Labor force
5.699 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2022
36.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
9.21 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
8.577 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
10.114 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
10.61 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
10.568 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
high-income, the largest economy in the Nordic region; a member of the EU without adopting the euro; export-driven, primarily in automotive, electronics, machinery, and pharmaceuticals; highly rated for competitiveness, R&D investments, and governance; experiencing recovery, with decreasing inflation and real wage increases tempered by trade uncertainty risks
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
7.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
7.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
8.6% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 10%, USA 10%, Denmark 8%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Imports - partners
Germany 17%, Netherlands 10%, Norway 9%, Denmark 6%, China 6% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$63,200 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$62,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$63,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
1.5% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
-0.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, chicken, beef (2023)
Exports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, packaged pharmaceuticals, paper, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Imports - commodities
cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, clothing (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$27.404 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$40.819 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$45.274 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
27.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$610.118 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
43.7% (2023 est.)
government consumption
26% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
-0.1% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
25% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
55.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-51.4% (2023 est.)
Population below poverty line
16.1% (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
13% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
8.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.8% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
0.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$662.937 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$662.18 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$668.628 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
24.3% (2024 est.)
total
23.8% (2024 est.)
female
23.2% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$64.289 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$60.863 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$62.569 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
22.6% (2024 est.)
services
65.9% (2024 est.)
agriculture
1.1% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.5% (2022 est.)
highest 10%
24.7% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
31.6 (2022 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
2.078 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
1.042 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
3.17 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
5 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
11,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
270,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
exports
36.151 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
7.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
125.273 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
55.307 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
9.109 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
10.625 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
897.487 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
896.109 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors
6 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
28.6% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
7.01GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
7 (2025)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
142.102 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
21% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear
28.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
40.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
7.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
96% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The state-owned television broadcaster operates two terrestrial networks along with regional stations; there are several privately owned television broadcasters functioning at national, regional, and local levels; approximately 50 local television stations exist; extensive access to pan-Nordic and international channels is available via multi-channel cable and satellite television; the publicly owned radio broadcaster runs three national channels and maintains a network of 25 regional stations; around 100 privately owned local radio stations, with some merging into nearly national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations transmit intermittently.
Internet country code
.se
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
898,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
9 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
14.9 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
141 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
4.3 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
41 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
3
small
30
medium
10
key ports
Falkenberg, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlsborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Norrkoping, Stockholm, Sundsvall, Uddevalla, Varberg, Vasteras
very small
49
total ports
92 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
49
Airports
206 (2025)
Railways
total
10,910 km (2020) 8,184 km electrified
narrow gauge
65 km
Heliports
11 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
361 (2023)
by type
general cargo 44, oil tanker 18, other 299
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
SE
Military & Security
Military - note
The Swedish military is tasked with the deterrence and protection of the nation and its territories from armed assaults, while also supporting Sweden’s national security interests, providing societal aid such as humanitarian assistance, and engaging in international peacekeeping and peacemaking missions. The force is relatively small in terms of active duty personnel, designed for rapid mobilization during crises, supported by a trained reserve and a Home Guard.
For more than 200 years, Sweden upheld a policy of military non-alignment, but in May 2022, in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it submitted an application for NATO membership, which was granted in March 2024. Prior to becoming a member, Stockholm engaged with NATO’s Partnership for Peace program since 1994 and took part in NATO-led operations, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. The military collaborates closely with the armed forces of other Nordic nations through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which was established in 2009 and includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Additionally, Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and actively contributes to CSDP missions and operations, including EU battlegroups, while also participating in UN-led missions. Sweden maintains strong bilateral security ties with several NATO member countries, notably Finland, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US (2025).
Military deployments
approximately 600 Latvia (NATO) (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2021
1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2025
2.5% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and security forces
Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (202).
Military service age and obligation
Individuals must be 18 years old to voluntarily enlist or participate in selective conscription, applicable to both men and women. The duration of conscription service ranges from 9 to 15 months based on the specific branch of service and position, with a reserve obligation extending until the age of 45 (2026).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The inventory of the Swedish Armed Forces largely consists of domestically manufactured equipment, supplemented by a smaller proportion of imported Western systems. Sweden's defense industry is capable of producing a variety of air, land, and naval equipment, including armored vehicles, combat aircraft, and submarines, and it also engages in joint weapons system production with other nations (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The active military force comprises around 25,000 personnel, with approximately 21,000 serving in the Home Guard (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
168,519 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
6,835 (2024 est.)
Space
Space launch site(s)
Esrange Space Center (Kiruna) (2025)
Space agency/agencies
The Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA), founded in 1972 and previously referred to as the Swedish National Space Board until 2018, is set for 2025.
Space program overview
The agency aspires to be a frontrunner in Europe's space sector; it designs and manages satellites, constructs and launches sounding rockets, and engages in research, development, production, and operations across a range of space-related disciplines, including astronomy, atmospheric monitoring, geographic information systems, infrared imaging, meteorology, propulsion systems, remote sensing, satellite subsystems, spacecraft systems and structures, research, and telecommunications. SNSA is a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and its program is incorporated within the agency's framework. It collaborates extensively with international space organizations, particularly through ESA and the European Union and its member countries, as well as with the United States. The agency takes part in initiatives such as the Copernicus Earth observation program and the Galileo global navigation satellite system, France's Pleiades initiative, and the Square Kilometer Array Project. Additionally, it boasts a substantial commercial space sector, which includes state-owned enterprises as of 2025.
Key space-program milestones
1950s - The space program began with the creation of a space observatory and the formation of the Swedish Space Research Committee.
1961 - The first sounding rocket was launched.
1986 - The inaugural scientific satellite, Viking, was launched aboard a European rocket.
1989 - The first communications satellite, Tele-X, was launched using a European rocket.
2006 - The first astronaut was sent into space aboard a US Space Shuttle.
2019 - A space data laboratory was created for AI-driven analysis of imagery data.
2024 - The agency signed the US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration; it launched its first military communications satellite, GNA-3; and it adopted its first defense and security space strategy.
