Sweden

A military power during the 17th century, Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment until it applied to join NATO in 2022. Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. Stockholm preserved an armed neutrality in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2022.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

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 : 450,295 sq km

land: 410,335 sq km

water: 39,960 sq km

comparison ranking: total 58

Area – comparative

almost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 2,211 km

border countries (2): Finland 545 km; Norway 1,666 km

Coastline

3,218 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)

exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

highest point: Kebnekaise South 2,100 m

lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m

mean elevation: 320 m

Natural resources

iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land: 7.4% (2022 est.)

arable land: 6.2% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 1.1% (2022 est.)

forest: 68.7% (2022 est.)

other: 23.9% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

510 sq km (2016)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Vanern – 5,580 sq km; Vattern – 1,910 sq km; Malaren – 1,140 sq km

Population distribution

most of the population lives in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated

Natural hazards

ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Geography – note

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; Sweden has almost 100,000 lakes, the largest of which, Vanern, is the third-largest in Europe

People and Society

Population

total: 10,589,835 (2024 est.)

male: 5,332,701

female: 5,257,134

comparison rankings: total 89; female 91; male 89

Nationality

noun: Swede(s)

adjective: Swedish

Ethnic groups

Swedish 79.6%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.3%, other 15.8%(2022 est.)

note: data represent the population by country of birth; the indigenous Sami people are estimated to number between 20,000 and 40,000

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.

note: Finnish, Sami, Romani, Yiddish, and Meankieli are official minority languages

Swedish audio sample:

Religions

Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 53.9%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 37.2% (2021 est.)

note: estimates reflect registered members of faith communities eligible for state funding (not all religions are state-funded and not all people who identify with a particular religion are registered members) and the Church of Sweden

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)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 61.1 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 27.6 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 33.5 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 41.1 years (2024 est.)

male: 40.1 years

female: 42.1 years

comparison ranking: total 52

Population growth rate

0.51% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 149

Birth rate

10.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 173

Death rate

9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 39

Net migration rate

4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 26

Population distribution

Urbanization

urban population: 88.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas – population

1.700 million STOCKHOLM (capital) (2023)

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

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

29.7 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 180

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 218

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 81.2 years

female: 84.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 21

Total fertility rate

1.67 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 169

Gross reproduction rate

0.8 (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

note: percent of women aged 16-49

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

10.7% of GDP (2022)

19% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

4.41 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Hospital bed density

2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

20.6% (2016)

comparison ranking: 96

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 7.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 2.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

comparison ranking: total 59

Tobacco use

total: 19.9% (2025 est.)

male: 25.8% (2025 est.)

female: 13.9% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 70

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.4% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure

7.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

14.6% national budget (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 16

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 19 years (2023 est.)

male: 17 years (2023 est.)

female: 20 years (2023 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

marine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soil and lakes; air pollution; poor timber-harvesting practices

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

Climate

temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 88.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

43.96 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.)

from consumed natural gas: 1.868 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 61

Particulate matter emissions

6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.377 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,416,835 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 32.4% (2015 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 700 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 1.27 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

174 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1

global geoparks and regional networks: Platåbergens (2023)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden

conventional short form: Sweden

local long form: Konungariket Sverige

local short form: Sverige

etymology: name derives from the North Germanic Svea tribe that inhabited central Sweden; the tribe’s name probably comes from the Old German word sweba, meaning “independent;” the local form of the country’s name, Sverige, means “kingdom of the Svea”

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital

name: Stockholm

geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: the name of the city probably comes from the Swedish words stak (bay) or stock (stake or pole) and holm (island); it was built in the mid-13th century on the site of a fishing village, so the name may refer to building over earlier foundations

Administrative divisions

21 counties (lan, 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

Legal system

civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law

Constitution

history: Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991)

amendment process: proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; the results of such a referendum are only binding if a majority vote against the proposal

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown

dual citizenship recognized: no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973)

head of government: Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament (Riksdagen)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 349 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 9/11/2022

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)

percentage of women in chamber: 45%

expected date of next election: September 2026

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the government; after a probationary period, justices’ appointments are permanent

subordinate courts: first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Urban AHLIN (since 15 September 2023)

chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600

FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/

consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Mark EVANS (since January 2025)

embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm

mailing address: 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750

telephone: [46] (08) 783-53-00

FAX: [46] (08) 661-19-64

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

Independence

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)

National holiday

National Day, 6 June (1983)

note: celebrated as Swedish Flag Day from 1916 to 1982

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); the colors come from the Swedish coat of arms

National symbol(s)

three crowns, lion

National color(s)

blue, yellow

National anthem(s)

title: “Du Gamla, Du Fria” (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)

lyrics/music: Richard DYBECK/traditional

history: in use since 1893; also known as “Sang till Norden” (Song of the North); based on a Swedish folk tune; has never been officially adopted
_____

title: “Kungssangen” (Royal Song)

lyrics/music: Carl Wilhelm August Strandberg/Otto Lindblad

history: adopted 1844 as the royal anthem, but also used as the national anthem until 1893; only the first verse is sung if the monarch is present

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)

Economy

Economic overview

high-income, largest Nordic economy; EU member but does not use the euro; export-oriented, led by automotive, electronics, machinery, and pharmaceuticals; highly ranked for competitiveness, R&D investments and governance; recovery, with falling inflation and real wage growth balanced by risks from trade uncertainty

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$668.628 billion (2024 est.)
$662.18 billion (2023 est.)
$662.937 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 41

Real GDP growth rate

1% (2024 est.)
-0.1% (2023 est.)
1.5% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 177

Real GDP per capita

$63,300 (2024 est.)
$62,800 (2023 est.)
$63,200 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 25

GDP (official exchange rate)

$610.118 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (2024 est.)
8.5% (2023 est.)
8.4% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 82

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.1% (2024 est.)

industry: 22.6% (2024 est.)

services: 65.9% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

comparison rankings: services 49; industry 113; agriculture 173

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 43.7% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 26% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 25% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 55.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -51.4% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, chicken, beef (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

0.3% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 126

Labor force

5.699 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

comparison ranking: 77

Unemployment rate

8.6% (2024 est.)
7.7% (2023 est.)
7.4% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 141

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 23.8% (2024 est.)

male: 24.3% (2024 est.)

female: 23.2% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

comparison ranking: total 38

Population below poverty line

16.1% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

31.6 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

comparison ranking: 116

Average household expenditures

on food: 13% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 24.7% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues: $195.463 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $186.928 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

36.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 143

Taxes and other revenues

27.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 6

Current account balance

$45.274 billion (2024 est.)
$40.819 billion (2023 est.)
$27.404 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

comparison ranking: 15

Exports

$338.852 billion (2024 est.)
$329.332 billion (2023 est.)
$318.203 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 29

Exports – partners

Germany 10%, USA 10%, Denmark 8%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports – commodities

cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, paper, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$309.526 billion (2024 est.)
$304.194 billion (2023 est.)
$304.101 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars

comparison ranking: 29

Imports – partners

Germany 17%, Netherlands 10%, Norway 9%, Denmark 6%, China 6% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports – commodities

cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, garments (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$62.569 billion (2024 est.)
$60.863 billion (2023 est.)
$64.289 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

comparison ranking: 38

Exchange rates

Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
10.568 (2024 est.)
10.61 (2023 est.)
10.114 (2022 est.)
8.577 (2021 est.)
9.21 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 55.307 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 125.273 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 36.151 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 7.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 9.109 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 179; imports 34; exports 5; consumption 30; installed generating capacity 28

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear: 28.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 1.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 21% 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.)

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 6 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 7.01GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 28.6% (2023 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 7 (2025)

Coal

production: 1.042 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 3.17 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 23,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 2.078 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.)

Natural gas

consumption: 896.109 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 10.625 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 897.487 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

142.102 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 27

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 898,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 69

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 14.8 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 74

Broadcast media

publicly owned TV broadcaster has 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately owned TV broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50 local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV; publicly owned radio broadcaster has 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; roughly 100 privately owned local radio stations, with some consolidating into near-national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently

Internet country code

.se

Internet users

percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 4.3 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 41

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

206 (2025)

comparison ranking: 30

Heliports

11 (2025)

comparison ranking: 71

Railways

total: 10,910 km (2020) 8,184 km electrified

narrow gauge: 65 km

Merchant marine

total: 361 (2023)

by type: general cargo 44, oil tanker 18, other 299

comparison ranking: total 52

Ports

total ports: 92 (2024)

large: 3

medium: 10

small: 30

very small: 49

ports with oil terminals: 49

key ports: Falkenberg, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlsborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Norrkoping, Stockholm, Sundsvall, Uddevalla, Varberg, Vasteras

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (202)

Military expenditures

2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 25,000 active Armed Forces (14,000 continuous service/full-time and 11,000 temporary service); approximately 21,000 Home Guard (some on active duty) (2025)

note 1: SAF personnel are divided into continuously serving (full-time) and temporary service troops (part-timers who serve periodically and have another main employer or attend school); additional personnel have signed service agreements with the SAF and mostly serve in the Home Guard; the SAF also has about 9,000 civilian employees

note 2: in 2021, Sweden announced plans that increase the total size of the armed forces to about 100,000 personnel by 2030

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SAF’s inventory is comprised of domestically produced and imported Western weapons systems, including from Finland, Germany, and the US; Sweden has a defense industry that produces a range of air, land, and naval systems, including armored vehicles, combat aircraft, and submarines; it also produces weapons systems jointly with other countries (2024)

Military service age and obligation

18-47 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; service obligation: 7-15 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; compulsory military service, abolished in 2010, was reinstated in January 2018; conscription is selective, includes both men and women (age 18), and requires 6-15 months of service (2024)

note 1: Sweden conscripts about 5,500 men and women each year; it plans to increase this number to 8,000 by 2025; conscientious objectors in Sweden have the right to apply for alternative service (called vapenfri tjänst); after completing alternative service, the conscript then belongs to the civilian reserve

note 2: as of 2024, women made nearly 25% of the military’s personnel

Military deployments

approximately 600 Latvia (NATO) (2025)

Military – note

the Swedish military is responsible for deterrence and the defense of the country and its territories against armed attack, supporting Sweden’s national security interests, providing societal support, such as humanitarian aid, and contributing to international peacekeeping and peacemaking operations; the military has a relatively small active duty force that is designed to be rapidly mobilized in a crisis with a trained reserve and a Home Guard

Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment for over 200 years before applying for NATO membership in May 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine; it became a NATO member in March 2024; prior to membership, Stockholm joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and contributed to NATO-led missions, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo; the military cooperates closely with the forces of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and contributes to CSDP missions and operations, including EU battlegroups; it also participates in UN-led missions; Sweden has close bilateral security relations with some individual NATO member states, particularly Finland, Germany, Norway, the UK, and the US (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies

Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA; established 1972; known until 2018 as the Swedish National Space Board) (2024)

Space launch site(s)

Esrange Space Center (Kiruna) (2024)

Space program overview

member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and program is integrated within the framework of the ESA; produces and operates satellites; builds and launches sounding rockets; involved in the research, development, production, and operations of a wide variety of other space-related areas and capabilities, including astronomy, atmospheric monitoring, geographic information systems, infrared imaging, meteorology, propulsion systems, remote sensing, satellite subsystems, spacecraft systems and structures, space physics, scientific research, stratospheric balloons, and telecommunications; conducts extensive bilateral and multilateral international cooperation, in particular through the ESA and EU and their member states, as well as with the US; has a robust commercial space industry involved in a broad range of space-related capabilities (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide