Factbook dossier
Background
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.
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Area
total : 450,295 sq km land: 410,335 sq km water: 39,960 sq km
Natural resources
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Natural hazards
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Population
total: 10,643,745 (2025 est.) male: 5,360,755 female: 5,282,990
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 k llan f r grundl ggande information. (Swedish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Finnish, Sami, Romani, Yiddish, and Meankieli are official minority languages
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
Environmental issues
marine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soil and lakes; air pollution; poor timber-harvesting practices
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
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
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
Real GDP per capita
$63,300 (2024 est.) $62,800 (2023 est.) $63,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.8% (2024 est.) 8.5% (2023 est.) 8.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Germany 10%, USA 10%, Denmark 8%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
Germany 17%, Netherlands 10%, Norway 9%, Denmark 6%, China 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Swedish Armed Forces (F rsvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force, Home Guard (202)
Military expenditures
2.5% of GDP (2025 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)