Sweden Fact - Global Guide for Traveler

Sweden is the largest of the countries of Scandinavia, in Northern Europe, with a population of about 9 million. It borders Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark via the bridge of Öresund (Öresundsbron).

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 and in 2000-2002 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. 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.

Quick Sweden fact table

Capital:	Stockholm
Location:	Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Area:	Total: 449,964 sq km, land: 410,934 sq km, water: 39,030 sq km
Climate:	Temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; sub-arctic in north
Population:	9,016,596 (July 2006 est.)
Religions:	Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist
Languages:	Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Government:	Constitutional monarchy
Currency:	Swedish krona (SEK)
Internet TLD:	.se