Europe

Sweden
Last reviewed: 16 May 2011

Country information

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Area: 175,500 sq miles (450,000 sq km). Nearly 2.5 times the size of the UK
Population: 9,428,054 (85% residing in the southern half of the country)
Capital City: Stockholm (832,641; greater Stockholm 2,025,751);
Other cities: Göteborg (508,714), Malmö (295,284)
People: 90% Swedes, 3% Finns, 0.15% Sami (indigenous Lapp inhabitants)
Language: Swedish, but English is widely spoken. Recognised minority languages: Sami (Lapp), Finnish, Meänkieli (Tornedalen Finnish), Yiddish, Romani Chib.
Religions: Strongly secularised, 82% Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist
Life Expectancy: 79 years (men), 83 years (women) (UN)
Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK) = 100 öre
Internet domain: .se
International dialling code: +46
Major political parties: Social Democrats (112 seats in Parliament / Riksdag), Moderate Party (107), Centre Party (23), Liberal party (24), Christian Democrats (19), Left Party (19), Green Party (25), Sweden democrats (20).
Government: A coalition government, which is led by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, leader of the Moderate Party, formed 5 October 2010. The coalition comprises the Moderate Party, Liberal Party, Centre Party and Christian Democrats. With 173 seats in parliament, the Alliance Coalition is a minority government.
Head of State: King Carl XVI Gustaf
Prime Minister/Premier: Fredrik Reinfeldt
Foreign Minister: Carl Bildt
Membership of international groups/organisations: Sweden is an active member of most of the main international organisations. One notable exception is NATO.