Facts & figures

Photo: Richard Ryan

 

• Area: 450,000 km² (174,000 sq. mi.), third largest country in Western Europe
  Forests: 53%
  Mountains: 17%
  Cultivated land: 8%
  Lakes and rivers: 9%
  Longest north-south distance: 1,574 km (978 mi.)
  Longest east-west distance: 499 km (310 mi.)
  
• Capital Stockholm.
  
• Population 9 million inhabitants .
  
• Languages: Swedish; recognized minority languages: Sami (Lapp), Finnish, Meänkieli (Tornedalen Finnish), Yiddish, Romani Chib (a Gypsy language).
  
• Form of government: Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy.
  
• Parliament: The Riksdag, with 349 members in one chamber .
  
• Religion: 82% belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.
  
• Average life expectancy: men 77 years, women 82 years.
  
• Most important export goods: Paper products, electrical and computer equipment, motor vehicles, machinery, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, foodstuffs.
  
• Most important imported goods: Petroleum products, motor vehicles and accessories, machinery, electrical and computer equipment, foodstuffs, textile products, footwear.