A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for 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 2000-02 and 2009 by the global economic downturns, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.
Country Name
Conventional long form:Kingdom of Sweden
Conventional short form:Sweden
Local long form:Konungariket Sverige
Local short form:Sverige
Government Type
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
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
Independence
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National Holiday
Swedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)
Constitution
1 January 1975
Legal system
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state:King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977)
Head of government:Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5 October 2006)
Cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually the prime minister
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
Elections:last held on 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010)
Election results:percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 35%, Moderates 26.2%, Center Party 7.9%, Liberal People's Party 7.5%, Christian Democrats 6.6%, Left Party 5.8%, Greens 5.2%; seats by party - Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, Liberal People's Party 28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)
Political Parties and Leaders
Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Goran HAGGLUND]; Environment Party the Greens [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Jan BJORKLUND]; Moderate Party (liberal-conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Children's Rights in Society; Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees or TCO; Swedish Federation of Trade Unions or LO
other: media
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Jonas HAFSTROM
Chancery:The House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
Telephone:[1] (202) 467-2600
FAX:[1] (202) 467-2699
Consulate(s) general:New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Matthew W. BARZUN
Embassy:Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
Mailing address:American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
Telephone:[46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX:[46] (08) 661 19 64
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 reflect those of the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field
