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英国 United Kingdom 爱尔兰 Ireland 比利时 Belgium 荷兰 Netherlands 法国 France 西班牙 Spain 葡萄牙 Portugal 意大利 Italy 希腊 Greece 奥地利 Austria 匈牙利 Hungary 德国 Germany 瑞士 Switzerland 罗马尼亚 Romania 俄罗斯 Russia 波兰 Poland 克罗地亚 Croatia (Hrvatska) 捷克 Czech 芬兰 Finland 瑞典 Sweden 挪威 Norway 冰岛 Iceland 土耳其 Turkey 丹麦 Denmark 阿尔巴尼亚 Albania 爱沙尼亚 Republic of Estonia 安道尔 Andorra 白俄罗斯 Belarus 保加利亚 The Republic of Bulgaria 波斯尼亚和黑塞哥维那 Bosnia and Herzegovina 梵蒂冈 Vatican City State (Holy See) 黑山 The Republic of Montenegro 拉脱维亚 Latvia 立陶宛 Republic of Lithuania 列支敦士登 Liechtenstein 卢森堡 Luxembourg 马耳他 Republic of Malta 马其顿 The Republic of Macedonia 摩尔多瓦 The Republic of Moldova 摩纳哥 Monaco 塞尔维亚 the Republic of Serbia 斯洛伐克 The Slovak Republic 斯洛文尼亚 the Republic of Slovenia 圣马力诺 San Marino 乌克兰 Ukraine | ||||
Sweden
Capital:Stockholm Country Code: se
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 瑞典国名释义：来自瑞典语，“亲属”的意思。 国土面积 - 总计 449964平方公里 - 水域 第54位 8.67% 人口 - 总计 897.7万人 - 密度 第82位 独立日：6月6日（１８０９年６月６日，瑞典通过第一部现代宪法。１９８３年，议会正式宣布６月６日为瑞典国庆节。） 国旗：为蓝色，黄色十字略向左侧。蓝、黄颜色来自瑞典皇徽的颜色。 国徽：大国徽为斗篷式，饰有王冠的蓝盾被黄十字一分为四：左上和右下部绘有３顶王冠；右上和左下部绘有戴王冠的金狮。大盾中有一小盾，左面由蓝、银白、红三色斜纹和一个金瓶组成；右面绘有一个城堡式的钟楼和一只金鹰。蓝盾两旁是金狮，下端为勋章。小国徽为一带王冠的蓝盾，盾面上３顶金冠是瑞典王国的象征，也象征着当年组成卡尔马联盟的丹麦、瑞典和挪威。 国歌：《你古老的光荣的北国山乡》 （Du gamla, Du fria） 民族：90%为日耳曼族瑞典人，还有部分芬兰人。 宗教：基督教路德宗 国花：白菊、睡莲 国鸟：乌鸫（百舌） 国石： 小（水）晶 别称：欧洲锯木场 民俗：禁酒之国（在家饮酒须持特许证去指定地购买并交纳一定的税款） 统一: 900~1200年 货币：瑞典克朗（Svensk krona） 1瑞典克朗可以换1.1269 元人民币 时区：UTC +1 比北京时间晚７小时（每年３月底到１０月底北欧实行夏时制，与北京时间差距缩短１小时）。 互联网国家域名 .SE 国际电话区号 46 政府网址 瑞典王室：http://www.royalcourt.se 议会：http://www.riksdagen.se 首相府：http://www.regeringen.se 外交部：http://www.ud.se 瑞典国际开发署：http://www.sida.se 瑞典学会：http://www.si.se 国家政要：国王卡尔十六世·古斯塔夫 (Carl XVI Gustaf) ，１９７３年９月继承王位；首相弗雷德里克·赖因费尔特 ，２００６年１０月出任首相。 自然地理 位于北欧斯堪的纳维亚半岛东部。东北部与芬兰接壤，西部和西北部与挪威为邻，东濒波罗的海和卡特加特海峡，西南临北海，并与丹麦隔海相望。领土面积为４４．９９万平方公里（不包括领海面积）。海岸线长约２１８１公里。地势自西北向东南倾斜。北部为诺尔兰高原，全国最高峰克布讷凯塞峰海拔２１２３米，南部及沿海多为平原或丘陵。主要河流有约塔河、达尔河、翁厄曼河。湖泊众多，约９．２万个。最大的维纳恩湖面积５５８５平方公里，居欧洲第三。约１５％的土地在北极圈内，但受大西洋暖流影响，冬季不太寒冷，大部分地区属温带针叶林气候，最南部属温带阔叶林气候。 人口 有９１２万（２００７年２月）。９０％为瑞典人（日耳曼族后裔），外国移民及其后裔超过１００万（其中５２．６％为外籍侨民）。北部萨米族是唯一的少数民族，约１万人。官方语言为瑞典语。９０％的国民信奉基督教路德宗。 瑞典的人均寿命高，出生率低。二次大战后大量移民涌入，情况与战前相反。现该国12%的人口出生地不在瑞典，五分之一人口是移民或移民的后代。移民多数来自芬兰、前南斯拉夫、伊朗、挪威、丹麦、波兰，反映了北欧人口流动性高、早期劳工移民及后期的难民潮等现象。 最早的移民是芬兰人。第二次世界大战时约70,000芬兰儿童放逐到瑞典，其中15,000战后居留瑞典。1950~60年代，战后的芬兰经济陷入困境，大量的芬兰失业者走到经济起飞的瑞典。高峰时期瑞典有400,000芬兰人。1973年能源危机，瑞典失业人数上升，芬兰从与邻国苏联的贸易中得益，留瑞芬人渐降至200,000人。 瑞典语属日耳曼语系，与丹麦语及挪威语有关系，但发音与写法均相异。英语是最普遍的第二语言，尤其是50岁以下的人。瑞典语无疑是最普遍的语言，所以官方语言似乎是多余的政治议题。 这是个名副其实的“女权国家”。2000年，瑞典与它的北欧邻国芬兰一起被联合国评为世界上男女平等的“模范国家”。瑞典的议会中，女议员的比例约占40%，在1986年，瑞典的32个部长中一度由女性占据了其中的16席。而瑞典妇女在社会活动中比男人更活跃，据统计，在瑞典的对外贸易活动，女人创造的价值占了近60%。 首都 斯德哥尔摩（Stockholm），市区人口７８．３万（２００６年１２月）。 行政区划 瑞典有21个行政区域。地方行政局由政府任命。行政区有区议会，议员为市代表。行政区由市组成，2002年全国共有市289个。 全国共分为21个省：布莱金厄省，达拉纳省耶夫勒堡省，哥得兰省，哈兰省，耶姆特兰省，延雪平省，卡尔马省，克鲁努贝里省，北博滕省，厄勒布鲁省，东约特兰省，斯科耐省，南曼兰省，斯德哥尔摩省，乌普萨拉省，韦姆兰省，西博滕省，西诺尔兰省，西曼兰省，西约特兰省。 简史 根据考古学家的研究，随着冰河时期内陆积雪渐渐溶解，瑞典一带地区石器时代已有人聚居。他们居住在波罗的海附近，主要以打猎、蒐集、捕鱼为生。 贸易活动的遗迹显示瑞典南部青铜时代人口已颇为稠密。 九至十世纪时，瑞典地区发展出维京文化，以贸易、侵略、殖民等方式向东发展，影响的地区包括波罗的海、俄罗斯及黑海。 公元１１００年前后开始形成国家。１１５７年兼并芬兰。１３９７年与丹麦、挪威组成卡尔马(Kalmar)联盟，受丹统治。１５２３年脱离联盟独立。同年，古斯塔夫·瓦萨(Gustav Eriksson Vasa)被推举为国王。１６５４至１７１９年为瑞典的强盛时期，领土包括现芬兰、爱沙尼亚、拉脱维亚、立陶宛以及俄国、波兰和德国的波罗的海沿岸地区。 17世纪时瑞典在三十年战争(1618~1648年)中跃升成为欧洲强国。18世纪大北方战争(1700~1721年)后俄国取代瑞典在欧洲的地位。１７１８年对俄国、丹麦和波兰作战失败后逐步走向衰落。１８０５年参加拿破仑战争，１８０９年败于俄国后被迫割让芬兰，１８１４年从丹麦取得挪威，并与挪结成瑞挪联盟。１９０５年挪威脱离联盟独立。瑞典在两次世界大战中均守中立。 瑞典的近代史比较平静。最近期的一次是1814年与挪威的战事。该战后两国组成由瑞典主导的联盟，1905年解散。瑞典在两次世界大战中均保持中立。冷战时期没有向两大阵营靠拢。瑞典不是军事组织的成员，但会参与北约的军事训练。 1901年，第一届诺贝尔奖颁奖礼在瑞典斯德哥尔摩皇家音乐学院举行。1902年开始诺贝尔奖由瑞典国王颁授。 瑞典在第一次世界大战和第二次世界大战都维持中立。可是，1995年放弃中立主义，加入欧盟。 20世纪，瑞典在国际中保持中立，本土相对和平穏定，瑞典实行的资本主义制度不同于美国，有完善的福利保障制度，具有“高工资、高税收、高福利”的特点，在20世纪60年代到90年代，瑞典经济飞速发展，人民生活水平得以大大提高。 政治 现行宪法由政府法典（１８０９年制定，１９７４年修订）、王位继承法（１８１０年制定，１９７９年修订）和新闻自由法（１９４９年制定）三个基本法组成，此外还有议会组织法（１８６６年制定，１９７４年修订）。宪法规定瑞典实行君主立宪制。国王是国家元首和武装部队统帅，作为国家象征仅履行代表性或礼仪性职责，不能干预议会和政府工作。议会是国家唯一的立法机构，由普选产生。政府是国家最高行政机构，对议会负责。国王的最年长子女是法定王位继承人。议会为一院制。 经济 瑞典实行发达的私营工商业与比较完善的国营公共服务部门相结合的"混合经济"，以高工资、高税收、高福利著称。 森林、铁矿和水力是瑞典的三大自然资源，在此基础上发展并形成了采矿冶金、林业造纸、电力和机械制造四大传统工业体系。 作为一个具有丰富的木材、铁矿、水力资源的国家，瑞典着重发展以出口为导向的工业化经济。工业在国民经济中占有十分重要的地位，８２％的工业品出口到国外。 ２０世纪70年代中期以后，瑞典工业结构发生了显著变化。瑞典加大科研与发展的力度和投入，高科技产业迅速发展，交通、通讯、医药保健、信息、环保领域在世界上具有较强的竞争力，一度作为瑞典主要出口部门的钢铁，木材加工业已逐渐被机械制造，电子精密仪器和汽车等工业部门所代替。造船、纺织等工业日益衰落，政府提供了大量资金进行补贴，改组或收归国有。 金属加工和机器制造业是瑞典最重要的工业部门。瑞典的机械产品具有精密，耐用和工艺水平高的特点。滚珠轴承、冷冻设备等传统产品在国际市场上都享有很高的声誉。钢铁工业是历史悠久的工业部门之一。 化学工业是瑞典主要工业部门之一。在化学工业内部，尤以石油化学，石油精炼最为突出，塑料、化纤、药品和化肥也有较大发展。汽车工业战后发展迅速，除生产小汽车外，还生产各种卡车。小汽车产量的三分之一销往美国。能源工业在瑞典经济中居于十分重要的地位。瑞典工业发达，能源密集企业居多，加上冬季漫长和交通线很长，是一个能源高消费国家，仅电力消耗每人年均达1.3万度左右。瑞典的农业和服务业也较为发达。瑞典经济主要依赖对外贸易，主张市场开放和自由贸易。 瑞典主要出口产品有：汽车及运输设备、机械和仪器、电子产品、木浆纸张、医药化工和钢铁及金属制品。瑞典进口货物的６０％以上为制造业的部件和原材料，主要有：电子产品、机械和仪器、汽车和运输设备、食品、纺织品和鞋类等。 瑞典人口稀少，不足九百万，从宏观经济的角度看是一个微不足道的市场，这一特点决定了对外贸易对瑞典尤其重要，主要天然资源有森林、水力发电、铁矿等。 私有企业占工业生产九成，其中50%是输出或输入的工程项目。农业只占2%的国内生产总值；全国亦只有2%的就业人口从事农业生产。因政府着力紧缩开支，2001年有大额盈余；但2002年的盈余因全球经济衰退而大幅下降一半。 通信、机械制造、建筑工程及运输业是瑞典重要的基础产业。 瑞典有很多国际知名的品牌，沃尔沃汽车、萨博汽车和武器、爱立信通信、伊莱克斯电器、ABB、哈苏相机、宜家家具和H&M服装等等。按人口比例计算，瑞典是世界上拥有跨国公司最多的国家。 爱立信公司１８７６年成立于斯德哥尔摩的爱立信公司（Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson）是瑞典最大的一家从事电子、通信等业务的公司，是世界著名的电信生产企业，其固定和移动通信网、移动电话及信息通信系统等方面的技术，在国际电信业中居领先地位。爱立信的业务体系包括：通信网络系统，专业电信服务，技术授权，企业系统和移动终端业务（拥有索尼爱立信移动通信公司５０％的股份）。截至１９９９年７月，拥有职工约１０万多，分布在世界１４０多个国家和地区。爱立信公司同中国在电子和通讯领域进行了长期的友好合作。它在中国的业务集中在３个领域：公共网络的程控交换机、移动电话系统和办公交换系统。１９８５年，爱立信在北京开设了第一家办事处。１９９４年４月，爱立信（中国）有限公司成立，它完全归属瑞典爱立信公司，是爱立信的中国协调人，总部在北京。截至２０００年底，爱立信公司在华已拥有４０００多名员工，２４家办事处和１０家合资企业。 沃尔沃集团（AB volvo，又译“富豪集团”）创建于１９２７年的是世界最大的卡车、客车及建筑设备的生产商之一，在海洋及工业能源系统方面和飞机发动机元件领域占有领先地位。该集团是北欧最大的企业，也是世界６０家大公司之一。其业务包括沃尔沃卡车、迈克卡车、雷诺卡车、沃尔沃客车、沃尔沃建筑设备、沃尔沃发动机、沃尔沃航天航空和沃尔沃金融服务。此外，还有多个商业机构在工程、研发、IT、零部件和物流等领域提供全集团范围内的支持。集团总部设在哥德堡，在全球２５个国家拥有生产基地，产品销往１３０多个市场。约有员工共７．６万人。沃尔沃集团２００３年的净销售额达１９１．５１亿欧元。集团的下属公司有：沃尔沃轿车公司 (volvo cars)、沃尔沃卡车公司 (volvo truck corp.)、沃尔沃大客车公司 (volvo bus croup)、沃尔沃施工设备公司、沃尔沃发动机制造公司 (volvo penta)、沃尔沃飞机（航天）发动机制造公司等。 文化 实行９年一贯制义务免费教育。著名高校有斯德哥尔摩大学、乌普萨拉大学、隆德大学、皇家工学院、斯德哥尔摩商学院等。瑞典人文化素质较高、热情好客、纯朴诚实、谈吐文明、行为规矩、重诺守时，瑞典人十分重视环境保护，爱花、爱鸟和其他野生物，热爱大自然。雇员每年享受５周的法定有薪假期，每周工作５天，全年累计工作１，５０００小时。人们喜欢利用闲暇时间到野外活动，到森林和田野远足，采摘野果和蘑菇，到海湖去游泳、泛舟、垂钓；在昼长夜短的夏季，大家纷纷到国内外去旅游。瑞典已成为世界上外出旅游人数最多的国家之一。体育活动更是瑞典人的爱好。 据瑞典哥德堡大学２００２年６月２４日公布的一项调查显示，因特网在瑞典已经超过传统的报纸，成为更受人们欢迎的传媒。根据抽样调查，平均每个瑞典人每昼夜上网浏览的时间达２３分钟，而瑞典人用于阅读日报的时间是２１分钟，用于阅读晚报的时间只剩下８分钟，收听广播和收看电视的时间分别高达２小时和４５分钟。调查显示，女性比较喜欢收听广播和读书；男性则较倾向于收看文字电视新闻，看录像和阅读晚报。受过高等教育的人比较愿意上网，读书和阅读专业杂志；而受教育程度较低的人则乐意看电视，听广播和阅读晚报。 瑞典的假期主要是天主教节日及传统节日如仲夏节（Midsummer）及沃尔帕吉斯夜（Walpurgis Night）。各大的节日同时也是国旗日，家家户户会挂起国旗。瑞典人亦会根据名字日日历挂起国旗。6月6日是瑞典的国庆日，但仍未是正式的假期。 瑞典通讯社 (Tidningarnas Telegrambyra -- TT) 是瑞典最大的通讯社，创建于１９２１年。它是瑞典各报纸和广播电台合作所有的一个股份公司，其任务是向瑞典１４０多家报纸以及广播电台和 电视台提供国内外新闻。总社设在斯德哥尔摩，在马尔默、哥德堡、松兹瓦尔、吕勒欧和延雪平５个城市设有分社。瑞通社设有国内、国际、摄影、体育、议会、经济和劳工市场编辑部。总社有雇员近１８０人，其中记者约１５０人，在其它地方工作的记者共约４００人。瑞通社的国内新闻约占２／３，国际新闻一部分是由该社驻外记者提供，大部分则是转播路透社、法新社和德新社等大通讯社的消息，每日约接收上述通讯社１２万字的新闻。该社与包括新华社在内的２０多家通讯社有合作关系。瑞通社在通讯技术方面比较先进。１９５４年，它作为第一家欧洲通讯社开始使用电传机发稿。瑞通社还以录音方式播送电话新闻，只要拨固定的电话号码，随时都可以收听到该社的最新简明消息。 乌普萨拉大学 (http://www.uu.se) 隆德大学 (http://www.lu.se) 哥德堡大学 (http://www.gu.se) 斯德哥尔摩大学 (http://www.su.se) 于默奥大学 (http://www.uu.se) 林雪平大学 (http://www.liu.se) 瑞典兰德大学 皇家工学院 (http://www.kth.se) 查尔姆斯工学院 (http://www.chalmers.se) 卡洛林斯卡医学院 (http://www.ki.se) 斯德哥尔摩经济学院 (http://www.sse.se) 军事 瑞典现有总兵力约６．５万人、文职人员约２万人，战时可动员８５万人。２００４年９月，瑞典国防大臣比约克隆德发表声明说，瑞典过去把防范来自前苏联集团的入侵当作国家防务的重点，而这一威胁现在已经不复存在。现在的重点是对付国际危机和捍卫国家领土完整。 名胜 诺贝尔故居 (Nobel's House)坐落在瑞典中部卡尔斯库加市的白桦山庄，离斯德哥尔摩２００多公里。这是一座乳白色的二层楼房，楼房前的绿草坪和四周的白桦林交相辉映，环境清幽。１８９４年阿尔弗雷德·诺贝尔结束了海外飘泊生涯回到祖国定居，在这里度过了他生命最后两年中的大部分时光。由于他当年在斯德哥尔摩出生的旧居如今已经矗立起高楼大厦，白桦山庄就成了今天惟一保存完整的诺贝尔故居。 自１９７５年建立起纪念馆以来，这里已成为一游览胜地和诺贝尔学术活动的中心。每年一度在这里举行诺贝尔学术讨论会，来自世界各地的著名科学家济济一堂，共同探讨科学领域新课题和诺贝尔“造福于人类”的学术思想。纪念馆里保留着诺贝尔生前活动的照片、他获得的各种技术发明专利证书、金质奖章和遗嘱。诺贝尔的卧室陈设十分简单，只有床、桌和衣柜等几件最必要的家具，而他实验室里的各种仪器和设备，则琳琅满目。诺贝尔１８３３年１０月２１日生。他因发明销化甘油引爆剂、雷管、硝化甘油固体炸药和胶状炸药等，荣膺“炸药大王”的名声。１８９６年１２月１０日与世长辞。终年６３岁。根据他的遗嘱，把折合为９２０万美元的部分遗产，作为奖励造福人类的科学工作者的基金。以这笔基金的利息，分设物理、化学、生理或医药、文学、和平５种奖金，每年在诺贝尔的逝世日颁发一次，称诺贝尔奖金。 瑞典皇宫是国王办公和举行庆典的地方，斯德哥尔摩主要旅游景点。坐落在斯德哥尔摩市中心。建于１７世纪，是瑞典著名建筑学家特里亚尔的作品。正门由两只石雕狮子分立两旁，两名头戴红缨军帽、身穿中世纪服装的卫士持枪而立，显得十分威武森严。皇宫四壁有许多精美的浮雕，中间是一个很大的场院。南半阙的王宫教堂和国家厅以及北半阙的宴会厅至今保持着原有陈设，对公众开放。皇宫华丽的大厅里，壁上挂着大幅的历代国王和皇后的肖像画，穹顶饰有磁埋和雕刻和绚丽的绘画。据说大多出自１７世纪德国美术家之手。有的室内还陈设着古代的战车兵器、珠宝饰物、金银器皿和手持长矛、全身披挂着铜盔铁甲的中世纪骑士的实体模型。王宫卫队每天中午按古老传统举行隆重的换岗仪式，吸引大批游客。 历史名人 阿尔弗雷德·贝恩哈德·诺贝尔 (Alfred Bernhard Nobel,1833.10.21~1896.12.10)，瑞典著名化学家、硝化甘油炸药发明人。１８３３年生于瑞典的斯德哥尔摩，他一生致力于炸药的研究，在硝化甘油的研究方面取得了重大成就。１８９６年１２月１０日，诺贝尔在意大利逝世。逝世的前一年，他在遗嘱中他提出：将其部分遗产（９２０万美元）作为基金，以其利息分设物理、化学、生理或医学、文学及和平５种奖金，授予世界各国在这些领域对人类作出重大贡献的学者。１９００年６月瑞典政府批准成立诺贝尔基金会，并于次年诺贝尔逝世５周年纪念日，即１９０１年１２月１０日首次颁发诺贝尔奖。１９６８年瑞典中央银行于建行３００周年之际，提供资金增设诺贝尔经济奖（全称为"瑞典中央银行纪念阿尔弗雷德·伯恩德·诺贝尔经济科学奖金"，亦称"纪念诺贝尔经济学奖"），并于１９６９年开始与其他５项奖同时颁发。 诺贝尔奖>>> 奥洛夫·帕尔梅（Olof Palme，1927.1.30~1986.2.28)，瑞典已故首相。１９２７年１月３０日生于斯德哥尔摩。早年斯德哥尔摩附近的锡格蒂纳学校学习，毕业后服兵役。第二次世界大战后，入美国俄亥俄州凯尼恩学院，１９４８年获文学士学位。回国后入斯德哥尔摩大学，１９５１年获法学士学位。１９５０参加社会民主党。１９５３年任瑞典首相特别顾问。１９５８年当选为议员。１９６３年起在政府中任职。１９６９年任社会民主党主席。１９６９年、１９８２年两度出任首相。１９７６年１１月当选为社会党国际副主席。１９８０年９月，在他倡议下成立了“关于裁军和安全问题独立委员会”（也称“帕尔梅委员会”），任主席。１９８０年１１月作为联合国秘书长的特使调停两伊战争。１９８６年２月２８日在斯德哥尔摩遇刺身亡。 外交 奉行“和平时期军事不结盟，以求邻近地区发生战争时守中立”的外交政策。在邻近地区、欧洲和世界事务三个层面积极参与国际合作。认为合作即安全，邻近地区是自身的安全基础，欧盟在欧安事务中发挥着越来越重要的作用，承认北约在欧安事务中的主导地位，视参与联合国事务为外交基石之一。１９９４年６月，加入北约“和平伙伴关系”。１９９５年１月１日成为欧盟正式成员国。瑞典还主张发挥联合国作用，积极促进缓和与裁军。瑞典是欧洲委员会、北欧理事会、欧洲自由贸易联盟成员国。 与中国关系：瑞典于１９５０年１月１４日承认新中国，１９５０年５月９日，瑞典与中国建交，是第一个与中国建交的西方国家。２００６年７月，卡尔十六世国王对中国进行国事访问。２００７年６月，胡锦涛主席对瑞典进行国事访问，胡锦涛在斯德哥尔摩出席瑞中贸易委员会举行的欢迎晚宴并发表重要讲话。 瑞典主要港口概况 一、斯德哥尔摩 港口名称(中文)：斯德哥尔摩 港口名称(英文)：STOCKHOLM 航线：北欧 国家：瑞典 时区： 港口情况描述 港口性质：湖海港，自由港 经纬度，59度20分N，018度03分E 航线：北欧 位于瑞典（全称，瑞典王国THE KINGDOM Or SWEDEN）东南沿海梅拉伦（MALAREN）湖的出海口处，濒临波罗的（BALTIC）海的西北侧，是瑞典第二大港，也是波罗的海的主要港之一。它是瑞典的首都，全国政治、经济、文化和交通的中心，又是一座有名的国际城市，很多世界性会议都在此召开。市区由大小14个岛屿和70多座桥梁组成，故有“北方威尼斯”之称。主要工业有钢铁、造船、机器制造、食品、化学、炼油及纺织等，港口距芬兰的赫尔辛基。(HELSINKI）港约240nmi1e。距机场约40km，有正规航班。 该港属北温带大陆性气候，盛行南一西风，年平均气温最高约29℃，最低一16℃。每年结冰期14天，有破冰船协助开航。全年平均降雨量60Omm。潮差不显著。 装卸设备有各种岸吊、可移式吊、汽车吊、浮吊、卷扬机、卡车、拖车及滚装设施等，其中浮吊最大起重能力达260吨，还有直径为152.4～508mm的输油管供装卸石油使用。油码头可靠6.5万载重吨的油船。装卸效率：吸粮机每小时为120吨。粮库容积达7万吨。大船锚地水深在60m以上。本港自由港区有3个长码头，2个短码头，港区面积达38万平方米,货场面积约9万平方米，粮库容积为1.6万吨，港。口主要出口货物为木材、纸张、钢铁、机械、纸浆及食品等，进口货物主要有煤炭、石油、金属及化工品等。1992年集装箱吞吐量为2.4万TEU，年货物吞吐能力约2500万吨。在节假日中，如需加班，收费加倍。 二、赫尔辛堡 港口名称(中文)：赫尔辛堡 港口名称(英文)：Helsinborg 航线：北欧 国家：瑞典 时区：-7 港口情况描述 港口性质：海湾港、设有自由贸易区、基本港（M） 经纬度：60度10分N，024度57分E 航线：北欧 位于芬兰（全称：芬兰共和国THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND）南部沿海芬兰（FINLAND）湾的北岸，是芬兰最大的港口。始建于1640年，到1812年成为芬兰的首都，现为全国政治、文化、经济和交通中心。也是全国最大的工业中心，它不仅是全国机器制造工业和造船工业中心，还是印刷工业和服装工业的中心。此外，还有冶金、化学、食品及纺织等工业。赫尔辛基又是全国最大的外贸口岸，它担负着芬兰对外贸易货运量的50%左右。赫港的夏季特别长，一天中，阳光普照的时间达20个小时，因此，人们把赫尔辛基叫做“太阳不落的都城”。港口距机场约25km，每天有定期航班飞往世界各地。距俄罗斯圣彼德堡（ST.PETERSBURG)港约170nmile。 该港北温带大陆性气候，盛行南—东南风。年平均气温冬季约-7摄氏度，最低曾达-24摄氏度，夏季约22摄氏度，最高曾达29摄氏度。每年12月下旬至次年的4月中旬为冰冻期，但有破冰船协助开航。全年平均降雨量约600mm。平均潮差甚小。本港港外有小岛作屏障，是天然良港。 装卸设备有各种岸吊、门吊、集装箱吊、多功能吊、谷物吸扬机、专用桥式起重机及滚装设施等。杂货码头有最大起重能力达150吨的固定起重机；油码头有蓄电池；集装箱码头约占20万平方米。港口仓库总面积达52万平方米，露天堆场面积达120万平方米。该港以西港区为最大，它负责来往于瑞典、挪威、丹麦、德国、波兰、法国和英国的集装箱和挂车班轮的装卸，也为航程更远的杂货班轮进行装卸。塞尔纳依南港区是负责来往于波罗的海各港及比利时、荷兰和英国主要挂车的定期航运中心，也是芬兰进出水果和蔬菜的中心，拥有大规模的鲜货仓库，还有进口石油的专用码头，并提供危险品和易燃化学品仓库。本港自由贸易区的面积达10万平方米，主要是仓储设施，在西港区有2万平方米的自由贸易区，进入该区的货物不受海关控制，期限也不受限制，待货物运走时，在纳税交费。在塞尔纳依南港区有8万平方米的自由贸易区，主要用于停放进口的汽车等待交货。主要进口货物为煤、石油、粮谷、水果及汽车等，出口货物主要有木材、纸张、纸浆及木制品等。1994年集装箱吞吐量为47.3万TEU（出口22.2万，进口25.1万），集装箱运量占整个芬兰约74%，卡车和挂车运量约46%。年货物吞吐能力约1500万吨。在节假日中如果需要加班，必须在24小时前提出申请，经批准后可以安排作业，但应付加班费。 三、哥德堡 港口名称(中文)：哥德堡 港口名称(英文)：Gothenburg 航线：北欧 国家：瑞典 时区：-7 港口情况描述 港口性质：海峡河口港、自由港、基本港（M） 经纬度：57度42分N，011度58分E 航线：北欧 位于瑞典（全称：瑞典王国THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN）西南沿海约塔（GOTA）河口，濒临卡特加特（KATTEGAT）海峡的东北侧，与丹麦的腓特烈（FREDERIKSHAVN）港隔峡相望，相距仅50nmile，是瑞典的最大港口。自18世纪初，随着瑞典海运业的发展和繁荣而逐渐成为全国第一大港。它又是瑞典西部的工业中心，主要工业有造船、炼油、汽车、机械、木材加工及食品等，有全国规模最大的造船厂和炼油厂。港口距机场约30km。 该港属北温带海洋性气候，全年多南-西风。3~5月多雾。12~2月海面有冰，但不封港。年平均气温冬季约-11摄氏度，夏季约28摄氏度。全年平均降雨量约550mm。潮差不显著，一般为0.25m。港区分布在约塔河南北两岸和河口以北的海峡沿岸，与斯德哥尔摩之间有一条运河相连。哥港是瑞典进出大西洋最近的港口。 装卸设备有各种岸吊、门吊、卷扬机、传送带、集装箱吊、浮吊及滚装设施等，其中集装箱吊最大起重能力为60吨，浮吊最大起重能力达260吨，还有直径为203.2~406.4mm的输油管供装卸石油使用。集装箱码头可靠3.5万载重吨的船舶；油码头最大可泊25万载重吨的大型油船。货棚与仓库面积达88万平方米，露天堆场面积达180万平方米。港口有运河与铁路可通斯德哥尔摩港。本港自由港区的面积达30万平方米。哥德堡新引进了一条自动化技术检测系统—DICAMOS系统（数字摄像监控系统），安装在码头大门的进出口通道，每条通道有固定的摄像机，把通过大门的拖车及集装箱情况，仅用20秒钟即可将视频信号记录器的检测系统记录下来，并将图象储存在磁盘上。每个磁盘可以存入500吨辆拖车的信息，每辆拖车可以有14个镜头。这些磁盘被保留下来，以便在可能发生的货物运输过程某个环节中纠纷时之用。港口主要进口货物为煤、焦碳、机械、小汽车、矿油、金属、铁、棉花、羊毛、丝织品、谷物、食品、水果及化工品等，出口货物主要有纸浆、木制品、纸张、钢铁、纸板、化工产品、汽车、机械及石油产品等。1993年货物吞吐量为2710万吨，比1992年增长6%，1993年集装箱吞吐量达37万TEU，比1992年增长3%。在节假日中加班要工人自愿，在元旦、五一、圣诞节及除夕等节日不加班。 瑞典的别称：“森林王国”“湖泊王国”“欧洲锯木场”“北欧雪国”“禁酒王国” At 449.964 km² (173.732 sq mi), Sweden is the third largest country by area in Western Europe and fourth in all of Europe. With a total population slightly over 9 million, Sweden has a low population density of 20 people per km² (52 per sq. mi). About 84% of the population live in urban areas. Modern Sweden emerged out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397, and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. In the 17th century the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish empire. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden constituted by the eastern half of Norrland and Österland was lost to Russia in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union with Sweden, a union which lasted until 1905. Since 1814, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality in wartime. Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a strong tradition of parliamentary democracy. The modern name Sweden is derived through "back-formation" from Old English Sweoðeod, which meant "people of the Swedes" (Old Norse Svíþjóð, Latin Suetidi). This word is derived from Sweon/Sweonas (Old Norse Sviar, Latin Suiones). The Swedish name Sverige literally means "Realm of the Swedes", excluding the Geats in Götaland. The etymology of Swedes, and thus Sweden, is generally not agreed upon but suggestively deriving from Proto-Germanic *Swihoniz meaning "one's own", referring to one's own Germanic tribe. History Prehistory Sweden's prehistory begins in the Allerød warm period c. 12,000 BCE with Late Palaeolithic reindeer-hunting camps of the Bromme culture at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province. This period was characterised by small bands of hunter-gatherer-fishers using flint technology. Rock carvings from Tanum, Bohuslän. Rock carvings (petroglyphs) are common all over Scandinavia and several thousands have been found in Sweden alone.Farming and animal husbandry, along with monumental burial, polished flint axes and decorated pottery, arrived from the Continent with the Funnel-beaker Culture in c. 4,000 BCE. Sweden's southern third was part of the stock-keeping and agricultural Nordic Bronze Age Culture's area, most of it being peripheral to the culture's Danish centre. The period began in c. 1700 with the start of bronze imports from Europe. Copper mining was never tried locally during this period, and Scandinavia has no tin deposits, so all metal had to be imported though it was largely cast into local designs on arrival. The Nordic Bronze Age was entirely pre-urban, with people living in hamlets and on farmsteads with single-story wooden long-houses. In the absence of any Roman occupation, Sweden's Iron Age is reckoned up to the introduction of stone architecture and monastic orders about 1100 CE. Much of the period is proto-historical, that is, there are written sources but most hold a very low source-critical quality. The scraps of written matter are either much later than the period in question, written in areas far away, or local and coeval but extremely brief. A rock painted moose from Jämtland. Rock paintings (pictographs) have been fairly limited to northern Scandinavia.The climate took a turn for the worse, forcing farmers to keep cattle indoors over the winters, leading to an annual build-up of manure that could now for the first time be used systematically for soil improvement. A Roman attempt to move the Imperial border forward from the Rhine to the Elbe was aborted in AD 9 when Germans under Roman-trained leadership defeated the legions of Varus by ambush in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. About this time, a major shift in the material culture of Scandinavia occurred, reflecting increased contact with the Romans. Starting in the 2nd century CE, much of southern Sweden's agricultural land was parcelled up with low stone walls. They divided the land into permanent infields and meadows for winter fodder on one side of the wall, and wooded outland where the cattle was grazed on the other side. This principle of landscape organization survived into the 19th century. The Roman Period also saw the first large-scale expansion of agricultural settlement up the Baltic coast of the country's northern two thirds. Sweden enters proto-history with the Germania of Tacitus in 98 CE. Whether any of the brief information he reports about this distant barbaric area was well-founded is uncertain, but he does mention tribal names that correspond to the Swedes (Suiones) and the Sami (Fenni) of later centuries. As for literacy in Sweden itself, the runic script was invented among the south Scandinavian elite in the 2nd century, but all that has come down to the present from the Roman Period is curt inscriptions on artefacts, mainly of male names, demonstrating that the people of south Scandinavia spoke Proto-Norse at the time, a language ancestral to Swedish and other North Germanic languages. Panoramic view of Ale's Stones in Scania, southern Sweden. This ship setting is a Vendel Period burial monument, most likely dating from the 7th century CE. Viking and Middle ages See also: Early Swedish history and Foundation of Modern Sweden The Swedish Viking Age lasted roughly between the eighth and eleventh centuries CE. During this period, it is believed that the Swedes expanded from eastern Sweden and incorporated the Geats to the south. While Vikings from what is today Norway, Denmark and the west coast and south of Sweden travelled south and west, Swedish vikings and Gutar travelled east and south, going to Finland, the Baltic countries, Russia, the Mediterranean and further as far as Baghdad. Their routes passed the rivers of Russia down south to Constantinople (Byzantine Empire) (present-day Istanbul, Turkey) on which they did numerous raids. The Byzantine Emperor Theophilos noticed their great skills in war, and invited them to serve as his personal bodyguard, these were called the varangian guard. The Swedish vikings Template:Early Swedish history. The Swedish vikings (Rus) are, according to the most popular theory, believed to have to have founded Russia. The adventures of these Swedish Vikings are commemorated on many runestones in Sweden, such as the Greece Runestones and the Varangian Runestones. There was also considerable participation in expeditions westwards, which are commorated on stones such as the England Runestones. The last major Swedish Viking expedition appears to have been the ill-fated expedition of Ingvar the Far-Travelled to Serkland, the region south-east of the Caspian Sea. Its members are commemorated on the Ingvar Runestones, none of which mentions any survivor. What happened to the crew is unknown, but it is believed that they died of sickness. It is not known when and how the kingdom of Sweden was born, but the list of Swedish monarchs is drawn from the first kings who ruled Svealand (Sweden) and Götaland (Gothia) as one with Erik the Victorious. Sweden and Gothia were two separate nations long before that. It is not known how long they existed, Beowulf described semi-legendary Swedish-Geatish wars in the sixth century CE. Visby, a medieval city on Gotland.During the early stages of the Scandinavian Viking Age, Ystad in Scania and Paviken on Gotland, in present-day Sweden, were flourishing trade centers. Remains of what is believed to have been a large market have been found in Ystad dating from 600–700 CE. In Paviken, an important center of trade in the Baltic region during the ninth and tenth century, remains have been found of a large Viking Age harbour with shipbuilding yards and handicraft industries. Between 800 and 1000, trade brought an abundance of silver to Gotland and according to some scholars, the Gotlanders of this era hoarded more silver than the rest of the population of Scandinavia combined. St. Ansgar introduced Christianity around 829, but the new religion did not begin to fully replace paganism until the twelfth century and onward. During the 11th century, Christianity became the most prevalent religion, and from the year 1050 Sweden is counted as a Christian nation. The period between 1100 and 1400 was characterized by internal power struggles and competition among the Nordic kingdoms, including struggles for territory and comparative power. Swedish kings also began to expand the Swedish-controlled territory in Finland, creating conflicts with the Rus. In the 14th century, Sweden was struck by the Black Death (the Plague). During this period the Swedish cities also began to acquire greater rights and were strongly influenced by German merchants of the Hanseatic League, active especially at Visby. In 1319, Sweden and Norway were united under King Magnus Eriksson and in 1397 Queen Margaret I of Denmark effected the personal union of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through the Kalmar Union. However, Margaret’s successors, whose rule was also centred in Denmark, were unable to control the Swedish nobility. Real power was held for long periods by regents (notably those of the Sture family) chosen by the Swedish parliament. King Christian II of Denmark, who asserted his claim to Sweden by force of arms, ordered a massacre in 1520 of Swedish nobles at Stockholm. This came to be known as the “Stockholm blood bath” and stirred the Swedish nobility to new resistance and, on 6 June (now Sweden's national holiday) in 1523, they made Gustav Vasa their king. This is sometimes considered as the foundation of modern Sweden. Shortly afterwards he rejected Catholicism and led Sweden into the Protestant Reformation. Gustav Vasa is considered to be Sweden's "Father of the Nation". Swedish Empire Sweden was during Imperial times the most powerful country of northern Europe and the Baltic Sea. Sweden's Imperial status took its start with Gustav II Adolph as king, who made Sweden the third biggest nation in Europe by area after Russia and Spain, and his successful participation in the Thirty Years' War, which made Sweden the recognized leader of continental Protestantism in Europe until 1721, when the Empire collapsed. Sweden's Imperial status during this period is largely credited to Gustav I's major changes on the Swedish economy in the mid-1500s, and his introduction of Protestantism (Lutheran). The mid 1600s and the early 1700s were Sweden's most successful years as a great power. Sweden reached its largest territorial extent as an empire during the rule of Charles X (1622–1660) after the treaty of Roskilde in 1658. However, Sweden's largest territorial extent lasted from 1319 to 1343 with Magnus Eriksson ruling all of the traditional lands of Sweden and Norway. 17th century saw Sweden engaged in warfare with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with both sides competing for territories of today's Baltic states, with the disastrous Battle of Kircholm being one of the highlights. This period also saw the Deluge - the Swedish invasion of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. After more than a half century of almost constant warfare the Swedish economy had deteriorated. It would become the lifetime task of Charles' son, Charles XI (1655-1697), to rebuild the economy and refit the army. His legacy to his son, the coming ruler of Sweden Charles XII, was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great fleet. Sweden's largest threat at this time, Russia, had a larger army but was far behind in both equipment and training. After the Battle of Narva in 1700, one of the first battles of the Great Northern War, the Russian army was so severely injured, that Sweden had an open chance to invade Russia. Instead, however, Charles XII invaded Poland and changed their king to a more Swedish friendly one. However after the crushing defeat at poltava the old king quickly took his throne back. This gave the Russian Tsar time to rebuild and modernise his army. After the success of invading Poland Charles decided to make an invasion attempt of Russia, which however, ended in a decisive Russian victory at the Battle of Poltava in 1709. The campaign had a successful opening for Sweden, which came to occupy Poland and change their rule into a more Swedish friendly king. But after a long march exposed by cossack raids, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great's scorched-earth techniques and the cold Russian climate, the Swedes stood weakened with a shattered confidence, and enormously outnumbered against the Russian army at Poltava. The defeat meant the beginning of the end for Sweden as Empire. After building up a new army Charles XII attempted to invade Norway 1716, however he was shot at Fredriksten fortress in 1718. The Swedish military was not defeated at Fredriksten. However, when Karl died the whole structure and organisation of the Norwegian campaign fell apart and the army withdrew back home. However this led to defeat, the Swedish head of state signed the Treaty of Nystad in 1721. Forced to cede large areas of land, Sweden also lost its place as an empire and as the dominant state on the Baltic Sea. With Sweden's lost influence, Russia began to emerge as an empire, and become one of Europe's dominant nations. In the 18th century, Sweden did not have enough resources to maintain its territories outside Scandinavia and most of them were lost, culminating with the 1809 loss of the eastern part to Russia: forming the semi-autonomous (Duchy) of Finland of Imperial Russia. After Denmark-Norway was defeated in the Napoleonic Wars, Norway was ceded to the king of Sweden on 14 January 1814, at the Treaty of Kiel. The Norwegian attempts to keep their status as a sovereign state were rejected by the Swedish king, Charles XIII. He launched a military campaign against Norway on July 27, 1814, ending in the Convention of Moss, which forced Norway into a personal union with Sweden, which was not dissolved until 1905. The 1814 campaign was also the last war in which Sweden participated as a combatant. Modern history The 18th and 19th centuries saw a significant population increase, which the writer Esaias Tegnér in 1833 famously attributed to "the peace, the (smallpox) vaccine, and the potatoes". Between 1750 and 1850, the population in Sweden doubled. According to some scholars, mass emigration to America became the only way to prevent famine and rebellion; over 1 percent of the population emigrated annually during the 1880s. Nevertheless, Sweden remained poor, retaining a nearly entirely agricultural economy even as Denmark and Western European countries began to industrialize. Many looked towards America for a better life during this time. It is believed that between 1850 and 1910 more than one million Swedes moved to the United States. In the early 20th century, more Swedes lived in Chicago than in Gothenburg (Sweden's second largest city). Most Swedish immigrants moved to the Midwestern United States, with a large population in Minnesota. Some Swedes moved to Delaware. Some also moved to Canada and others in smaller numbers to Argentina. A map of Sweden with largest cities and lakes and most important roads and railroads, from a printed CIA World Factbook. (See also: Atlas of Sweden)Despite the slow rate of industrialization into the 19th century, many important changes were taking place in the agrarian economy due to innovations and the large population growth. These innovations included government-sponsored programs of enclosure, aggressive exploitation of agricultural lands, and the introduction of new crops such as the potato. Due also to the fact that the Swedish peasantry had never been enserfed as elsewhere in Europe, the Swedish farming culture began to take on a critical role in the Swedish political process, which has continued through modern times with modern Agrarian party (now called the Centre Party). Between 1870 and 1914, Sweden began developing the industrialized economy that exists today. Strong grassroots movements sprung up in Sweden during the latter half of the nineteenth century (trade unions, temperance groups, and independent religious groups), creating a strong foundation of democratic principles. These movements precipitated Sweden's migration into a modern parliamentary democracy, achieved by the time of World War I. As the Industrial Revolution progressed during the twentieth century, people gradually began moving into cities to work in factories, and became involved in socialist unions. A socialist revolution was avoided in 1917, following the re-introduction of parliamentarism, and the country was democratized. World Wars Sweden remained officially neutral during World War I and World War II, although its neutrality during World War II has been vigorously debated. Sweden was under German influence for most of the war, as ties to the rest of the world were cut off through blockades. The Swedish government felt that it was in no position to openly contest Germany, and therefore collaborated with Hitler. Swedish volunteers in Nazi SS units were among the first to invade the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa. Sweden also supplied steel and machined parts to Germany throughout the war. Toward the end of the war however, when the defeat of Germany seemed imminent, Sweden began to play a role in humanitarian efforts and many refugees, among them many Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, were saved partly because of the Swedish involvement in rescue missions at the internment camps and partly because Sweden served as a haven for refugees, primarily from Norden and the Baltic states. Nevertheless, internal and external critics have argued that Sweden could have done more to resist the Nazi war effort, even if risking occupation. Cold War Following the war, Sweden took advantage of an intact industrial base, social stability and its natural resources to expand its industry to supply the rebuilding of Europe. By the 1960s, Sweden, like the other Nordic countries, had become an affluent consumer society and welfare state. Sweden was part of the Marshall Plan and participated in the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), many of the policies aiming to improve the quality of life for the general population, in particular Sweden's working class, were successfully implemented. Sweden, like countries around the globe, entered a period of economic decline and upheaval, following the oil embargoes of 1973-74 and 1978-79. In the 1980s pillars of Swedish industry were massively restructured. Shipbuilding was discontinued, wood pulp was integrated into modernized paper production, the steel industry was concentrated and specialized, and mechanical engineering was roboticized. Prime Minister Olof Palme was murdered in 1986. Between 1970 and 1990 Sweden increased overall tax burden by over ten percentage points and the growth was very low compared to most other countries in Western Europe. Sweden steadily lost its position in rankings such as GDP per capita. Recent history A bursting real estate bubble caused by inadequate controls on lending combined with an international recession and a policy switch from anti-unemployment policies to anti-inflationary policies resulted in a fiscal crisis in the early 1990s. Sweden's GDP declined by around 5%. In 1992 there was a run on the currency, the central bank briefly jacking up interest to 500% in an unsuccessful effort to defend the currency's fixed exchange rate. Total employment fell by almost 10% during the crisis. The response of the government was to cut spending and institute a multitude of reforms to improve Sweden's competitiveness, among them reducing the welfare state and privatizing public services and goods. Much of the political establishment promoted EU membership, and the Swedish referendum passed by 52-48% in favour of joining the EU on 14 August 1994. Sweden joined the European Union on1 January 1995, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, Europe's non-aligned Western countries, except Ireland, had considered membership unwise, as the EU predecessor, the European Community, had been strongly associated with NATO countries. Following the end of the Cold War, however, Sweden, Austria and Finland joined, though in Sweden's case without adopting the Euro. Sweden remains non-aligned militarily, although it participates in some joint military exercises with NATO and some other countries, in addition to extensive cooperation with other European countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry. Among others, Swedish companies export weapons that are used by the American military in Iraq. Sweden also has a long history of participating in international military operations, including most recently, Afghanistan, where Swedish troops are under NATO command, and in EU sponsored peacekeeping operations in UN protectorate Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Cyprus. Foreign minister Anna Lindh was murdered in 2003. Geography and climate Situated in Northern Europe, Sweden lies west of the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia, providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. To the west is the Scandinavian mountain chain (Skanderna), a range that separates Sweden from Norway. Sweden is surrounded by Norway (west), Finland (northeast), the Skagerrak, Kattegat and Öresund straits (southwest) and the Baltic Sea (east). It has maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and it is also linked to Denmark (southwest) by the Öresund Bridge. The 25 provinces of SwedenAt 449,964 km² (173,732 sq mi), Sweden is the 55th largest country in the world. It is the 5th largest in Europe, and the largest in Northern Europe. The country is slightly larger than the U.S. state of California, with a population in 2006 of 9.1 million people. The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of Lake Hammarsjön, near Kristianstad at -2.41 m (-7.91 ft) below sea level. The highest point is Kebnekaise at 2,111 m (6,926 ft) above sea level. Sweden has 25 provinces or landskap (landscapes), based on culture, geography and history; Bohuslän, Blekinge, Dalarna, Dalsland, Gotland, Gästrikland, Halland, Hälsingland, Härjedalen, Jämtland, Lapland, Medelpad, Norrbotten, Närke, Skåne, Småland, Södermanland, Uppland, Värmland, Västmanland, Västerbotten, Västergötland, Ångermanland, Öland and Östergötland. While these provinces serve no political or administrative purpose, they are common in everyday language. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large lands, parts, Norrland, Svealand and Götaland. About 15% of Sweden lies north of the Arctic Circle. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. The highest population density is in the Öresund region in southern Sweden, and in the valley of lake Mälaren in central Sweden. Gotland and Öland are Sweden's largest islands; Vänern and Vättern are Sweden's largest lakes. Sweden has a temperate climate despite its northern latitude, mainly because of the Gulf Stream. In the mountains of northern Sweden a sub-Arctic climate predominates. North of the Arctic Circle, the sun never sets for part of each summer, and in the winter, night is similarly unending. Common weather in the seasons (°C): Winter: Cold in the whole country, average temperature below 0°C. Spring: Chilly in north, and cool to mild in southern and central. Summer: Pleasantly warm in southern and central, cooler in north. Autumn: Cool to mild. Average precipitation is between 500 and 800 mm every year. In some parts though the average is between 1000 and 1700 mm/year. Administration and politics Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, in which King Carl XVI Gustaf is head of state, but royal power has long been limited to official and ceremonial functions. The Economist Intelligence Unit, while admitting that democracy is difficult to measure, lists Sweden in first place in its index of democracy assessing 167 countries. The nation's modern legislative body is the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament), with 349 members, which chooses the Prime Minister. Parliamentary elections are held every four years, on the third Sunday of September. Counties and municipalities Sweden is a unitary state, currently divided into twenty-one counties (län). Each county has a County Administrative Board or länsstyrelse, which is appointed by the government (the first Swedish County Administrative Board was made up by the Swedish Prime Minister Axel Oxenstierna in 1634). In each county there is also a separate County Council or landsting, which is elected directly by the people. Each county further divides into a number of municipalities or kommuner, with a total of 290 municipalities in 2004. Municipal government in Sweden is similar to city commission government and cabinet-style council government. A legislative municipal assembly (kommunfullmäktige) of between 31 and 101 members (always an uneven number) is elected from party-list proportional representation at municipal elections, held every four years in conjunction with the national parliamentary elections. The municipalities are also divided into a total of 2,512 parishes, or församlingar (2000). These have traditionally been a subdivision of the Church of Sweden, but still have importance as districts for census and elections. There are also older historical divisions, primarily the twenty-five provinces and three lands, which still retain cultural significance. The Swedish government is investigating the possibilities of merging the current 21 counties into circa 9 larger regions along the lines of the current riksområden used for statistical purposes. If approved, these would come into effect around 2015. Political history Kingdoms of Svear (Swedish) and Götar (Geats) in the twelfth century.The actual age of the kingdom of Sweden is unknown. It depends mostly on whether Sweden should be considered a nation when the Svear (Swedes) ruled Svealand or if the emergence of the nation started with the Svear and the Götar (Geats) of Götaland being united under one ruler. In the first case, Sweden was first mentioned to have one single ruler in the year 98 by Tacitus, but it is almost impossible to know for how long it had been this way. However, historians usually start the line of Swedish monarchs from when Svealand and Götaland were ruled under the same king, namely Erik the Victorious and his son Olof Skötkonung in the 10th century. These events are often described as the consolidation of Sweden, although substantial areas were conquered and incorporated later. Earlier kings, for which no reliable historical sources exist can be read about in mythical kings of Sweden and semi-legendary kings of Sweden, many of these kings are only mentioned in various saga and blend with Norse mythology. The title Sveriges och Götes Konung was last used for Gustaf I of Sweden, after which the title became "King of Sweden, of the Goths and of the Wends" (Sveriges, Götes och Vendes Konung) in official documentation. Up until the beginning of the 1920s, all laws in Sweden were introduced with the words, "We, the king of Sweden, of the Goths and Wends". This title was used up until 1973. The present King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf was the first monarch officially proclaimed "King of Sweden" (Sveriges Konung) with no additional peoples mentioned in his title. The term Riksdag was used for the first time in the 1540s, although the first meeting where representatives of different social groups were called to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole took place as early as 1435, in the town of Arboga. During the assemblies of 1527 and 1544, under King Gustav Vasa, representatives of all four estates of the realm (clergy, nobility, townsmen and peasants) were called on to participate for the first time. The monarchy became hereditary in 1544. Executive power was historically shared between the King and a noble Privy Council until 1680, followed by the King's autocratic rule initiated by the common estates of the Parliament. As a reaction to the failed Great Northern War, a parliamentary system was introduced in 1719, followed by three different flavours of constitutional monarchy in 1772, 1789 and 1809, the latter granting several civil liberties. The monarch remains as the formal, but merely symbolic head of state with ceremonial duties. The Riksdag of the Estates consisted of two chambers. In 1866 Sweden became a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, with the First Chamber indirectly elected by local governments, and the Second Chamber directly elected in national elections every four years. In 1971 the Riksdag became unicameral. Legislative power was (symbolically) shared between king and parliament until 1975. Swedish taxation is controlled by the Riksdag (parliament). Modern political system The Riksdag building, Stockholm.Constitutionally, the 349-member Riksdag (Parliament) holds supreme authority in modern Sweden. This Riksdag is responsible for choosing the prime minister, who then appoints the government (the ministers). The legislative power is then shared between the parliament and the Prime Minister led government. The executive power is exercised by the government, while the judiciary is independent. Sweden lacks compulsory judicial review, although the non-compulsory review carried out by lagrådet (Law Council) is mostly respected in technical matters but less so in controversial political matters. Acts of the parliament and government decrees can be made inapplicable at every level if they are manifestly against constitutional laws. However, due to the restrictions in this form of judicial review and a weak judiciary, this has had little practical consequence. Legislation may be initiated by the cabinet or by members of Parliament. Members are elected on the basis of proportional representation for a four-year term. The Constitution of Sweden can be altered by the Riksdag, which requires a simple but absolute majority and two decisions with general elections in between. Sweden has three other constitutional laws: the Act of Royal Succession, the Freedom of Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression. The Swedish Social Democratic Party has played a leading political role since 1917, after Reformists had confirmed their strength and the revolutionaries left the party. After 1932, the cabinets have been dominated by the Social Democrats. Only four general elections (1976, 1979, 1991 and 2006) have given the centre-right bloc enough seats in Parliament to form a government. However, poor economic performance since the beginning of the 1970s, and especially the crisis at the beginning of the 1990s, have forced Sweden to reform its political system to become more like other European countries. In the 2006 general election the Moderate Party, allied with the Centre Party, Liberal People's Party, and the Christian Democrats, with a common political platform, won a majority of the votes. Together they have formed a majority government under the leadership of the Moderate party's leader Fredrik Reinfeldt. The next elections will be held in September 2010 The Riksdag following its 2006 renovation (picture of assembly hall).Election turnout in Sweden has always been high in international comparisons, although it has declined in recent decades, and is currently around 80% (80.11 in general election of 2002, 81.99 in general election of 2006). Swedish politicians enjoyed a high degree of confidence from the citizens in the 1960s but it has since declined steadily and has a markedly lower level of trust than its Scandinavian neighbours. Some Swedish political figures that have become known worldwide include Raoul Wallenberg, Folke Bernadotte, former Secretary General of the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld, former Prime Minister Olof Palme, former Prime Minister and Foreign minister Carl Bildt, former President of the General Assembly of the United Nations Jan Eliasson, and former International Atomic Energy Agency Iraq inspector Hans Blix. Political movements Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements" (Folkrörelser), the most notable being trade unions, the independent Christian movement, the temperance movement, the women's movement and—more recently—the sports movement. Sweden is currently leading the EU in statistics measuring equality in the political system and equality in the education system. Gudrun Schyman founded the first Swedish feminist party, the Feminist Initiative party, commonly referred to simply as F!, in 2005. Ms. magazine quoted Schyman's view of Sweden's reputation for progressive initiatives: "In Sweden there’s a gap between words and reality.... Internationally a lot of people look upon Sweden as equality paradise, but that is not the truth – and now things are actually going backwards." In fact the pay gap between men and women in Sweden is 16%, higher than the EU average of 15%. Sweden compares unfavourably with the EU average when it comes to providing full-time jobs for women, with a high fraction of employed women working part-time. Law, law enforcement, and judicial system Swedish police car (Volvo V70).The Supreme Court of Sweden is the supreme court and the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. Before a case can be decided by the Supreme Court, leave to appeal must be obtained, and with few exceptions, leave to appeal can be granted only when the case is of interest as a precedent. The Supreme Court consists of 16 Councillors of Justice or justitieråd which are appointed by the government, but the court as an institution is independent of the Riksdag, and the government is not able to interfere with the decisions of the court. Law enforcement in Sweden is carried out by several government entities. The Swedish Police Service is a Government agency concerned with police matters in Sweden. The National Task Force is a national SWAT unit within the National Criminal Investigation Department. Swedish Security Service's responsibilities are counter-espionage, anti-terrorist activities, protection of the constitution and protection of sensitive objects and people. According to a victimization survey of 1,201 residents in 2005, Sweden has above average crime rates compared to other EU countries. Sweden has high or above average levels of assaults, sexual assaults, hate crimes, and consumer fraud. Sweden has low levels of burglary, car theft and drug problems. Bribe seeking was rare. Foreign policy Throughout the twentieth century, Swedish foreign policy was based on the principle of non-alignment in peacetime and neutrality in wartime. "Sweden's government was left to pursue an independent course based on a foreign policy defined as nonalignment in times of peace so that neutrality would be possible in the event of war." Sweden's doctrine of neutrality is often traced back to the 19th century as it has not participated in any war since the end of the Swedish campaign against Norway in 1814. During World War II Sweden joined neither the allied nor axis powers. This has been disputed by many since in effect Sweden allowed the Nazi regime to use its railroad system to transport troops and goods, especially iron ore from the rich mines in northern Sweden, of vital need to the German war machine. During the early Cold War era, Sweden combined its policy of non-alignment with a low profile in international affairs, although it also pursued a security policy based on strong national defence to deter attack. At the same time, the country maintained relatively close informal connections with the Western bloc, especially in the realm of intelligence exchange. In 1952, a Swedish DC-3 was shot down over the Baltic Sea by a Soviet MiG-15 jet fighter. Later investigations revealed that the plane was actually gathering information for NATO. Another plane, a Catalina search and rescue plane, was sent out a few days later and shot down by the Soviets as well. Olof Palme the former prime minister of Sweden visited Cuba during the 1970s and showed his support for Cuba in his speech which was in Spanish.[citation needed] Beginning in the late 1960s, Sweden for a period attempted to play a more significant and independent role in international relations. This involved significant activity in international peace efforts, especially through the United Nations, and in support to the Third World. Since the murder of Olof Palme in 1986 and the end of the Cold War, this has been significantly toned down, although Sweden remains comparatively active in peace keeping missions and maintains a generous foreign aid budget. In 1981 a Soviet Whiskey class submarine ran aground close to the Swedish naval base at Karlskrona in the southern part of the country. It has never been clearly established whether the submarine ended up on the shoals through a navigational mistake or if it was a matter of espionage against Swedish military potential. The incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Sweden and the Soviet Union. Since 1995 Sweden has been a member of the European Union, and as a consequence of a new world security situation the country's foreign policy doctrine has been partly modified, with Sweden playing a more active role in European security co-operation as well. Military The Försvarsmakten (Swedish Armed Forces) is a government agency reporting to the Swedish Ministry of Defence and responsible for the peacetime operation of the armed forces of Sweden. The primary task of the agency is to train and deploy peace support forces abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to refocus on the defence of Sweden in the event of war. The armed forces are divided into Army, Air Force and Navy. The head of the armed forces is the Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces (Överbefälhavaren, ÖB), and after the sovereign is the most senior officer in the country. Until the end of the Cold War, nearly all males reaching the age of military service were conscripted. In recent years, the number of conscripted males has reduced dramatically, while the number of female volunteers has increased slightly. Recruitment has generally shifted towards finding the most motivated recruits, rather than solely those otherwise most fit for service. All soldiers serving abroad must by law be volunteers. In 1975 the total number of conscripts was 45,000. By 2003 it was down to 15,000. After the Defence Proposition 2004, the number of troops in training will decrease even more to between 5,000 and 10,000 each year, while emphasizing the need to recruit only the soldiers later prepared to volunteer for international service. The total forces gathered would consist of about 60,000 men. This could be compared with the 80s before the fall of the Soviet Union, when Sweden could gather up to 1,000,000 men. Swedish units have taken part in peacekeeping operations, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Currently, one of the most important tasks for the Swedish Armed Forces is to form a Swedish-led EU Battle Group to which Norway, Finland, Ireland and Estonia will also contribute. The Nordic Battle Group (NBG) is to have a 10-day deployment readiness during the first half of 2008 and, although Swedish led, will have its Operational Headquarters (OHQ) in Northwood, outside London. Economy Gross Regional Product (GRP) per capita in thousands of kronor (2004). Real GDP growth in Sweden, 1996-2006.Sweden is an export-oriented market economy featuring a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labour force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. Agriculture accounts for 2 percent of GDP and employment. The 20 largest Sweden-registed companies by turnover in 2007 were Volvo, Ericsson, Vattenfall, Skanska, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Electrolux, Volvo Personvagnar, TeliaSonera, Sandvik, Scania, ICA, Hennes & Mauritz, Nordea, Preem, Atlas Copco, Securitas, Nordstjernan, and SKF. Sweden has always provided solid support for free trade (except agriculture), free immigration, and strong property rights. Sweden was richer than almost all countries until, after World War II, governments increased tax burden and government consumption to very heavy levels. The model eventually led to slow growth, Sweden fell some 10 places in GDP per capita rankings, and Swedish households became relatively poor compared to households in less-taxed similar countries. Sweden started to move away from the model in the 1980s, and according to OECD and McKinsey, Sweden has recently been relatively fast in liberalization compared to countries such as France. Deregulation-induced competition helped Sweden to halt the economic decline and restore strong growth rates in the 2000s. Sweden's industry is overwhelmingly in private control; unlike some other industrialized Western countries, such as Austria and Italy, publicly owned enterprises were always of minor importance. The current Swedish government, selected in 2006, is continuing the trend to pursue moderate reforms. Growth was over 3% in 2006, which is around double the growth in France or Germany. Swedes have rejected euro in a popular vote and Sweden maintains its own currency, the Swedish krona (SEK). The Swedish Riksbank—founded in 1668 and thus making it the oldest central bank in the world — is currently focusing on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. According to Economic Survey of Sweden 2007 by OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s, largely because of deregulation and quick utilization of globalization. Some 4.5 million residents are working, out of which around a third with tertiary education. According to OECD, deregulation, globalization, and technology sector growth have been key productivity drivers. GDP per hour worked is growing 2½ per cent a year for the economy as a whole and trade-terms-balanced productivity growth 2%. GDP per hour worked remains behind United States and GDP per capita gap is around 22%. Sweden is a world leader in privatized pensions and pension funding problems are relatively small compared to many other Western European countries. Although the labor market has become more flexible, Swedish labor market is still characterized by insiders and relatively excluded outsiders, and distorted prices, a contrast to the laissez-faire non-regulated labor market in Denmark. Also, taxes for all income groups are high: median income worker suffers from over 60% tax wedge. Inverted tax wedge - the amount going to the service worker's wallet - is approximately 15% compared to 10% in Belgium, 30% in Ireland and 50% in United States, often making services too expensive, or forcing people to the do-it-yourself economy or black market. The slowly declining overall taxation, 51.1% of GDP in 2007, is still nearly double of that in the United States or Ireland. Bureaucracy amounts to a third of Swedish workforce. The Index of Economic Freedom 2008 ranks Sweden the 27th most free out of 162 countries, or 14th out of 41 European countries. Sweden ranked 9th in the IMD Competitiveness Yearbook 2008, scoring high in private sector efficiency. According to the book, The Flight of the Creative Class, by the U.S. economist, Professor Richard Florida of George Mason University, Sweden is ranked as having the best creativity in Europe for business and is predicted to become a talent magnet for the world’s most purposeful workers. The book compiled an index to measure the kind of creativity it claims is most useful to business — talent, technology and tolerance. The largest trade flows are with Germany, United States, Norway, United Kingdom, Denmark, and Finland. Education Swedish students with their student caps on.All young children from 1-5 years old are guaranteed a place in public day-care facility (förskola or dagis). Between ages 6-16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school, divided in three stages. Swedish 15-years-old pupils have the 22nd highest average score in the PISA assessments, being neither significantly higher nor lower than the OECD average. After completing the ninth grade, 90% continue with a three-year upper secondary school (gymnasium) leading sometimes to a vocational diploma and (depending on which program you've chosen) to qualifications for further studies at a university or university college (högskola). Both upper secondary school and university studies are financed by taxes. Some Swedes go straight to work after secondary school. There are universities and university colleges in Sweden. Only few countries except Canada, United States and Japan have higher levels of tertiary degree holders. Along with several other European countries, the government also subsidizes tuition of international students pursuing a degree at Swedish institutions, although there has been talk of this being changed. Uniquely, Sweden is known for being a leader in free-market revolution. While most pre-tertiary students are still enrolled in municipality-managed schools, Sweden introduced education vouchers in 1992, one of the first in the world after Netherlands. Anyone can establish a for-profit school and the municipality must pay new schools the same amount as municipal schools get. For instance, the biggest school chain, Kunskapsskolan, offers 30 schools and a web-based environment, teaches nearly 10,000 pupils, and makes decent profit. Over 10% of pupils were enrolled in private schools in 2008 and numbers are growing fast. The system is popular among voters and the consumer choice has helped to improve education. Energy Sweden's energy market is largely privatized. Nordic energy market is one of the first liberalized energy markets in Europe and it's traded in Nord Pool. The 1973 oil crisis strengthened Sweden's commitment to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels. Since then, electricity has been generated mostly from hydropower and nuclear power. The use of nuclear power has been limited, however. Among other things, the accident of Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station (USA) prompted the Swedish parliament to hold a referendum on nuclear power. The referendum led to a decision that no further nuclear power plants should be built and that a nuclear power phase-out should be completed by 2010.[citation needed] In 2006, out of a total electricity production of 139 TWh, electricity from hydropower accounted for 61 TWh (44%), and nuclear power delivered 65 TWh (47%). At the same time, the use of biofuels, peat etc. produced 13 TWh (9%) of electricity, while wind power produced 1 TWh (1%). Sweden was a net importer of electricity by a margin of 6 TWh. Biomass is mainly used to produce heat for district heating and central heating and industry processes. In March 2005, an opinion poll showed that 83% supported maintaining or increasing nuclear power. Since then however, reports about radioactive leakages at a nuclear waste store in Forsmark, Sweden, have been published, although this does not seem to have changed the public support of continued use of nuclear power. Sweden decided to phase out nuclear fission before 2020, although it is very unlikely that this will happen as the Government has decided to cancel the phase-out.[citation needed] In an effort to phase out the dependency on nuclear power and fossil fuels, the Swedish government has launched a multi-billion dollar program to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. The country has for many years pursued a strategy of indirect taxation as an instrument of environmental policy, including energy taxes in general and carbon dioxide taxes in particular. Also in 2005, Sweden garnered international attention by announcing its intention to break its dependence on foreign oil within 15 years, with the goal of becoming the world's first oil-free economy. Transport Sweden has 162,707 km paved road and 1,428 km of expressways. Motorways run through Sweden, Denmark and over the Öresund Bridge to Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala and Uddevalla. The system of motorways is still under construction and a new motorway from Uppsala to Gävle is under construction. Rail transport is privatized and companies include SJ, Green Cargo, Tågkompaniet and a number of regional companies. The largest airport include Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (17.91 million passengers in 2007), Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport (4.3 million passengers in 2006), and Stockholm-Skavsta Airport (2.0 million passengers). Public policy See also: Nordic model and Swedish welfare Since the late 1960s, Sweden had the highest tax quota (as percentage of GDP) in the industrialized world, although today the gap has narrowed and Denmark has surpassed as the heaviest taxed country among developed countries. Sweden has a two step progressive tax scale with a municipal income tax of about 30% and an additional high-income state tax of 20–25% when a salary exceeds roughly 300,000 SEK per year. The employing company pays an additional 32% of an "employer's fee". In addition, a national VAT of 25% or 18% is added to many things bought by private citizens, with the exception of food (12% VAT), transportation, and books (6% VAT). Certain items are subject to additional taxes, e.g. electricity, petrol/diesel and alcoholic beverages. As of 2007, total tax revenue was 47.8% of GDP, the second highest tax burden among developed countries, down from 49.1% 2006. After increasing the tax burden after World War II, Sweden's GDP per capita ranking fell from the 4th to 14th place in a few decades. No new net jobs have been produced in the Swedish private sector since 1950. None of top 50 companies on the Stockholm stock exchange has been started since 1970. Public sector spending amounts to 53% of the GDP. State and municipal employees total around a third of the workforce, much more than in most Western countries. Only Denmark has larger bureaucracy (38% of Danish workforce). Spending on transfers is also high. In the 1990s, Sweden started to make reforms, such as education vouchers in 1992 and decentralization of some types of healthcare services to municipal control. Eighty percent of the workforce is organized through the trade-unions which have the right to elect two representatives to the board in all Swedish companies with more than 25 employees. Swedish unemployment figures are highly contested in politics. The official number, defended by SDP before it lost elections, was around 4.5% in 2006. The official number does not include people in government unemployment programmes (about 2% of the workforce), people on extended sick-leave, those in early retirement or those outside the unemployment system. Unemployment is higher amongst younger people. Because of the contradiction—unemployment despite a growing commercial enterprise economy—politicians and analysts often speak of the "jobless growth". According to Eurostat the unemployment rate in February 2007 was at 6.7% down from 7.4% from February 2006. Sweden also still bears scars from an economic crisis in the 1990s, which resulted in thousands of people becoming unemployed and a great national debt. Two remnants are an increase in socioeconomic segregation and a national debt of approximately 1 167 billion Swedish Kronor (approx. €124 billion, December 2007), 39% of the GDP. OECD notes, that while several sectors in the economy have been deregulated, the Swedish housing market remains distorted, hindering an optimal matching of supply and demand. Also, because of taxes and regulation, Swedish construction productivity is low. The rampant tax evasion has helped to keep prices a bit lower, but at the same time caused overly fragmented industry. Demographics As of April 2007, the total population of Sweden was estimated to be 9,131,425. The population exceeded 9,000,000 for the first time as of approximately 12 August 2004 according to the Statistics Sweden. Of the 2004 population, 1.1 million, or 12%, were foreign-born and approximately 16.7% (1.53 million) had at least one parent born abroad or were themselves born abroad. This reflects the inter-Nordic migrations, earlier periods of labour immigration, and later decades of refugee and family immigration. Sweden has been transformed from a nation of emigration ending after World War I to a nation of immigration from World War II onwards. In 2006, immigration to Sweden reached its highest level since records began. The largest immigrant group living in Sweden as of 2005 consists of people born in Finland, followed by people born in Turkey, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Russia, Iran, Iraq and Former Yugoslavia. Immigration from the other Nordic countries reached a peak of more than 40,000 per year in 1969-70 when the new immigration rules introduced in 1967 had made it more difficult for immigrants from outside the Nordic region to settle in Sweden for labour market policy reasons. Immigration by refugees and immigrating relatives of refugees from outside the Nordic region increased drastically during the late 1980s, with many of the immigrants arriving from Asia and Latin America, especially from Iran and Chile. During the 1990s and onwards another large immigrant group came from former Yugoslavia and the Middle East. Language The primary language of Sweden is Swedish, a North Germanic language, related and very similar to Danish and Norwegian, but differing in pronunciation and orthography. Norwegians have little difficulty understanding Swedish, and Danes can also understand it, with slightly more difficulty than the Norwegians. The dominant language is Swedish, though it is not an official language. However, with the recognition of five minority languages of Sweden (Finnish, Meänkieli, Sami, Romani and Yiddish) the issue of whether Swedish should be declared the official language was raised. The parliament voted in 2005 but the proposal narrowly failed. In varying degrees, depending largely on frequency of interaction with English, a majority of Swedes, especially those born after World War II, understand and speak English thanks to trade links, the popularity of overseas travel, a strong Anglo-American influence and the tradition of subtitling rather than dubbing foreign television shows and films. English became a compulsory subject for secondary school students studying natural sciences as early as 1849, and has been a compulsory subject for all Swedish students since the late 1940s. Depending on the local school authorities, English is currently a compulsory subject between first grade and ninth grade, with all students continuing in secondary school studying English for at least another year. Most students also study one and sometimes two additional languages. These include (but are not limited to) German, French and Spanish. Some Danish and Norwegian is at times also taught as part of the Swedish course for native speakers. Sweden Finns are Sweden's largest linguistic minority. They make around 3 percent of Sweden's population. On the other hand, in neighboring Finland, Swedish is first language for about 5.5 percent (2007) of the population, the so called Swedish-speaking Finns. Swedish-speakers are found in rural and coastal municipalities. Swedish is an official language in these municipalities and holds the status of an official language of the state. There are mandatory Swedish courses in the secondary school. Religion Before the eleventh century, Swedes adhered to Norse paganism, worshiping Æsir gods, with its centre at the Temple in Uppsala. With Christianization in the 11th century, the laws of the country were changed, forbidding worship of other deities into the late nineteenth century. After the Protestant Reformation in the 1530s, a change significantly affected by Martin Luther's Swedish associate Olaus Petri, the Church and state were separated and the authority of Roman Catholic bishops abolished, allowing Lutheranism to prevail. This process was completed by the Uppsala Synod of 1593. During the era following the Reformation, usually known as the period of Lutheran Orthodoxy, small groups of non-Lutherans, especially Calvinist Dutchmen, the Moravian Church and Walloons or French Huguenots from Belgium, played a significant role in trade and industry, and were quietly tolerated as long as they kept a low religious profile. The Sami originally had their own shamanistic religion, but they were converted to Lutheranism by Swedish missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries. Not until liberalization in the late 18th century, however, were believers of other faiths, including Judaism and Roman Catholicism, allowed to openly live and work in Sweden, and it remained illegal until 1860 for Lutheran Swedes to convert to another religion. The 19th century saw the arrival of various evangelical free churches, and, towards the end of the century secularism, leading many to distance themselves from Church rituals. Leaving the Church of Sweden became legal with the so-called dissenter law of 1860, but only under the provision of entering another denomination. The right to stand outside any religious denomination was established in the Law on Freedom of Religion in 1951. Today about 75% of Swedes belong to the Church of Sweden (Lutheran), but the number is decreasing by about 1% every year, and Church of Sweden services are sparsely attended (hovering in the single digit percentages of the population). The reason for the large number of inactive members is partly that until 1996, children became members automatically at birth if at least one of the parents was a member. Since 1996, all children that are christened become members. Some 275,000 Swedes are today members of various free churches (where congregation attendance is much higher), and, in addition, immigration has meant that there are now some 92,000 Roman Catholics and 100,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians living in Sweden. Because of immigration, Sweden also has a significant Muslim population. Almost 500,000 are Muslims by tradition, but approximately 5% (25,000) of these are practising Islam (in the sense of attending Friday prayer and praying five times a day). (See Islam in Sweden.) According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005, 23% of Swedish citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 53% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 23% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force". Sweden ranks aside with France and Russia on having a large minority of its citizens who have no religion. Independent of these statistics, it is generally known that Swedish society, collectively, considers religiousness as a private affair separate from daily life. Health Healthcare in Sweden is developed. Sweden ranks in the top five countries with respect to low infant mortality. It also ranks high in life expectancy and in safe drinking water. World-class hospitals in Sweden include Lund University, Karolinska University Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Linköping University Hospital and Uppsala University Hospital. A person seeking care first contacts a clinic for a doctor's appointment, and may then be referred to a specialist by the clinic physician, who may in turn recommend either in-patient or out-patient treatment, or an elective care option. The health care is governed by the 21 Landsting (County councils) of Sweden, which act on general recommendations of the parliament, and delegate local government to the municipalities. Regulations, waiting times and patient fees vary in the different Landsting. The main criticism leveled at Swedish health care is that the waiting times are too long. Another criticism is that waiting times, quality of care and patient fees may vary in different counties, effectively meaning that patients may be treated better depending on where they live. Culture Sweden has many authors of worldwide recognition including August Strindberg, Astrid Lindgren, and Nobel Prize winners Selma Lagerlöf and Harry Martinson. In total seven Nobel Prizes in Literature have been awarded to Swedes. The nation's most well-known artists are painters such as Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn, and the sculptors Tobias Sergel and Carl Milles. Swedish twentieth-century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days of cinema, with Mauritz Stiller and Victor Sjöström. In the 1920s–1980s, the filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and actors Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman became internationally noted people within cinema. More recently, the films of Lukas Moodysson and Lasse Hallström have received international recognition. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "sexual revolution", with gender equality having particularly been promoted. At the present time, the number of single people is one of the highest in the world. The early Swedish film I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967) reflected a liberal view of sexuality, including scenes of love making that caught international attention, and introduced the concept of the "Swedish sin". Sweden has also become, in recent decades, fairly liberal regarding homosexuality, as is reflected in the popular acceptance of films such as Show Me Love, which is about two young lesbians in the small Swedish town of Åmål. In the absence of legislation on same-sex marriages, Sweden offers both registered partnerships and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. Cohabitation (sammanboende) by heterosexual couples of all ages, including teenagers as well as elderly couples, is widespread although in recent years it has become administratively problematical with regard to proof in claims of "spousal" social security. About half the children in the country are born out of wedlock. Presence of already obtained common-law offspring in newspaper photographs of marrying couples is commonplace. Music Sweden has a rich musical tradition, ranging from medieval folk ballads to hip hop music. The music of the pre-Christian Norse has been lost to history, although historical re-creations have been attempted based on instruments found in Viking sites. Instruments used were the lur (a sort of trumpet), simple string instruments, wooden flutes and drums. It is possible that the Viking musical legacy lives on in some of the old Swedish folk music. Sweden has a significant folk-music scene, both in the traditional style as well as more modern interpretations which often mix in elements of rock and jazz. Väsen is more of a traditionalist group, using a unique traditional Swedish instrument called the nyckelharpa while Garmarna, Nordman, and Hedningarna have more modern elements. There is also Saami music, called the joik, which is actually a type of chant which is part of the traditional Saami animistic spirituality but has gained recognition in the international world of folk music as well. Sweden has a major market for new age and ecologically or environmentally aware music, as well a large portion of pop and rock music have liberal and left-wing political messages. Sweden also has a prominent choral music tradition, deriving in part from the cultural importance of Swedish folk songs. In fact, out of a population of 9.1 million, it is estimated that five to six hundred thousand people sing in choirs. ABBA was one of the first internationally well-known popular music bands from Sweden, and still ranks among the most prominent bands in the world, with about 370 million records sold. With ABBA, Sweden entered into a new era, in which Swedish pop music gained international prominence. There have been many other internationally successful bands since, such as Roxette, Ace of Base, and the Cardigans to name some of the biggest, and recently there has been a surge of Swedish Indie pop bands such as Peter, Bjorn & John, The Hives and Mando Diao. Sweden has also become known for a large number of heavy metal (mostly death metal and melodic death metal which genre in fact was created with the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames) as well as progressive- and power metal bands. Sweden is the 3rd largest music exporter in the world, with over 800 million dollars in revenue last year, surpassed only by the US and the UK. Sweden has a rather lively jazz scene. During the last sixty years or so it has attained a remarkably high artistic standard, stimulated by domestic as well as external influences and experiences. The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research has published an overview of jazz in Sweden by Lars Westin. Media Swedes are among the greatest consumers of newspapers in the world, and nearly every town is served by a local paper. The country's main quality morning papers are Dagens Nyheter (liberal), Göteborgs-Posten (liberal), Svenska Dagbladet (liberal conservative) and Sydsvenska Dagbladet (liberal). The two largest evening tabloids are Aftonbladet (social democratic) and Expressen (liberal). The ad-financed, free international morning paper, Metro International, was originally founded in Stockholm, Sweden. The country's news is reported in English by, among others, The Local (liberal). The public broadcasting companies held a monopoly on radio and television for a long time in Sweden. Licence funded radio broadcasts started in 1925. A second radio network was started in 1954 and a third opened 1962 in response to pirate radio stations. Non-profit community radio was allowed in 1979 and in 1993 commercial local radio started. The licence funded television service was officially launched in 1956. A second channel, TV2, was launched in 1969. These two channels (operated by Sveriges Television since the late '70s) held a monopoly until the 1980s when cable and satellite television became available. The first Swedish language satellite service was TV3 which started broadcasting from London in 1987. It was followed by Kanal 5 in 1989 (then known as Nordic Channel) and TV4 in 1990. In 1991 the government announced it would begin taking applications from private television companies wishing to broadcast on the terrestrial network. TV4, which had previously been broadcasting via satellite, was granted a permit and began its terrestrial broadcasts in 1992, becoming the first private channel to broadcast television content from within the country. Around half the population are connected to cable television. Digital terrestrial television in Sweden started in 1999 and the last analogue terrestrial broadcasts were terminated in 2007. Literature The first literary text from Sweden is the Rök Runestone, carved during the Viking Age circa 800 AD. With the conversion of the land to Christianity around 1100 AD, Sweden entered the Middle Ages, during which monastic writers preferred to use Latin. Therefore there are only a few texts in the Old Swedish from that period. Swedish literature only flourished when the Swedish language was standardized in the 16th century, a standardization largely due to the full translation of the Bible into Swedish in 1541. This translation is the so-called Gustav Vasa Bible. With improved education and the freedom brought by secularisation, the 17th century saw several notable authors develop the Swedish language further. Some key figures include Georg Stiernhielm (17th century), who was the first to write classical poetry in Swedish; Johan Henric Kellgren (18th century), the first to write fluent Swedish prose; Carl Michael Bellman (late 18th century), the first writer of burlesque ballads; and August Strindberg (late 19th century), a socio-realistic writer and playwright who won worldwide fame. The early 20th century continued to produce notable authors, such as Selma Lagerlöf, (Nobel laureate 1909), Verner von Heidenstam (Nobel laureate 1916) and Pär Lagerkvist (Nobel laureate 1951). In recent decades, a handful of Swedish writers have established themselves internationally, including the detective novelist Henning Mankell and the writer of spy fiction Jan Guillou. But the only Swedish writer to have made a significant mark on world literature is the children's book writer Astrid Lindgren, and her books about Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Maple Hills, and others. Inventions In the 18th century Sweden's scientific revolution took off. Previously, technical progress had mainly come from professionals who had immigrated from mainland Europe. In 1739, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences was founded, with people such as Carolus Linnaeus and Anders Celsius as early members. From the 1870s, engineering companies were created at an unmatched rate and engineers became heroes of the age. Many of the companies founded by early pioneers are still internationally familiar. Gustaf Dalén founded AGA, and received the Nobel Prize for his sun valve. Alfred Nobel invented dynamite and instituted the Nobel Prizes. Lars Magnus Ericsson started the company bearing his name, Ericsson, still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. Jonas Wenström was an early pioneer in alternating current and is along with Serbian inventor Tesla credited as one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system. The traditional engineering industry is still a major source of Swedish inventions, but pharmaceuticals, electronics and other high-tech industries are gaining ground. Tetra Pak is an invention for storing liquid foods, invented by Erik Wallenberg. Håkan Lans invented the Automatic Identification System, a worldwide standard for shipping and civil aviation navigation. Losec, an ulcer medicine, was the world's best-selling drug in the 1990s and was developed by AstraZeneca. A large portion of the Swedish economy is to this day based on the export of technical inventions, and many large multinational corporations from Sweden have their origins in the ingenuity of Swedish inventors. Holidays Apart from traditional Protestant Christian holidays, Sweden also celebrates some unique holidays, some of a pre-Christian tradition. They include Midsummer celebrating the summer solstice; Walpurgis Night (Valborgsmässoafton) on 30 April lighting bonfires; and Labour Day or Mayday on 1 May is dedicated to socialist demonstrations. The day of giver-of-light Saint Lucia, 13 December, is widely acknowledged in elaborate celebrations which betoken its Italian origin and commence the month-long Christmas season. 6 June is the National Day of Sweden and, as of 2005, a public holiday. Furthermore, there are official flag day observances and a Namesdays in Sweden calendar. In August many Swedes have kräftskivor (crayfish dinner parties). Martin of Tours Eve is celebrated in Scania in November with Mårten Gås parties, where roast goose and svartsoppa ('black soup', made of goose stock, fruit, spices, spirits and goose blood) are served. The Sami, one of Sweden's indigenous minorities, have their holiday on February 6 and Scania celebrate their Scanian Flag day on the third Sunday in July. Cuisine Swedish cuisine, like that of the other Scandinavian countries (Denmark and Norway), was traditionally simple. Fish (particularly herring), meat and potatoes played prominent roles. Spices were sparse. Famous dishes include Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes and lingonberry jam; pancakes, lutfisk, and Smörgåsbord, or lavish buffet. Akvavit is a popular alcoholic distilled beverage, and the drinking of snaps is of cultural importance. The traditional flat and dry crisp bread has developed into several contemporary variants. Regionally important foods are the surströmming (a fermented fish) in Northern Sweden and eel in Scania in Southern Sweden. However, Swedes have traditionally also been very open to foreign influences, ranging from the French cuisine during the eighteenth century, to the sushi and cafe latte of today. Film Swedes have been fairly prominent in the film area through the years, to several successful Swedish Hollywood actors can be mentioned: Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo, Max von Sydow, Dolph Lundgren, Lena Olin, Stellan Skarsgård, Peter Stormare, Izabella Scorupco, Pernilla August, Ann Margaret, Anita Ekberg, Alexander Skarsgård, Harriet Andersson, Bibi Andersson, Ingrid Thulin and Gunnar Björnstrand. Amongst several directors who have made internationally successful films can be mentioned: Ingmar Bergman and Lasse Hallström. Comics There are only a few well known comics in Sweden. One is Herman Hedning and back in the 40s a comic called Biffen och Bananen("The Beef and the Banana") was very popular. It's currently very rare. The comic strip Hälge, a story about a moose being hunted every year, is also well known. Also, American comic strip Beetle Bailey is very popular here. Fashion Sweden has in late years taken an interest in the fashion industry, through headquartering famous brands like Hennes & Mauritz (operating as H&M), J. Lindeberg (operating as JL), Gina Tricot, Tiger of Sweden and Filippa K within its borders. These companies, however, are comprised largely of buyers who import fashionable goods from throughout Europe and the Americas, continuing the trend of Swedish business toward multinational economic dependency like many of its neighbours. Sports Sport activities are a national movement with half of the population actively participating, much thanks to the heavy government subsidies of sport associations (föreningsstöd). The two main spectator sports are association football and ice hockey. Second to football, horse sports have the highest number of practitioners, mostly women. Thereafter follow golf, athletics, and the team sports of handball, floorball, basketball and bandy. The Swedish ice hockey team Tre Kronor is regarded as one of the best in the world and has won the World Championships seven times, and Olympic gold medals in 1994 and 2006. In 2006, as the first nation in history, they won both the Olympic and world championships in the same year. The Swedish national football team has seen some success at the World Cup in the past, finishing second when they hosted the tournament in 1958, and third twice, in 1950 and 1994. Athletics has enjoyed a surge in popularity due to several successful athletes in recent years. In schools, on meadows and in parks, the game brännboll, a sport similar to baseball, is commonly played for fun. Other leisure sports are the historical game of kubb, and boules among the older generation. Sweden hosted the 1912 Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 1958. Other big sports events held here include 1992 UEFA European Football Championship, FIFA Women's World Cup 1995, and several championships of ice hockey, athletics, skiing, bandy, figure skating and swimming. International rankings Rankings Name Year Place Out of # Reference CIA World Factbook – GDP per capita (PPP) 2008 26th 229 CIA World Factbook – Life expectancy at birth 2008 9th 223 World Economic Forum – Enabling Trade Index ranking 2008 3rd 118 Yale University / Columbia University - Environmental Performance Index 2008 3rd 149 The Economist Intelligence Unit - E-readiness 2008 3rd 70 The Economist Intelligence Unit - Global Peace Index 2008 13th 140 Save the Children - Mother's Index Rank 2007 1st 141 Save the Children - Women's Index Rank 2007 1st 141 Save the Children - Children's Index Rank 2007 4th 141 Wall Street Journal / The Heritage Foundation - Index of Economic Freedom 2007 27th 157 United Nations - Human Development Index 2007 6th 177 World Economic Forum - Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008 2007 4th 131 World Economic Forum - The Global Gender Gap Report 2007 2007 1st 128 World Bank - Ease of Doing Business Index 2007 14th 178 Reporters Without Borders - Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2007 5th 169 Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index 2007 4th 179 The Economist Intelligence Unit - Index of Democracy 2007 1st 167 NationMaster's index of civil and political liberties 13th 140 NationMaster's index of asylum seekers (per capita) 4th 28 NationMaster's index of economic aid (donor, per capita) 5th 24 NationMaster's index of total tax wedge (single worker) 4th 29 NationMaster's index of technological achievement 3rd 68 NationMaster's index of marriage rate 27th 27 NationMaster's index of drug offences 7th 46 World Health Organization - suicide rates by country 31th 100 Privacy International - Privacy index (EU and 11 other selected countries) 2006 28th 36 New Economics Foundation - Happy Planet Index 2006 119th 178 The Economist Intelligence Unit - Quality-of-life index 2005 5th 111 Save the Children - % seats in the national government held by women 2004 1st (47%) 141 |
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