A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment, rising maintenance costs, and a declining position in world markets. Indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EU until 1995, and waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.

zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower

arable land: 6.8%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 93.2% (1998 est.)

8,878,085 (July 2003 est.)

indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks

Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist

Swedish
note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Stockholm

constitutional monarchy

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

Flag Day, 6 June