Geography, history
The Kingdom of Sweden (Swedish: Konungariket Sverige), is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe. It has been a member of the European Union since January 1, 1995. Its capital and largest city is Stockholm.
Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden
Sweden is the fourth largest country by area in Europe. With a total population of slightly over 9 million, Sweden has a low population density of 20 people per square km. About 84% of the population live in urban areas.
Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements", the most notable being trade unions, the independent Christian movement, the temperance movement, the women's movement and more recently the sports movement.
It is home to the Nobel Prize committee for all prizes, except the peace prize, which is hosted in Oslo- a memento of the Swedish-Norwegian union that was dissolved just over 100 years ago. Sweden was pushed out of the race for overseas territories by other powers early on, and as a result does'nt have much of a colonialist history.
Climate
Even for people from western Europe, the climate in Sweden is quite something else.
For someone coming from tropical regions, Sweden will be outright cold, and you would always need good, warm clothing.
The popularity of sports like skiing and skating on natural ice should give you some clues!
Note that the following section uses European standards- and read "cold" for "cool", "cool" for "warm", etc. "Cool" usually just means it is not actually freezing- but it can be very chilly indeed.
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 the summer, and in winter, night is similarly unending.
Common temperatures in the seasons (C):
Winter: -1 in the most southern parts, -5 to -15 in south and middle, and down to -20 in the north (locally down to -40).
Spring: about 10 to 15 in the south and middle and a bit colder in the north.
Summer: 20 to 33 in south, 18 to 30 in middle and around 15 in the north.
Autumn: a bit under 10 in the south and middle and often under 5 in the north.
Note that daylight varies greatly during the year. In Stockholm, the sun sets at 3 PM in December. North of the Arctic Circle and even at Stockholm's latitude one can experience arctic night in the winter(always dark except twilight for few hours) and the midnight sun in the summer (no darkness at night).
Economy
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.
Swedes have rejected the Euro in a popular vote, and Sweden maintains its own currency, the Swedish krona (SEK).
Migration
As of April 2007, the total population of Sweden was estimated to be somewhat over 9 million.
Of the 2004 population, 12% were foreign-born, and approximately 16.7% 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 those born in Iraq, Former Yugoslavia, Turkey, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Russia and Iran.
Cities with largest foreign populations (2001): Malmo (7%), Goteborg (6%), Stockholm (6%).
Only 16.1% of the population believe unemployed migrants should be expelled, the second-lowest in the EU after Denmark. 86.2%, the highest in the EU, believe ethnic diversity enriches Swedish culture.
Sweden has a strong tradition of being an open, yet discreet country. Citizens sometimes appear to be quite reserved at first, but once they get to know who they are dealing with, they'll be as warm and friendly as you could wish.
Privacy is regarded as a key item. Mega-stars in various lines of trade have often found that they can walk the streets virtually undisturbed.
