Sweden is located in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway.
Sweden has borders with Aland Islands for 614km, Finland for 614km and Norway for 1619km.
Land in Sweden is mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west.
Swedish land covers an area of 449964 square kilometers which is slightly larger than California
As for the Swedish climate; temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north.
Swede(s) speak Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities.
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 and in 2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. 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.
Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole of the 20th century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and of jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal discipline resulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cut by more than half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown, declining revenue, and increased spending. The Swedish central bank (the Riksbank) focuses on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003, but picked up in 2004 and 2005. Presumably because of generous sick-leave benefits, Swedish workers report in sick more often than other Europeans. In September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system, concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.
Swedish natural resources include iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
Swedish religion is Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist.
Natural hazards in Sweden include ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic.