Kingdom of Sweden · Northern Europe
View on the interactive map →| Capital | Stockholm |
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| Population | 10.2 million |
| Area | 450,295 km² (173,860 mi²) |
| Official language(s) | Swedish |
| Currency | Swedish krona (kr) |
| Region | Europe |
| Subregion | Northern Europe |
| Continent | Europe |
| Demonym | Swedish |
| Calling code | +46 |
| Time zone | Europe/Stockholm |
| Government type | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
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| Head of state | Monarch: King Carl XVI Gustaf As of January 2026 — verify current officeholders. |
| Major political parties | Social Democrats, Moderates, Sweden Democrats, and others |
| National motto | För Sverige i tiden (For Sweden — With the Times) |
| Major religions | Christianity (Lutheran heritage), Unaffiliated (majority), Islam |
| Important cities | Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala |
Independence / founding: Consolidated as a kingdom under Gustav Vasa, 1523
From Viking roots, Sweden emerged as a unified kingdom in 1523 and briefly a great European power in the 17th century. It avoided the World Wars through neutrality and built a celebrated social-welfare model. Long non-aligned, Sweden joined the EU in 1995 and NATO in 2024.
| National animal / bird | Eurasian elk (moose) |
|---|---|
| National dish | Meatballs, gravlax, crispbread |
| Music | Pop — a world-leading export (ABBA and beyond) |
| National sport | Football, ice hockey |