Sweden

Facts about Sweden

World-class education

Sweden is ranked as one of the top 5 countries in the world for higher education. Swedes also have a very high level of English as a second language.

• Ranking of higher education systems – Universitas 21 website
• English proficiency levels – Education First website

Innovation

Ranked as one of the most innovative nations in the world, Sweden also has a large number of global companies per capita. Globally recognised Swedish brands include IKEA, Ericsson, Volvo, Tetra Pak, ABB, H&M, Atlas Copco, Astra Zeneca, SKF, Vattenfall and Spotify, to name a few.

Innovation rankings – Global Innovation Index website

Prestige and creativity 

Sweden is home to the Nobel Prize, the world's most prestigious academic award, and has a strong international reputation for innovative and creative thinking and for fostering close cooperation between academia and industry.

The Nobel Prize – the official website of the Nobel Prize

Focus on sustainability

Sweden is a modern, environmentally conscious country ranked by Robeco as the second most sustainable country in the world. For most Swedes, sustainability is a way of life. For example, 99% of all municipal waste is recycled and Swedish companies have a long history of active sustainable business practices.

Sustainability rankings – Robeco website

An equal, multicultural society

Equality and transparency, together with a strong social safety net, are key factors in Swedish society. Democratic principles shape not only the way Sweden is governed, but also all levels of society – from pre-school to the workplace.

Sweden is an open multicultural society with more than 200 nationalities represented in the country. About 20% of the population has roots in other countries.

Swedes have worked hard to build a society that promotes gender equality, tolerance and inclusiveness, and it is therefore no surprise that Sweden is among the top countries in international gender equality rankings.

Full religious freedom is legally guaranteed in Sweden, giving everyone every individual the right to belong to the church or the religion of their choice. By international standards, Sweden is one of the most secularised countries in the world.

More facts on the official website of Sweden – sweden.se

Geography of Sweden

Sweden is located in the Scandinavian region of Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the north-west, Finland to the north-east and Denmark to the south, via the connecting Öresund Bridge.

Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe, comparable to Spain or France. In terms of population, however, it is a small country with around 10.5 million inhabitants. Southern Sweden is much more densely populated than the northern part of the country.

Key facts

• Surface area: 528 447 square kilometres, the fifth largest country in Europe
• Capital: Stockholm
• Population: almost 10.5 million
• Language: Swedish (main language) and five official minority languages: Sami, Finnish, Meänkieli (Tornedalen Finnish), Yiddish and Romani Chib. English is widely spoken.
• Form of government: Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy  
• Life expectancy: 81.2 years for men; 84.8 years for women
• Time zone: GMT+1