World Factbook
Sweden
Konungariket Sverige
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the colors come from the Swedish coat of arms
Capital
name
Stockholm
etymology
the name of the city probably comes from the Swedish words stak (bay) or stock (stake or pole) and holm (island); it was built in the mid-13th century on the site of a fishing village, so the name may refer to building over earlier foundations
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
59 20 N, 18 03 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown
dual citizenship recognized
no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991)
amendment process
proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; the results of such a referendum are only binding if a majority vote against the proposal
Country name
etymology
name derives from the North Germanic Svea tribe that inhabited central Sweden; the tribe's name probably comes from the Old German word sweba , meaning "independent;" the local form of the country's name, Sverige, means "kingdom of the Svea"
local long form
Konungariket Sverige
local short form
Sverige
conventional long form
Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form
Sweden
Independence
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president)
subordinate courts
first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the government; after a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
chief of state
King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973)
head of government
Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
National holiday
National Day, 6 June (1983)
note: celebrated as Swedish Flag Day from 1916 to 1982
National color(s)
blue, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c); Laponian Area (m); High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n); Birka and Hovgården (c); Hanseatic Town of Visby (c); Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (c); Naval Port of Karlskrona (c); Rock Carvings in Tanum (c); Engelsberg Ironworks (c); Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c)
Political parties
Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or S/SAP The Liberals (Liberalerna) or L
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
349 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Riksdagen)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/11/2022
expected date of next election
September 2026
percentage of women in chamber
45%
parties elected and seats per party
Social Democratic Party (SAP) (107); Sweden Democrats (SD) (73); Moderate Party (M) (68); Left Party (VP) (24); Centre Party (CP) (24); Christian Democrats (KD) (19); Green Party (Mpg) (18); Other (16)
National anthem(s)
title
"Kungssangen" (Royal Song)
history
adopted 1844 as the royal anthem, but also used as the national anthem until 1893; only the first verse is sung if the monarch is present
lyrics/music
Carl Wilhelm August Strandberg/Otto Lindblad
National symbol(s)
three crowns, lion
Administrative divisions
21 counties ( lan , singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 467-2699
chancery
2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone
[1] (202) 467-2600
chief of mission
Ambassador Urban AHLIN (since 15 September 2023)
consulate(s) general
New York, San Francisco
email address and website
ambassaden.washington@gov.se https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[46] (08) 661-19-64
embassy
Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm
telephone
[46] (08) 783-53-00
mailing address
5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
chief of mission
Ambassador Christine TORETTI (since 21 October 2025)
email address and website
STKACSinfo@state.gov https://se.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction