explore sweden

Exploring Sweden

Swedish Flag

Interesting Facts

• Capital: Stockholm

• Population: Estimated 9,003,000

• Official Name: Konungariket Sverige (Kingdom of Sweden)

• Official Language: Swedish

• National Anthem: “Du Gamla, du fria, du fjallhoga nord” (Thou Ancient, Thou Free, Thou Mountain-Crowned North.”

• National Holiday: Flag Day, June 6

Government &International Relations

• Sweden is a constitutional monarchy.

• The head of their government is the prime minister.

Government and International Relations cont.

• The highest in command is the King.

• The largest political party is the Social Democracy party.

Resources

• Sweden's chief crops are grains, sugar beets, potatoes, meat, and milk, barley, oats, and wheat.

Resources cont.

• Sweden’s natural resources are timber, iron ore, and hydroelectric power.

Economy

• Sweden constructed an economy based on free enterprise, public ownership of utilities, exports, social welfare, and high taxes.

Economy cont.

• Sweden’s major trading partners are the European Union, the United States, and Norway

Religion and Spiritual Beliefs

• Sweden’s religion consists of 87% Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, and other.

• Christianity was introduced in 829 but became fully established in the 12th century.

Religion cont.

• The Wasa Dynasty slowly introduced Lutheran Christianity and in 1604 banned Catholicism.

• Lutheranism was Sweden’s official religion from about 1540 to 2000.

Learning and Technology

• The Swedish government requires children from 7 to 16 years of age to attend school.

• Elementary and high school education are free for Swedish children.

Family Life, Community, and Society

Arts and Crafts

• Sweden made it’s greatest contribution to the arts in the field of industrial design with harmonious textiles, furniture, glassware, and ceramics.

The Armed Forces

• Swedish men between the ages of 18 and 47 are required to serve from 7 to 15 months in the country’s armed forces.

• The nation’s regular army, navy, and air forces have a total of about 55,000 members.

heather• Heather WEri