SWEDEN FACTS:
People

Languages
Swedish
Major Religions Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Ethnic groups White, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Growth rate 0.26%
Birth rate 11.7 births/1,000
Death rate 10.78 deaths/1,000
Fertility rate 1.76 children/woman
Male life expectancy 76
Female life expectancy 82
Infant mortality rate 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births


Economy

Labor force
N/A
Unemployment rate 6.6% (1997)
Inflation Rate 2% (1997)
Gross domestic product (total value of goods and services produced annually) .2 billion (1997 est.)
Budget .1 billion
Debt .5 billion (1994)
Exports .5 billion (1996 est.), primarily machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products
Imports .6 billion (1996 est.), primarily machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
Defense spending 2.5% of GDP (1997 est.)
Highways 138,000 km (1996)

Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy

Head of State: Monarch (Hereditary Title)

Head of Government: Prime minister, (Nominated by the speaker of the Riksdag and confirmed by its members)

Legislature: Unicameral legislature Riksdag (Parliament) 349 members

Voting Qualifications: All citizens age 18 and older

Highest Court: Supreme Court

Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force 64,800 troops; men age 18 to 47 must serve 7.5 to 17.5 months in the military.

Political Divisions: 24 Counties

Source: CIA WORLD FACTBOOK 1998..www.swedenlife.8k.com