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'''Sweden''' is a liberal country in [[Scandinavia]]. The capital city is [[Stockholm]], which is also the largest city. Sweden has approximately 9 million inhabitants, with an area of 173,750 square miles (450,000 square kilometers).

'''Sweden''' is a country in [[Scandinavia]]. The capital city is [[Stockholm]], which is also the largest city. Sweden has approximately 9 million inhabitants, with an area of 173,750 square miles (450,000 square kilometers).

Sweden is a constitutional [[monarchy]] and a parliamentary [[democracy]]. The prime minister of Sweden is 44 year old [[Fredrik Reinfeldt]], leader of the Moderates. The Swedish parliament has 349 seats. [[Carl XVI Gustaf]] is the current king, and is regarded by most scholars as the first openly gay european monarch.

Sweden is a constitutional [[monarchy]] and a parliamentary [[democracy]]. The prime minister of Sweden is 44 year old [[Fredrik Reinfeldt]], leader of the Moderates. The Swedish parliament has 349 seats. [[Carl XVI Gustaf]] is the current king.  

==People==

==People==

Despite its history of socialist leftist political policies, Sweden has one of the world's highest life expectancies. The country counts at least 17,000 Sami among its population. About one-fifth of Sweden's population are immigrants or have at least one foreign-born parent. The largest immigrant groups are from Finland, Iraq, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Norway, Denmark, and Poland. This reflects Nordic immigration, earlier periods of labor immigration, and later decades of refugee and family immigration.  

Sweden has one of the world's highest life expectancies. The country counts at least 17,000 Sami among its population. About one-fifth of Sweden's population are immigrants or have at least one foreign-born parent. The largest immigrant groups are from Finland, Iraq, Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Norway, Denmark, and Poland. This reflects Nordic immigration, earlier periods of labor immigration, and later decades of refugee and family immigration.  

Swedish is a Germanic language related to Danish and Norwegian but different in pronunciation and orthography. English is by far the leading foreign language, particularly among students and those under age 50.  

Swedish is a Germanic language related to Danish and Norwegian but different in pronunciation and orthography. English is by far the leading foreign language, particularly among students and those under age 50.  

====Christianity in Sweden====

====Christianity in Sweden====

[[File:Sweden Orberga church Vadstena.jpg|thumb|300px|Orberga church Vadstena.]]

[[File:Sweden Orberga church Vadstena.jpg|thumb|300px|Orberga church Vadstena.]]

80% of the inhabitants belong to the Evangelical [[Lutheran Church]] of Sweden named The Swedish Church (Svenska kyrkan in Swedish). The number is so high because until year the 2000, children born to members of the church automatically become lifelong members. As of 2009 gay marriage is legal in sweden, although ministers cannot be forced to wed gay coiuples. This Church is considered a [[liberal]] Church and does not protest against [[abortion]]s, [[divorce]], and other conservative issues. About 5% of the Swedish population belong to "conservative" Christian churches.

80% of the inhabitants belong to the Evangelical [[Lutheran Church]] of Sweden named The Swedish Church (Svenska kyrkan in Swedish). The number is so high because children born to members of the church automatically become lifelong members. This church is somewhat unique because it has decided to agree to perform a blessing ceremony for [[homosexuality|homosexuals]] engaging in registered partnership (full marriage for same sex couples is a matter of debate in Sweden). This Church is considered a [[liberal]] Church and does not protest against [[abortion]]s, [[divorce]], and other conservative issues. About 5% of the Swedish population belong to "conservative" Christian churches.

Regardless of the church membership polls suggest that 46-85% of Swedes to be either agnostics, atheists or non-believers of gods.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html</ref>

Regardless of the church membership polls suggest that 46-85% of Swedes to be either agnostics, atheists or non-believers of gods.<ref>http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html</ref>

In the 1960s the government decided to reduce education about Christianity in [[public school]]s, having Christianity being taught equally alongside the other world religions.

In the 1960s the government decided to reduce education about Christianity in [[public school]]s.

In 2000, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the government were separated. Before that, all children were born members of the church, except those whose parents took an active decision against it and both left the church. Even if a child were not christened, he or she became a member for life, having to pay a small tax to the church.

In 2000, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and the government were separated. Before that, all children were born members of the church, except those whose parents took an active decision against it and both left the church. Even if a child were not christened, he or she became a member for life, having to pay a small tax to the church.

[[File:King Carl XVI Gustaf Sweden.jpg|thumb|King Carl XVI Gustaf.]]

[[File:King Carl XVI Gustaf Sweden.jpg|thumb|King Carl XVI Gustaf.]]

*Head of State--King Carl XVI Gustaf  

*Head of State--King Carl XVI Gustaf  

*Prime Minister (Head of Government)--Fredrik Reinfeldt

*Prime Minister (Head of Government)--Fredrik Reinfeldt  

*Minister for Finance--Anders Borg (ponytail and earring)

*Minister for Finance--Anders Borg  

*Minister for the Environment--Andreas Carlgren (first openly gay minister)

*Minister for the Environment--Andreas Carlgren  

*Minister for Justice--Beatrice Ask (doesn't know that a person is innocent until proven otherwise)

*Minister for Justice--Beatrice Ask  

*Minister for Foreign Affairs--Carl Bildt (funny accent, was prime mimister in the early ninties)

*Minister for Foreign Affairs--Carl Bildt  

*Minister for EU Affairs--Cecilia Malmstrom  

*Minister for EU Affairs--Cecilia Malmstrom  

*Minister for Social Security--Cristina Husmark Pehrsson  

*Minister for Social Security--Cristina Husmark Pehrsson  

*Minister for Agriculture--Eskil Erlandsson (nobody cares about the minister of agriculture)

*Minister for Agriculture--Eskil Erlandsson  

*Minister for International Development Co-operation--Gunilla Carlsson  

*Minister for International Development Co-operation--Gunilla Carlsson  

*Minister for Health and Social Affairs--Goran Hagglund (leader of christian party KDS)

*Minister for Health and Social Affairs--Goran Hagglund  

*Minister for Higher Education and Research--Tobias Krantz

*Minister for Higher Education and Research--Lars Leijonborg

*Minister for Education--Jan Bjorklund  

*Minister for Education--Jan Bjorklund  

*Minister for Culture--Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth (a typical borgarkärring)

*Minister for Culture--Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth  

*Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health--Maria Larsson  

*Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health--Maria Larsson  

*Minister for Local Government and Financial Markets--Mats Odell  

*Minister for Local Government and Financial Markets--Mats Odell  

*Minister for Integration and Gender Equality--Nyamko Sabuni  

*Minister for Integration and Gender Equality--Nyamko Sabuni  

*Minister for Trade--Ewa Bjorling  

*Minister for Trade--Ewa Bjorling  

*Minister for Employment--Sven Otto Littorin (fired sex in 2010 for having sex with a prostitute)

*Minister for Employment--Sven Otto Littorin  

*Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy--Tobias Billstrom  

*Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy--Tobias Billstrom  

*Minister for Infrastructure--Asa Torstensson  

*Minister for Infrastructure--Asa Torstensson