Changes

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.  

Sweden has an extensive child-care system that guarantees a place for all young children from 2-6 years old in a public day-care facility. From ages 7-16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school. After completing the ninth grade, 90% attend upper secondary school for either academic or technical education.  

Sweden has an extensive child-care system that guarantees a place for all young children from 2–6 years old in a public day-care facility. From ages 7–16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school. After completing the ninth grade, 90% attend upper secondary school for either academic or technical education.  

Swedes benefit from an extensive social welfare system, which provides for childcare and maternity and paternity leave, a ceiling on health care costs, old-age pensions, and sick leave among other benefits. Parents are entitled to a total of 480 days' paid leave between birth and the child's eighth birthday, with 60 of those days reserved specifically for the father.  

Swedes benefit from an extensive social welfare system, which provides for childcare and maternity and paternity leave, a ceiling on health care costs, old-age pensions, and sick leave among other benefits. Parents are entitled to a total of 480 days' paid leave between birth and the child's eighth birthday, with 60 of those days reserved specifically for the father.  

*Immigrants: Total: 491,996 (20% of total population); Finns, Iraqis, ex-Yugoslavia nationals, Iranians, Norwegians, Danes, Greeks, and Turks.

*Immigrants: Total: 491,996 (20% of total population); Finns, Iraqis, ex-Yugoslavia nationals, Iranians, Norwegians, Danes, Greeks, and Turks.

*Religions: Lutheran (87%), Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim.

*Religions: Lutheran (87%), Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim.

*Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--99%.

*Education: Years compulsory—9. Literacy—99%.

*Health: Infant mortality rate (2006)--2.80/1,000. Life expectancy--men 78.70 years, women 82.94 years.

*Health: Infant mortality rate (2006)--2.80/1,000. Life expectancy—men 78.70 years, women 82.94 years.

*Work force (4.82 million, 2007 est.): Services--70.7%; industry--28.2%; agriculture--1.1%. Unemployment (2007)--5.2%.  

*Work force (4.82 million, 2007 est.): Services—70.7%; industry—28.2%; agriculture—1.1%. Unemployment (2007)--5.2%.  

*Public holidays (2008): January 1 (New Year's Day); January 6 (Epiphany); March 21 (Good Friday); March 22 (Easter); March 23 (Easter Sunday); March 24 (Easter Monday); May 1 (May Day and Ascension Day); May 11 (Whit Sunday); June 6 (National Day); June 21 (Midsummer Holiday); November 1 (All Saints' Day); December 25 (Christmas); December 26 (Boxing Day).  

*Public holidays (2008): January 1 (New Year's Day); January 6 (Epiphany); March 21 (Good Friday); March 22 (Easter); March 23 (Easter Sunday); March 24 (Easter Monday); May 1 (May Day and Ascension Day); May 11 (Whit Sunday); June 6 (National Day); June 21 (Midsummer Holiday); November 1 (All Saints' Day); December 25 (Christmas); December 26 (Boxing Day).  

The eve of a holiday is as important--or more so--than the holiday itself. Most Swedes have the day off, including those working in the civil service, banks, public transport, hospitals, shops, and the media. Others have at least a half-day. This applies especially to Midsummer's Eve, All Saints' Day Eve, and Christmas Eve. The eve of May Day is called Valborg Eve or St Walpurgis. When a holiday falls on a Thursday many Swedes have the following Friday off in addition. When a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday it is not taken on the following Monday.  

The eve of a holiday is as important—or more so—than the holiday itself. Most Swedes have the day off, including those working in the civil service, banks, public transport, hospitals, shops, and the media. Others have at least a half-day. This applies especially to Midsummer's Eve, All Saints' Day Eve, and Christmas Eve. The eve of May Day is called Valborg Eve or St Walpurgis. When a holiday falls on a Thursday many Swedes have the following Friday off in addition. When a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday it is not taken on the following Monday.  

==== Religion and Sweden ====

==== Religion and Sweden ====

At the national level, the Swedish people are represented by the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) which has legislative powers. Proposals for new laws are presented by the government which also implements decisions taken by the Riksdag. The government is assisted in its work by the government offices, comprising a number of ministries, and some 300 central government agencies and public administrations.

At the national level, the Swedish people are represented by the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) which has legislative powers. Proposals for new laws are presented by the government which also implements decisions taken by the Riksdag. The government is assisted in its work by the government offices, comprising a number of ministries, and some 300 central government agencies and public administrations.

===Principal Government Officials===  

===Principal Government Officials===

[[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)--Stefan Löfven

*Prime Minister (Head of Government)--Stefan Löfven

*Minister for Finance--Anders Borg  

*Minister for Finance—Anders Borg  

*Minister for the Environment--Andreas Carlgren  

*Minister for the Environment—Andreas Carlgren  

*Minister for Justice--Beatrice Ask  

*Minister for Justice—Beatrice Ask  

*Minister for Foreign Affairs--Carl Bildt  

*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  

*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  

*Minister for Health and Social Affairs—Goran Hagglund  

*Minister for Higher Education and Research--Lars Leijonborg

*Minister for Higher Education and Research—Lars Leijonborg

*Minister for Education--Jan Bjorklund  

*Minister for Education—Jan Bjorklund  

*Minister for Culture--Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth  

*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 Enterprise and Energy--Maud Olofsson  

*Minister for Enterprise and Energy—Maud Olofsson  

*Minister for Defense--Sten Tolgfors  

*Minister for Defense—Sten Tolgfors  

*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  

*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  

*Ambassador to the United Nations--Anders Liden

*Ambassador to the United Nations—Anders Liden

===Political Conditions===

===Political Conditions===

Ordinary general elections to the Swedish parliament are held every fourth year on the third Sunday in September. County council and municipal council elections take place at the same time. The last elections were held on September 14, 2014. There is a barrier rule intended to prevent very small parties from gaining representation in the parliament. A party must thus receive at least 4% of the votes in the entire country or 12% in a single electoral district to qualify for any seats.  

Ordinary general elections to the Swedish parliament are held every fourth year on the third Sunday in September. County council and municipal council elections take place at the same time. The last elections were held on September 14, 2014. There is a barrier rule intended to prevent very small parties from gaining representation in the parliament. A party must thus receive at least 4% of the votes in the entire country or 12% in a single electoral district to qualify for any seats.  

Elections to the Riksdag were held on September 17, 2006. The Alliance for Sweden (a coalition of four center-right parties--the Moderate Party, the Liberal Party, the Christian Democrat, and the Center Party) won 178 of the 349 seats, securing Moderate Fredrik Reinfeldt the position of Prime Minister. The 2006 election results for Sweden's major parties were as follows: the Social Democratic Party (34.99%; 130 seats), the Moderate Party (26.23%; 97 seats), the Center Party (7.88%; 29 seats), the Liberal Party (7.54%; 28 seats), the Christian Democrats (6.59%; 24 seats), the Left Party (5.85%; 22 seats), and the Green Party (5.24%; 19 seats).  

Elections to the Riksdag were held on September 17, 2006. The Alliance for Sweden (a coalition of four center-right parties—the Moderate Party, the Liberal Party, the Christian Democrat, and the Center Party) won 178 of the 349 seats, securing Moderate Fredrik Reinfeldt the position of Prime Minister. The 2006 election results for Sweden's major parties were as follows: the Social Democratic Party (34.99%; 130 seats), the Moderate Party (26.23%; 97 seats), the Center Party (7.88%; 29 seats), the Liberal Party (7.54%; 28 seats), the Christian Democrats (6.59%; 24 seats), the Left Party (5.85%; 22 seats), and the Green Party (5.24%; 19 seats).  

[[File:Estocolmo The Royal Official Castle.jpg|thumb|left|380px|The Royal Official Castle, [[Stockholm]].]]

[[File:Estocolmo The Royal Official Castle.jpg|thumb|left|380px|The Royal Official Castle, [[Stockholm]].]]

The Social Democratic Party has a base of blue-collar workers and public sector employees. It derives much of its power from strong links with the National Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), which represents blue-collar workers. The party program combines a commitment to social welfare programs and government direction of the economy. The Social Democratic Party has led the government for 65 of the 76 years since 1932; the 2006 election ended its most recent term of 12 consecutive years in office.  

The Social Democratic Party has a base of blue-collar workers and public sector employees. It derives much of its power from strong links with the National Swedish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), which represents blue-collar workers. The party program combines a commitment to social welfare programs and government direction of the economy. The Social Democratic Party has led the government for 65 of the 76 years since 1932; the 2006 election ended its most recent term of 12 consecutive years in office.  

*Inflation rate (December 2007): 2.2%.  

*Inflation rate (December 2007): 2.2%.  

*Natural resources: Forests, hydroelectric power, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber.

*Natural resources: Forests, hydroelectric power, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber.

*Agriculture (2006, 2.2% of GDP): Products--dairy products, meat, grains (barley, wheat), sugar beets, potatoes, wood. Arable land--6 million acres.

*Agriculture (2006, 2.2% of GDP): Products—dairy products, meat, grains (barley, wheat), sugar beets, potatoes, wood. Arable land—6 million acres.

*Industry (2006, 38% of GDP): Types--machinery/metal products (iron and steel), electrical equipment, aircraft, paper products, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods.

*Industry (2006, 38% of GDP): Types—machinery/metal products (iron and steel), electrical equipment, aircraft, paper products, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods.

*Services (2006, 59.8% of GDP): Types--telecommunications, computer equipment, biotech.

*Services (2006, 59.8% of GDP): Types—telecommunications, computer equipment, biotech.

*Trade: Exports (2006)--$148.8 billion. Types--machinery, transport equipment, motor vehicles, wood products, paper, pulp, chemicals, iron and steel products, and manufactured goods. Major trading partners, exports (2007)--Germany 9.9%, U.S. 9.3%, Norway 9.1%, U.K. 7.2%, EU total 59.7%. *Imports (2006)--$127.3 billion. Types--machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel, foodstuffs, clothing. Major trading partners, imports (2007)--Germany 18.6%, Denmark 8.9%, Norway 8.5%, U.K. 6.9%, Netherlands 6.1%, Finland 6.0%, France 4.9%.

*Trade: Exports (2006)--$148.8 billion. Types—machinery, transport equipment, motor vehicles, wood products, paper, pulp, chemicals, iron and steel products, and manufactured goods. Major trading partners, exports (2007)--Germany 9.9%, U.S. 9.3%, Norway 9.1%, U.K. 7.2%, EU total 59.7%. *Imports (2006)--$127.3 billion. Types—machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel, foodstuffs, clothing. Major trading partners, imports (2007)--Germany 18.6%, Denmark 8.9%, Norway 8.5%, U.K. 6.9%, Netherlands 6.1%, Finland 6.0%, France 4.9%.

==History==

==History==