Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is a parliamentary monarchy. The head of state is King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Sweden has been a member of the EU since 1995 and of NATO since March 2024, and belongs to the Nordic Council. However, the country has its own currency, the Swedish krona. With around 10.6 million inhabitants (end of 2025) in an area of about 450,000 km², Sweden is relatively sparsely populated. About a tenth of the population lives in the capital, Stockholm, and around 2.5 million people live in Greater Stockholm.

Population

Sweden has become more diverse through immigration: around a fifth of its inhabitants were born abroad. The minorities with special protection include the Sami, Sweden Finns, Tornedalians, Roma and Jews. The largest immigrant groups come from Syria, Iraq, Finland, Poland, Iran and Somalia. Many Germans also live and work in Sweden.

Language

The main language is Swedish. In the region along the Swedish-Finnish border, Meänkieli (Tornedal Finnish) is also spoken. Alongside Finnish, Yiddish and Romani, Sami is also a recognised minority language; it is actively spoken by only a few thousand people. The vast majority of Swedes speak good English, and German, Spanish and French are also learnt as foreign languages.

Labour market

Sweden has a high employment rate. The labour market is flexible and offers jobs in many sectors; skilled workers in healthcare, education, IT and the skilled trades are particularly in demand. You can read how to find a job and what counts when applying in our guide Job hunting in Sweden. The education system is well developed. There is no statutory minimum wage; instead, wages and working conditions are mainly set in collective agreements between trade unions and employers. In addition, there is a comprehensive social insurance system.

Standard of living

Sweden has a high standard of living and a high life expectancy. It has modern infrastructure, well-developed healthcare and a strong welfare system. Culture and leisure are well catered for too, with many museums, theatres, concerts and sporting events. The countryside, with its forests, lakes and seas, is ideal for hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities. Many historic towns and sites represent Sweden’s cultural heritage.

Environmental and sustainability policy is another important aspect. Sweden has set itself the goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045 and has already made considerable progress in renewable energy. Strict environmental laws apply, and nature conservation and biodiversity are given high priority. There is strong public support for sustainability initiatives, and many companies and organisations rely on sustainable practices.

Religion

Slightly more than half of the inhabitants (around 51% in 2025) belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden, a share that has been falling for years. Islam is the second-largest religion. The Catholic Church has around 150,000 members, and about 100,000 people are Orthodox Christians. A smaller part of the population belongs to free churches, Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Jewish community.

Economy

Sweden has a strong and stable economy driven by services and high-tech industries. It is well diversified and highly productive. Key sectors include mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, wood and paper processing, chemicals and the automotive industry, as well as a strong start-up and technology scene. Exports of goods and services play an important role. The main trading partners are Germany, Norway, the USA, Denmark and Finland.