Here you read about Sweden's location, nature and population, about natural resources, and about climate change.
Location, coast and climate
Sweden is part of the Nordic region, in northern Europe. The Nordic region is made up of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, the largest of them. From Treriksröset in the north to Smygehuk in the south is about 1,600 kilometres. Northern Sweden reaches into the Arctic, north of the polar circle.
The Baltic Sea lies off the east coast. Gotland and Öland, the country's 2 largest islands, lie in the Baltic Sea. Off the west coast are the Skagerrak and the Kattegat.
Thanks to the sea, the climate is mild for being so far north. Warm water from the Gulf of Mexico travels with the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Current towards Europe. The sea warms the air, and the wind carries the mild air to Sweden.
The ice age and the mountains
About 10,000 years ago, during the ice age, Sweden lay under several kilometres of ice. The ice melted away and left behind many lakes and archipelagos with thousands of islands. It also created plains, that is, flat land where people can farm.
Along the border with Norway runs the mountain range Skanderna, known simply as the mountains. It is so cold and windy in the mountains that no trees grow there. Kebnekaise, in the mountains, is Sweden's highest peak, about 2,000 metres high.
Forest, lakes and archipelago
Forest covers more than half of Sweden. In the cold north there are mostly conifers, such as spruce and pine. In the milder south, more broadleaf trees grow.
There are lakes everywhere, and Vänern, Vättern and Mälaren are the largest. The biggest of the country's hundreds of streams and rivers begin in the mountains in the north.
Many islands near the coast form an archipelago. There is archipelago in the north and along the east coast down to Småland. The west coast also has archipelago, off Gothenburg and in Bohuslän. No other country has as many islands as Sweden, about 250,000.
Regions, provinces and counties
Sweden has 3 landsdelar (regions), and a landsdel is a very large area. In the south is Götaland, in the middle Svealand, and in the north Norrland. Norrland is the largest, covering more than half of Sweden.
There are also 25 landskap (provinces). In the past, the landskap had their own laws, but today they play no part in how the country is governed. Still, many people feel they belong to their landskap. The country also has 21 län (counties) and 290 kommuner (municipalities).
Population
Sweden has almost 11 million inhabitants, but they are not evenly spread out. Southern Sweden and the coasts have the most inhabitants. Large parts of the country are sparsely populated: few people live there.
Of everyone who lives in Sweden, about 85 per cent live in a city. Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö are bigger than all other Swedish cities. Together with the areas around them, they have about 4 million inhabitants.
Natural resources
Sweden has plenty of natural resources, for example iron ore (rock containing iron). The biggest mines are in Norrbotten county, including Kiruna and Malmberget. Iron is used to make steel. The mines also produce other minerals, for example copper, zinc, lead and gold. Iron and steel have been an important part of the economy for many years.
There is plenty of water, for drinking and for farming and industry to use. Power stations on the rivers turn running water into electricity, which is called hydropower. Much of Sweden's electricity comes from hydropower. Farming happens mostly in southern Sweden, since it is harder to grow crops in the cold north.
For a long time, Sweden has sold goods from the forest to many parts of the world. Examples are wood pulp (cellulose), paper, cardboard and timber for building. Few industries in Sweden are as important as the forest industry.
Climate and sustainable development
The climate has always changed, but now the Earth is warming faster than before. According to scientists and the UN's climate panel, this is mainly because of human emissions of greenhouse gases. The gases come from transport, industry and farming. A warmer climate makes the ice at the poles melt, and the sea level rises. Extreme weather happens more often, for example heatwaves, heavy rain and drought.
For Sweden, this can mean more heavy rain and flooding. Warmer summers with more heatwaves can bring drought and forest fires. According to klimatlagen (the Climate Act), the climate policy of regeringen (the Government) must be based on the climate targets set by riksdagen (the Swedish parliament). One target is that by 2045 at the latest, emissions must not be greater than nature can absorb. Sweden and other countries are working together on more wind, water and solar power.
Sustainable development means using natural resources so that people in the future can also live well. It has 3 parts: the environment, society and the economy. Governments and international organisations can decide rules against emissions. Companies can cut their emissions, and everyone can live sustainably and get involved politically. In everyday life, people can take the bus or train, save electricity and heating, and recycle waste.