Sweden is the 3rd largest EU country in land area, after France and Spain.
Sweden is the homeland of the Germanic ethnicity and culture. The Goths, the Suevirs and the Norses (Vikings) all trace their origin back to Sweden (as well as Norway and Denmark for the latter).
In the 9th and 10th centries, Swedish Vikings invaded and settled in parts of Eastern Europe as far as Constantinople and the Caspian Sea. They founded the first kingdom of Russia. All the Tsars of Russia until the last one, Nicholas II, were of Swedish Viking descent.
As of 2006, Sweden had won 588 (winter and summer) Olympic medals, a feat only excelled by 6 much more populous countries (the USA, the USSR, Italy, France, Germany and the UK).
Society & People
In 2006 Sweden was ranked second in the European Union (after Ireland), and fifth in the world, at the Human Development Index.
Swedish people have the longest life expectancy in Europe (80.51 years in 2006).
Swedish people have the second lowest income inequality in Europe (after Denmark), with a Gini index of 25 in 2000.
Sweden has the smallest gender employment-rate gap in the developed world, with only 4% more men in employment than women.
Swedish women have their first child in average at 30 years old, the oldest in Europe along with Ireland and the Netherlands.
Sweden has the highest percentage of working mothers in the developed world, no less than 76% of them.
The Swedes spend the longest time in tertiary education with an average student age of 25.5 years old.
40% of Swedish women and 32% of Swedish men aged 25 to 64 participate in education or training. Compare it to the EU average is 10% for women and 9% for men.
Sweden has the highest proportion of personal computers per capita in Europe, with 500 P.C.'s per 1,000 people.
A 2007 UNICEF report on child well-being in rich countries ranked Sweden as the best country on 3 out of 6 dimensions (children's material well-being, health & safety, and behaviours & risks), and second best country overall after the Netherlands.
As of 2006, Sweden was the most generous country in the world regarding aid to poor countries. It is the only nation where donations exceed 1% of the GDP.
Culture & Sciences
Sweden has given the world some of the greatest pop bands and singers, including Abba, The Cardigans, Roxette, Ace of Base, Carola Häggkvist, Army of Lovers, Robyn, A*Teens, Europe and Alcazar.
The astronomical lense is a Swedish invention.
As of 2006, Sweden had obtained 27 Nobel prizes, including 5 Peace prizes. This is the 5th highest number of laureates in the world, and the highest per capita ratio.
Sweden has the highest number of McDonald restaurants per capita in Europe (although that is only about half of the US ratio).
Economy & Politics
With 42.7% of female parliamentarians (in 2002), Sweden has the highest proportion of women lawmakers in the world.
In 1862, Sweden became the first country to grant suffrage for (married) women in local elections.
Sweden is set to become the first country in the world to phase out petrol for biofuel.
Sweden has the highest number of nuclear plants per capita, with 10 reactors for 9 million inhabitants.
Sweden has the highest number or patents granted of an European country, with 271 per million people.
Sweden ranks second in Europe (after Finland) in terms of technological achievement.
Total taxation in Sweden amount to 54.2 % of GDP, the highest level worldwide.
Sweden has, along with Denmark and Hungary, the highest standard V.A.T. rate in the world (25%).
With Ericsson, Sweden is a global leader in mobile telecommunication technology. The country also has the highest percentage of mobile phones per capita in Europe (108.4%), after Luxembourg. There are now more mobile phones than people in Sweden.
Sweden has an excellent reputation as a car maker with Volvo and Saab. Scania trucks are also Swedish.
The world-famous discount furniture chain IKEA was founded in Sweden in 1943.
The Swedish company Electrolux holds 28% share of the household appliances market in the world. It owns over 40 brands, including AEG-Electrolux, Zanussi, Eureka and Frigidaire.
Construction
Europe's largest shopping mall is the Nordstan in Gothenburg, with approximately 180 shops and 150 offices on 320,000 m2.
The Stockholm Globe Arena is the world's largest hemispherical building, with a diameter of 110 meters, an inner height of 85 meters, and a total volume of 600,000 m³. It is also the world's largest scale model of the Solar System.
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