Human development index (HDI), an index based on life expectancy, education and GDP (max. 1)
0.907
World rank in HDI
14
Key economic sectors (% of GDP in 2002)
Services (72); industry (27); agriculture (1)
Leading companies
Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), a clothing company (US$59·2bn.); Nordea Bank AB (US$49·4bn.); and Ericsson, a technology hardware and equipment company (US$41·3bn.)
Unemployment in February 2010
7.6% (Dec 2014)
Main religious denominations
Around 70% of the population, equivalent to 6·6m belong to the Church of Sweden. Estimated 450,000–500,000 Muslims in 2010.
Significant minority ethnic groups
Sami (Lapps)
Political system
Constitutional monarchy. A single-chamber Riksdag is elected every four years.
Electoral system
Proportional representation, with all parties receiving at least 4% of the vote guaranteed absolute proportionality. Any party not receiving 4% of the vote nationally but 12% within a constituency is also guaranteed representation.
Current (March 2017) leaders
Prime Minister: Stefan Löfven (since 2014)
Previous leaders:
Prime Minister: Fredrik Reinfeldt (2006 – 2014)
Joined the EU/EC
1995
Commissioner from country in Barroso II College of Commissioners, and portfolio
Cecilia Malmström (Home Affairs)
Number of MEPs
20
Turnout in 2014 EP elections (%)
51.07 (45.53 in 2009)
Member of eurozone
No
Except where a specific reference is inserted, the sources for this profile are either Neill Nugent’s book itself, or Barry Turner (ed.), The Statesman’s Yearbook Online, Basingstoke and New York: Palgrave Macmillan. If your library subscribes, you can gain access at http://www.statesmansyearbook.com
