Facts about Sweden www.sweden.se

GENERAL INFORMATION General Facts Area: 450,000 km2 (174,000 sq miles) 9 million inhabitants Capital: Stockholm Other major cities: Göteborg, Malmö Language: Swedish

GENERAL INFORMATION General Facts Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy Head of state: King Carl XVI Gustaf Prime minister: Göran Persson (leader of the Social Democratic Party) Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SEK) = 100 öre, equal to approximately EUR 0.11or USD 0.14 Average life expectancy: men 77 years, women 82 years

GENERAL INFORMATION Geography Forests (mostly coniferous): 54% Mountains: 17% Cultivated land: 8% Lakes and rivers: 9% Highest mountain: Kebnekaise, 2,111 m (6,926 ft) Distance north–south: 1,574 km (977 miles) Distance east–west: 499 km (310 miles)

GENERAL INFORMATION The Swedish Language Swedish—national language of Sweden, native tongue of some 90 per cent of its inhabitants Nordic language, belonging to the Germanic branch of the Indo-European family of languages Also spoken by about 300,000 Finno-Swedes in Finland One common language in Scandinavia until the 9th century. Many runic inscriptions from this period German has influenced Swedish more than any other foreign language Swedish taught at some 200 universities outside Sweden

ARTS & CULTURE Popular Education Cultural activities mostly under the auspices of popular movements and amateur theatre organizations 11 educational associations, each with its own ideological profile, have local branches in most municipalities 1,700 art clubs 400,000 sing regularly in choirs

EDUCATION & RESEARCH Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prizes Alfred Nobel (1833–1896), inventor, global industrial magnate, linguist, philosopher and humanist The Nobel prizes are awarded for Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature and Peace (Norway). Since 1969 there is also a prize in Economics in honor of Alfred Nobel In 2003 the prizes were each worth SEK 10 million

EDUCATION & RESEARCH Compulsory Schooling 9 years’ compulsory education More than 97% of all pupils attend municipal compulsory schools Few private schools. They generally receive government grants Parents and pupils shall have a free choice of municipal schools and can also opt for publicly-funded independent schools The municipalities bear overall responsibility for the implementation and development of education within the school system

EDUCATION & RESEARCH Compulsory Schooling Instruction, teaching material, school lunches and school transport are free of charge Parents and pupils shall have a free choice of municipal schools and can also opt for publicly-funded independent schools School health care for all pupils Schooling for pupils with learning difficulties is compulsory for nine years plus one optional year English is the compulsory first foreign language Home language instruction available for pupils speaking a language other than Swedish

EDUCATION & RESEARCH Education and research All children and young people in Sweden have equal access to education, regardless of ethnic and social background or residential locality Education is free on all levels Very few private schools and colleges Strong ambition to increase the number of women in leading academic posts

EDUCATION & RESEARCH Higher Education No tuition fees Undergraduate education: – Diploma or certificate (2 years) – Bachelor’s degree (3 years) – Master’s degree (4 years) Courses of varying length for professional degrees

EDUCATION & RESEARCH Higher Education To be admitted to post-graduate education, an undergraduate program of at least 3 years’ duration must be completed Four years of doctoral studies and an approved dissertation are required for a doctorate Study assistance available to all students who need help to finance their studies Students are represented on decision-making bodies

EDUCATION & RESEARCH Research System Sweden is one of the countries that invests the largest percentage of its Gross Domestic Product in R&D Most research carried out in universities,university colleges, institutes of technology, professional schools etc Companies account for some 75% of R&D expenditure Long tradition of state funding for research Ministry of Education and Science has overall responsibility for research policy

The Swedish Institute (SI) is a public agency established to disseminate knowledge abroad about Sweden's social and cultural life, to promote cultural and informational exchange with other countries and to contribute to increased international cooperation in the fields of education and research. The Swedish Institute produces a wide range of publications on many aspects of Swedish society. These can be obtained directly from the Swedish Institute or from Swedish diplomatic missions abroad, and many are available on Sweden.se. SWEDEN.SE – the official gateway to Sweden – is Sweden's official Internet portal on www.sweden.se. It includes almost everything you need to know about Sweden, ranging from basic facts about Swedish society to business issues, politics, news, cultural life and current affairs. In the Sweden Bookshop on Slottsbacken 10 in Stockholm's Old Town, as well as on www.swedenbookshop.com, you can buy nonfiction, brochures and richly illustrated gift books on Sweden as well as a broad selection of Swedish fiction and children's books – in English and many other languages – and Swedish language courses. The Swedish Institute Box 7434 SE–103 91 Stockholm Sweden Phone: +46–8–453 78 00 Fax: +46–8–20 72 48 E-mail: si@si.se Internet: www.si.se Photo page 1: Oscar Falk / Clooning / www.imagebank.sweden.se