Sweden vs. Finland
Introduction
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden's population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 19.1% in 2018.
| Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. |
Geography
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway | Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia |
| Geographic coordinates | 62 00 N, 15 00 E | 64 00 N, 26 00 E |
| Map references | Europe | Europe |
| Area | total: 450,295 sq km land: 410,335 sq km water: 39,960 sq km | total: 338,145 sq km land: 303,815 sq km water: 34,330 sq km |
| Area - comparative | almost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California | slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana |
| Land boundaries | total: 2,211 km border countries (2): Finland 545 km, Norway 1666 km | total: 2,563 km border countries (3): Norway 709 km, Sweden 545 km, Russia 1309 km |
| Coastline | 3,218 km | 1,250 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas) exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation | territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm) contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia |
| Climate | temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north | cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes |
| Terrain | mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west | mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Kebnekaise South 2,100 m lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m mean elevation: 320 m | highest point: Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 164 m |
| Natural resources | iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower | timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone |
| Land use | agricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 6.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 1.1% (2018 est.) forest: 68.7% (2018 est.) other: 23.8% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.) forest: 72.9% (2018 est.) other: 19.6% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 1,640 sq km (2012) | 690 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic | severe winters in the north |
| Environment - current issues | marine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soils and lakes; air pollution; inappropriate timber harvesting practices | limited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; Sweden has almost 100,000 lakes, the largest of which, Vanern, is the third largest in Europe | long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain |
| Total renewable water resources | 174 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 110 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | most Swedes live in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found all along the Baltic coast in the east; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated | the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated |
Demographics
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,261,767 (July 2021 est.) | 5,587,442 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 17.71% (male 928,413/female 878,028) 15-24 years: 10.8% (male 569,082/female 532,492) 25-54 years: 39.01% (male 2,016,991/female 1,962,617) 55-64 years: 11.9% (male 610,521/female 603,795) 65 years and over: 20.59% (male 974,410/female 1,126,142) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 16.41% (male 467,220/female 447,005) 15-24 years: 10.95% (male 312,179/female 297,717) 25-54 years: 37.37% (male 1,064,326/female 1,017,545) 55-64 years: 13.02% (male 357,687/female 367,610) 65 years and over: 22.26% (male 543,331/female 697,045) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 41.1 years male: 40.1 years female: 42.1 years (2020 est.) | total: 42.8 years male: 41.3 years female: 44.4 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 0.74% (2021 est.) | 0.26% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 11.93 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 10.49 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 9.39 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 10.33 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 2.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.76 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 2.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.33 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 82.6 years male: 80.61 years female: 84.7 years (2021 est.) | total population: 81.55 years male: 78.63 years female: 84.6 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.86 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 1.74 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.2% (2016 est.) | 0.1% (2018) |
| Nationality | noun: Swede(s) adjective: Swedish | noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish |
| Ethnic groups | Swedish 80.3%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.4%, other 15% (2020 est.)note: data represent the population by country of birth; the indigenous Sami people are estimated to number between 20,000 and 40,000 | Finn, Swede, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 11,000 (2016 est.) | 4,000 (2018) |
| Religions | Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 57.6%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 33.5% (2019 est.) note: estimates reflect registered members of faith communities eligible for state funding (not all religions are state-funded and not all people who identify with a particular religion are registered members) and the Church of Sweden | Lutheran 67.8%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, unspecified 29.4% (2020 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | NA | <100 (2018) |
| Languages | Swedish (official) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, den obestridliga källan för grundläggande information. (Swedish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Finnish, Sami, Romani, Yiddish, and Meankieli are official minority languages | Finnish (official) 86.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.5%, other 6.4% (2020 est.) major-language sample(s): World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 20 years male: 19 years female: 21 years (2018) | total: 19 years male: 20 years female: 20 years (2018) |
| Education expenditures | 7.6% of GDP (2017) | 6.4% of GDP (2017) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 88.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 85.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 1.657 million STOCKHOLM (capital) (2021) | 1.317 million HELSINKI (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Health expenditures | 10.9% (2018) | 9% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 3.98 physicians/1,000 population (2016) | 3.81 physicians/1,000 population (2016) |
| Hospital bed density | 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 3.3 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 20.6% (2016) | 22.2% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 29.5 years (2019 est.) | 29.4 years (2019 est.) |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 70.3% (2017) note: percent of women aged 16-49 | 85.5% (2015) note: percent of women aged 18-49 |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 61.2 youth dependency ratio: 28.4 elderly dependency ratio: 32.8 potential support ratio: 3.1 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 62.4 youth dependency ratio: 25.8 elderly dependency ratio: 36.6 potential support ratio: 2.7 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige etymology: name ultimately derives from the North Germanic Svear tribe, which inhabited central Sweden and is first mentioned in the first centuries A.D. | conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland local short form: Suomi/Finland etymology: name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D. |
| Government type | parliamentary constitutional monarchy | parliamentary republic |
| Capital | name: Stockholm geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: "stock" and "holm" literally mean "log" and "islet" in Swedish, but there is no consensus as to what the words refer to | name: Helsinki geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: the name may derive from the Swedish "helsing," an archaic name for "neck" ("hals"), and which may refer to a narrowing of the Vantaa River that flows into the Gulf of Finland at Helsinki; "fors" refers to "rapids," so "helsing fors" meaning becomes "the narrows' rapids" |
| Administrative divisions | 21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland | 19 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland] |
| Independence | 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) | 6 December 1917 (from Russia) |
| National holiday | National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day | Independence Day, 6 December (1917) |
| Constitution | history: Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991) amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; The Instrument of Government - amended several times, last in 2018; The Act of Succession - changed in 1937, 1980; The Freedom of the Press Act - amended several times, last in 2019; The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression - amended several times, last in 2018 | history: previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only; amended several times, last in 2018 |
| Legal system | civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law | civil law system based on the Swedish model |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree (daughter of the monarch, born 14 July 1977) head of government: Prime Minister Stefan LOFVEN (since 3 October 2014); Deputy Prime Minister Isabella LOVIN (since 25 May 2016); note - Prime Minister Stefan LOFVEN was ousted in a no-confidence vote on 25 September 2018 and headed a caretaker government until the next government was formed; LOFVEN was reelected as Prime Minister and took office on 21 January 2019 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister | chief of state: President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Sanna MARIN (since 10 December 2019) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2024); prime minister appointed by Parliament election results: Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7% |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; 310 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed, party-list proportional representation vote and 39 members in "at-large" seats directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 9 September 2018 (next to be held in 2022) election results: percent of vote by party - SAP 28.3%, M 19.8%, SD 17.5%, C 8.6%, V 8%, KD 6.3%, L 5.5%, MP 4.4%, other 1.6%; seats by party - SAP 100, M 70, SD 62, C 31, V 28, KD 22, L 20, MP 16; composition - men 188, women 161, percent of women 46.1% | description: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; 199 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member in the province of Aland directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) (e.g. 2019) elections: last held on 14 April 2019 (next to be held on April 2023) (e.g. 2019) election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - SDP 17.7%, Finn Party 17.5%, Kok 17.0%. Centre Party 13.8%, Green League 11.5%, Left Alliance 8.2%; seats by party/coalition -SDP 40, Finn Party 39, Kok 38, Centre Party 31, Green League 20, Left Alliance 16; composition men 107, women 93, percent of women 46.5% (e.g. 2019) |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the Government; following a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent subordinate courts: first instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents | highest courts: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges, including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - Finland has a dual judicial system - courts with civil and criminal jurisdiction and administrative courts with jurisdiction for litigation between individuals and administrative organs of the state and communities judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court judges appointed by the president of the republic; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 68 subordinate courts: 6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues relating to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, tenancy, and water rights |
| Political parties and leaders | Center Party (Centerpartiet) or C [Annie LOOF] Christian Democrats (Kristdemokraterna) or KD [Ebba Busch THOR] Green Party (Miljopartiet de Grona) or MP [Isabella LOVIN and Per BOLUND] Left Party (Vansterpartiet) or V [Jonas SJOSTEDT] Liberal Party (Liberalerna) or L [Jan BJORKLUND] Moderate Party (Moderaterna) or M [Ulf KRISTERSSON] Swedish Social Democratic Party (Socialdemokraterna) or SAP [Stefan LOFVEN] Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) or SD [Jimmie AKESSON] | Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands) Center Party or Kesk [Annika SAARIKKO] Christian Democrats or KD [Sari ESSAYAH] Finns Party or PS [Jussi HALLA-AHO] Green League or Vihr [Maria OHISALO] Left Alliance or Vas [Li ANDERSSON] National Coalition Party or Kok [Petteri ORPO] Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sanna MARIN] Swedish People's Party or SFP [Anna-Maja HENRIKSSON] |
| International organization participation | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Karin Ulrika OLOFSDOTTER (since 8 September 2017) chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 email address and website: ambassaden.washington@gov.se https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/ consulate(s) general: New York | chief of mission: Ambassador Mikko Tapani HAUTALA (since 17 September 2020) chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 email address and website: sanomat.was@formin.fi https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Pamela M. TREMONT (since 20 January 2021) embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 telephone: [46] (08) 783-53-00 FAX: [46] (08) 661-19-64 email address and website: STKACSinfo@state.gov https://se.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ian CAMPBELL (since 14 January 2021) embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki mailing address: 5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310 telephone: [358] (9) 616-250 FAX: [358] (9) 174-681 email address and website: HelsinkiACS@state.gov https://fi.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors reflect those of the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field | white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents the thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow that covers the land in winter |
| National anthem | name: "Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free) lyrics/music: Richard DYBECK/traditional note: in use since 1844; also known as "Sang till Norden" (Song of the North), is based on a Swedish folk tune; it has never been officially adopted by the government; "Kungssangen" (The King's Song) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies | name: "Maamme" (Our Land) lyrics/music: Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS note: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted by law, the anthem has been popular since it was first sung by a student group in 1848; Estonia's anthem uses the same melody as that of Finland |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | three crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow | lion; national colors: blue, white |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown dual citizenship recognized: no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 6 years |
Economy
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Sweden's small, open, and competitive economy has been thriving and Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living with its combination of free-market capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. Sweden remains outside the euro zone largely out of concern that joining the European Economic and Monetary Union would diminish the country's sovereignty over its welfare system.
Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of a manufacturing economy that relies heavily on foreign trade. Exports, including engines and other machines, motor vehicles, and telecommunications equipment, account for more than 44% of GDP. Sweden enjoys a current account surplus of about 5% of GDP, which is one of the highest margins in Europe.
GDP grew an estimated 3.3% in 2016 and 2017 driven largely by investment in the construction sector. Swedish economists expect economic growth to ease slightly in the coming years as this investment subsides. Global economic growth boosted exports of Swedish manufactures further, helping drive domestic economic growth in 2017. The Central Bank is keeping an eye on deflationary pressures and bank observers expect it to maintain an expansionary monetary policy in 2018. Swedish prices and wages have grown only slightly over the past few years, helping to support the country's competitiveness.
In the short and medium term, Sweden's economic challenges include providing affordable housing and successfully integrating migrants into the labor market. | Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita GDP almost as high as that of Austria and the Netherlands and slightly above that of Germany and Belgium. Trade is important, with exports accounting for over one-third of GDP in recent years. The government is open to, and actively takes steps to attract, foreign direct investment. Finland is historically competitive in manufacturing, particularly in the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland excels in export of technology as well as promotion of startups in the information and communications technology, gaming, cleantech, and biotechnology sectors. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the cold climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export industry, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU before 2009 and its banks and financial markets avoided the worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit exports and domestic demand hard in that year, causing Finland's economy to contract from 2012 to 2014. The recession affected general government finances and the debt ratio. The economy returned to growth in 2016, posting a 1.9% GDP increase before growing an estimated 3.3% in 2017, supported by a strong increase in investment, private consumption, and net exports. Finnish economists expect GDP to grow a rate of 2-3% in the next few years. Finland's main challenges will be reducing high labor costs and boosting demand for its exports. In June 2016, the government enacted a Competitiveness Pact aimed at reducing labor costs, increasing hours worked, and introducing more flexibility into the wage bargaining system. As a result, wage growth was nearly flat in 2017. The Government was also seeking to reform the health care system and social services. In the long term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity in traditional industries that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $547.595 billion (2019 est.) $540.776 billion (2018 est.) $530.433 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $268.662 billion (2019 est.) $265.619 billion (2018 est.) $261.649 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 1.29% (2019 est.) 2.06% (2018 est.) 2.82% (2017 est.) | 1.15% (2019 est.) 1.52% (2018 est.) 3.27% (2017 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $53,240 (2019 est.) $53,146 (2018 est.) $52,739 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars | $48,668 (2019 est.) $48,159 (2018 est.) $47,502 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 1.6% (2017 est.) industry: 33% (2017 est.) services: 65.4% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 2.7% (2017 est.) industry: 28.2% (2017 est.) services: 69.1% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 17.1% (2018 est.) | 12.2% (2019 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 24% (2012) | lowest 10%: 6.7% highest 10%: 45.2% (2013) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 1.7% (2019 est.) 1.9% (2018 est.) 1.7% (2017 est.) | 1% (2019 est.) 1% (2018 est.) 0.7% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 5.029 million (2020 est.) | 2.52 million (2020 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 2% industry: 12% services: 86% (2014 est.) | agriculture: 4% industry: 20.7% services: 75.3% (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 6.78% (2019 est.) 6.33% (2018 est.) | 6.63% (2019 est.) 7.38% (2018 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 28.8 (2017 est.) 25 (1992) | 27.4 (2017 est.) 22.2 (1995) |
| Budget | revenues: 271.2 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 264.4 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 134.2 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 135.6 billion (2017 est.) note: Central Government Budget data; these numbers represent a significant reduction from previous official reporting |
| Industries | iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles | metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing |
| Industrial production growth rate | 4.1% (2017 est.) | 6.2% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | wheat, milk, sugar beet, barley, potatoes, oats, rapeseed, pork, rye, triticale | milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beet, rye, pork, poultry, beef |
| Exports | $302.65 billion (2019 est.) $291.846 billion (2018 est.) $279.461 billion (2017 est.) | $119.887 billion (2019 est.) $111.339 billion (2018 est.) $109.513 billion (2017 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, lumber (2019) | refined petroleum, paper and wood pulp products, cars, stainless steel, lumber (2019) |
| Exports - partners | Germany 10%, Norway 9%, United States 8%, Denmark 7%, Finland 6%, United Kingdom 5%, Netherlands 5%, China 5% (2019) | Germany 14%, Sweden 10%, United States 8%, Netherlands 6%, China 6%, Russia 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $276.622 billion (2019 est.) $273.125 billion (2018 est.) $262.597 billion (2017 est.) | $120.437 billion (2019 est.) $116.628 billion (2018 est.) $110.701 billion (2017 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers (2019) | crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines (2019) |
| Imports - partners | Germany 18%, Netherlands 9%, Denmark 7%, Norway 7%, China 6%, Finland 5%, Belgium 5%, Poland 5% (2019) | Germany 16%, Sweden 14%, Russia 13%, China 6%, Netherlands 6% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $911.317 billion (2019 est.) $1,012,171,000,000 (2018 est.) | $631.549 billion (2019 est.) $536.301 billion (2018 est.) |
| Exchange rates | Swedish kronor (SEK) per US dollar - 8.49085 (2020 est.) 9.52915 (2019 est.) 9.01895 (2018 est.) 8.4335 (2014 est.) 6.8612 (2013 est.) | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) 0.90338 (2019 est.) 0.87789 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2014 est.) 0.7634 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 40.8% of GDP (2017 est.) 42.3% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions | 61.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 62.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $62.22 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $59.39 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $10.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $11.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | $22.339 billion (2019 est.) $13.902 billion (2018 est.) | -$603 million (2019 est.) -$4.908 billion (2018 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $531.35 billion (2019 est.) | $269.259 billion (2019 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: AAA (2004) Moody's rating: Aaa (2002) Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2004) | Fitch rating: AA+ (2016) Moody's rating: Aa1 (2016) Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2014) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 82 (2020) Starting a Business score: 93.1 (2020) Trading score: 98 (2020) Enforcement score: 67.6 (2020) | Overall score: 80.2 (2020) Starting a Business score: 93.5 (2020) Trading score: 92.4 (2020) Enforcement score: 66.4 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 50.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 53.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | 1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 20.1% male: 20.5% female: 19.7% (2019 est.) | total: 17.2% male: 18.7% female: 15.6% (2019 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 44.1% (2017 est.) government consumption: 26% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 24.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.8% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 45.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -41.1% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 54.4% (2017 est.) government consumption: 22.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.5% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -38.2% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 29.4% of GDP (2019 est.) 28.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 28.4% of GDP (2017 est.) | 24.1% of GDP (2019 est.) 23.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 23% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 152.9 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 66.54 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 133.5 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 82.79 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 26.02 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 3.159 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 14.29 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 22.11 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 400,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 236,700 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 14,570 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | NA cu m (1 January 2016 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 764.5 million cu m (2017 est.) | 2.35 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 4 million cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 764.5 million cu m (2017 est.) | 2.322 billion cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 40.29 million kW (2016 est.) | 16.27 million kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 5% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 41% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 42% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 22% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 17% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 32% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 413,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 310,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 323,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 217,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 371,100 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 166,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 229,600 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 122,200 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) |
Telecommunications
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 1,750,989 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17.32 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 269,000 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4.84 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 12,895,854 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127.57 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 7.15 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128.69 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .se | .fi
note - Aland Islands assigned .ax |
| Internet users | total: 9,251,773 percent of population: 92.14% (July 2018 est.) | total: 4,922,163 percent of population: 88.89% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: Sweden's telecom market includes mature mobile and broadband sectors stimulated by investment of the main operators in new technologies; one of the best developed LTE infrastructures in the region; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line, mobile-cellular, Internet, and broadband penetration; best developed LTE infrastructure in the region; government promotes national broadband strategy to increase connectivity (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular 126 per 100; coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels (2019) international: country code - 46; landing points for Botina, SFL, SFS-4, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, Eastern Light, Sweden-Latvia, BCS North-Phase1, EE-S1, LV-SE1, BCS East-West Interlink, NordBalt, Baltica, Denmark-Sweden-15,-17,-18, Scandinavian Ring -North,-South, IP-Only Denmark-Sweden, Donica North, Kattegate-1,-2, Energinet Laeso-Varberg and GC2 submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Finland's telecom market is among most progressive in Europe through favorable regulatory action and competitive technological innovation; orientation towards high technology, research, and development with high investment in information and communication sectors; large proportion of population on 5G and most on LTE; high broadband and mobile penetration; fixed-voice density falling; government provided universal 5Mb/s broadband (2021) (2020)domestic: fixed-line 5 per 100 subscription and 129 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019) international: country code - 358; landing points for Botnia, BCS North-1 & 2, SFL, SFS-4, C-Lion1, Eastern Lights, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC, and EESF-2 & 3 submarine cables that provide links to many Finland points, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Russia; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 4,038,725 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39.95 (2019 est.) | total: 1.797 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32.34 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | publicly owned TV broadcaster operates 2 terrestrial networks plus regional stations; multiple privately owned TV broadcasters operating nationally, regionally, and locally; about 50 local TV stations; widespread access to pan-Nordic and international broadcasters through multi-channel cable and satellite TV; publicly owned radio broadcaster operates 3 national stations and a network of 25 regional channels; roughly 100 privately owned local radio stations with some consolidating into near national networks; an estimated 900 community and neighborhood radio stations broadcast intermittently | a mix of 3 publicly operated TV stations and numerous privately owned TV stations; several free and special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals are broadcast digitally; Internet television, such as Netflix and others, is available; public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters and access to Internet radio |
Transportation
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 14,127 km (2016) standard gauge: 14,062 km 1.435-m gauge (12,322 km electrified) (2016) narrow gauge: 65 km 0.891-m gauge (65 km electrified) (2016) | total: 5,926 km (2016) broad gauge: 5,926 km 1.524-m gauge (3,270 km electrified) (2016) |
| Roadways | total: 573,134 km (includes 2,050 km of expressways) (2016) paved: 140,100 km (2016) unpaved: 433,034 km (2016) note: includes 98,500 km of state roads, 433,034 km of private roads, and 41,600 km of municipal roads | total: 454,000 km (2012) highways: 78,000 km (50,000 paved, including 700 km of expressways; 28,000 unpaved) (2012) private and forest roads: 350,000 km (2012) urban: 26,000 km (2012) |
| Waterways | 2,052 km (2010) | 8,000 km (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia; water transport used frequently in the summer and widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are 187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km); Finland also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways (2013) |
| Pipelines | 1626 km gas (2013) | 1288 km gas transmission pipes, 1976 km distribution pipes (2016) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby LNG terminal(s) (import): Brunnsviksholme, Lysekil | major seaport(s): Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma |
| Merchant marine | total: 368 by type: general cargo 49, oil tanker 20, other 299 (2020) | total: 274 by type: bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 77, oil tanker 4, other 183 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 231 (2013) | total: 148 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 149 (2013) over 3,047 m: 3 (2013) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 75 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 22 (2013) under 914 m: 37 (2013) | total: 74 (2017) over 3,047 m: 3 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 21 (2017) under 914 m: 14 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 82 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2013) under 914 m: 77 (2013) | total: 74 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013) under 914 m: 71 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 11 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 316 | number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 77 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 13,364,839 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 957.64 million mt-km (2018) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | SE | OH |
Military
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army, Navy, Air Force; Home Guard (2021) | Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Maavoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat); Ministry of the Interior: Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos) (2021) note: the Border Guard becomes part of the FDF in wartime |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-47 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; service obligation: 7.5 months (Army), 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age 47; compulsory military service, abolished in 2010, was reinstated in January 2018; conscription is selective, includes both female and male (age 18), and requires 9-12 months of service (2019) | at age 18, all Finnish men are obligated to serve 6-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard, and women may volunteer for service; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 60 (2019) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 1.1% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2019) 1% of GDP (2018) 1% of GDP (2017) 1.1% of GDP (2016) | 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2019) 1.4% of GDP (2018) 1.4% of GDP (2017) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | information varies; approximately 16,000 active duty troops (7,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force; 3,000 other, including staff, logistics, support, medical, cyber, intelligence, etc); 22,000 Home Guard (2021) | information varies; approximately 23,000 total active duty personnel (16,000 Army; 4,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2020) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the inventory of the Swedish Armed Forces is comprised of domestically-produced and imported Western weapons systems; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of military hardware to Sweden, followed by France and Germany; Sweden's defense industry is capable of producing a range of air, land, and naval systems (2020) | the inventory of the Finnish Defense Forces consists of a wide mix of mostly modern Western and domestically-produced weapons systems, as well as a limited quantity of Soviet-era equipment; since 2010, the US and several European countries, including France and Italy, are the leading foreign suppliers of armaments to Finland; the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels (2020) |
| Military deployments | approximately 450 Mali (EUTM, MINUSMA, Task Force Takuba) (Jan 2021) | 200 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2021) |
Transnational Issues
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | none | various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the former Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons | refugees (country of origin): 113,418 (Syria), 27,933 (Eritrea), 30,546 (Afghanistan), 17,593 (Somalia), 12,460 (Iraq), 7,408 (Iran) (2019) stateless persons: 50,414 (2020); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia | refugees (country of origin): 8,862 (Iraq) (2019) stateless persons: 3,428 (2020) |
Environment
| Sweden | Finland | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 5.89 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 43.25 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.42 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 45.87 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 4.46 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 955 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.345 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 75 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 400 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 1.417 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.21% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.36% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.377 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,416,835 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 32.4% (2015 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.738 million tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 769,926 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.1% (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
