Sweden is a large country in Northern Europe, located on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It shares land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast. To the south, it's connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund strait.

With a long coastline, Sweden has access to both the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. This strategic position has shaped its history as a major regional power. The country is the third-largest in the European Union by area, but much of its landscape is dominated by forests and thousands of lakes.

Just over 10.5 million people live in Sweden, and the population is highly concentrated in the southern part of the country. This is where you'll find the three largest cities: Stockholm, the capital; Gothenburg, a major port on the west coast; and Malmö, located in the far south across from Denmark.

Historically, Sweden was a country of emigration, with many Swedes moving to North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In recent decades, it has become a country of immigration, leading to a more diverse and multicultural society. The official language is Swedish, a North Germanic language closely related to Norwegian and Danish. In fact, speakers of these three languages can often understand one another.

Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1995 but has chosen to keep its own currency, the krona, instead of adopting the euro. For a long time, the country was known for its policy of military neutrality, staying out of alliances during peacetime and aiming to remain neutral in times of war. This stance shifted in 2024 when Sweden officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Economically, Sweden is a key player in Europe. It has a highly developed, export-oriented economy focused on engineering, telecommunications, and pharmaceuticals. Many globally recognized companies, such as IKEA, Volvo, and Spotify, originated in Sweden, highlighting the country's reputation for innovation and design.

Now, let's review some key facts about Sweden's place in the world.