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Karen (slang)

2021-11-28T03:29:53Z

Lirae22: Restore long-standing version. Non redundant and better summarises both the article body and the sources.

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Pejorative term used in several English-speaking countries}}
{{About|the pejorative term|the name itself|Karen (name)|other uses|Karen (disambiguation){{!}}Karen}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}


'''Karen''' is a [[pejorative]] term for a white woman perceived as [[Entitlement#Psychology|entitled]] or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. The term is a [[Internet meme|meme]] depicting white women who use their [[White privilege|privilege]] to demand their own way.<ref name="BBC Nagesh">{{cite web |last=Nagesh |first=Ashitha |date=July 30, 2020 |title=What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201 |website=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |title=How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |date=October 26, 2020 |website=Insider |publisher=Insider |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref> Depictions may include demanding to "speak to the manager", being [[racism|racist]] or sporting a particular [[bob cut]] hairstyle.<ref name=":10"/> A notable example was the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]].

The term has been criticized as being [[sexist]], [[ageist]] and [[misogynistic]] and seeking to control women's behavior.<ref name=":10" /> As of 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media as a general-purpose reference to [[middle class]] white women, especially during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> The term has also been applied to certain male behavior.<ref name=":10" /><ref name="ATL" /> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called 2020 "the year of Karen".<ref name="GuardianDec2020">{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=27 December 2020|title=The year of Karen: how a meme changed the way Americans talked about racism|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

== Origin ==
In [[African-American culture]], there is a long history of calling a meddlesome white woman by a certain name. In the [[Antebellum South|antebellum era]] (1815–1861), she was referred to as "[[Miss Ann]]".<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |title=What's In A 'Karen'? : Code Switch |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen |date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> In the early 1990s, "[[Becky (slang)|Becky]]" was used.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=May 6, 2020 |title=How 'Karen' Became a Coronavirus Villain |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-karen-memes-reddit-twitter-carolyn-goodman/611104/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref> As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Narizhnaya |first1=Khristina |last2=Lapin |first2=Tamar |last3=Brown |first3=Ruth |date=October 12, 2018 |title='Cornerstore Caroline' says she's not racist, apologizes to kids |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/cornerstore-caroline-says-shes-not-racist-apologizes-to-kids/ |access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |access-date=July 17, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]|quote=While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said.}}</ref> Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by [[Amanda Seyfried]]) from the 2004 film ''[[Mean Girls]]'', [[Dane Cook]]'s 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album ''[[Retaliation (Dane Cook album)|Retaliation]]'',<ref name="BI">{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5|access-date=May 29, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the [[Nintendo Switch]] console who exhibits antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".<ref name="Romano">{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Aja|date=February 5, 2020|title=Karen: The anti-vaxxer soccer mom with speak-to-the-manager hair, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21079162/karen-name-insult-meme-manager|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=October 25, 2016|title=Nintendo Switch's best, most revealing meme is antisocial 'Karen' |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/25/13403924/nintendo-switch-karen-meme-reveal-video |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Polygon |language=en}}</ref> In December 2017, Karen [[internet meme|memes]] regarding entitled women went viral on [[Reddit]], the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen. The posts led to the creation of the [[subreddit]] r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.<ref name="BI" /><ref name="Romano" />

A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originates among Black people to refer to unreasonable white women.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=A Brief History of 'Karen' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/style/karen-name-meme-history.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> The term was popularized on [[Black Twitter]] as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids' lemonade stands"<ref name=":0"/> or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".<ref name="Time meme history">{{cite magazine |last=Lang |first=Cady |date=June 25, 2020 |title=How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood |url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |access-date=April 13, 2021 |url-status=unfit |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111213845/https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |archive-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]'' magazine described ''Karen'' as a term that originated with Black women but was co-opted by white men.<ref name=":4" />

== Meaning and use ==
[[Kansas State University]] professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.<ref name=":0" /> According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends."<ref name=":0" /> Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for ''Bitch'', agrees, saying a Karen doesn't view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves."<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Rachel Charlene |date=April 10, 2020 |title='Karen' Isn't a Slur – It's A Critique of Entitled White Womanhood |url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/very-online/the-karen-meme-isnt-a-slur-its-a-social-critique |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]}}</ref>

The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="KYM">{{cite web |title=10+ Memes of Karen, the Infamous 'Speak to the Manager' Haircut |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/collections/10-memes-of-karen-the-infamous-speak-to-the-manager-haircut |access-date=May 30, 2020 |website=[[Know Your Meme]]}}</ref> Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Romano" /><ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Is calling someone 'Karen' a slur? An investigation. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/karen-memes-slur-kate-gosselin-hate-speech-women-20200513.html |access-date=June 2, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> racism,<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Asmelash |first=Leah |date=May 30, 2020 |title=How Karen became a meme, and what real-life Karens think about it |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/30/us/karen-meme-trnd/index.html |access-date=May 30, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> excessive use of [[Facebook]], and a particular [[Bob cut|bob haircut]] with blond [[Hair highlighting|highlights]]. Pictures of [[Kate Gosselin]] and [[Jenny McCarthy]]'s bob cut are often used to depict Karen,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|date=May 23, 2020|title=Column: Is the 'Karen' meme sexist? Maybe, but it's also apt|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-23/column-karen-meme-white-women-behaving-badly|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="BI" /><ref name="KYM" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dozier |first=Rob |date=August 21, 2018 |title=Why Memes Making Fun of White People Demanding to 'Speak to the Manager!' Are So Popular Right Now |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/bbq-becky-permit-patty-apple-store-lady-why-laughing-at-white-entitlement-feels-so-appropriate.html |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref>

=== Male context ===
{{See also|Kyle (slang)}}

The term is generally used to refer to women, but ''[[The Atlantic]]'' noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president [[Donald Trump]] the "Karen in chief".<ref name=ATL>{{Cite magazine |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=May 28, 2020 |title=The Karen in Chief |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/trump-social-media-scarborough/612193/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=How 'Karen' went from a popular baby name to a stand-in for White entitlement |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/how-karen-went-from-a-popular-baby-name-to-a-stand-in-for-white-entitlement/J4OBLU6KGZM5WIAEEOPYV4GFLA/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |date=June 16, 2020 |last=Queen |first=Robin |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling [[Elon Musk]] "Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of [[COVID-19 testing]] became [[Viral phenomenon|viral]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Khaleda |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Scientist's "Space Karen" response to Elon Musk goes viral |url=https://www.newsweek.com/space-karen-response-elon-musk-viral-1547695 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[Newsweek]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geske |first=Dawn |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Why Elon Musk Is Being Called 'Space Karen' After Latest Launch |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/why-elon-musk-being-called-space-karen-after-latest-launch-3083278 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[International Business Times]] |publisher=[[IBT Media]]}}</ref> Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowell|first=Erica|date=March 16, 2021|title=Male Version Of A Karen? Undeniable Evidence Of Them. Beware!|work=He, Him, His|publisher=|url=https://hehimhismedia.com/male-version-of-a-karen-evidence/|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=fatherly>{{cite web |url=https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/male-version-of-karen-meme/ |title=What Is the Male Version of a Karen? |last=Berical |first=Matt |date=December 11, 2020 |website=Fatherly |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> although 'Ken'<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=fatherly /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nextshark.com/davis-karen-ken-call-police-asian-man/|title=‘Karen’ and ‘Ken’ Call Police on Asian American Doctor Visiting Parents in Davis|author=Bryan Ke|date=2020-07-15|publisher=Nextshark}}</ref><ref name=forbescohen>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/06/28/who-is-karen--stop-using-the-nickname-and-call-it-what-it-really-is/?sh=640ba3e01c2f|title=Who Is Karen? Stop Using The Nickname And Call It What It Really Is|author=Seth Cohen|date=2020-06-08|publisher=Forbes}}</ref><ref name=mashable>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/karen-no-mask-videos-tantrums-coronavirus|title=8 Karens and Kens who threw huge tantrums instead of putting on masks|author=Nicole Gallucci|date=2020-06-29|publisher=Mashable}}</ref> and 'Kevin'<ref name=kqed>{{cite news|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13882681/we-all-know-a-karen-when-we-see-one-now-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin|title=We All Know a ‘Karen’ When We See One—Now We Need to Talk About ‘Kevin’|author=Rae Alexandra|date=2020-07-01|publisher=KQED}}</ref><ref name=insider>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/karen-compilation-timeline-white-women-racism-2020-6#while-women-have-largely-been-the-memes-focus-viral-videos-of-men-behaving-in-similar-ways-have-also-surfaced-social-media-users-have-dubbed-the-male-version-of-a-karen-as-a-kevin-or-ken-10|title=Videos of people labeled 'Karens' have flooded the internet, drawing curiosity, condemnation, and criticism. Here's how they took over our feeds during quarantine.|author=Margot Harris and Palmer Haasch|date=2020-07-03|publisher=Insider}}</ref> are among the most common names used. The [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow era]] male equivalent to Miss Ann was [[Mister Charlie]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jaynes |first=Gerald David |year=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of African American society, Volume 2 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage Publications]] |pages=551 |isbn=9780761927648}}</ref>

=== Sexism ===
The term has been called [[sexist]] and anti-woman. [[Hadley Freeman]], columnist and features writer for ''[[The Guardian]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hadley Freeman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hadleyfreeman |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref> argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |author-link=Hadley Freeman |date=April 13, 2020 |title=The 'Karen' meme is everywhere – and it has become mired in sexism |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/13/the-karen-meme-is-everywhere-and-it-has-become-mired-in-sexism |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> [[Jennifer Weiner]], writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'' during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.<ref name="weiner">{{Cite news |last=Weiner |first=Jennifer |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Opinion: The Seductive Appeal of Pandemic Shaming |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-shaming.html |access-date=June 13, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> In August 2020, [[Helen Lewis (journalist)|Helen Lewis]] wrote in ''The Atlantic'', "''Karen'' has become synonymous with ''woman'' among those who consider ''woman'' an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Helen |date=August 19, 2020 |title=The Mythology of Karen |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |issn=1072-7825}}</ref> Lewis also noted what she called the "[[finger trap]]" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."<ref name=":10" />

British journalist and feminist [[Julie Bindel]] asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on [[Class discrimination|class prejudice]]?"<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name="Parsons">{{Cite news |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/04/06/karen-slur-meme-coronavirus-pandemic-julie-bindel-twitter-feminism-white-privilege-class/ |title=In these trying times, lesbian radical feminist Julie Bindel is debating whether 'Karen' is a slur. Yes, really |last=Parsons |first=Vic |date=April 6, 2020 |newspaper=[[PinkNews]] |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in ''The Atlantic'', asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.<ref name=":0" /> [[Nina Burleigh]] wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=May 28, 2020 |title=How the Karen Meme Benefits the Right |url=https://gen.medium.com/how-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |language=en}}</ref> Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at [[Know Your Meme]], stated to ''[[Business Insider]]'' in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online", and that it had risen to popularity due to that demographic being seen as entitled.<ref name="BI" />

=== Racism ===

Multiple writers have discussed whether the term is a sexist and racist [[pejorative|slur]] for referring to white women.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-08|title=Opinion: Karen is not the equivalent of the N-word for white women. If you’re offended, you might be one|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/karen-n-word-racism-white-women-julie-bindel-coronavirus-a9453201.html|access-date=2021-04-30|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Attiah|first=Karen|title=Opinion {{!}} The ‘Karen’ memes and jokes aren’t sexist or racist. Let a Karen explain.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/28/karen-memes-jokes-arent-sexist-or-racist-let-karen-explain/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' called the meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood."<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=July 6, 2020|title=How the Karen Meme Confronts History of White Womanhood|url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence".<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Apryl Williams of the [[University of Michigan]] called it a Black activist meme, saying it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to Black people.<ref name=":8" /> On the other hand, [[Karen Attiah]], Global Opinions editor for ''[[The Washington Post]],'' argues that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=After racial violence in the U.S., writer Karen Attiah re-examines the 'Karen' meme |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/dysfunction-in-long-term-care-the-meaning-of-karen-zunzi-crispr-covid-19-tests-baroness-von-sketch-more-1.5588200/after-racial-violence-in-the-u-s-writer-karen-attiah-re-examines-the-karen-meme-1.5588208 |access-date=June 2, 2020 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

Scholars agree that ''Karen'' historically refers to racism.{{cn|date=November 2021}} [[University of Virginia]] media researcher [[Meredith Clark]] has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom Black people feel a need to be careful because she won't hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".<ref name=":0" /> Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as Black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' played a Jeopardy sketch with [[Chadwick Boseman]] playing as his ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' character [[T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|T'Challa]].<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2020|title=What's in a Karen? (Transcript) |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/891177904 |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> Contemporary Karens have been compared to [[Carolyn Bryant]] (a white woman who accused [[Emmett Till]] of offending her, resulting in his lynching) and [[Mayella Ewell]] (a fictional character in the novel ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'').<ref name="GuardianDec2020" />

The meme became most popular in 2020.<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Andre Brock, a [[Georgia Tech]] professor of Black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]], the [[murder of George Floyd]], and the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.<ref name=":8" /> He said the virality of the two videos was the result of an "[[Interest Convergence|interest convergence]]" in which the pandemic "intersected with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear."<ref name=":8" />

== Notable examples ==
In December 2019, Australian media reported that in the town of [[Mildura]], a woman named Karen had been filmed trying to pull down an [[Australian Aboriginal Flag|Aboriginal flag]] being displayed by her neighbors. She was unable to pull it down, leading to a [[Twitter]] hashtag #TooStrongForYouKaren and other social media responses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/mildura-woman-attempts-to-tear-down-aboriginal-flag-in-viral-video |title=Mildura woman attempts to tear down Aboriginal flag in viral video |date=December 15, 2019 |work=[[SBS World News]] |location=Sydney |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/too-strong-for-you-karen-viral-video-prompts-mildura-rally/11823082 |title=#toostrongforyoukaren viral video prompts anti-racism rally in Mildura |last=Testa |first=Christopher |date=December 22, 2019 |publisher=[[ABC Mildura Swan Hill]] |location=Mildura, Victoria, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the term has been used to describe women abusing [[Asian-American]] health workers due to the virus's origins in China,<ref>{{Cite web |title='Go to China!': 'Nurses' hailed for blocking anti-quarantine 'Karen' at coronavirus protest |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6841208/coronavirus-nurses-block-protest-denver/ |last=Elliott |first=Josh K. |date=April 20, 2020 |website=Global News |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> those [[hoarding]] essential supplies such as [[toilet paper]], and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce [[quarantine]]<ref name="weiner"/> and those who [[Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|protested the continuance of the restrictions]] because they prevented them visiting [[hair salon]]s,<ref name=":0" /> as well as over being forced to wear [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.<ref name=":0" /> Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.<ref name=":6" />

In May 2020, [[Christian Cooper]], writing about the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], said Amy Cooper's "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" when he started recording the encounter.<ref name=":3" /> He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Nir |first=Sarah Maslin |date=May 26, 2020 |title=White Woman Is Fired After Calling Police on Black Man in Central Park |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/nyregion/amy-cooper-dog-central-park.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perper |first=Rosie |url=https://www.insider.com/police-central-park-karen-video-dog-leash-2020-5 |title=A woman in a video appears to call the police claiming there's an 'African American man threatening my life' – he apparently had asked her to put her dog on a leash |website=Insider |date=May 25, 2020 |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

On December 16, 2020, Miya Ponsetto was dubbed "Soho Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter [[Keyon Harrold]], in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An [[Uber]] driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in [[Ventura County, California]] and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kenyon-harrold-jr-video-phone-steal-hotel-b1781033.html |title=NYPD releases new video of woman who falsely accused Black teenager of stealing her phone |first=Louise |last=Hall |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/soho-karen-racism-keyon-harrold-b1781370.html |title='Soho Karen' who attacked Black teenager identified |first=Josh |last=Marcus |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/soho-karen-arrested-after-viral-video-showed-her-tackling-boy-in-new-york |title='SoHo Karen' arrested after viral video showed her tackling 14-year-old boy at a NYC hotel |first=Christina |last=Gonzalez |website=[[KTTV]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-miya-ponsetto-soho-karen-nyc-charges-20210109-j4bzacu4gvh7bkgx2ndcefssde-story.html |title=Supervised release for ‘SoHo Karen’ Miya Ponsetto on attempted robbery, assault charges for attacking Black teen over missing iPhone |first1=Ellen |last1=Moynihan |first2=Thomas |last2=Tracy |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 9, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsone.com/4119577/soho-karen-interrupts-judge-during-court-hearing/ |title='SoHo Karen' Strikes Again: Miya Ponsetto Interrupts Judge To Say She Wants To Dodge Jail |first=Charise |last=Frazier |website=NewsOne |publisher=[[Urban One]] |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, a [[theme restaurant]] opened in [[Sydney, Australia]] called "Karen's Diner". The restaurant encourages both staff and customers to act rudely and complain. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/pop-up-restaurant-karens-diner-opens-in-sydney-with-rude-and-unprofessional-staff--c-4293428 |title=Pop-up restaurant Karen’s Diner opens in Sydney with rude and unprofessional staff|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref>

== Other uses ==
The mid-2019 formation of [[Tropical Storm Karen (2019)|Tropical Storm Karen]] in the [[Atlantic hurricane]] basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mansoor|first=Sanya|date=September 22, 2019|title=Tropical Storm Karen Has the Internet Saying the Storm 'Wants to Speak to a Manager'|url=https://time.com/5683398/tropical-storm-karen-memes/|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Time}}</ref>

In July 2020, [[Domino's Pizza Enterprises|Domino's Pizza]] ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|date=July 31, 2020|title=Domino's Pizza drops 'free pizza for Karen' offer|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53589897|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

In July 2020, an internet meme in the form of a [[parody advertisement]] for a fictional Girl of the Year character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a [[track suit]], bob haircut and [[Open carry in the United States|openly carrying]] a [[semi-automatic pistol]] while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from [[American Girl]], who took umbrage to the use of their name and [[trade dress]], stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."<ref name="mccarter">{{cite news|last=McCarter|first=Reid|title=American Girl calls manager over "Karen" doll parody|language=en-us|work=News|url=https://news.avclub.com/american-girl-calls-manager-over-karen-doll-parody-1844280459|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> [[Boing Boing]], however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the [[Streisand effect]], though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.<ref name="Beschizza">{{cite web|last=Beschizza|first=Rob|date=July 6, 2020|title=I found out about this amusing Karen parody of American Girl dolls because they want it taken down|url=https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html/|website=Boing Boing}}</ref>

The [[BBC]] called the [[Wall of Moms]] "a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly ''not'' being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."<ref name="BBC Nagesh" />

== Legislation ==

In July 2020, [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors|Supervisor]] [[Shamann Walton]] introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act. It would change the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauman |first=Anna |date=July 7, 2020 |title=SF supervisor's CAREN Act would make 'false racially biased' calls to police illegal |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> The Act passed unanimously in October of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Har |first=Janie |date=October 21, 2020 |title='CAREN Act': San Francisco officials let people sue over racist 911 calls |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Mercury News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/san-francisco-officials-let-people-sue-over-racist-911-calls |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> Noting this, Williams said "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".<ref name=":8" />

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Karen (film)]]
* [[Becky (slang)]]
* [[Bye, Felicia]]
* [[Bye Felipe]]
* [[Chad (slang)]]
* [[Cracker (term)]]
* [[Gammon (insult)]]
* [[Kyle (slang)]]
* [[OK boomer]]
* [[Trixie (slang)]]
* [[White defensiveness#White fragility|White fragility]], also known as ''white tears''
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{scholia}}
* {{Know Your Meme|karen|Karen}}

{{Black Lives Matter}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2017]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for white people]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of middle class women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white Americans]]
[[Category:Black Lives Matter]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of women]]

Karen (slang)

2021-11-26T02:47:35Z

Lirae22: Spacing

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Pejorative term used in several English-speaking countries}}
{{About|the pejorative term|the name itself|Karen (name)|other uses|Karen (disambiguation){{!}}Karen}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}


'''Karen''' is a [[pejorative]] term for a white woman perceived as [[Entitlement|entitled]] or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. The term is a [[Internet meme|meme]] depicting white women who use their [[White privilege|privilege]] to demand their own way.<ref name="BBC Nagesh">{{cite web |last=Nagesh |first=Ashitha |date=July 30, 2020 |title=What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201 |website=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |title=How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |date=October 26, 2020 |website=Insider |publisher=Insider |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref> Depictions may include demanding to "speak to the manager", being [[racism|racist]] or sporting a particular [[bob cut]] hairstyle.<ref name=":10"/> A notable example was the 2020 [[Central Park birdwatching incident]].

The term has been criticized as being [[sexist]], [[ageist]] and [[misogynistic]] and seeking to control women's behavior.<ref name=":10" /> As of 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media as a general-purpose reference to [[middle class]] white women, especially during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> The term has also been applied to certain male behavior.<ref name=":10" /><ref name="ATL" /> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called 2020 "the year of Karen".<ref name="GuardianDec2020">{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=27 December 2020|title=The year of Karen: how a meme changed the way Americans talked about racism|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

== Origin ==
In [[African-American culture]], there is a long history of calling a meddlesome white woman by a certain name. In the [[Antebellum South|antebellum era]] (1815–1861), she was referred to as "[[Miss Ann]]".<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |title=What's In A 'Karen'? : Code Switch |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen |date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> In the early 1990s, "[[Becky (slang)|Becky]]" was used.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=May 6, 2020 |title=How 'Karen' Became a Coronavirus Villain |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-karen-memes-reddit-twitter-carolyn-goodman/611104/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref> As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Narizhnaya |first1=Khristina |last2=Lapin |first2=Tamar |last3=Brown |first3=Ruth |date=October 12, 2018 |title='Cornerstore Caroline' says she's not racist, apologizes to kids |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/cornerstore-caroline-says-shes-not-racist-apologizes-to-kids/ |access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |access-date=July 17, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]|quote=While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said.}}</ref> Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by [[Amanda Seyfried]]) from the 2004 film ''[[Mean Girls]]'', [[Dane Cook]]'s 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album ''[[Retaliation (Dane Cook album)|Retaliation]]'',<ref name="BI">{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5|access-date=May 29, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the [[Nintendo Switch]] console who exhibits antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".<ref name="Romano">{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Aja|date=February 5, 2020|title=Karen: The anti-vaxxer soccer mom with speak-to-the-manager hair, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21079162/karen-name-insult-meme-manager|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=October 25, 2016|title=Nintendo Switch's best, most revealing meme is antisocial 'Karen' |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/25/13403924/nintendo-switch-karen-meme-reveal-video |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Polygon |language=en}}</ref> In December 2017, Karen [[internet meme|memes]] regarding entitled women went viral on [[Reddit]], the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen. The posts led to the creation of the [[subreddit]] r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.<ref name="BI" /><ref name="Romano" />

A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originates among Black people to refer to unreasonable white women.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=A Brief History of 'Karen' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/style/karen-name-meme-history.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> The term was popularized on [[Black Twitter]] as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids' lemonade stands"<ref name=":0"/> or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".<ref name="Time meme history">{{cite magazine |last=Lang |first=Cady |date=June 25, 2020 |title=How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood |url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |access-date=April 13, 2021 |url-status=unfit |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111213845/https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |archive-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]'' magazine described ''Karen'' as a term that originated with Black women but was co-opted by white men.<ref name=":4" />

== Meaning and use ==
[[Kansas State University]] professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.<ref name=":0" /> According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends."<ref name=":0" /> Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for ''Bitch'', agrees, saying a Karen doesn't view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves."<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Rachel Charlene |date=April 10, 2020 |title='Karen' Isn't a Slur – It's A Critique of Entitled White Womanhood |url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/very-online/the-karen-meme-isnt-a-slur-its-a-social-critique |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]}}</ref>

The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="KYM">{{cite web |title=10+ Memes of Karen, the Infamous 'Speak to the Manager' Haircut |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/collections/10-memes-of-karen-the-infamous-speak-to-the-manager-haircut |access-date=May 30, 2020 |website=[[Know Your Meme]]}}</ref> Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Romano" /><ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Is calling someone 'Karen' a slur? An investigation. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/karen-memes-slur-kate-gosselin-hate-speech-women-20200513.html |access-date=June 2, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> racism,<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Asmelash |first=Leah |date=May 30, 2020 |title=How Karen became a meme, and what real-life Karens think about it |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/30/us/karen-meme-trnd/index.html |access-date=May 30, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> excessive use of [[Facebook]], and a particular [[Bob cut|bob haircut]] with blond [[Hair highlighting|highlights]]. Pictures of [[Kate Gosselin]] and [[Jenny McCarthy]]'s bob cut are often used to depict Karen,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|date=May 23, 2020|title=Column: Is the 'Karen' meme sexist? Maybe, but it's also apt|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-23/column-karen-meme-white-women-behaving-badly|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="BI" /><ref name="KYM" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dozier |first=Rob |date=August 21, 2018 |title=Why Memes Making Fun of White People Demanding to 'Speak to the Manager!' Are So Popular Right Now |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/bbq-becky-permit-patty-apple-store-lady-why-laughing-at-white-entitlement-feels-so-appropriate.html |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref>

=== Male context ===
{{See also|Kyle (slang)}}

The term is generally used to refer to women, but ''[[The Atlantic]]'' noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president [[Donald Trump]] the "Karen in chief".<ref name=ATL>{{Cite magazine |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=May 28, 2020 |title=The Karen in Chief |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/trump-social-media-scarborough/612193/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=How 'Karen' went from a popular baby name to a stand-in for White entitlement |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/how-karen-went-from-a-popular-baby-name-to-a-stand-in-for-white-entitlement/J4OBLU6KGZM5WIAEEOPYV4GFLA/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |date=June 16, 2020 |last=Queen |first=Robin |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling [[Elon Musk]] "Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of [[COVID-19 testing]] became [[Viral phenomenon|viral]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Khaleda |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Scientist's "Space Karen" response to Elon Musk goes viral |url=https://www.newsweek.com/space-karen-response-elon-musk-viral-1547695 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[Newsweek]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geske |first=Dawn |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Why Elon Musk Is Being Called 'Space Karen' After Latest Launch |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/why-elon-musk-being-called-space-karen-after-latest-launch-3083278 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[International Business Times]] |publisher=[[IBT Media]]}}</ref> Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowell|first=Erica|date=March 16, 2021|title=Male Version Of A Karen? Undeniable Evidence Of Them. Beware!|work=He, Him, His|publisher=|url=https://hehimhismedia.com/male-version-of-a-karen-evidence/|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=fatherly>{{cite web |url=https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/male-version-of-karen-meme/ |title=What Is the Male Version of a Karen? |last=Berical |first=Matt |date=December 11, 2020 |website=Fatherly |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> although 'Ken'<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=fatherly /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nextshark.com/davis-karen-ken-call-police-asian-man/|title=‘Karen’ and ‘Ken’ Call Police on Asian American Doctor Visiting Parents in Davis|author=Bryan Ke|date=2020-07-15|publisher=Nextshark}}</ref><ref name=forbescohen>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/06/28/who-is-karen--stop-using-the-nickname-and-call-it-what-it-really-is/?sh=640ba3e01c2f|title=Who Is Karen? Stop Using The Nickname And Call It What It Really Is|author=Seth Cohen|date=2020-06-08|publisher=Forbes}}</ref><ref name=mashable>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/karen-no-mask-videos-tantrums-coronavirus|title=8 Karens and Kens who threw huge tantrums instead of putting on masks|author=Nicole Gallucci|date=2020-06-29|publisher=Mashable}}</ref> and 'Kevin'<ref name=kqed>{{cite news|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13882681/we-all-know-a-karen-when-we-see-one-now-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin|title=We All Know a ‘Karen’ When We See One—Now We Need to Talk About ‘Kevin’|author=Rae Alexandra|date=2020-07-01|publisher=KQED}}</ref><ref name=insider>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/karen-compilation-timeline-white-women-racism-2020-6#while-women-have-largely-been-the-memes-focus-viral-videos-of-men-behaving-in-similar-ways-have-also-surfaced-social-media-users-have-dubbed-the-male-version-of-a-karen-as-a-kevin-or-ken-10|title=Videos of people labeled 'Karens' have flooded the internet, drawing curiosity, condemnation, and criticism. Here's how they took over our feeds during quarantine.|author=Margot Harris and Palmer Haasch|date=2020-07-03|publisher=Insider}}</ref> are among the most common names used. The [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow era]] male equivalent to Miss Ann was [[Mister Charlie]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jaynes |first=Gerald David |year=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of African American society, Volume 2 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage Publications]] |pages=551 |isbn=9780761927648}}</ref>

=== Sexism ===
The term has been called [[sexist]] and anti-woman. [[Hadley Freeman]], columnist and features writer for ''[[The Guardian]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hadley Freeman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hadleyfreeman |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref> argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |author-link=Hadley Freeman |date=April 13, 2020 |title=The 'Karen' meme is everywhere – and it has become mired in sexism |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/13/the-karen-meme-is-everywhere-and-it-has-become-mired-in-sexism |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> [[Jennifer Weiner]], writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'' during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.<ref name="weiner">{{Cite news |last=Weiner |first=Jennifer |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Opinion: The Seductive Appeal of Pandemic Shaming |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-shaming.html |access-date=June 13, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> In August 2020, [[Helen Lewis (journalist)|Helen Lewis]] wrote in ''The Atlantic'', "''Karen'' has become synonymous with ''woman'' among those who consider ''woman'' an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Helen |date=August 19, 2020 |title=The Mythology of Karen |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |issn=1072-7825}}</ref> Lewis also noted what she called the "[[finger trap]]" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."<ref name=":10" />

British journalist and feminist [[Julie Bindel]] asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on [[Class discrimination|class prejudice]]?"<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name="Parsons">{{Cite news |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/04/06/karen-slur-meme-coronavirus-pandemic-julie-bindel-twitter-feminism-white-privilege-class/ |title=In these trying times, lesbian radical feminist Julie Bindel is debating whether 'Karen' is a slur. Yes, really |last=Parsons |first=Vic |date=April 6, 2020 |newspaper=[[PinkNews]] |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in ''The Atlantic'', asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.<ref name=":0" /> [[Nina Burleigh]] wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=May 28, 2020 |title=How the Karen Meme Benefits the Right |url=https://gen.medium.com/how-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |language=en}}</ref> Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at [[Know Your Meme]], stated to ''[[Business Insider]]'' in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online", and that it had risen to popularity due to that demographic being seen as entitled.<ref name="BI" />

=== Racism ===

Multiple writers have discussed whether the term is a sexist and racist [[pejorative|slur]] for referring to white women.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-08|title=Opinion: Karen is not the equivalent of the N-word for white women. If you’re offended, you might be one|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/karen-n-word-racism-white-women-julie-bindel-coronavirus-a9453201.html|access-date=2021-04-30|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Attiah|first=Karen|title=Opinion {{!}} The ‘Karen’ memes and jokes aren’t sexist or racist. Let a Karen explain.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/28/karen-memes-jokes-arent-sexist-or-racist-let-karen-explain/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' called the meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood."<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=July 6, 2020|title=How the Karen Meme Confronts History of White Womanhood|url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence".<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Apryl Williams of the [[University of Michigan]] called it a Black activist meme, saying it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to Black people.<ref name=":8" /> On the other hand, [[Karen Attiah]], Global Opinions editor for ''[[The Washington Post]],'' argues that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=After racial violence in the U.S., writer Karen Attiah re-examines the 'Karen' meme |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/dysfunction-in-long-term-care-the-meaning-of-karen-zunzi-crispr-covid-19-tests-baroness-von-sketch-more-1.5588200/after-racial-violence-in-the-u-s-writer-karen-attiah-re-examines-the-karen-meme-1.5588208 |access-date=June 2, 2020 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

Scholars agree that ''Karen'' historically refers to racism.{{cn|date=November 2021}} [[University of Virginia]] media researcher [[Meredith Clark]] has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom Black people feel a need to be careful because she won't hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".<ref name=":0" /> Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as Black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' played a Jeopardy sketch with [[Chadwick Boseman]] playing as his ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' character [[T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|T'Challa]].<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2020|title=What's in a Karen? (Transcript) |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/891177904 |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> Contemporary Karens have been compared to [[Carolyn Bryant]] (a white woman who accused [[Emmett Till]] of offending her, resulting in his lynching) and [[Mayella Ewell]] (a fictional character in the novel ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'').<ref name="GuardianDec2020" />

The meme became most popular in 2020.<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Andre Brock, a [[Georgia Tech]] professor of Black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]], the [[murder of George Floyd]], and the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.<ref name=":8" /> He said the virality of the two videos was the result of an "[[Interest Convergence|interest convergence]]" in which the pandemic "intersected with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear."<ref name=":8" />

== Notable examples ==
In December 2019, Australian media reported that in the town of [[Mildura]], a woman named Karen had been filmed trying to pull down an [[Australian Aboriginal Flag|Aboriginal flag]] being displayed by her neighbors. She was unable to pull it down, leading to a [[Twitter]] hashtag #TooStrongForYouKaren and other social media responses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/mildura-woman-attempts-to-tear-down-aboriginal-flag-in-viral-video |title=Mildura woman attempts to tear down Aboriginal flag in viral video |date=December 15, 2019 |work=[[SBS World News]] |location=Sydney |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/too-strong-for-you-karen-viral-video-prompts-mildura-rally/11823082 |title=#toostrongforyoukaren viral video prompts anti-racism rally in Mildura |last=Testa |first=Christopher |date=December 22, 2019 |publisher=[[ABC Mildura Swan Hill]] |location=Mildura, Victoria, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the term has been used to describe women abusing [[Asian-American]] health workers due to the virus's origins in China,<ref>{{Cite web |title='Go to China!': 'Nurses' hailed for blocking anti-quarantine 'Karen' at coronavirus protest |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6841208/coronavirus-nurses-block-protest-denver/ |last=Elliott |first=Josh K. |date=April 20, 2020 |website=Global News |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> those [[hoarding]] essential supplies such as [[toilet paper]], and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce [[quarantine]]<ref name="weiner"/> and those who [[Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|protested the continuance of the restrictions]] because they prevented them visiting [[hair salon]]s,<ref name=":0" /> as well as over being forced to wear [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.<ref name=":0" /> Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.<ref name=":6" />

In May 2020, [[Christian Cooper]], writing about the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], said Amy Cooper's "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" when he started recording the encounter.<ref name=":3" /> He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Nir |first=Sarah Maslin |date=May 26, 2020 |title=White Woman Is Fired After Calling Police on Black Man in Central Park |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/nyregion/amy-cooper-dog-central-park.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perper |first=Rosie |url=https://www.insider.com/police-central-park-karen-video-dog-leash-2020-5 |title=A woman in a video appears to call the police claiming there's an 'African American man threatening my life' – he apparently had asked her to put her dog on a leash |website=Insider |date=May 25, 2020 |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

On December 16, 2020, Miya Ponsetto was dubbed "Soho Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter [[Keyon Harrold]], in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An [[Uber]] driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in [[Ventura County, California]] and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kenyon-harrold-jr-video-phone-steal-hotel-b1781033.html |title=NYPD releases new video of woman who falsely accused Black teenager of stealing her phone |first=Louise |last=Hall |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/soho-karen-racism-keyon-harrold-b1781370.html |title='Soho Karen' who attacked Black teenager identified |first=Josh |last=Marcus |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/soho-karen-arrested-after-viral-video-showed-her-tackling-boy-in-new-york |title='SoHo Karen' arrested after viral video showed her tackling 14-year-old boy at a NYC hotel |first=Christina |last=Gonzalez |website=[[KTTV]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-miya-ponsetto-soho-karen-nyc-charges-20210109-j4bzacu4gvh7bkgx2ndcefssde-story.html |title=Supervised release for ‘SoHo Karen’ Miya Ponsetto on attempted robbery, assault charges for attacking Black teen over missing iPhone |first1=Ellen |last1=Moynihan |first2=Thomas |last2=Tracy |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 9, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsone.com/4119577/soho-karen-interrupts-judge-during-court-hearing/ |title='SoHo Karen' Strikes Again: Miya Ponsetto Interrupts Judge To Say She Wants To Dodge Jail |first=Charise |last=Frazier |website=NewsOne |publisher=[[Urban One]] |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, a [[theme restaurant]] opened in [[Sydney, Australia]] called "Karen's Diner". The restaurant encourages both staff and customers to act rudely and complain. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/pop-up-restaurant-karens-diner-opens-in-sydney-with-rude-and-unprofessional-staff--c-4293428 |title=Pop-up restaurant Karen’s Diner opens in Sydney with rude and unprofessional staff|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref>

== Other uses ==
The mid-2019 formation of [[Tropical Storm Karen (2019)|Tropical Storm Karen]] in the [[Atlantic hurricane]] basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mansoor|first=Sanya|date=September 22, 2019|title=Tropical Storm Karen Has the Internet Saying the Storm 'Wants to Speak to a Manager'|url=https://time.com/5683398/tropical-storm-karen-memes/|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Time}}</ref>

In July 2020, [[Domino's Pizza Enterprises|Domino's Pizza]] ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|date=July 31, 2020|title=Domino's Pizza drops 'free pizza for Karen' offer|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53589897|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

In July 2020, an internet meme in the form of a [[parody advertisement]] for a fictional Girl of the Year character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a [[track suit]], bob haircut and [[Open carry in the United States|openly carrying]] a [[semi-automatic pistol]] while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from [[American Girl]], who took umbrage to the use of their name and [[trade dress]], stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."<ref name="mccarter">{{cite news|last=McCarter|first=Reid|title=American Girl calls manager over "Karen" doll parody|language=en-us|work=News|url=https://news.avclub.com/american-girl-calls-manager-over-karen-doll-parody-1844280459|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> [[Boing Boing]], however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the [[Streisand effect]], though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.<ref name="Beschizza">{{cite web|last=Beschizza|first=Rob|date=July 6, 2020|title=I found out about this amusing Karen parody of American Girl dolls because they want it taken down|url=https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html/|website=Boing Boing}}</ref>

The [[BBC]] called the [[Wall of Moms]] "a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly ''not'' being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."<ref name="BBC Nagesh" />

== Legislation ==

In July 2020, [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors|Supervisor]] [[Shamann Walton]] introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act. It would change the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauman |first=Anna |date=July 7, 2020 |title=SF supervisor's CAREN Act would make 'false racially biased' calls to police illegal |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> The Act passed unanimously in October of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Har |first=Janie |date=October 21, 2020 |title='CAREN Act': San Francisco officials let people sue over racist 911 calls |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Mercury News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/san-francisco-officials-let-people-sue-over-racist-911-calls |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> Noting this, Williams said "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".<ref name=":8" />

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Karen (film)]]
* [[Becky (slang)]]
* [[Bye, Felicia]]
* [[Bye Felipe]]
* [[Chad (slang)]]
* [[Cracker (term)]]
* [[Gammon (insult)]]
* [[Kyle (slang)]]
* [[OK boomer]]
* [[Trixie (slang)]]
* [[White defensiveness#White fragility|White fragility]], also known as ''white tears''
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{scholia}}
* {{Know Your Meme|karen|Karen}}

{{Black Lives Matter}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2017]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for white people]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of middle class women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white Americans]]
[[Category:Black Lives Matter]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of women]]

Karen (slang)

2021-11-26T02:47:11Z

Lirae22: Not redundant.

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Pejorative term used in several English-speaking countries}}
{{About|the pejorative term|the name itself|Karen (name)|other uses|Karen (disambiguation){{!}}Karen}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}


'''Karen''' is a [[pejorative]] term for a white woman perceived as [[Entitlement|entitled]] or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. The term is a [[Internet meme|meme]] depicting white women who use their [[White privilege|privilege]] to demand their own way.<ref name="BBC Nagesh">{{cite web |last=Nagesh |first=Ashitha |date=July 30, 2020 |title=What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201 |website=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |title=How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |date=October 26, 2020 |website=Insider |publisher=Insider |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref> Depictions may include demanding to "speak to the manager", being [[racism|racist]] or sporting a particular [[bob cut]] hairstyle.<ref name=":10"/> A notable example was the 2020 [[Central Park birdwatching incident]].

The term has been criticized as being [[sexist]],[[ageist]] and [[misogynistic]] and seeking to control women's behavior.<ref name=":10" /> As of 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media as a general-purpose reference to [[middle class]] white women, especially during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> The term has also been applied to certain male behavior.<ref name=":10" /><ref name="ATL" /> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called 2020 "the year of Karen".<ref name="GuardianDec2020">{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=27 December 2020|title=The year of Karen: how a meme changed the way Americans talked about racism|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

== Origin ==
In [[African-American culture]], there is a long history of calling a meddlesome white woman by a certain name. In the [[Antebellum South|antebellum era]] (1815–1861), she was referred to as "[[Miss Ann]]".<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |title=What's In A 'Karen'? : Code Switch |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen |date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> In the early 1990s, "[[Becky (slang)|Becky]]" was used.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=May 6, 2020 |title=How 'Karen' Became a Coronavirus Villain |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-karen-memes-reddit-twitter-carolyn-goodman/611104/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref> As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Narizhnaya |first1=Khristina |last2=Lapin |first2=Tamar |last3=Brown |first3=Ruth |date=October 12, 2018 |title='Cornerstore Caroline' says she's not racist, apologizes to kids |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/cornerstore-caroline-says-shes-not-racist-apologizes-to-kids/ |access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |access-date=July 17, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]|quote=While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said.}}</ref> Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by [[Amanda Seyfried]]) from the 2004 film ''[[Mean Girls]]'', [[Dane Cook]]'s 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album ''[[Retaliation (Dane Cook album)|Retaliation]]'',<ref name="BI">{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5|access-date=May 29, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the [[Nintendo Switch]] console who exhibits antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".<ref name="Romano">{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Aja|date=February 5, 2020|title=Karen: The anti-vaxxer soccer mom with speak-to-the-manager hair, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21079162/karen-name-insult-meme-manager|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=October 25, 2016|title=Nintendo Switch's best, most revealing meme is antisocial 'Karen' |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/25/13403924/nintendo-switch-karen-meme-reveal-video |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Polygon |language=en}}</ref> In December 2017, Karen [[internet meme|memes]] regarding entitled women went viral on [[Reddit]], the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen. The posts led to the creation of the [[subreddit]] r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.<ref name="BI" /><ref name="Romano" />

A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originates among Black people to refer to unreasonable white women.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=A Brief History of 'Karen' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/style/karen-name-meme-history.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> The term was popularized on [[Black Twitter]] as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids' lemonade stands"<ref name=":0"/> or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".<ref name="Time meme history">{{cite magazine |last=Lang |first=Cady |date=June 25, 2020 |title=How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood |url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |access-date=April 13, 2021 |url-status=unfit |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111213845/https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |archive-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]'' magazine described ''Karen'' as a term that originated with Black women but was co-opted by white men.<ref name=":4" />

== Meaning and use ==
[[Kansas State University]] professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.<ref name=":0" /> According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends."<ref name=":0" /> Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for ''Bitch'', agrees, saying a Karen doesn't view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves."<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Rachel Charlene |date=April 10, 2020 |title='Karen' Isn't a Slur – It's A Critique of Entitled White Womanhood |url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/very-online/the-karen-meme-isnt-a-slur-its-a-social-critique |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]}}</ref>

The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="KYM">{{cite web |title=10+ Memes of Karen, the Infamous 'Speak to the Manager' Haircut |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/collections/10-memes-of-karen-the-infamous-speak-to-the-manager-haircut |access-date=May 30, 2020 |website=[[Know Your Meme]]}}</ref> Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Romano" /><ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Is calling someone 'Karen' a slur? An investigation. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/karen-memes-slur-kate-gosselin-hate-speech-women-20200513.html |access-date=June 2, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> racism,<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Asmelash |first=Leah |date=May 30, 2020 |title=How Karen became a meme, and what real-life Karens think about it |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/30/us/karen-meme-trnd/index.html |access-date=May 30, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> excessive use of [[Facebook]], and a particular [[Bob cut|bob haircut]] with blond [[Hair highlighting|highlights]]. Pictures of [[Kate Gosselin]] and [[Jenny McCarthy]]'s bob cut are often used to depict Karen,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|date=May 23, 2020|title=Column: Is the 'Karen' meme sexist? Maybe, but it's also apt|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-23/column-karen-meme-white-women-behaving-badly|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="BI" /><ref name="KYM" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dozier |first=Rob |date=August 21, 2018 |title=Why Memes Making Fun of White People Demanding to 'Speak to the Manager!' Are So Popular Right Now |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/bbq-becky-permit-patty-apple-store-lady-why-laughing-at-white-entitlement-feels-so-appropriate.html |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref>

=== Male context ===
{{See also|Kyle (slang)}}

The term is generally used to refer to women, but ''[[The Atlantic]]'' noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president [[Donald Trump]] the "Karen in chief".<ref name=ATL>{{Cite magazine |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=May 28, 2020 |title=The Karen in Chief |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/trump-social-media-scarborough/612193/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=How 'Karen' went from a popular baby name to a stand-in for White entitlement |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/how-karen-went-from-a-popular-baby-name-to-a-stand-in-for-white-entitlement/J4OBLU6KGZM5WIAEEOPYV4GFLA/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |date=June 16, 2020 |last=Queen |first=Robin |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling [[Elon Musk]] "Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of [[COVID-19 testing]] became [[Viral phenomenon|viral]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Khaleda |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Scientist's "Space Karen" response to Elon Musk goes viral |url=https://www.newsweek.com/space-karen-response-elon-musk-viral-1547695 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[Newsweek]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geske |first=Dawn |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Why Elon Musk Is Being Called 'Space Karen' After Latest Launch |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/why-elon-musk-being-called-space-karen-after-latest-launch-3083278 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[International Business Times]] |publisher=[[IBT Media]]}}</ref> Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowell|first=Erica|date=March 16, 2021|title=Male Version Of A Karen? Undeniable Evidence Of Them. Beware!|work=He, Him, His|publisher=|url=https://hehimhismedia.com/male-version-of-a-karen-evidence/|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=fatherly>{{cite web |url=https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/male-version-of-karen-meme/ |title=What Is the Male Version of a Karen? |last=Berical |first=Matt |date=December 11, 2020 |website=Fatherly |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> although 'Ken'<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=fatherly /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nextshark.com/davis-karen-ken-call-police-asian-man/|title=‘Karen’ and ‘Ken’ Call Police on Asian American Doctor Visiting Parents in Davis|author=Bryan Ke|date=2020-07-15|publisher=Nextshark}}</ref><ref name=forbescohen>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/06/28/who-is-karen--stop-using-the-nickname-and-call-it-what-it-really-is/?sh=640ba3e01c2f|title=Who Is Karen? Stop Using The Nickname And Call It What It Really Is|author=Seth Cohen|date=2020-06-08|publisher=Forbes}}</ref><ref name=mashable>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/karen-no-mask-videos-tantrums-coronavirus|title=8 Karens and Kens who threw huge tantrums instead of putting on masks|author=Nicole Gallucci|date=2020-06-29|publisher=Mashable}}</ref> and 'Kevin'<ref name=kqed>{{cite news|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13882681/we-all-know-a-karen-when-we-see-one-now-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin|title=We All Know a ‘Karen’ When We See One—Now We Need to Talk About ‘Kevin’|author=Rae Alexandra|date=2020-07-01|publisher=KQED}}</ref><ref name=insider>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/karen-compilation-timeline-white-women-racism-2020-6#while-women-have-largely-been-the-memes-focus-viral-videos-of-men-behaving-in-similar-ways-have-also-surfaced-social-media-users-have-dubbed-the-male-version-of-a-karen-as-a-kevin-or-ken-10|title=Videos of people labeled 'Karens' have flooded the internet, drawing curiosity, condemnation, and criticism. Here's how they took over our feeds during quarantine.|author=Margot Harris and Palmer Haasch|date=2020-07-03|publisher=Insider}}</ref> are among the most common names used. The [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow era]] male equivalent to Miss Ann was [[Mister Charlie]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jaynes |first=Gerald David |year=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of African American society, Volume 2 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage Publications]] |pages=551 |isbn=9780761927648}}</ref>

=== Sexism ===
The term has been called [[sexist]] and anti-woman. [[Hadley Freeman]], columnist and features writer for ''[[The Guardian]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hadley Freeman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hadleyfreeman |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref> argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |author-link=Hadley Freeman |date=April 13, 2020 |title=The 'Karen' meme is everywhere – and it has become mired in sexism |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/13/the-karen-meme-is-everywhere-and-it-has-become-mired-in-sexism |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> [[Jennifer Weiner]], writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'' during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.<ref name="weiner">{{Cite news |last=Weiner |first=Jennifer |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Opinion: The Seductive Appeal of Pandemic Shaming |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-shaming.html |access-date=June 13, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> In August 2020, [[Helen Lewis (journalist)|Helen Lewis]] wrote in ''The Atlantic'', "''Karen'' has become synonymous with ''woman'' among those who consider ''woman'' an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Helen |date=August 19, 2020 |title=The Mythology of Karen |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |issn=1072-7825}}</ref> Lewis also noted what she called the "[[finger trap]]" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."<ref name=":10" />

British journalist and feminist [[Julie Bindel]] asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on [[Class discrimination|class prejudice]]?"<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name="Parsons">{{Cite news |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/04/06/karen-slur-meme-coronavirus-pandemic-julie-bindel-twitter-feminism-white-privilege-class/ |title=In these trying times, lesbian radical feminist Julie Bindel is debating whether 'Karen' is a slur. Yes, really |last=Parsons |first=Vic |date=April 6, 2020 |newspaper=[[PinkNews]] |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in ''The Atlantic'', asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.<ref name=":0" /> [[Nina Burleigh]] wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=May 28, 2020 |title=How the Karen Meme Benefits the Right |url=https://gen.medium.com/how-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |language=en}}</ref> Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at [[Know Your Meme]], stated to ''[[Business Insider]]'' in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online", and that it had risen to popularity due to that demographic being seen as entitled.<ref name="BI" />

=== Racism ===

Multiple writers have discussed whether the term is a sexist and racist [[pejorative|slur]] for referring to white women.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-08|title=Opinion: Karen is not the equivalent of the N-word for white women. If you’re offended, you might be one|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/karen-n-word-racism-white-women-julie-bindel-coronavirus-a9453201.html|access-date=2021-04-30|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Attiah|first=Karen|title=Opinion {{!}} The ‘Karen’ memes and jokes aren’t sexist or racist. Let a Karen explain.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/28/karen-memes-jokes-arent-sexist-or-racist-let-karen-explain/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' called the meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood."<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=July 6, 2020|title=How the Karen Meme Confronts History of White Womanhood|url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence".<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Apryl Williams of the [[University of Michigan]] called it a Black activist meme, saying it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to Black people.<ref name=":8" /> On the other hand, [[Karen Attiah]], Global Opinions editor for ''[[The Washington Post]],'' argues that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=After racial violence in the U.S., writer Karen Attiah re-examines the 'Karen' meme |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/dysfunction-in-long-term-care-the-meaning-of-karen-zunzi-crispr-covid-19-tests-baroness-von-sketch-more-1.5588200/after-racial-violence-in-the-u-s-writer-karen-attiah-re-examines-the-karen-meme-1.5588208 |access-date=June 2, 2020 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

Scholars agree that ''Karen'' historically refers to racism.{{cn|date=November 2021}} [[University of Virginia]] media researcher [[Meredith Clark]] has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom Black people feel a need to be careful because she won't hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".<ref name=":0" /> Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as Black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' played a Jeopardy sketch with [[Chadwick Boseman]] playing as his ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' character [[T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|T'Challa]].<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2020|title=What's in a Karen? (Transcript) |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/891177904 |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> Contemporary Karens have been compared to [[Carolyn Bryant]] (a white woman who accused [[Emmett Till]] of offending her, resulting in his lynching) and [[Mayella Ewell]] (a fictional character in the novel ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'').<ref name="GuardianDec2020" />

The meme became most popular in 2020.<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Andre Brock, a [[Georgia Tech]] professor of Black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]], the [[murder of George Floyd]], and the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.<ref name=":8" /> He said the virality of the two videos was the result of an "[[Interest Convergence|interest convergence]]" in which the pandemic "intersected with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear."<ref name=":8" />

== Notable examples ==
In December 2019, Australian media reported that in the town of [[Mildura]], a woman named Karen had been filmed trying to pull down an [[Australian Aboriginal Flag|Aboriginal flag]] being displayed by her neighbors. She was unable to pull it down, leading to a [[Twitter]] hashtag #TooStrongForYouKaren and other social media responses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/mildura-woman-attempts-to-tear-down-aboriginal-flag-in-viral-video |title=Mildura woman attempts to tear down Aboriginal flag in viral video |date=December 15, 2019 |work=[[SBS World News]] |location=Sydney |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/too-strong-for-you-karen-viral-video-prompts-mildura-rally/11823082 |title=#toostrongforyoukaren viral video prompts anti-racism rally in Mildura |last=Testa |first=Christopher |date=December 22, 2019 |publisher=[[ABC Mildura Swan Hill]] |location=Mildura, Victoria, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the term has been used to describe women abusing [[Asian-American]] health workers due to the virus's origins in China,<ref>{{Cite web |title='Go to China!': 'Nurses' hailed for blocking anti-quarantine 'Karen' at coronavirus protest |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6841208/coronavirus-nurses-block-protest-denver/ |last=Elliott |first=Josh K. |date=April 20, 2020 |website=Global News |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> those [[hoarding]] essential supplies such as [[toilet paper]], and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce [[quarantine]]<ref name="weiner"/> and those who [[Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|protested the continuance of the restrictions]] because they prevented them visiting [[hair salon]]s,<ref name=":0" /> as well as over being forced to wear [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.<ref name=":0" /> Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.<ref name=":6" />

In May 2020, [[Christian Cooper]], writing about the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], said Amy Cooper's "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" when he started recording the encounter.<ref name=":3" /> He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Nir |first=Sarah Maslin |date=May 26, 2020 |title=White Woman Is Fired After Calling Police on Black Man in Central Park |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/nyregion/amy-cooper-dog-central-park.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perper |first=Rosie |url=https://www.insider.com/police-central-park-karen-video-dog-leash-2020-5 |title=A woman in a video appears to call the police claiming there's an 'African American man threatening my life' – he apparently had asked her to put her dog on a leash |website=Insider |date=May 25, 2020 |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

On December 16, 2020, Miya Ponsetto was dubbed "Soho Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter [[Keyon Harrold]], in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An [[Uber]] driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in [[Ventura County, California]] and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kenyon-harrold-jr-video-phone-steal-hotel-b1781033.html |title=NYPD releases new video of woman who falsely accused Black teenager of stealing her phone |first=Louise |last=Hall |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/soho-karen-racism-keyon-harrold-b1781370.html |title='Soho Karen' who attacked Black teenager identified |first=Josh |last=Marcus |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/soho-karen-arrested-after-viral-video-showed-her-tackling-boy-in-new-york |title='SoHo Karen' arrested after viral video showed her tackling 14-year-old boy at a NYC hotel |first=Christina |last=Gonzalez |website=[[KTTV]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-miya-ponsetto-soho-karen-nyc-charges-20210109-j4bzacu4gvh7bkgx2ndcefssde-story.html |title=Supervised release for ‘SoHo Karen’ Miya Ponsetto on attempted robbery, assault charges for attacking Black teen over missing iPhone |first1=Ellen |last1=Moynihan |first2=Thomas |last2=Tracy |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 9, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsone.com/4119577/soho-karen-interrupts-judge-during-court-hearing/ |title='SoHo Karen' Strikes Again: Miya Ponsetto Interrupts Judge To Say She Wants To Dodge Jail |first=Charise |last=Frazier |website=NewsOne |publisher=[[Urban One]] |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, a [[theme restaurant]] opened in [[Sydney, Australia]] called "Karen's Diner". The restaurant encourages both staff and customers to act rudely and complain. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/pop-up-restaurant-karens-diner-opens-in-sydney-with-rude-and-unprofessional-staff--c-4293428 |title=Pop-up restaurant Karen’s Diner opens in Sydney with rude and unprofessional staff|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref>

== Other uses ==
The mid-2019 formation of [[Tropical Storm Karen (2019)|Tropical Storm Karen]] in the [[Atlantic hurricane]] basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mansoor|first=Sanya|date=September 22, 2019|title=Tropical Storm Karen Has the Internet Saying the Storm 'Wants to Speak to a Manager'|url=https://time.com/5683398/tropical-storm-karen-memes/|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Time}}</ref>

In July 2020, [[Domino's Pizza Enterprises|Domino's Pizza]] ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|date=July 31, 2020|title=Domino's Pizza drops 'free pizza for Karen' offer|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53589897|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

In July 2020, an internet meme in the form of a [[parody advertisement]] for a fictional Girl of the Year character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a [[track suit]], bob haircut and [[Open carry in the United States|openly carrying]] a [[semi-automatic pistol]] while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from [[American Girl]], who took umbrage to the use of their name and [[trade dress]], stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."<ref name="mccarter">{{cite news|last=McCarter|first=Reid|title=American Girl calls manager over "Karen" doll parody|language=en-us|work=News|url=https://news.avclub.com/american-girl-calls-manager-over-karen-doll-parody-1844280459|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> [[Boing Boing]], however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the [[Streisand effect]], though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.<ref name="Beschizza">{{cite web|last=Beschizza|first=Rob|date=July 6, 2020|title=I found out about this amusing Karen parody of American Girl dolls because they want it taken down|url=https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html/|website=Boing Boing}}</ref>

The [[BBC]] called the [[Wall of Moms]] "a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly ''not'' being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."<ref name="BBC Nagesh" />

== Legislation ==

In July 2020, [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors|Supervisor]] [[Shamann Walton]] introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act. It would change the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauman |first=Anna |date=July 7, 2020 |title=SF supervisor's CAREN Act would make 'false racially biased' calls to police illegal |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> The Act passed unanimously in October of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Har |first=Janie |date=October 21, 2020 |title='CAREN Act': San Francisco officials let people sue over racist 911 calls |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Mercury News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/san-francisco-officials-let-people-sue-over-racist-911-calls |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> Noting this, Williams said "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".<ref name=":8" />

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Karen (film)]]
* [[Becky (slang)]]
* [[Bye, Felicia]]
* [[Bye Felipe]]
* [[Chad (slang)]]
* [[Cracker (term)]]
* [[Gammon (insult)]]
* [[Kyle (slang)]]
* [[OK boomer]]
* [[Trixie (slang)]]
* [[White defensiveness#White fragility|White fragility]], also known as ''white tears''
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{scholia}}
* {{Know Your Meme|karen|Karen}}

{{Black Lives Matter}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2017]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for white people]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of middle class women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white Americans]]
[[Category:Black Lives Matter]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of women]]

Talk:Sweden

2021-11-25T07:01:09Z

Lirae22: /* Precedence */

{{Skip to talk}}
{{Talk header|search=yes|archive_age=120|archive_bot=Lowercase sigmabot III}}
{{To do}}
{{British English Oxford spelling|date=September 2010}}
{{DelistedGA|23 January 2007}}
{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Sweden}}
{{Vital article|level=4|topic=Geography|class=C}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|1=
{{WikiProject Sweden|class=C|importance=Top}}
{{WikiProject Europe|class=c|importance=}}
{{WikiProject Countries|class=C
| b1  = no
| b2  = yes
| b3  = yes
| b4  = yes
| b5  = yes
| b6  = yes}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=C|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}}}
{{On this day|date1=2004-11-06|oldid1=15086586}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|counter = 2
|algo = old(120d)
|archive = Talk:Sweden/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Annual readership|days=90}}

== Edit request: found the missing citation, 25 July 2011 ==


I found the citation that is missing under the education section, 3rd paragraph, in the part that talks about tertiary education:

https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2006/art_2006-07-06_001.html

I found this citation source in the article about Finland, which discussed a similar set of statistics about its own tertiary education system.

Thanks!


— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/85.237.212.142|85.237.212.142]] ([[User talk:85.237.212.142|talk]]) 09:04, 25 July 2011‎ (UTC)

== Swedish 2017 GDP has reviewed ==

The recent GDP per capita checked at US $51,744 per person in a month. I've changed the data based on [[World Bank]] forum centre with a great effort.
[[User:KaplanAL|KaplanAL]] ([[User talk:KaplanAL|talk]]) 21:54, 27 January 2017 (Western Indonesia Time)

== Section regarding crime ==

Why is there a section regarding crime filed under Demographics? This does not appear to be standard procedure for country pages. Seems it should be moved to the Politics chapter, and possibly merged with the section on Judicial system.

[[Special:Contributions/193.150.216.5|193.150.216.5]] ([[User talk:193.150.216.5|talk]]) 23:38, 20 July 2021 (UTC)

== Edit request 26 July 2021 ==

The Culture section currently contains the following paragraph:

"Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "sexual revolution", with gender equality having particularly been promoted.[322] The early Swedish film I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967) reflected a liberal view of sexuality, including scenes of love making that caught international attention, and introduced the concept of the "Swedish sin" that had been introduced earlier in the US with Ingmar Bergman's Summer with Monika."

Please consider re-writing this paragraph because of the following issues:

- "I Am Curious (Yellow)" is a 1967 film, so it cannot be described as an "early" film. The "Swedish" description is also superfluous.

- "I Am Curious (Yellow)" is a 1967 film, so it cannot introduce a concept that had already been introduced in a 1953 film ("Summer with Monika").

- "Swedish Sin" is a US concept that was imposed on "Summer with Monika" by its US promoter and other US commentators. Whether it was actually a part of Swedish culture is therefore debatable (it may have been a part of a foreign view of that culture, but that's not the same thing).

- "% muslim population needs to be seriously updated -- last source citation was from 2018; it needs to be reflected in the demographics section -- pie chart (often the only thing people look at) as it is well over 1.2% cited"

== Semi-protected edit request on 21 November 2021 ==

{{edit semi-protected|Sweden|answered=yes}}
I think under the head "Administrative divisions" it should read in the penultimate paragraph: "Each county administrative board (not: boards) is led ..." perhaps somebody who is entitled to edit would like to correct it? [[User:Dan Elin|Dan Elin]] ([[User talk:Dan Elin|talk]]) 01:57, 21 November 2021 (UTC)
:Fixed that and also updated with name change from county councils to regions.[[User:Sjö|Sjö]] ([[User talk:Sjö|talk]]) 06:38, 21 November 2021 (UTC)

== New PM ==

Magdalena Andersson officialy replaced Stefan Löfven as the swedish PM on the 24th of November. [[Special:Contributions/88.89.238.243|88.89.238.243]] ([[User talk:88.89.238.243|talk]]) 14:47, 24 November 2021 (UTC)

Andersson doesn't officially take office as Prime Minister until November 26. <ref>https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/press/pressmeddelanden/2021/nov/22/pressmeddelande-talmannen-foreslar-magdalena-andersson-till-statsminister</ref> --[[User:TylerBurden|TylerBurden]] ([[User talk:TylerBurden|talk]]) 15:27, 24 November 2021 (UTC)

== Precedence ==

The speaker appoints the prime minister. It may not make sense to everyone but it is how it works in Sweden

https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/sa-funkar-riksdagen/talmannen/talmannens-uppdrag/ — Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Lirae22|Lirae22]] ([[User talk:Lirae22#top|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lirae22|contribs]]) 16:12, 24 November 2021 (UTC) 

:Quote from the link:''Talmansämbetet är den högsta post en person kan väljas till i Sverige. I rang kommer talmannen efter statschefen, alltså efter kungen, men före statsministern.'' (The office of Speaker is the highest elected official in Sweden. The speaker comes after the head of state in rank, i.e. the king, but before the prime minister.) If the offices in the infobox reflect rank the order should be the rank ''according to Swedish conditions'', that is Monarch, Speaker and Prime Minister. However, if we choose an order based on actual power the rank should be Prime minister, Speaker and Monarch, but we really should not use a mix of the two systems. [[User:Sjö|Sjö]] ([[User talk:Sjö|talk]]) 17:46, 24 November 2021 (UTC)
::"Power" is subjective, and irrelevant to the ordering when there's a clearly defined constitutional order of precedence.[[User:Lirae22|Lirae22]] ([[User talk:Lirae22|talk]]) 07:00, 25 November 2021 (UTC)

Talk:Sweden

2021-11-25T07:00:50Z

Lirae22: /* Precedence */

{{Skip to talk}}
{{Talk header|search=yes|archive_age=120|archive_bot=Lowercase sigmabot III}}
{{To do}}
{{British English Oxford spelling|date=September 2010}}
{{DelistedGA|23 January 2007}}
{{Outline of knowledge coverage|Sweden}}
{{Vital article|level=4|topic=Geography|class=C}}
{{WikiProjectBannerShell|1=
{{WikiProject Sweden|class=C|importance=Top}}
{{WikiProject Europe|class=c|importance=}}
{{WikiProject Countries|class=C
| b1  = no
| b2  = yes
| b3  = yes
| b4  = yes
| b5  = yes
| b6  = yes}}
{{WP1.0|v0.5=pass|class=C|category=Geography|WPCD=yes}}}}
{{On this day|date1=2004-11-06|oldid1=15086586}}
{{User:MiszaBot/config
|counter = 2
|algo = old(120d)
|archive = Talk:Sweden/Archive %(counter)d
}}
{{Annual readership|days=90}}

== Edit request: found the missing citation, 25 July 2011 ==


I found the citation that is missing under the education section, 3rd paragraph, in the part that talks about tertiary education:

https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2006/art_2006-07-06_001.html

I found this citation source in the article about Finland, which discussed a similar set of statistics about its own tertiary education system.

Thanks!


— Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[Special:Contributions/85.237.212.142|85.237.212.142]] ([[User talk:85.237.212.142|talk]]) 09:04, 25 July 2011‎ (UTC)

== Swedish 2017 GDP has reviewed ==

The recent GDP per capita checked at US $51,744 per person in a month. I've changed the data based on [[World Bank]] forum centre with a great effort.
[[User:KaplanAL|KaplanAL]] ([[User talk:KaplanAL|talk]]) 21:54, 27 January 2017 (Western Indonesia Time)

== Section regarding crime ==

Why is there a section regarding crime filed under Demographics? This does not appear to be standard procedure for country pages. Seems it should be moved to the Politics chapter, and possibly merged with the section on Judicial system.

[[Special:Contributions/193.150.216.5|193.150.216.5]] ([[User talk:193.150.216.5|talk]]) 23:38, 20 July 2021 (UTC)

== Edit request 26 July 2021 ==

The Culture section currently contains the following paragraph:

"Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "sexual revolution", with gender equality having particularly been promoted.[322] The early Swedish film I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967) reflected a liberal view of sexuality, including scenes of love making that caught international attention, and introduced the concept of the "Swedish sin" that had been introduced earlier in the US with Ingmar Bergman's Summer with Monika."

Please consider re-writing this paragraph because of the following issues:

- "I Am Curious (Yellow)" is a 1967 film, so it cannot be described as an "early" film. The "Swedish" description is also superfluous.

- "I Am Curious (Yellow)" is a 1967 film, so it cannot introduce a concept that had already been introduced in a 1953 film ("Summer with Monika").

- "Swedish Sin" is a US concept that was imposed on "Summer with Monika" by its US promoter and other US commentators. Whether it was actually a part of Swedish culture is therefore debatable (it may have been a part of a foreign view of that culture, but that's not the same thing).

- "% muslim population needs to be seriously updated -- last source citation was from 2018; it needs to be reflected in the demographics section -- pie chart (often the only thing people look at) as it is well over 1.2% cited"

== Semi-protected edit request on 21 November 2021 ==

{{edit semi-protected|Sweden|answered=yes}}
I think under the head "Administrative divisions" it should read in the penultimate paragraph: "Each county administrative board (not: boards) is led ..." perhaps somebody who is entitled to edit would like to correct it? [[User:Dan Elin|Dan Elin]] ([[User talk:Dan Elin|talk]]) 01:57, 21 November 2021 (UTC)
:Fixed that and also updated with name change from county councils to regions.[[User:Sjö|Sjö]] ([[User talk:Sjö|talk]]) 06:38, 21 November 2021 (UTC)

== New PM ==

Magdalena Andersson officialy replaced Stefan Löfven as the swedish PM on the 24th of November. [[Special:Contributions/88.89.238.243|88.89.238.243]] ([[User talk:88.89.238.243|talk]]) 14:47, 24 November 2021 (UTC)

Andersson doesn't officially take office as Prime Minister until November 26. <ref>https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/press/pressmeddelanden/2021/nov/22/pressmeddelande-talmannen-foreslar-magdalena-andersson-till-statsminister</ref> --[[User:TylerBurden|TylerBurden]] ([[User talk:TylerBurden|talk]]) 15:27, 24 November 2021 (UTC)

== Precedence ==

The speaker appoints the prime minister. It may not make sense to everyone but it is how it works in Sweden

https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/sa-funkar-riksdagen/talmannen/talmannens-uppdrag/ — Preceding [[Wikipedia:Signatures|unsigned]] comment added by [[User:Lirae22|Lirae22]] ([[User talk:Lirae22#top|talk]] • [[Special:Contributions/Lirae22|contribs]]) 16:12, 24 November 2021 (UTC) 

:Quote from the link:''Talmansämbetet är den högsta post en person kan väljas till i Sverige. I rang kommer talmannen efter statschefen, alltså efter kungen, men före statsministern.'' (The office of Speaker is the highest elected official in Sweden. The speaker comes after the head of state in rank, i.e. the king, but before the prime minister.) If the offices in the infobox reflect rank the order should be the rank ''according to Swedish conditions'', that is Monarch, Speaker and Prime Minister. However, if we choose an order based on actual power the rank should be Prime minister, Speaker and Monarch, but we really should not use a mix of the two systems. [[User:Sjö|Sjö]] ([[User talk:Sjö|talk]]) 17:46, 24 November 2021 (UTC)
:"Power" is subjective, and irrelevant to the ordering when there's a clearly defined constitutional order of precedence.[[User:Lirae22|Lirae22]] ([[User talk:Lirae22|talk]]) 07:00, 25 November 2021 (UTC)

Sweden

2021-11-25T06:58:53Z

Lirae22: Undid revision 1056965619 by TylerBurden (talk)

{{short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{About|the country}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Coord|63|N|16|E|type:country_region:SE|display=title}}{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Sweden
| common_name = Sweden
| native_name = {{native name|sv|Konungariket Sverige}}
| image_flag = Flag of Sweden.svg
| image_coat = Great coat of arms of Sweden.svg
| symbol_type = [[Coat of arms of Sweden|Coat of arms]]
| national_motto = {{lang|sv|För Sverige – i tiden}}{{ref label|aaa|a}} (English: "For Sweden – With the Times")<ref>{{cite web |title = Mottoes of The Kings and Queens of Sweden |url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/themonarchyinsweden/mottoesofthemonarchs.4.396160511584257f2180004713.html |publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] |website = www.kungahuset.se |access-date = 22 December 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223021154/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/themonarchyinsweden/mottoesofthemonarchs.4.396160511584257f2180004713.html |archive-date = 23 December 2015 |url-status=live |df = dmy-all }}</ref>
| national_anthem = ''{{lang|sv|[[Du gamla, Du fria]]}}''{{ref label|bbb|b}} ({{Lang-en|"Thou ancient, Thou free"}})<div style="padding-top:0.5em;">{{center|[[File:United States Navy Band - Sweden.ogg]]}}</div>
| royal_anthem = ''{{lang|sv|[[Kungssången]]}}'' (English: "Song of the King")
| image_map = {{Switcher|[[File:EU-Sweden (orthographic projection).svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show globe|[[File:EU-Sweden.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show map of Europe|default=1}}
| map_caption = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Sweden.svg}}
| capital = [[Stockholm]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|59|21|N|18|4|E|type:city}}
| largest_city = capital
| official_languages = [[Swedish language|Swedish]]{{ref label|ccc|c}}
| languages_type = National minority languages
| languages = {{hlist | [[Sámi languages|Sámi]] | [[Finnish language|Finnish]] | [[Meänkieli language|Meänkieli]] | [[Romani language|Romani]] | [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]}}
| ethnic_groups = {{unbulleted list
| 74.5% [[Swedes|Swedish]]
| 25.5% [[Immigration to Sweden|Others]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2019
| ethnic_groups_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgFin/ |title= Number of persons with foreign or Swedish background (detailed division) by region, age and sex. Year 2002 - 2019 |date = 31 December 2019 |website=SCB.se |publisher=Statistics Sweden |access-date = 19 January 2021}}</ref>
| religion = {{ublist |item_style=white-space;
|66.8% [[Christianity in Sweden|Christianity]]
|—60.3% [[Church of Sweden]]{{efn|The Monarch and dynastic members of the Royal House must at all times be [[Protestantism|Protestant Christians]] of the [[Church of Sweden]], but protestantism has not been the official state religion since the year 2000.<ref name="The Act of Succession">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Act-of-Succession/| title = The Act of Succession | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 24 October 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Nergelius:42-44">[[#Nergelius|Nergelius]]: pp. 42–44.</ref><ref name="svenskakyrkan stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik|title=Svenska kyrkan i siffror|publisher=Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan)}}</ref> However, the Church is recognized by law<ref>.[http://riksdagen.se/webbnav/index.aspx?nid=3911&bet=1998:1591 "SFS 1998:1591"], Riksdagen</ref> and is still supported by the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sweden.org.za/church-of-sweden.html|title=Church of Sweden|website=www.sweden.org.za|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref>}}
|—6.5% Other [[List of Christian denominations|Christian]]
|27.0% [[Irreligion in Sweden|No religion]]
|5.0% [[Islam in Sweden|Islam]]
|1.2% [[Religion in Sweden|Others]]}}
| religion_year = 2017
| religion_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/sweden#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010&region_name=All+Countries&restrictions_year=2016|title=Religions in Sweden | PEW-GRF|website=www.globalreligiousfutures.org|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hackett|first1=Conrad|title=5 facts about the Muslim population in Europe|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/29/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/|website=Pew Research/Fact Tank|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817033409/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/29/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| demonym = {{hlist |[[Swedish people|Swedish]] |[[Swedes|Swede]]}}
| government_type = {{nowrap|[[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[constitutional monarchy]]}}
| leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of Sweden|Monarch]]
| leader_name1 = [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]]
| leader_title2 = [[Speaker of the Riksdag]]
| leader_name2 = [[Andreas Norlén]]
| leader_title3 = [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name3 = [[Stefan Löfven]]
| legislature = [[Riksdag]]
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Sweden|History]]
| established_event1 = A unified Swedish kingdom established
| established_date1 = By the early 12th century
| established_event2 = Part of [[Kalmar Union]]
| established_date2 = 1397–1523
| established_event3 = Part of [[Swedish-Norwegian Union]]
| established_date3 = 4 November 1814 – August 1905<ref name=NEsvno>{{cite web|last1=Norborg|first1=Lars-Arne|title=svensk–norska unionen|url=http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/svensk-norska-unionen|website=ne.se|publisher=[[Nationalencyklopedin]]|access-date=6 August 2015|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/svensk-norska-unionen|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| established_event4 = [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|Joined]] the [[European Union]]
| established_date4 = 1 January 1995
| area_km2 = 450,295
| area_rank = 55th
| area_sq_mi = 175,896
| percent_water = 8.37 (as of 2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER#}}</ref>
| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 10,402,070<ref name=population>[https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/befolkning/befolkningens-sammansattning/befolkningsstatistik/] [[Statistics Sweden]]. Retrieved 8 July 2021.</ref>
| population_estimate_year = February 2021
| population_estimate_rank = 88th
| population_density_km2 = 25
| population_density_sq_mi = 65
| population_density_rank = 198th
| GDP_PPP = {{nowrap|{{increase}} $563.882 billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=61&pr.y=4&sy=2017&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=144&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>}}
| GDP_PPP_year = 2020
| GDP_PPP_rank = 39th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $52,477<ref name="imf2" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 16th
| GDP_nominal = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} $528.929 billion<ref name="imf2" />}}
| GDP_nominal_year = 2020
| GDP_nominal_rank = 23rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{decrease}} $50,339<ref name="imf2" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 12th
| Gini = 26.9 
| Gini_year = 2020
| Gini_change = decrease 
| Gini_ref = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey|publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>
| Gini_rank =
| HDI = 0.945 
| HDI_year = 2019
| HDI_change = increase 
| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite book|title=Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene|date=15 December 2020|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|isbn=978-92-1-126442-5|pages=343–346|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 7th
| currency = [[Swedish krona]]
| currency_code = SEK
| time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| date_format = YYYY-MM-DD
| drives_on = right{{ref label|eee|e}}
| calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Sweden|+46]]
| cctld = [[.se]]{{ref label|fff|f}}
| footnote_a = {{note|aaa}} "{{lang|sv|För Sverige – I tiden}}" has been adopted by [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]] as his personal motto.
| footnote_b = {{note|bbb}} ''{{lang|sv|[[Du gamla, Du fria]]}}'' has never been officially adopted as national anthem, but is so by convention.
| footnote_c = {{note|ccc}} Since 1 July 2009.<ref name="Swedish" /><ref name="Swedish2" /> Five other languages are [[Minority languages of Sweden|officially recognised as minority languages]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119#item100400 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206102022/http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119 |archive-date=6 February 2014 |title=Är svenskan också officiellt språk i Sverige? |trans-title=Is Swedish also an official language in Sweden? |publisher=[[Swedish Language Council]] |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=22 June 2008 |language=sv}}</ref> [[Finnish language|Finnish]], [[Meänkieli]], [[Romani language|Romani]], [[Sami languages|Sami]], and [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]. The [[Swedish Sign Language]] also has a special status.
| footnote_d = {{note|ddd}} Persons who have foreign backgrounds are defined as persons who are foreign born, or born in Sweden with foreign born parents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgGrov/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=86abd797-7854-4564-9150-c9b06ae3ab07c9b06ae3ab07# |title=Statistical database - Select variable and values |publisher=Statistikdatabasen.scb.se |date=19 March 2020 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> As the [[Government of Sweden|Swedish government]] does not base any statistics on [[ethnicity]], there are no exact numbers on the [[Ethnicity|ethnic]] background of migrants and their descendants in Sweden. This is not, however, to be confused with migrants' [[Nationality|national backgrounds]], which are recorded.
| footnote_e = {{note|eee}} Since [[Dagen H|3 September 1967]].
| footnote_f = {{note|fff}} The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
| iso3166code = SE
| today =
}}

'''Sweden''' ({{lang-sv|Sverige}} {{IPA-sv|ˈsvæ̌rjɛ||Sv-Sverige.ogg}}), officially the '''Kingdom of Sweden''' ({{lang-sv|links=no|Konungariket Sverige}} {{IPA-sv|ˈkôːnɵŋaˌriːkɛt ˈsvæ̌rjɛ||Sv-Konungariket Sverige.ogg}}), is a [[Nordic countries|Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]].<ref name="UNGEGN">The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of Sweden. [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/geonames/ UNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden.]</ref> It borders [[Norway]] to the west and north, [[Finland]] to the east, and is connected to [[Denmark]] in the southwest by [[Øresund Bridge|a bridge-tunnel]] across the [[Øresund|Öresund Strait]]. At {{convert|450295|km2|sqmi}}, Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe, the third-largest country in the [[European Union]], and the [[List of European countries by area|fifth largest country]] in Europe. The [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city is [[Stockholm]]. Sweden has a total population of 10.4 million;<ref name="population" /> and a low population density of {{convert|25|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}. 87% of Swedes live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area. The highest concentration is in the central and southern half of the country.

Sweden is part of the geographical area of [[Fennoscandia]]. The [[Swedish climate|climate]] is in general mild for its northerly latitude due to significant maritime influence. In spite of the high latitude, Sweden often has warm continental summers, being located in between the [[North Atlantic]], the [[Baltic Sea]], and vast [[Russia]]. The general climate and environment vary significantly from the south and north due to the vast latitudinal difference, and much of Sweden has reliably cold and snowy winters. [[South Sweden|Southern Sweden]] is predominantly [[agriculture|agricultural]], while [[Norrland terrain|the north]] is heavily forested and includes a portion of the [[Scandinavian Mountains]].

[[Germanic peoples]] have inhabited Sweden since [[prehistoric times]], emerging into history as the [[Geats]] ({{lang-sv|Götar|links=no}}) and [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Swedes]] ({{lang|sv|Svear}}) and constituting the sea peoples known as the [[Norsemen]]. An independent Swedish state emerged during the early 12th century. After the [[Black Death]] in the middle of the 14th century killed about a third of the [[Scandinavia]]n population,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://historiska.se/upptack-historien/artikel/digerdoden/ |title=Digerdöden |publisher=Historiska Museet |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902010901/http://historiska.se/upptack-historien/artikel/digerdoden/ |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fof.se/tidning/2013/1/artikel/varre-forskarna-anat-digerdoden |title=Värre än forskarna anat: Digerdöden |date=15 December 2012 |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902012004/http://fof.se/tidning/2013/1/artikel/varre-forskarna-anat-digerdoden |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> the dominance of the [[Hanseatic League]] in Northern Europe threatened Scandinavia economically and politically. This led to the forming of the Scandinavian [[Kalmar Union]] in 1397,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/sverige-under-medeltiden-:del-3-av-3-kalmarunionens-tid. |title=Artikelarkiv |website=SO-rummet |access-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009181105/https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/sverige-under-medeltiden-:del-3-av-3-kalmarunionens-tid. |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which Sweden left in 1523. When Sweden became involved in the [[Thirty Years' War]] on the Protestant side, an expansion of its territories began and eventually the [[Swedish Empire]] was formed. This became one of the [[great power]]s of Europe until the early 18th century. Swedish territories outside the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]] were gradually lost during the 18th and 19th centuries, ending with the annexation of present-day Finland by [[Russian Empire|Russia]] in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814 when Norway was militarily forced into a [[union between Sweden and Norway|personal union]], which [[dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden|peacefully dissolved]] in 1905. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, maintaining an official policy of [[Swedish neutrality|neutrality]] in foreign affairs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/2/among-the-disclosures-in-the-19-documents-released/ |title=WikiLeaks reveal Swedes gave intel on Russia, Iran |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |first=Ben |last=Birnbaum |date=2 December 2010 |access-date=10 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721081420/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/2/among-the-disclosures-in-the-19-documents-released/ |archive-date=21 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Sweden celebrated 200 years of peace, breaking even [[Switzerland]]'s record for peace.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20140815/sweden-celebrates-200-years-of-peace |title=Sweden celebrates 200 years of peace |newspaper=[[The Local]] |first=Solveig |last=Rundquist |date=15 August 2014 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> Sweden was formally neutral through both world wars and the [[Cold War]], albeit Sweden has since 2009 openly moved towards cooperation with [[NATO]].

Sweden is a [[constitutional monarchy]] and a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[democracy]], with [[legislature|legislative power]] vested in the 349-member [[unicameral]] {{lang|sv|[[Riksdag]]}}. It is a [[unitary state]], currently divided into [[counties of Sweden|21 counties]] and [[municipalities of Sweden|290 municipalities]]. Sweden maintains a [[Nordic model|Nordic social welfare system]] that provides [[universal health care]] and [[tertiary education]] for its citizens. It has the [[list of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|world's eleventh-highest per capita income]] and ranks very highly in [[quality of life]], health, [[education Index|education]], protection of [[freedom in the World|civil liberties]], economic competitiveness, [[gini coefficient|income equality]], [[gender equality]], [[legatum Prosperity Index|prosperity]] and [[human Development Index|human development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2013_EN_complete.pdf |title=2013 Human Development Report |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |access-date=28 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818132717/http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2013_EN_complete.pdf |archive-date=18 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="OECD Better Life Index">{{cite web |title=OECD Better Life Index |url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |publisher=[[OECD Publishing]] |access-date=27 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901021731/http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |archive-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wefcomp" /> Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995, but has rejected NATO membership, as well as [[Eurozone]] membership following a [[2003 Swedish euro referendum|referendum]]. It is also a member of the [[United Nations]], the [[Nordic Council]], the [[Council of Europe]], the [[World Trade Organization]] and the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD).

== Etymology ==
{{Main|Name of Sweden}}

The word Sweden is derived from 17th century [[Middle Dutch]] and [[Middle Low German]]. As early as 1287, references are found in Middle Dutch referring to a ''lande van sweden'' ("land of (the) Swedes"), with ''swede'' as the singular form.<ref>[https://gtb.ivdnt.org/iWDB/search?actie=article&wdb=VMNW&id=ID4508&lemmodern=Zweden Lemma: SWEDEN], ''[[Dutch Language Union#Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal|Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal]]</ref> In [[Old English]] the country was named ''Swéoland'' and ''Swíoríce'' ([[Old Norse]] ''Svíþjóð''). [[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] of the 12th and 13th centuries used ''Suane'', ''Swane'' (with the adjective as ''Suaneis''). In [[Scots language|Scots]] ''Swane'', ''Swaine'', appears in the 16th century. [[Early Modern English]] used ''Swedeland''.<ref>{{OED|Sweden|ID=195631}}</ref>

The Swedish name ''Sverige'' (a compound of the words ''Svea'' and ''rike'', with [[lenition]] of the consonant [k], first recorded in the cognate ''Swēorice'' in [[Beowulf]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |trans-title=Swedish etymological dictionary |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerup |location=Lund |language=sv |page=917 |url=http://runeberg.org/svetym/1005.html |access-date=30 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828081321/http://runeberg.org/svetym/1005.html |archive-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> literally means "realm of the [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Swedes]]", excluding the [[Geats]] in [[Götaland]].

Variations of the name ''Sweden'' are used in most languages, with the exception of [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] using ''Sverige'', [[Faroese language|Faroese]] ''Svøríki'', [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] ''Svíþjóð'', and the more notable exception of some [[Finnic languages]] where ''Ruotsi'' ([[Finnish language|Finnish]]) and ''Rootsi'' ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]) are used, names commonly considered as referring to the people from the coastal areas of [[Roslagen]], [[Uppland]], who were known as the ''[[Rus' people|Rus']]'', and through them etymologically related to the English name for [[Russia]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The etymology of ''Swedes'', and thus ''Sweden'', is generally agreed to derive from a root *[[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/swé|s(w)e]], meaning "one's own",<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Indogermanisches-Etymologisches-Woerterbuch ''Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch'' by Julius Pokorny] (English translation), p. 1493</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Friesen (von) |first=O. |title=Verdandis småskrifter (Verdandis Pamphlets) nr. 200. |year=1915 |location=Stockholm}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |url=https://archive.org/details/svensketymologis00hell |trans-title=Swedish etymological dictionary |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerup |location=Lund |language=sv |page=[https://archive.org/details/svensketymologis00hell/page/915 915]}}</ref> referring to one's own Germanic tribe.

==History==
{{Main|History of Sweden}}

===Prehistory===
{{Main|Prehistoric Sweden}}
[[File:Vendel I helmet 456057.jpg|thumb|A [[Vendel Period|Vendel-era]] helmet, at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities]]
Sweden's prehistory begins in the [[Allerød oscillation]], a warm period around 12,000 BC,<ref name="DelsonTattersall2004">{{cite book|author1=Eric Delson|author2=Ian Tattersall|author3=John Van Couvering|title=Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory: Second Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6GFGsswTIO8C&pg=PA569|year=2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-58228-9|page=569}}</ref> with Late [[Palaeolithic]] [[reindeer]]-hunting camps of the [[Bromme culture]] at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province, [[Scania]]. This period was characterized by small bands of [[Hunter-gatherer|hunter-gatherer-fishers]] using [[flint]] technology.<ref name="Price2015">{{cite book|author=Theron Douglas Price|title=Ancient Scandinavia: An Archaeological History from the First Humans to the Vikings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbC6BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA43|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-023197-2|page=43}}</ref>

Sweden is first described in a written source in ''[[Germania (book)|Germania]]'' by [[Tacitus]] in 98 AD.<ref name="ElgánScobbie2015">{{cite book|author1=Elisabeth Elgán|author2=Irene Scobbie|title=Historical Dictionary of Sweden|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iJpCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA5|year=2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-5071-0|page=5}}</ref> In [[s:Germania#XLIV|Germania 44 and 45]] he mentions the Swedes (''Suiones'') as a powerful tribe (''distinguished not merely for their arms and men, but for their powerful fleets'') with ships that had a [[prow]] at each end ([[longship]]s).<ref name="Brunsdale2016">{{cite book|author=Mitzi M. Brunsdale|title=Encyclopedia of Nordic Crime Fiction: Works and Authors of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden Since 1967|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAQXDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA368|year=2016|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-7536-0|page=368}}</ref> Which kings (''kuningaz'') ruled these Suiones is unknown, but [[Norse mythology]] presents a long line of legendary and semi-legendary kings going back to the last centuries BC. As for literacy in Sweden itself, the [[runic alphabet|runic script]] was in use among the south Scandinavian elite by at least the 2nd century AD, but all that has come down to the present from the Roman Period is curt inscriptions on artefacts, mainly of male names, demonstrating that the people of south Scandinavia spoke [[Proto-Norse]] at the time, a language ancestral to Swedish and other [[North Germanic languages]].<ref name="McIntosh2019">{{cite book|author=Christopher McIntosh|title=Beyond the North Wind: The Fall and Rise of the Mystic North|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6vpwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA71|year=2019|publisher=Red Wheel Weiser|isbn=978-1-63341-090-9|pages=71–72}}</ref>

In the 6th century, [[Jordanes]] names two tribes living in [[Scandza]], both of which are now considered to be synonymous with the Swedes: the ''Suetidi'' and ''Suehans''. ''Suetidi'' is considered to be the Latin form of ''Svíþjóð'', the Old Norse name for the Swedes. Jordanes describes the ''Suetidi'' and ''[[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Dani]]'' as being of the same stock and the tallest of people. He later mentions other Scandinavian tribes as being of a same stature.<ref name="Berend2007">{{cite book|author=Nora Berend|title=Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' c.900–1200|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmFrVUb5DSwC&pg=PA174|year=2007|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-46836-7|page=174}}</ref> The ''Suehans'' were known to the Roman world as suppliers of black fox skins and, according to Jordanes, had very fine horses, similar to those of the ''[[Thuringians|Thyringi]]'' of ''Germania'' (''alia vero gens ibi moratur Suehans, quae velud Thyringi equis utuntur eximiis''). The Icelandic historian [[Snorri Sturluson]] also wrote that the Swedish king [[Adils]] (Eadgils) had the finest horses of his day.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===The Vikings===
{{See also|Early Swedish history|Foundation of Modern Sweden|Varangians}}
[[File:Vikings-Voyages.png|upright=1.3|thumb|left|[[Viking]] expeditions (blue lines)]]

The Swedish [[Viking Age]] lasted roughly from the 8th century to the 11th century. It is believed that Swedish Vikings and [[Gutar]] mainly travelled east and south, going to Finland, Estonia, the [[Baltic countries]], Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the [[Black Sea]] and even as far as [[Baghdad]]. Their routes passed [[The Trade Route from the Varangians to the Greeks|through the Dnieper]] south to [[Constantinople]], on which they carried out numerous raids. The [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]] noticed their great skills in war, and invited them to serve as his personal bodyguard, known as the [[Varangian Guard]]. The Swedish Vikings, called [[Rus (people)|Rus]] are believed to be the founding fathers of [[Kievan Rus']].<ref name="MartinMartin1995">{{cite book|author1=Janet L. B. Martin|author2=John D. Martin|title=Medieval Russia, 980-1584|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRCc3TtL9bIC&pg=PA2|year=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-36832-2|page=2}}</ref> The Arab traveller [[Ibn Fadlan]] described these Vikings as follows:

{{quote|I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the [[Volga|Itil]]. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy; they wear neither tunics nor caftans, but the men wear a garment which covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free. Each man has an axe, a sword, and a knife, and keeps each by him at all times. The swords are broad and grooved, of Frankish sort.<ref>Quoted from: Gwyn Jones. ''A History of the Vikings''. Oxford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-19-280134-1}}. Page 164.</ref>}}
[[File:Bildsten med skepp 800-1099 Tjängvide, Gotland.jpg|thumb|The [[Tjängvide image stone]] dating from 800 to 1099, example of Viking art]]
The actions of these [[Vikings|Swedish Vikings]] are commemorated on many [[runestone]]s in Sweden, such as the [[Greece runestones]] and the [[Varangian runestones]]. There was also considerable participation in expeditions westwards, which are commemorated on stones such as the [[England runestones]]. The last major Swedish Viking expedition appears to have been the ill-fated expedition of [[Ingvar the Far-Travelled]] to [[Serkland]], the region south-east of the [[Caspian Sea]]. Its members are commemorated on the [[Ingvar runestones]], none of which mentions any survivor. What happened to the crew is unknown, but it is believed that they died of sickness.

=== The Kingdom of Sweden ===
It is not known when and how the kingdom of Sweden was born, but the [[list of Swedish monarchs]] is drawn from the first kings known to have ruled both [[Svealand]] (Sweden) and Götaland (Gothia) as one province, beginning with [[Eric the Victorious]]. Sweden and Gothia were two separate nations long before that and since antiquity. It is not known how long they existed: the epic poem ''Beowulf'' describes semi-legendary [[Swedish-Geatish wars]] in the 6th century. ''Götaland'' in this sense mainly includes the provinces of [[Östergötland]] (East Gothia) and [[Västergötland]] (West Gothia). The island of [[Gotland]] was disputed by other than Swedes, at this time (Danish, Hanseatic, and Gotland-domestic). [[Småland]] was at that time of little interest to anyone due to the deep pine forests, and only the city of [[Kalmar]] with its castle was of importance. The south-west parts of the Scandinavian peninsula consisted of three Danish provinces ([[Scania]], [[Blekinge]] and [[Halland]]). North of Halland, Denmark had a direct border to Norway and its province [[Bohuslän]]. But there were Swedish settlements along the southern coastline of [[Norrland]].

[[File:Suecia 1-064 ; Gambla Ubsala högar.png|thumb|left|[[Gamla Uppsala]] (Old Uppsala), a site of religious and political importance in the early days of Sweden]]

During the early stages of the Scandinavian Viking Age, [[Ystad]] in the [[Denmark|Danish]] province Scania and [[Paviken]] on Gotland were flourishing centres of trade, but they were not parts of the early Swedish Kingdom. Remains of what is believed to have been a large market dating from 600 to 700 CE have been found in Ystad.<ref name="Sawyer" /> In Paviken, an important centre of trade in the Baltic region during the 9th and 10th century, remains have been found of a large Viking Age harbour with shipbuilding yards and handicraft industries. Between 800 and 1000, trade brought an abundance of silver to Gotland, and according to some scholars, the Gotlanders of this era hoarded more silver than the rest of the population of Scandinavia combined.<ref name="Sawyer">{{cite book |last1=Sawyer |first1=Birgit |first2=Peter |last2=Sawyer |year=1993 |title=Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |isbn=978-0-8166-1739-5 |pages=150–153}}</ref>

[[Ansgar|St Ansgar]] is usually credited with introducing Christianity in 829, but the new religion did not begin to fully replace [[paganism]] until the 12th century. During the 11th century, Christianity became the prevalent religion, and from 1050 Sweden is counted as a Christian nation. The period between 1100 and 1400 was characterised by internal power struggles and competition among the Nordic kingdoms. In the years 1150–1293 according to the legend of [[Eric IX of Sweden|Eric IX]] and the ''[[Eric Chronicles]]'' Swedish kings made a [[First Swedish Crusade|first]], [[Second Swedish Crusade|second]] and [[Third Swedish Crusade|third crusade]] to pagan Finland against [[Finns proper|Finns]], [[Tavastians]] and [[Karelians]] and started conflicts with the [[Kievan Rus'|Rus']] who no longer had any connection with Sweden.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bagge |first=Sverre |chapter=The Scandinavian Kingdoms |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History |editor-first=Rosamond |editor-last=McKitterick |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-521-36289-4 |page=724 |quote=Swedish expansion in Finland led to conflicts with Rus', which were temporarily brought to an end by a peace treaty in 1323, dividing the Karelian peninsula and the northern areas between the two countries.}}</ref> The [[Swedish colonisation of Finland|Swedish colonisation]] of the coastal areas of Finland started also during the 12th and 13th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=När kom svenskarna till Finland?|editor-first=Ann-Marie|editor-last=Ivars|editor-first2=Lena|editor-last2= Hulden|publisher=Studier utg. av Svenska Litteratursällskapet i Finland 646|year=2002|location=Helsinki}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Om svenskarnes inflyttningar till Finland|last=Meinander|first=Carl Fredrik|publisher=Historisk Tidskrift för Finland 3/1983|year=1983}}</ref> In the 14th century, the Swedish colonisation of coastal areas of Finland began to be more organised and in the end of the century several of the coastal areas of Finland were inhabited mostly by Swedes.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sveriges Österland: Från forntiden till Gustav Vasa. Finlands svenska historia 1. Skrifter utgivna av Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland 702:1.|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland; Stockholm: Atlantis|year=2008|location=Helsinki}}</ref>

[[File:Skogbonaden.jpg|thumb|[[Skog tapestry]], made most probably during the late 13th century.]]

Except for the provinces of Scania, Blekinge and Halland in the south-west of the Scandinavian peninsula, which were parts of the Kingdom of Denmark during this time, [[feudalism]] never developed in Sweden as it did in the rest of Europe.<ref>{{cite book |first=Franklin D. |last=Scott |title=Sweden: The Nation's History |url=https://archive.org/details/swedennationshis00scot |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis |year=1977 |page=[https://archive.org/details/swedennationshis00scot/page/58 58]|isbn=9780816608041 }}</ref> The peasantry, therefore, remained largely a class of free farmers throughout most of Swedish history. [[Slavery]] (also called [[thrall]]dom) was not common in Sweden,<ref>{{cite book |url=http://runeberg.org/nfcj/0106.html |title=Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi. Bd 30 |editor-last=Westrin |editor-first=Theodor |edition=New, rev. and richly ill. |year=1920 |publisher=Nordisk familjeboks förl. |location=Stockholm |pages=159–160 |access-date=17 September 2014 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620062821/http://runeberg.org/nfcj/0106.html |archive-date=20 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and what slavery there was tended to be driven out of existence thanks to the spread of Christianity as well as to the difficulty to obtain slaves from the lands east of the Baltic Sea, and by the development of cities before the 16th century.<ref>Scott, p. 55.</ref> Indeed, both slavery and [[serfdom]] were abolished altogether by a decree of [[Magnus IV of Sweden|King Magnus IV]] in 1335. Former slaves tended to be absorbed into the peasantry, and some became labourers in the towns. Still, Sweden remained a poor and economically backward country in which barter was the primary means of exchange. For instance, the farmers of the province of [[Dalsland]] would transport their butter to the mining districts of Sweden and exchange it there for iron, which they would then take to the coast and trade for fish, which they consumed, while the iron would be shipped abroad.<ref>Scott, pp. 55–56.</ref>

In the middle of the 14th century, Sweden was struck by the [[Black Death]].<ref>Scott, pp. 56–57.</ref> The population of Sweden and most of Europe was decimated. The population (at same territory) did not reach the numbers of the year 1348 again until the beginning of the 19th century. One third of the population died in the triennium of 1349–1351. During this period, the Swedish cities began to acquire greater rights and were strongly influenced by German merchants of the [[Hanseatic League]], active especially at [[Visby]]. In 1319, Sweden and Norway were united under King Magnus Eriksson, and in 1397 Queen [[Margaret I of Denmark]] effected the personal union of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through the [[Kalmar Union]]. However, Margaret's successors, whose rule was also centred in Denmark, were unable to control the Swedish nobility.

[[File:Gustav Vasa.jpg|thumb|left|185px|[[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav I]] [[Swedish War of Liberation|liberated]] Sweden from [[Christian II of Denmark]], ending the [[Kalmar Union]]. He established the [[House of Vasa]] which ruled Sweden and [[Poland]] until the 17th century]]

Many times the Swedish crown was inherited by child kings over the course of the kingdom's existence; consequently, real power was held for long periods by regents (notably those of the [[Sture]] family) chosen by the Swedish parliament. King [[Christian II of Denmark]], who asserted his claim to Sweden by force of arms, ordered a massacre of Swedish nobles in Stockholm in 1520. This came to be known as the "[[Stockholm blood bath]]" and stirred the Swedish nobility to new resistance and, on 6 June (now Sweden's national holiday) in 1523, they made [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav Vasa]] their king.<ref>Scott, p. 121.</ref> This is sometimes considered as the [[foundation of modern Sweden]]. Shortly afterwards the new king rejected Catholicism and led Sweden into the [[Protestant Reformation]].

The Hanseatic League had been officially formed at [[Lübeck]] on the Baltic coast of [[Holy Roman Empire|Northern Germany]] in 1356. The League sought civil and commercial privileges from the princes and royalty of the countries and cities along the coasts of the Baltic Sea.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Robert S. |last1=Hoyt |first2=Stanley |last2=Chodorow |title=Europe in the Middle Ages |url=https://archive.org/details/europeinmiddleag00robe |url-access=registration |publisher=Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich, Inc. |location=New York |year=1976 |page=[https://archive.org/details/europeinmiddleag00robe/page/628 628]|isbn=9780155247123 }}</ref> In exchange, they offered a certain amount of protection to the joining cities. Having their own navy, the Hansa were able to sweep the Baltic Sea free of pirates.<ref>{{cite book |first=John B. |last=Wolfe |title=The Emergence of European Civilization |publisher=Harper & Row Pub. |location=New York |year=1962 |pages=50–51}}</ref> The privileges obtained by the Hansa included assurances that only Hansa citizens would be allowed to trade from the ports where they were located. They sought agreement to be free of all customs and taxes. With these concessions, Lübeck merchants flocked to Stockholm, where they soon came to dominate the city's economic life and made the port city of Stockholm into the leading commercial and industrial city of Sweden.<ref name="Scott, p. 52">Scott, p. 52.</ref> Under the Hanseatic trade, two-thirds of Stockholm's imports consisted of [[textiles]], while the remaining third was [[salt]]. The main exports from Sweden were [[iron]] and [[copper]].<ref name="Scott, p. 52"/>

However, the Swedes began to resent the monopoly trading position of the Hansa (mostly consisting of German citizens), and to resent the income they felt they lost to the Hansa. Consequently, when Gustav Vasa or [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav I]] broke the monopoly power of the Hanseatic League he was regarded as a hero by the Swedish people.<ref>Scott, p. 132.</ref> History now views Gustav I as the father of the modern Swedish nation. The foundations laid by Gustav would take time to develop. Furthermore, when Sweden did develop, freed itself from the Hanseatic League, and entered its golden era, the fact that the peasantry had traditionally been free meant that more of the economic benefits flowed back to them rather than going to a feudal landowning class.<ref>Scott, pp. 156–157.</ref>

The end of the 16th century was marked by a final phase of rivalry between the remaining Catholics and the new Protestant communities. In 1592, Gustav Vasa's Catholic grandson and [[king of Poland]], [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund]], ascended the Swedish throne.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfB5DwAAQBAJ&q=sigismund+vasa+1592&pg=PA35|title=British and Irish Emigrants and Exiles in Europe, 1603–1688|first=David|last=Worthington|date=15 January 2010|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9789047444589|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> He pursued to strengthen [[Holy See|Rome]]'s influence by initiating [[Counter-Reformation]] and created a dual monarchy, which temporarily became known as the [[Polish-Swedish Union]]. His despotic rule, strongly characterized by intolerance towards the Protestants, sparked a [[War against Sigismund|civil war]] that plunged Sweden into poverty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ba08AAAAIAAJ&q=war+against+sigismund&pg=PA172|title=the cambridge modern history|date=3 June 2019|publisher=CUP Archive|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> In opposition, Sigismund's uncle and successor, [[Charles IX of Sweden|Charles Vasa]], summoned the [[Uppsala Synod]] in 1593 which officially confirmed the modern [[Church of Sweden]] as [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]. Following his [[deposition (politics)|deposition]] in 1599, Sigismund attempted to reclaim the throne at every expense and hostilities between [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland]] and Sweden continued for the next one hundred years.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b912JnKpYTkC&q=poland+and+sweden&pg=PA327|title=God's Playground A History of Poland: Volume 1: The Origins to 1795|first=Norman|last=Davies|date=24 February 2005|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780199253395|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref>

===Swedish Empire===
[[File:Gustave Adolphe at Breitenfeld-Johann Walter-f3706497.jpg|thumb|[[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustavus Adolphus]] at the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] in 1631.]]
{{See also|History of Sweden (1611–48)|Swedish Empire|Swedish overseas colonies|Age of Liberty|Gustavian era|Sweden–Finland|Union between Sweden and Norway}}

During the 17th century, Sweden emerged as a European [[great power]]. Before the emergence of the Swedish Empire, Sweden was a poor and sparsely populated country on the fringe of European civilisation, with no significant power or reputation. Sweden rose to prominence on a continental scale during the reign of king [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustavus Adolphus]], seizing territories from Russia and [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland–Lithuania]] in multiple conflicts, including the [[Thirty Years' War]].{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=102}}

During the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered approximately half of the Holy Roman states and defeated the Imperial army at the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] in 1631.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} Gustav Adolphus planned to become the new [[Holy Roman Emperor]], ruling over a united Scandinavia and the Holy Roman states, but he was killed at the [[Battle of Lützen (1632)|Battle of Lützen]] in 1632. After the [[Battle of Nördlingen (1634)|Battle of Nördlingen]] in 1634, Sweden's only significant military defeat of the war, pro-Swedish sentiment among the German states faded.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} These German provinces broke away from Swedish power one by one, leaving Sweden with only a few northern German territories: [[Swedish Pomerania]], [[Bremen-Verden]] and [[Wismar]]. From 1643 to 1645, during the last years of the war, Sweden and [[Denmark-Norway]] fought the [[Torstenson War]]. The result of that conflict and the conclusion of the Thirty Years' War helped establish postwar Sweden as a major force in Europe.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}}

[[File:Swedish Empire.svg|thumb|left|260px|The [[Swedish Empire]] between 1611 and 1815, with its absolute peak between 1658 and 1660.]]

In the middle of the 17th century Sweden was the third-largest country in Europe by land area, surpassed by only Russia and Spain. Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of [[Charles X of Sweden|Charles X]] after the [[treaty of Roskilde]] in 1658, following Charles X's risky but successful [[March Across the Belts|crossing of the Danish Belts]].<ref name="HayesPSH">"A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1./Hayes..." Hayes, Carlton J. H. (1882–1964), ''Title: A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1.'', 2002-12-08, Project Gutenberg, webpage: [http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext04/7hsr110.htm Infomot-7hsr110]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117105207/http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext04/7hsr110.htm |date=17 November 2007}}</ref><ref>However, Sweden's largest territorial extent lasted from 1319 to 1343 with [[Magnus IV of Sweden|Magnus Eriksson]] ruling all of the [[Lands of Sweden|traditional lands of Sweden]] and Norway.</ref> The foundation of Sweden's success during this period is credited to Gustav I's major changes to the Swedish economy in the 16th century, and his introduction of [[Protestantism]].<ref name="GusEB">"Gustav I Vasa – Britannica Concise" (biography), ''Britannica Concise'', 2007, webpage: [https://archive.today/20121206031538/http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9366349/Gustav-I-Vasa EBConcise-Gustav-I-Vasa].</ref> In the 17th century, Sweden was engaged in many wars, for example with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, with both sides competing for territories of today's [[Baltic states]], with Sweden suffering a notable defeat at the [[Battle of Kircholm]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/images/kircholm_27_sept.htm |title=Battle of Kircholm 1605 |publisher=Kismeta.com |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614093403/http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/images/kircholm_27_sept.htm |archive-date=14 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> One-third of the Finnish population died in the devastating [[Great Famine of 1695–1697]] that struck the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm|title=Finland and the Swedish Empire|publisher=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]]|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226013534/http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm|archive-date=26 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Famine also hit Sweden, killing roughly 10% of Sweden's population.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Ewan |first2=Janay |last2=Nugent |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153 |title=Finding the family in medieval and early modern Scotland |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |page=153 |isbn=978-0-7546-6049-1 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905194502/https://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Swedes conducted a series of invasions into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]].{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=156}} After more than half a century of almost constant warfare, the Swedish economy had deteriorated. It became the lifetime task of Charles X's son, [[Charles XI of Sweden|Charles XI]], to rebuild the economy and refit the army.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=216}} His legacy to his son, the coming ruler of Sweden, [[Charles XII of Sweden|Charles XII]], was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great fleet.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=222}} Russia, the most serious threat to Sweden at this time, had a larger army but lagged far behind in both equipment and training.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=232}}

After the [[Battle of Narva (1700)|Battle of Narva]] in 1700, one of the first battles of the [[Great Northern War]], the Russian army was so severely devastated that Sweden had an open chance to invade Russia.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=230}} However, Charles XII did not pursue the Russian army, instead [[Swedish invasion of Poland (1701–1706)|turning against Poland–Lithuania]] and defeating the Polish king, [[Augustus II the Strong]], and his Saxon allies at the [[Battle of Kliszów]] in 1702.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=272}} This gave Russia time to rebuild and modernise its army.

[[File:Marten's Poltava.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Battle of Poltava]] in 1709. In the following years, Russia and her allies occupied all [[Dominions of Sweden|Swedish dominions]] on the Baltic coast and even Finland.]]

After the success of invading Poland, Charles XII decided to make an attempt at [[Swedish invasion of Russia|invading Russia]], but this ended in a decisive Russian victory at the [[Battle of Poltava]] in 1709.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=290}} After a long march exposed to [[Cossack]] raids, the Russian Tsar [[Peter the Great]]'s [[scorched-earth]] techniques and [[Great Frost of 1709|the extremely cold winter of 1709]], the Swedes stood weakened with a shattered morale and were enormously outnumbered against the Russian army at Poltava.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=286}} The defeat meant the beginning of the end for the Swedish Empire. In addition, [[The plague during the Great Northern War|the plague raging in East Central Europe]] devastated the Swedish dominions and reached Central Sweden in 1710.<ref>{{cite book|last=Frandsen|first=Karl-Erik|title=The Last Plague in the Baltic Region. 1709–1713|location=Copenhagen|year=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F3bNWrVRMb8C|page=80|isbn=9788763507707}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Engström|first=Nils Göran|title=Pesten i Finland 1710|trans-title=The plague in Finland in 1710|journal=Hippokrates. Suomen Lääketieteen Historian Seuran Vuosikirja|volume=11|year=1994|pages=38–46|pmid=11640321}}</ref> Returning to Sweden in 1715, Charles XII launched [[Great Northern War and Norway|two campaigns against Norway]] on 1716 and 1718, respectively. During the second attempt, he was shot to death during the [[Siege of Fredriksten|siege of]] [[Fredriksten]] fortress.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=295}} The Swedes were not militarily defeated at Fredriksten, but the whole structure and organisation of the campaign fell apart with the king's death, and the army withdrew.

Forced to cede large areas of land in the [[Treaty of Nystad]] in 1721, Sweden also lost its place as an empire and as the dominant state on the Baltic Sea.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=296}} With Sweden's lost influence, Russia emerged as an empire and became one of [[European balance of power|Europe's dominant nations]]. As the war finally ended in 1721, Sweden had lost an estimated 200,000 men, 150,000 of those from the area of present-day Sweden and 50,000 from the [[Finland under Swedish rule|Finnish part of Sweden]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ericson|first=Lars|title=Svenska knektar|location=Lund|publisher=Historiska media|year=2004|language=sv|page=92}}</ref>

In the 18th century, Sweden did not have enough resources to maintain its territories outside Scandinavia, and most of them were lost, culminating with [[Finnish War|the loss in 1809]] of eastern Sweden to Russia, which became the highly autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Principality of Finland]] in [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russia]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Eino|last1=Jutikkala|first2=Kauko|last2=Pirinen|title=A History of Finland|location=Helsinki|year=2003|isbn=951-0-27911-0|page=287}}</ref>

In interest of re-establishing Swedish dominance in the Baltic Sea, Sweden allied itself against its traditional ally and benefactor, France, in the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. However, in 1810, a French Marshal, [[Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte]], was chosen as heir presumptive to the decrepit [[Charles XIII]]; in 1818, he established the [[House of Bernadotte]], taking the [[regnal name]] of Charles XIV. Sweden's role in the [[Battle of Leipzig]] gave it the authority to force Denmark–Norway, an ally of France, to cede Norway to the King of Sweden on 14 January 1814 in exchange for the northern German provinces, at the [[Treaty of Kiel]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Schäfer|first=Anton|title=Zeittafel der Rechtsgeschichte. Von den Anfängen über Rom bis 1919. Mit Schwerpunkt Österreich und zeitgenössischen Bezügen|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l_GeQfwJufAC|year=2002|publisher=Edition Europa Verlag|isbn=3-9500616-8-1|edition=3|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l_GeQfwJufAC/page/n27 137]|language=de}}</ref> The Norwegian attempts to keep their status as a sovereign state were rejected by the Swedish king, [[Charles XIII]]. He launched a [[Swedish–Norwegian War (1814)|military campaign against Norway]] on 27 July 1814, ending in the [[Convention of Moss]], which forced Norway into a [[Union between Sweden and Norway|personal union]] with Sweden under the Swedish crown, which lasted until 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norgeshistorie.no/grunnlov-og-ny-union/artikler/1333-mossekonvensjonen.html |title=Mossekonvensjonen
|work=Norges historie |publisher=[[University of Oslo]] |last=Ottosen |first=Morten Nordhagen |date=25 November 2015|access-date=9 December 2019 |language=no}}</ref> The 1814 campaign was the last time Sweden was at war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20140814/sweden-and-norway-celebrate-200-years-of-peace|title=Sweden and Norway celebrate peace treaty|publisher=The Local Europe AB|date=14 August 2014|access-date=9 December 2019}}</ref>

===Modern history===
{{See also|Modernization of Sweden|Swedish emigration to the United States}}
[[File:Starvation image from Fäderneslandet 1867.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Illustration of starvation in northern Sweden, [[Swedish famine of 1867–1869|Famine of 1867–1869]]]]
The [[Swedish East India Company]], ''Ostindiska Kompaniet'', began in 1731. The obvious choice of home port was [[Gothenburg]] at Sweden's west coast, the mouth of [[Göta älv|Göta älv river]] is very wide and has the county's largest and best harbour for high-seas journeys. The trade continued into the 19th century, and caused the little town to become Sweden's second city.<ref>Tore Frängsmyr, "Ostindiska Kompaniet", Publisher- "Bokförlaget Bra Böcker", [[Höganäs]], 1976. (No ISBN to be found), backside overview and</ref>
There was a significant population increase during the 18th and 19th centuries, which the writer [[Esaias Tegnér]] in 1833 attributed to "the peace, the [[smallpox vaccine]], and the potatoes".<ref>{{cite book|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8020-2938-6|page=1220|editor-last=Magocsi |editor-first=Paul Robert}}</ref> Between 1750 and 1850, the population in Sweden doubled. According to some scholars, mass emigration to America became the only way to prevent famine and rebellion; over 1% of the population emigrated annually during the 1880s.<ref name="Einhorn">{{cite book |last1=Einhorn |first1=Eric |first2=John |last2=Logue |year=1989 |title=Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia |publisher=Praeger Publishers |page=[https://archive.org/details/modernwelfaresta00einh_0/page/9 9] |isbn=978-0275931889 |quote=Though Denmark, where industrialization had begun in the 1850s, was reasonably prosperous by the end of the nineteenth century, both Sweden and Norway were terribly poor. Only the safety valve of mass emigration to America prevented famine and rebellion. At the peak of emigration in the 1880s, over 1% of the total population of both countries emigrated annually. |url=https://archive.org/details/modernwelfaresta00einh_0/page/9 }}</ref> Nevertheless, Sweden remained poor, retaining a nearly entirely agricultural economy even as Denmark and Western European countries began to industrialise.<ref name=Einhorn /><ref>{{cite book |last=Koblik |first=Steven |year=1975 |title=Sweden's Development From Poverty to Affluence, 1750–1970 |url=https://archive.org/details/swedensdevelopme0000kobl |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/swedensdevelopme0000kobl/page/8 8–9] |isbn=978-0816607662 |quote=In economic and social terms the eighteenth century was more a transitional than a revolutionary period. Sweden was, in light of contemporary Western European standards, a relatively poor but stable country. ...It has been estimated that 75–80% of the population was involved in agricultural pursuits during the late eighteenth century. One hundred years later, the corresponding figure was still 72%.}}</ref>
[[File:Farewell to home, Göteborg, 1905.jpg|thumb|Swedish emigrants boarding ship in [[Gothenburg]] in 1905]]
Many looked towards America for a better life during this time. It is thought that between 1850 and 1910 more than one million Swedes moved to the United States.<ref>Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989), p. 8.</ref> In the early 20th century, more Swedes lived in Chicago than in [[Gothenburg]] (Sweden's second largest city).<ref>Ulf Beijbom, [http://www.americanwest.com/swedemigr/pages/emigra.htm "European emigration", The House of Emigrants, Växjö, Sweden] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803004438/http://www.americanwest.com/swedemigr/pages/emigra.htm |date=3 August 2008}}</ref> Most Swedish [[immigrants]] moved to the [[Midwestern United States]], with a large population in [[Minnesota]], with a few others moving to other parts of the United States and Canada.

Despite the slow rate of industrialisation into the 19th century, many important changes were taking place in the agrarian economy due to constant innovations and a rapid population growth.<ref name="Koblik9-10">Koblik, pp. 9–10.</ref> These innovations included government-sponsored programmes of [[enclosure]], aggressive exploitation of agricultural lands, and the introduction of new crops such as the potato.<ref name="Koblik9-10" /> Because the Swedish peasantry had never been enserfed as elsewhere in Europe,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook |title=Sweden: Social and economic conditions (2007) |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530024645/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook |archive-date=30 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Citation needed|reason=Need a citation which explains why absence of historical serfdom had these political implications (Esping-Andersen may help?)|date=January 2021}} the Swedish farming culture began to take on a critical role in Swedish politics, which has continued through modern times with modern Agrarian party (now called the Centre Party).<ref>Koblik, p. 11: "The agrarian revolution in Sweden is of fundamental importance for Sweden's modern development. Throughout Swedish history the countryside has taken an unusually important role in comparison with other European states."</ref> Between 1870 and 1914, Sweden began developing the industrialised economy that exists today.<ref>Koblik, p. 90. "It is usually suggested that between 1870 and 1914 Sweden emerged from its primarily agrarian economic system into a modern industrial economy."</ref>

Strong grassroots movements sprang up in Sweden during the latter half of the 19th century (trade unions, [[temperance movement|temperance]] groups, and independent religious groups), creating a strong foundation of democratic principles. In 1889 The Swedish Social Democratic Party was founded. These movements precipitated Sweden's migration into a modern parliamentary democracy, achieved by the time of World War I. As the [[Industrial Revolution]] progressed during the 20th century, people gradually moved into cities to work in factories and became involved in socialist unions. A communist revolution was avoided in 1917, following the re-introduction of [[parliamentarism]], and the country was [[Democracy|democratised]].

===World War I and World War II===
{{Main|Sweden during World War I|Sweden during World War II}}

Sweden was officially neutral during [[World War I]], although, under German pressure, they did take steps which were detrimental to the [[Allies of World War I|Allied powers]] including mining the [[Øresund]] channel, thus closing it to Allied shipping, and allowing the Germans to use Swedish facilities and the Swedish cipher to transmit secret messages to their overseas embassies.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Siney|first=Marion C.|title=Swedish neutrality and economic warfare in World War I|journal=Conspectus of History|year=1975|volume=1|issue=2|url=http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/ConspectusH&CISOPTR=410&REC=1}}</ref> Sweden also allowed volunteers to fight for the [[White Guard (Finland)|White Guards]] alongside the Germans against the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red Guards]] and Russians in the [[Finnish Civil War]], and briefly occupied the [[Åland Islands]] in co-operation with Germany.

[[File:Swedish soldier during ww2.JPG|thumb|left|A Swedish soldier during World War II. Sweden remained neutral during the conflict.]]

As in the First World War, Sweden remained officially neutral during [[World War II]], although its neutrality during World War II has been disputed.<ref name="Koblik303-313">Koblik, pp. 303–313.</ref><ref>Nordstrom, p. 315: "Sweden's government attempted to maintain at least a semblance of neutrality while it bent to the demands of the prevailing side in the struggle. Although effective in preserving the country's sovereignty, this approach generated criticism at home from many who believed the threat to Sweden was less serious than the government claimed, problems with the warring powers, ill feelings among its neighbours, and frequent criticism in the postwar period."</ref> Sweden was under German influence for much of the war, as ties to the rest of the world were cut off through blockades.<ref name="Koblik303-313" /> The Swedish government felt that it was in no position to openly contest Germany,<ref name="NB313-319" /> and therefore made some concessions.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zubicky|first=Sioma|year=1997|title=Med förintelsen i bagaget|language=sv|publisher=Bonnier Carlsen|location=Stockholm|isbn=978-91-638-3436-3|page=122}}</ref> Sweden also supplied steel and machined parts to Germany throughout the war. The Swedish government unofficially supported Finland in the [[Winter War]] and the [[Continuation War]] by allowing volunteers and [[materiel]] to be shipped to Finland. However, Sweden supported Norwegian resistance against Germany, and in 1943 helped [[Rescue of the Danish Jews|rescue Danish Jews]] from deportation to [[Nazi concentration camps]].

During the last year of the war, Sweden began to play a role in humanitarian efforts, and many refugees, among them several thousand Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, were rescued thanks to the [[White Buses|Swedish rescue missions to internment camps]] and partly because Sweden served as a haven for refugees, primarily from the [[Nordic countries]] and the Baltic states.<ref name="NB313-319" /> The Swedish diplomat [[Raoul Wallenberg]] and his colleagues ensured the safety of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/wallenberg.html |title=Raoul Wallenberg |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=28 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205181950/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/wallenberg.html |archive-date=5 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nevertheless, both Swedes and others have argued that Sweden could have done more to oppose the Nazis' war efforts, even if it meant increasing the risk of occupation.<ref name="NB313-319">Nordstrom, pp. 313–319.</ref>

===Post-war era===
[[File:Olivecrona erlander 380.jpg|thumb|[[Tage Erlander]] (left), Prime Minister under the ruling [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] from 1946 to 1969.]]
Sweden was officially a neutral country and remained outside [[NATO]] and [[Warsaw Pact]] membership during the [[Cold War]], but privately Sweden's leadership had strong ties with the United States and other western governments. Following the war, Sweden took advantage of an intact industrial base, social stability and its natural resources to expand its industry to supply the rebuilding of Europe.<ref name="NB335-339">Nordstrom, pp. 335–339.</ref> Sweden received aid under the [[Marshall Plan]] and participated in the OECD. During most of the post-war era, the country was governed by the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] largely in co-operation with [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation|trade unions]] and industry. The government actively pursued an internationally competitive manufacturing sector of primarily large corporations.<ref name="svensteinmo" />

Sweden was one of the founding states of the [[European Free Trade Area]] (EFTA). During the 1960s the EFTA countries were often referred to as the '''Outer Seven''', as opposed to the [[Inner Six]] of the then-[[European Economic Community]] (EEC).<ref>{{cite news |title=Finland: Now, the Seven and a Half |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=7 April 1961 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |access-date=18 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104144427/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |archive-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sweden, like many industrialised countries, entered a period of economic decline and upheaval following the oil embargoes of 1973–74 and 1978–79.<ref>Nordstrom, p. 344: "During the last 25 years of the century a host of problems plagued the economies of Norden and the West. Although many were present before, the 1973 and 1980 global oil crises acted as catalysts in bringing them to the fore."</ref> In the 1980s several key Swedish industries were significantly restructured. Shipbuilding was discontinued, wood pulp was integrated into modernised paper production, the steel industry was concentrated and specialised, and mechanical engineering was robotised.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Krantz |first1=Olle |first2=Lennart |last2=Schön |year=2007 |title=Swedish Historical National Accounts, 1800–2000 |location=Lund |publisher=Almqvist and Wiksell International}}{{Page needed|date=February 2016}}</ref>

Between 1970 and 1990, the overall tax burden rose by over 10%, and the growth was low compared with other countries in Western Europe. Eventually, the government began to spend over half of the country's gross domestic product. Swedish GDP per capita ranking declined during this time.<ref name="svensteinmo">''Globalization and Taxation: Challenges to the Swedish Welfare State''. By Sven Steinmo.</ref>

===Recent history===
{{See also|History of Sweden (1991–present)}}
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|right|Sweden joined the European Union in 1995 and signed the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in 2007.]]

A bursting real estate bubble caused by inadequate controls on lending combined with an international recession and a policy switch from anti-unemployment policies to anti-inflationary policies resulted in a [[Sweden financial crisis 1990-1994|fiscal crisis]] in the early 1990s.<ref>Englund, P. 1990. "Financial deregulation in Sweden." European Economic Review 34 (2–3): 385–393. Korpi TBD. Meidner, R. 1997. "The Swedish model in an era of mass unemployment." Economic and Industrial Democracy 18 (1): 87–97. Olsen, Gregg M. 1999. "Half empty or half full? The Swedish welfare state in transition." Canadian Review of Sociology & Anthropology, 36 (2): 241–268.</ref> Sweden's GDP declined by around 5%. In 1992, a run on the currency caused the central bank to briefly increase interest rates to 500%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1025624.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215084954/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1025624.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=Sweden's 'Crazy' 500% Interest Rate; Fails to Faze Most Citizens, Businesses; Hike Seen as Short-Term Move to Protect Krona From Devaluation |publisher=Highbeam.com |date=18 September 1992 |access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFh9qk0wBYC&pg=PA44 |title=The Great Financial Crisis in Finland and Sweden |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-84844-305-1 |last1=Jonung |first1=Lars |last2=Kiander |first2=Jaakko |last3=Vartia |first3=Pentti |year=2009 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905193823/https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFh9qk0wBYC&pg=PA44 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The response of the government was to cut spending and institute a multitude of reforms to improve Sweden's competitiveness, among them reducing the [[welfare state]] and [[Privatization|privatising]] public services and goods. Much of the political establishment promoted EU membership, and [[1994 Swedish European Union membership referendum|a referendum]] passed with 52.3% in favour of joining the EU on 13 November 1994. Sweden joined the [[European Union]] on 1 January 1995. In a 2003 referendum the Swedish electorate [[2003 Swedish euro referendum|voted against]] the country joining the [[European Monetary Union|Euro]] currency. In [[2006 Swedish general election|2006]] Sweden got its first majority government for decades as the centre-right [[The Alliance (Sweden)|Alliance]] defeated the incumbent Social Democrat government. Following the rapid growth of support for the anti-immigration [[Sweden Democrats]], and their entrance to the Riksdag in [[2010 Swedish general election|2010]], the Alliance became a minority cabinet.

Sweden remains non-aligned militarily, although it participates in some joint military exercises with NATO and some other countries, in addition to extensive co-operation with other European countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry. Among others, Swedish companies export weapons that were used by the American military in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207 |title=New Swedish weapon in Iraq |newspaper=[[The Local]] |date=7 February 2006 |access-date=10 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429052619/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207 |archive-date=29 April 2013}}</ref> Sweden also has a long history of participating in international military operations, including [[Afghanistan]], where Swedish troops are under NATO command, and in EU-sponsored [[peacekeeping]] operations in [[Kosovo]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], and [[Cyprus]]. Sweden also participated in [[2011 military intervention in Libya|enforcing]] a [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973|UN mandated no-fly zone]] over Libya during the [[Arab Spring]]. Sweden held the chair of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2009.

[[File:Second day of Husby riots, three burning cars.jpg|thumb|Second day of the Stockholm Husby riots. The picture shows three cars on fire in the Stockholm suburb of Husby, 20 May 2013]]
In recent decades Sweden has become a more culturally diverse nation due to significant immigration; in 2013 it was estimated that 15 per cent of the population was foreign-born, and an additional 5 per cent of the population were born to two immigrant parents. The influx of immigrants has brought new social challenges. Violent incidents have [[Rosengård#Violence|periodically occurred]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Rioting breaks out in Malmö suburb |url=http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726145940/http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ |archive-date=26 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fires and rioting after Malmö suburb unrest |url=http://www.thelocal.se/26354/20100429/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205114737/http://www.thelocal.se/26354/20100429/ |archive-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> including the [[May 2013 Stockholm riots|2013 Stockholm riots]] which broke out following the police shooting of an elderly Portuguese immigrant.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden Riots Put Faces to Statistics as Stockholm Burns|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-26/sweden-riots-put-faces-to-statistics-as-stockholm-burns.html|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|access-date=30 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708032558/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-26/sweden-riots-put-faces-to-statistics-as-stockholm-burns.html|archive-date=8 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In response to these violent events, the [[Far-right politics|anti-immigration]] opposition party, the [[Sweden Democrats]], promoted their anti-immigration policies, while the [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] opposition blamed growing inequality caused by the [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] government's socioeconomic policies.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |last=Higgins |first=Andrew |date=26 May 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/swedens-riots-put-its-identity-in-question.html?pagewanted=all |title=In Sweden, Riots Put an Identity in Question |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=1 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531100256/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/swedens-riots-put-its-identity-in-question.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, [[Stefan Löfven]] (Social Democrats) won the General Election and became the new Swedish Prime Minister. The Sweden Democrats held the balance of power and voted the government's budget down in the Riksdag, but due to agreements between the government and the Alliance, the government was able to hang onto power.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30610500|title=Sweden parties reach budget deal to avoid snap election|work=[[BBC News]]|date=27 December 2014|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106013135/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30610500|archive-date=6 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden was heavily affected by the [[2015 European migrant crisis]], eventually forcing the government to tighten regulations of entry to the country, as Sweden received thousands of asylum seekers and migrants predominantly from [[Africa]] and the [[Middle East]] per week in autumn, overwhelming existing structures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/world/europe/sweden-denmark-border-check-migrants.html?_r=0|title=Sweden and Denmark add border controls to stem flows of migrants|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Dan|last=Bilefsky|date=5 January 2016|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107062853/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/world/europe/sweden-denmark-border-check-migrants.html?_r=0|archive-date=7 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the asylum restrictions were relaxed again later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190619/sweden-rolls-back-strict-rules-on-family-reunification|title=Immigration: Sweden rolls back strict rules on family reunification|date=19 June 2019|access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref>

The [[2018 Swedish general election|2018 general election]] saw the [[Red-Greens (Sweden)|Red-greens]] lose seats to the right-wing [[Sweden Democrats]] and to the centre-right parties of the former [[Alliance (Sweden)|Alliance]]. Despite holding only 33% of the seats in the Riksdag, the Social Democrats and the Greens managed to [[2018–19 Swedish government formation|form]] a [[Löfven II Cabinet|minority government]] in January 2019, relying on supply and confidence from the [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]], [[Liberals (Sweden)|Liberals]] and the [[Left Party (Sweden)|Left Party]].

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Sweden}}
[[File:Vy mot Stora Sjöfallet från Saltoluokta.jpg|thumb|left|View of the [[Stora Sjöfallet National Park]]]]
Situated in Northern Europe, Sweden lies west of the [[Baltic Sea]] and [[Gulf of Bothnia]], providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]]. To the west is the [[Scandinavian mountain chain]] (Skanderna), a range that separates Sweden from [[Norway]]. Finland is located to its north-east. It has maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, [[Poland]], Russia, [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]] and [[Estonia]], and it is also linked to Denmark (south-west) by the [[Öresund Bridge]]. Its border with Norway ([[List of countries and territories by land borders|1,619 km]] long) is the longest uninterrupted border within Europe.

Sweden lies between latitudes [[55th parallel north|55°]] and [[70th parallel north|70° N]], and mostly between longitudes [[11th meridian east|11°]] and [[25th meridian east|25° E]] (part of [[Stora Drammen]] island is just west of 11°).
[[File:Odarslövsvägen–flygbild 06 september 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Scania]] in southern Sweden]]
[[File:Sandön - KMB - 16001000454384.jpg|thumb|[[Sandhamn]] island, [[Stockholm archipelago]]]]

At {{convert|449964|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, Sweden is the 55th-largest country in the world,<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Comparison: Area|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Sweden&countryCode=sw&regionCode=eu&rank=55#sw|work=Central Intelligence Agency|publisher=Cia.gov|access-date=19 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602150716/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Sweden&countryCode=sw&regionCode=eu&rank=55#sw|archive-date=2 June 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Area and population of European countries|fifth-largest country]] in Europe, and the largest country in Northern Europe. The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of Lake Hammarsjön, near [[Kristianstad]], at {{convert|-2.41|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} below sea level. The highest point is [[Kebnekaise]] at {{convert|2111|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].

Sweden has 25 [[Provinces of Sweden|provinces]] or ''landskap'', based on culture, geography and history. While these provinces serve no political or administrative purpose, they play an important role in people's [[self-concept|self-identity]]. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large ''[[lands of Sweden|lands]]'', parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. The sparsely populated Norrland encompasses almost 60% of the country. Sweden also has the [[Vindelfjällens Nature Reserve|Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve]], one of the largest protected areas in Europe, totaling 562,772 ha (approx. 5,628 km{{sup|2}}).

About 15% of Sweden lies north of the [[Arctic Circle]]. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65% of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests. The highest population density is in the [[Øresund Region|Öresund Region]] in southern Sweden, along the western coast up to central Bohuslän, and in the valley of lake [[Mälaren]] and Stockholm. Gotland and [[Öland]] are Sweden's largest [[islands of Sweden|islands]]; [[Vänern]] and [[Vättern]] are its largest lakes. Vänern is the third largest in Europe, after [[Lake Ladoga]] and [[Lake Onega]] in Russia. Combined with the third- and fourth-largest lakes Mälaren and [[Hjälmaren]], these lakes take up a significant part of southern Sweden's area. Sweden's extensive waterway availability throughout the south was exploited with the building of the [[Göta Canal]] in the 19th century, shortening the potential distance between the Baltic Sea south of [[Norrköping]] and [[Gothenburg]] by using the lake and river network to facilitate the canal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotakanal.se/en/|title=Göta kanal official website|publisher=[[Göta Canal]]|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112033839/http://www.gotakanal.se/en/|archive-date=12 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sweden also has [[List of rivers of Sweden|plenty of long rivers]] draining the lakes. Northern and Central Sweden have several wide rivers known as ''älvar'', commonly sourced within the Scandinavian Mountains. The longest river is [[Klarälven]]-[[Göta älv]], which originates in [[Trøndelag]] in central Norway, running 720 miles before it enters the sea at [[Gothenburg]]. [[Dalälven]] and the [[Torne (river)|Torne]] are the second and third longest rivers in the country. Torne marks a large part of the [[Finland-Sweden border|Finland border]]. In southern Sweden, narrower rivers known as ''åar'' are also common. The vast majority of municipal seats are set either on the sea, a river or a lake and the majority of the country's population live in coastal municipalities.

===Climate===

Most of Sweden has a [[temperate climate]], despite its northern [[latitude]], with largely four distinct seasons and mild temperatures throughout the year. The winter in the far south is usually weak and is manifested only through some shorter periods with snow and sub-zero temperatures, autumn may well turn into spring there, without a distinct period of winter. The northern parts of the country have a [[subarctic climate]] while the central parts have a [[humid continental climate]]. The coastal south can be defined as having either a [[humid continental climate]] using the 0°C isotherm, or an [[oceanic climate]] using the -3°C isotherm.

Due to the increased maritime moderation in the peninsular south, summer differences between the coastlines of the southernmost and northernmost regions are about {{convert|2|C-change}} in summer and {{convert|10|C-change}} in winter. This grows further when comparing areas in the northern interior where the winter difference in the far north is about {{convert|15|C-change}} throughout the country. The warmest summers usually happen in the [[Mälaren Valley]] around [[Stockholm]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smhi.se/data/meteorologi/dataserier-med-normalvarden-for-perioden-1991-2020-1.167775|title=Dataserier med normalvärden för perioden 1991-2020|publisher=[[SMHI]]|language=sv|accessdate=1 November 2021}}</ref> due to the vast landmass shielding the middle east coast from Atlantic low-pressure systems in July compared to the south and west. Daytime highs in Sweden's municipal seats vary from {{convert|19|C|F}} to {{convert|24|C|F}} in July and {{convert|-9|C|F}} to {{convert|3|C|F}} in January. The colder temperatures are influenced by the higher elevation in the northern interior. At sea level instead, the coldest average highs range from {{convert|21|C|F}} to {{convert|-6|C|F}}. As a result of the mild summers, the arctic region of [[Norrbotten County|Norrbotten]] has some of the northernmost [[agriculture]] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slu.se/fakulteter/vh/samverkan/regional-jordbruksforskning-for-norra-sverige/rjn-det-norrlandska-klimatets-fordelar/|title=Det norrländska klimatets fördelar|publisher=Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet|language=sv|date=5 October 2021|accessdate=1 November 2021}}</ref>

Sweden is much warmer and drier than other places at a similar latitude, and even somewhat farther south, mainly because of the combination of the [[Gulf Stream]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml |publisher=BBC |title=BBC Climate and the Gulf Stream |access-date=29 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928040727/http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml |archive-date=28 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ |title=The Gulf Stream Myth |journal=Monthly Weather Review |volume=28 |issue=9 |pages=393–394 |access-date=29 October 2008 |bibcode=1900MWRv...28..393W |last1=Watts |first1=Harvey Maitland |year=1900 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1900)28[393:TGSM]2.0.CO;2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225021029/http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ |archive-date=25 February 2011 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> and the general west wind drift, caused by the direction of planet Earth's rotation. Continental west-coasts (to which all of Scandinavia belongs, as the westernmost part of the [[Eurasia|Eurasian continent]]), are notably warmer than continental east-coasts; this can also be seen by comparing e.g. the Canadian cities of [[Vancouver]] and [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] with each other, the winter in west coast Vancouver is much milder; also, for example, central and southern Sweden has much milder winters than many parts of Russia, Canada, and the northern United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm |publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]] |title=Global Climate Maps |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117173015/http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/sustdev/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm |archive-date=17 November 2006}}</ref> Because of Sweden's high latitude, the length of daylight varies greatly. North of the Arctic Circle, the [[Midnight sun|sun never sets]] for part of each summer, and [[Polar night|it never rises]] for part of each winter. In the capital, [[Stockholm]], daylight lasts for more than 18 hours in late June but only around 6 hours in late December. Sweden receives between 1,100 and 1,900 hours of sunshine annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |title=Normal solskenstid för ett år |language=sv |publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]] |access-date=27 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826085626/http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |archive-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map SWE present.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Sweden using the 0°C isotherm]]
[[File:Sweden Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Sweden using the -3°C isotherm]]

The highest temperature ever recorded in Sweden was {{convert|38|°C|°F|abbr=on}} in [[Målilla]] in 1947,{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} while the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-52.6|°C|1|abbr=on}} in Vuoggatjålme on 2 February 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data.php?month=02&year=1966&id=SWE00140744&path=weather_stations/sw000000000_szz99999999/SWE00140744.dly&name=Vuoggatjalme&country=Sweden |title=Weather Data: Sweden, Vuoggatjalme, 1966, February |publisher=geographic.org |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> Temperatures expected in Sweden are heavily influenced by the large Fennoscandian landmass, as well as continental Europe and western Russia, which allows hot or cool inland air to be easily transported to Sweden. That, in turn, renders most of Sweden's southern areas having warmer summers than almost everywhere in the nearby [[British Isles]], even matching temperatures found along the continental Atlantic coast as far south as in northern [[Spain]]. In winter, however, the same high-pressure systems sometimes put the entire country far below freezing temperatures. There is some maritime moderation from the Atlantic which renders the Swedish continental climate less severe than that of nearby Russia. Even though temperature patterns differ between north and south, the summer climate is surprisingly similar all through the entire country in spite of the large latitudinal differences. This is due to the south's being surrounded by a greater mass of water, with the wider Baltic Sea and the Atlantic air passing over lowland areas from the south-west.

Apart from the ice-free Atlantic bringing marine air into Sweden tempering winters, the mildness is further explained by prevailing low-pressure systems postponing winter, with the long nights often staying above freezing in the south of the country due to the abundant cloud cover. By the time winter finally breaks through, daylight hours rise quickly, ensuring that daytime temperatures soar quickly in spring. With the greater number of clear nights, frosts remain commonplace quite far south as late as April. The cold winters occur when low-pressure systems are weaker. An example is that the coldest ever month (January 1987) in Stockholm was also the sunniest January month on record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_precipitation_sunshine_jan15.pdf?71642|title=Precipitation, Sunshine & Radiation for January 2015 (all-time records section)|language=sv|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_precipitation_sunshine_jan15.pdf?71642|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_temperature_wind_jan15.pdf?18701|title=Temperature & Wind – January 2015 (all-time records section)|language=sv|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_temperature_wind_jan15.pdf?18701|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The relative strength of low and high-pressure systems of marine and continental air also define the highly variable summers. When hot continental air hits the country, the long days and short nights frequently bring temperatures up to {{convert|30|C|F}} or above even in coastal areas. Nights normally remain cool, especially in inland areas. Coastal areas can see so-called ''tropical nights'' above {{convert|20|C|F}} occur due to the moderating sea influence during warmer summers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smhi.se/kunskapsbanken/meteorologi/tropiska-natter-1.1085|title=Tropiska nätter|trans-title=Tropical nights|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|language=sv|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065821/http://www.smhi.se/kunskapsbanken/meteorologi/tropiska-natter-1.1085|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Summers can be cool, especially in the north of the country. Transitional seasons are normally quite extensive and the four-season climate applies to most of Sweden's territory, except in Scania where some years do not record a [[meteorological winter]] (see table below) or in the high Lapland mountains where polar microclimates exist.

On average, most of Sweden receives between {{convert|500|and|800|mm|0|abbr=on}} of precipitation each year, making it considerably drier than the [[Precipitation (meteorology)|global average]]. The south-western part of the country receives more precipitation, between {{convert|1000|and|1200|mm|0|abbr=on}}, and some mountain areas in the north are estimated to receive up to {{convert|2000|mm|0|abbr=on}}. Despite northerly locations, southern and central Sweden may have almost no snow in some winters. Most of Sweden is located in the [[rain shadow]] of the Scandinavian Mountains through Norway and north-west Sweden. The blocking of cool and wet air in summer, as well as the greater landmass, leads to warm and dry summers far north in the country, with quite warm summers at the Bothnia Bay coast at 65 degrees latitude, which is unheard of elsewhere in the world at such northerly coastlines.

It is predicted that as the [[Barents Sea]] gets less frozen in the coming winters, becoming thus "Atlantified", additional evaporation will increase future snowfalls in Sweden and much of continental Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Arctic sea-ice loss fuels extreme European snowfall|journal=[[Nature Geoscience]]|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00719-y|last1=Bailey|first1=Hannah|date=1 April 2021|last2=Hubbard|first2=Alun|last3=Klen|first3=Eric S.|last4=Mustonen|first4=Kaisa-Riikka|last5=Akers|first5=Pete D.|last6=Marttila|first6=Hannu|last7=Welker|first7=Jeffrey M.|volume=14|issue=5|pages=283–288|doi=10.1038/s41561-021-00719-y|bibcode=2021NatGe..14..283B|s2cid=232765992}}</ref>

=== Vegetation ===
{{See also|Wildlife of Sweden}}
[[File:Sweden Vegetation Zones.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Map of Sweden's five major vegetation zones]]
Sweden has a considerable south to north distance (stretching between the [[latitude]]s N 55:20:13 and N 69:03:36) which causes large climatic difference, especially during the winter. The related matter of the length and strength of the four seasons plays a role in which plants that ''naturally'' can grow at various places. Sweden is divided in five major vegetation zones. These are:

* The southern deciduous forest zone
* The southern coniferous forest zone
* The northern coniferous forest zone, or the [[Taiga]]
* The alpine-birch zone
* The bare mountain zone

Southern deciduous forest zone, also known as the nemoral region, the southern deciduous forest zone is a part of a larger vegetation zone which also includes Denmark and large parts of Central Europe. It has to a rather large degree become agricultural areas, but larger and smaller forests still exist. The region is characterised by a large wealth of trees and shrubs. The [[beech]] are the most dominant tree, but [[oak]] can also form smaller forests. [[elm]] at one time formed forests, but have been heavily reduced due to [[Dutch Elm disease]]. Other important trees and shrubs in this zone include [[hornbeam]], [[Sambucus nigra|elder]], [[Corylus avellana|hazel]], [[Lonicera xylosteum|fly honeysuckle]], [[Tilia|linden (lime)]], [[Euonymus europaeus|spindle]], [[Taxus baccata|yew]], [[alder buckthorn]], [[blackthorn]], [[Populus tremula|aspen]], [[European rowan]], [[Swedish whitebeam]], [[Juniperus communis|juniper]], [[European holly]], [[Hedera helix|ivy]], [[Cornus sanguinea|dogwood]], [[goat willow]], [[Larix decidua|larch]], [[Prunus padus|bird cherry]], [[Prunus avium|wild cherry]], [[maple]], [[Fraxinus excelsior|ash]], [[alder]] along creeks, and in sandy soil [[birch]] compete with [[pine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-lovskogsregionen/|title=Södra lövskogsregionen – Skogskunskap|website=www.skogskunskap.se|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044304/https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-lovskogsregionen/|archive-date=12 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Spruce]] is not native but between approximately 1870 and 1980, large areas were planted with it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forest and Buildings |url=http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/historia-utveckling/skogens-landskap/skog-och-bebyggelse/Pages/index.aspx |website=lansstyrelsen.se |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012055002/http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/historia-utveckling/skogens-landskap/skog-och-bebyggelse/Pages/index.aspx |archive-date=12 October 2017 |language=sv|quote="Granskogen, som spreds norrifrån, nådde inte Skåne förrän mot slutet av 1800-talet. Under 1900-talets första hälft planterades stora arealer granskog." or in English "The spruce forest, which spread from the north, did not reach Scania until the end of the 19th century. During the first half of the twentieth century, large areas of pine forest were planted."}}</ref> They tend to grow too quickly due to being outside of their native range<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27655197|title=Summary in English PDF, page 8 at}}</ref> and large distances between the tree rings cause poor board quality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/om-oss/var-tidning-skogseko/skogseko-2-2017/skogen-vaxer-battre--men-riskerna-blir-fler/|title=Skogen växer bättre – men riskerna blir fler|website=www.skogsstyrelsen.se|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012043833/https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/om-oss/var-tidning-skogseko/skogseko-2-2017/skogen-vaxer-battre--men-riskerna-blir-fler/|archive-date=12 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later some spruce trees began to die before reaching optimal height, and many more of the coniferous trees were uprooted during cyclones.<ref>Quote from [[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]], section "2" at [https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2015-01-04/en-kvarts-miljard-trad-foll-under-stormnatten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044809/https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2015-01-04/en-kvarts-miljard-trad-foll-under-stormnatten |date=12 October 2017 }},"''Efter stormen kritiserades skogsägarna för att de dominerande granskogarna gjorde att stormen tog hårdare. Uppblandning med lövträd gör skog stryktåligare''" or in English "After the storm, the spruce and pine forest owners were criticized for the domination of the forests that made the storm tougher. Admixture with hardwood makes forest more stringent"</ref><ref>[[Dagens Nyheter]] about the same. [https://www.dn.se/nyheter/vetenskap/analys-dags-plantera-lovskog-i-soder/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044443/https://www.dn.se/nyheter/vetenskap/analys-dags-plantera-lovskog-i-soder/ |date=12 October 2017 }}</ref> During the last 40–50 years large areas of former spruce plantings have been replanted with deciduous forest.<ref>About the 1984 "Ädellövskogslagen" [http://www.naturait.se/adellovskogen/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044321/http://www.naturait.se/adellovskogen/ |date=12 October 2017 }} – "''I Sydsverige (Skåne, Halland och Blekinge) skall minst 70% av beståndet utgöras av ädellöv. Enligt ädellövskogslagen skall efter slutavverkning, alltid ny ädellövskog anläggas på sådana marker.''" or "In southern Sweden (Scania, Halland and Blekinge) at least 70% of the stock must be of [[edible leaves]]. According to the 'edible deciduous forests law', after ever harvesting, new deciduous forests must always be planted on such fields." (in these three provinces)</ref>

Southern coniferous forest zone, also known as the boreo-nemoral region, the southern coniferous forest zone is delimited by the [[oak]]'s northern natural limit (''limes norrlandicus'') and the [[Spruce]]'s southern natural limit,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-barrskogsregionen/|title=Södra barrskogsregionen – Skogskunskap|website=www.skogskunskap.se|access-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013120343/https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-barrskogsregionen/|archive-date=13 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> between the southern deciduous zone and the [[Taiga]] farther north. In the southern parts of this zone the coniferous species are found, mainly [[spruce]] and [[pine]], mixed with various deciduous trees. [[Birch]] grows largely everywhere. The [[beech]]'s northern boundary crosses this zone. This is however not the case with [[oak]] and [[Fraxinus excelsior|ash]]. Although in its natural area, also ''planted'' Spruce are common, and such woods are very dense, as the spruces can grow very tight, especially in this vegetation zone's southern areas.

The northern coniferous forest zone or the [[Taiga]] begins north of the natural boundary of the [[oak]]. Of deciduous species the [[birch]] is the only one of significance. [[Pine]] and [[spruce]] are dominant, but the forests are slowly but surely more sparsely grown the farther towards the north it gets. In the extreme north is it difficult to state the trees forms true forests at all, due to the large distances between the trees.<ref name="RydénMigula2003">{{cite book|author1=Lars Rydén|author2=Pawel Migula|author3=Magnus Andersson|title=Environmental science: understanding, protecting and managing the environment in the Baltic Sea region|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VIopLSQyI5MC&pg=PA82|year=2003|publisher=Baltic University Press|isbn=978-91-970017-0-0|page=82}}</ref>

The alpine-birch zone, in the Scandinavian mountains, depending on both latitude and altitude, is an area where only a smaller kind of [[birch]] (''Betula pubescens'' or ''B.tortuosa'') can grow. Where this vegetation zone ends, no trees grow at all: the bare mountain zone.<ref>Swedish Encyclopedia "Bonniers Lexikon", vol 13 of 15, article "Sverige", Sweden, columns 1046–1050</ref>

Sweden had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.35/10, ranking it 103th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057}}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
=== Constitutional framework ===
{{Main|Politics of Sweden}}
[[File:Nationaldagen EM1B2097 (48018075518).jpg|thumb|right|The current [[Monarchy of Sweden|King of Sweden]], [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]], and his consort, [[Queen Silvia of Sweden|Queen Silvia]]]]

Sweden has four fundamental laws ({{lang-sv|grundlagar}}) which together form the [[Constitution of Sweden|Constitution]]: the Instrument of Government ({{lang-sv|Regeringsformen}}), the [[Swedish Act of Succession|Act of Succession]] ({{lang-sv|Successionsordningen}}), the Freedom of the Press Act ({{lang-sv|Tryckfrihetsförordningen}}), and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression ({{lang-sv|Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen}}).<ref name="The Constitution">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/| title = The Constitution| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141110215202/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/| archive-date = 10 November 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Petersson:38-40">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 38–40.</ref>

The public sector in Sweden is divided into two parts: the [[legal person]] known as the State ({{lang-sv|staten}}){{efn|The State ({{lang-sv|staten}}) is also descriptively translated into English as the "central government", not to be confused with the [[Government of Sweden|Government]], i.e. the cabinet which is but one organ of the State.}} and local authorities:{{efn|An alternate English translation is "local governments".}} the latter include regional [[County councils of Sweden|County Councils]] ({{lang-sv|landsting}}) and local [[Municipalities of Sweden|Municipalities]] ({{lang-sv|kommuner}}).<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:16-18">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: pp. 16–18.</ref><ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: pp. 212–215.</ref><ref name="Petersson:92">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 92.</ref><ref name="Petersson:174">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 174.</ref> The local authorities, rather than the State, make up the larger part of the public sector in Sweden.<ref name="Petersson:79">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 79.</ref> County Councils and Municipalities are independent of one another, the former merely covers a larger geographical area than the latter.<ref name="Petersson:79" /><ref name="Larsson & Bäck:210">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: p. 210.</ref> The local authorities have self-rule, as mandated by the Constitution, and their own tax base.<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215" /><ref name="Petersson:79-82">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 79–82.</ref> Notwithstanding their self-rule, local authorities are nevertheless in practice interdependent upon the State, as the parameters of their responsibilities and the extent of their jurisdiction are specified in the Local Government Act ({{lang-sv|Kommunallagen}}) passed by the [[Riksdag]].<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215" /><ref name="Petersson:80-82">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 80–82.</ref>

Sweden is a [[constitutional monarchy]], and [[Monarchy of Sweden|King]] [[Carl XVI Gustaf]] is the [[head of state]], but the role of the monarch is limited to ceremonial and representative functions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Monarchy/Facts/Monarchy/ |title=Monarchy: A modern royal family |publisher=Sweden.se |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425154216/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Monarchy/Facts/Monarchy/ |archive-date=25 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the provisions of the 1974 Instrument of Government, the King lacks any formal political power.<ref name="The Instrument of Government">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Instrument-of-Government/| title = The Instrument of Government| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141024155000/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Instrument-of-Government/| archive-date = 24 October 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="The Head of State">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/2853/nocache/true/a/21785/dictionary/true |title=The Head of State |publisher=[[Government of Sweden]] |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225235411/http://www.government.se/sb/d/2853/nocache/true/a/21785/dictionary/true |archive-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> The King opens the annual Riksdag session, chairs the Special Council held during a change of Government, holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Government, chairs the meetings of the ''Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs'' ({{lang-sv|Utrikesnämnden}}), and receives [[Letters of Credence]] of foreign ambassadors to Sweden and signs those of Swedish ambassadors sent abroad.<ref name="Duties of the Monarch">{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html | title = Duties of the Monarch | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150316041821/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html | archive-date = 16 March 2015 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="A new government is formed">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/A-new-government-is-formed/ | title = A new government is formed | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141109002503/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/A-new-government-is-formed/ | archive-date = 9 November 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> In addition, the King pays [[List of state visits made by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|State Visits abroad]] and receives those incoming as host.<ref name="Duties of the Monarch" /> Apart from strictly official duties, the King and the other members of [[Swedish Royal Family|Royal Family]] undertake a variety of unofficial and other representative duties within Sweden and abroad.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/download/18.4ea495e313c19c119aa766c/1390581085970/Verksamhetsberattelse2012_eng.pdf | title = Annual Report 2012 | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140604080143/http://www.kungahuset.se/download/18.4ea495e313c19c119aa766c/1390581085970/Verksamhetsberattelse2012_eng.pdf | archive-date = 4 June 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

[[Legislative power]] is vested in the [[unicameral]] Riksdag with 349 members. [[Elections in Sweden|General elections]] are held every four years, on the second Sunday of September. Legislation may be initiated by the Government or by members of the Riksdag. Members are elected on the basis of [[proportional representation]] to a four-year term. The internal workings of the Riksdag are, in addition to the Instrument of Government, regulated by the Riksdag Act ({{lang-sv|Riksdagsordningen}}).<ref name="The Riksdag Act – almost a fundamental law">{{cite web|url=https://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Riksdag-Act---almost-a-fundamental-law/ |title=The Riksdag Act – almost a fundamental law |publisher=The [[Riksdag]] |access-date=9 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024155003/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Riksdag-Act---almost-a-fundamental-law/ |archive-date=24 October 2014}}</ref> The fundamental laws can be altered by the Riksdag alone; only an absolute majority with two separate votes, separated by a general election in between, is required.<ref name="The Constitution" />

[[File:Rosenbad 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|left|[[Rosenbad]], in central [[Stockholm]], has been the seat of the Government since 1981.<ref name="The Swedish Government Offices – a historical perspective">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/4140/ |title=The Swedish Government Offices – a historical perspective |publisher=[[Government Offices of Sweden]] |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024144929/http://www.government.se/sb/d/4140/ |archive-date=24 October 2014}}</ref>]]
The [[Government of Sweden|Government]] ({{lang-sv|Regeringen}}) operates as a [[Cabinet collective responsibility|collegial body with collective responsibility]] and consists of the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] {{mdash}} appointed and dismissed by the [[Speaker of the Riksdag]] (following an actual vote in the Riksdag before an appointment can be made) {{mdash}} and other [[cabinet minister]]s ({{lang-sv|Statsråd}}), appointed and dismissed at the sole discretion of the Prime Minister.<ref name="Forming a government">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/| title = Forming a government| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141009160056/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/| archive-date = 9 October 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref> The Government is the supreme executive authority and is [[Parliamentary system|responsible for its actions to the Riksdag]].<ref name="IG">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | title = The Instrument of Government (as of 2012) | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141008133940/http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | archive-date = 8 October 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Most of the State administrative authorities ({{lang-sv|statliga förvaltningsmyndigheter}}) report to the Government, including (but not limited to) the [[Swedish Armed Forces|Armed Forces]], the [[Enforcement Authority]], the [[National Library of Sweden|National Library]], the [[Swedish police]] and the [[Swedish Tax Agency|Tax Agency]]. A unique feature of Swedish State administration is that individual cabinet ministers ''do not bear any'' [[individual ministerial responsibility]] for the performance of the agencies within their portfolio; as the [[Director-General#Sweden|director-generals]] and other heads of government agencies reports directly to the Government as a whole; and individual ministers are prohibited to interfere; thus the origin of the pejorative in Swedish political parlance term ''[[ministerstyre]]'' (English: "ministerial rule") in matters that are to be handled by the individual agencies, unless otherwise specifically provided for in law.

The [[Judiciary of Sweden|Judiciary]] is independent from the Riksdag, Government and other State administrative authorities.<ref name="The Swedish courts">{{cite web | url = http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/ | title = The Swedish courts | publisher = [[Swedish National Courts Administration]] | access-date = 9 November 2014 | date = 27 November 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141019174305/http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/ | archive-date = 19 October 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The role of [[judicial review]] of legislation is not practised by the courts; instead, the [[Council on Legislation (Sweden)|Council on Legislation]] gives non-binding opinions on legality.{{sfn|Terrill|2009|p=243}} There is no [[stare decisis]] in that courts are not bound by [[precedent]], although it is influential.{{sfn|Terrill|2009|p=246}}

=== Political parties and elections ===
{{Main|List of political parties in Sweden|Elections in Sweden}}
[[File:Riksdag.ipred b9dn510 4451.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Riksdag]] chamber, at the time of a vote, in 2009]]
The Swedish Social Democratic Party has played a leading role in Swedish politics since 1917, after the [[Democratic socialism|Reformists]] had confirmed their strength and the [[Left Party (Sweden)|left-wing revolutionaries]] formed their own party. After 1932, most governments have been [[Dominant-party system#Europe|dominated]] by the Social Democrats. Only five general elections since World War II—[[1976 Swedish general election|1976]], [[1979 Swedish general election|1979]], [[1991 Swedish general election|1991]], [[2006 Swedish general election|2006]] and [[2010 Swedish general election|2010]]—have given the assembled bloc of centre-right parties enough seats in the Riksdag to form a government.

For over 50 years, Sweden had had five parties who continually received enough votes to gain seats in the Riksdag—the Social Democrats, the [[Moderate Party]], the [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]], the [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)|Liberal People's Party]] and the Left Party—before the [[Green Party (Sweden)|Green Party]] became the sixth party in the [[1988 Swedish general election|1988 election]]. In the 1991 election, while the Greens lost their seats, two new parties gained seats for the first time: the [[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Christian Democrats]] and [[New Democracy (Sweden)|New Democracy]]. The [[1994 Swedish general election|1994 election]] saw the return of the Greens and the demise of New Democracy. It was not until elections in 2010 that an eighth party, the [[Sweden Democrats]], gained Riksdag seats. In the elections to the [[European Parliament]], parties who have failed to pass the Riksdag threshold have managed to gain representation at that venue: the [[June List]] ([[2004 European Parliament election in Sweden|2004–2009]]), the [[Pirate Party (Sweden)|Pirate Party]] ([[2009 European Parliament election in Sweden|2009–2014]]), and [[Feminist Initiative (Sweden)|Feminist Initiative]] ([[2014 European Parliament election in Sweden|2014–2019]]).

[[File:Inför slutdebatten i SVT.jpg|thumb|left|The party leaders lined up before the start of the [[Sveriges Television|televised]] live debate on 12 September 2014.]]
In the [[2006 Sweden general election|2006 general election]] the Moderate Party formed the centre-right [[Alliance for Sweden]] bloc and won a majority of the Riksdag seats. In the [[2010 Swedish general election|2010 general election]] the Alliance contended against a unified left block consisting of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Government-politics/Reading/Center-right-wins-Swedish-election--but-short-of-majority/ |title=Center–right wins Swedish election — but short of majority |publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]] International/Radio Sweden |date=20 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511050348/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Government-politics/Reading/Center-right-wins-Swedish-election--but-short-of-majority/ |archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> The Alliance won a plurality of 173 seats, but remained two seats short of a 175-seat majority. Nevertheless, neither the Alliance, nor the left block, chose to form a coalition with the Sweden Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html |publisher=[[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]] |title=Val till riksdagen |author=The Official Website of the Swedish Election Authority |access-date=18 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809101606/http://www.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html |archive-date=9 August 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The outcome of the [[2014 Sweden general election|2014 general election]] resulted in the attainment of more seats by the three centre-left parties in comparison to the centre-right Alliance for Sweden, with the two blocs receiving 159 and 141 seats respectively.<ref name="2014 Election Result">{{cite web | url = http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/protokoll/protokoll_00R.pdf | title = Beslut 2014-09-20 | language = sv | publisher = [[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140924075521/http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/protokoll/protokoll_00R.pdf | archive-date = 24 September 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The non-aligned Sweden Democrats more than doubled their support and won the remaining 49 seats.<ref name="2014 Election Result" /> On 3 October 2014, Stefan Löfven formed a [[minority government]] consisting of the [[Löfven I Cabinet|Social Democrats and the Greens]].<ref name="Sweden's new Government">{{cite web | url = http://www.government.se/sb/d/575/a/247235 | title = Sweden's new Government | publisher = [[Government Offices of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006234923/http://www.government.se/sb/d/575/a/247235 | archive-date = 6 October 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Change of Government Council at the Royal Palace of Stockholm">{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/latestnews/changeofgovernmentcouncilattheroyalpalaceofstockholm.5.67e94750148caf4ad27127.html | title = Change of Government Council at the Royal Palace of Stockholm | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141108004043/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/latestnews/changeofgovernmentcouncilattheroyalpalaceofstockholm.5.67e94750148caf4ad27127.html | archive-date = 8 November 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Election turnout in Sweden has always been high by international comparison. Although it declined in recent decades, the latest elections saw an increase in voter turnout (80.11% in [[2002 Sweden general election|2002]], 81.99% in 2006, 84.63% in 2010, 85.81 in [[2014 Swedish general election|2014]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster – Val 2014|publisher=[[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]]|language=sv|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503192853/http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|archive-date=3 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and 87.18% in [[2018 Swedish general election|2018]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster - Val 2018|website=data.val.se|access-date=18 January 2019}}</ref> Swedish politicians enjoyed a high degree of confidence from the citizens in the 1960s, However, that level of confidence has since declined steadily, and is now at a markedly lower level than in its Scandinavian neighbours.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Norris, Pippa |author=Holmberg, Sören |title=Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1999|pages=103–123|isbn=978-0-19-829568-6}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Regions of Sweden|Municipalities of Sweden|County Administrative Boards of Sweden|Administrative divisions of Sweden}}
[[File:SWE-Map Kommuner2007.svg|thumb|upright|Municipal divisions of Sweden]]
Sweden is a [[unitary state]] divided into 21 regions (''regioner'') and 290 municipalities (''kommuner''). Every region corresponds to a [[counties of Sweden|county]] (''län'') with a number of municipalities per county. Regions and municipalities are both local government bur have different roles and separate responsibilities. Health care, public transport and certain cultural institutions are administered by county councils. Preschools, primary and secondary schooling, public water utilities, garbage disposal, elderly care and rescue services are administered by the municipalities. [[Gotland]] is a special case of being a region with only one municipality and the functions of region and municipality are performed by the same organisation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Municipalities and regions |url=https://skr.se/skr/tjanster/englishpages/municipalitiesandregions.1088.html |access-date=2021-11-21 |website=skr.se |language=en}}</ref>

Municipal and region government in Sweden is similar to [[city commission government|city commission]] and [[cabinet-style council]] government. Both levels have legislative assemblies ([[municipal council (Sweden)|municipal councils]] and region assemblies of between 31 and 101 members (always an uneven number) that are elected from [[party-list proportional representation]] at the general election which are held every four years in conjunction with the national parliamentary elections.

Municipalities are also divided into a total of 2,512 [[Parishes of Sweden|parishes]] (''församlingar''). These have no official political responsibilities but are traditional subdivisions of the [[Church of Sweden]] and still have some importance as census districts for census-taking and elections.

The Swedish central government has 21 [[County Administrative Boards of Sweden|County Administrative Boards]] ({{lang-sv|länsstyrelser}}), which are responsible for regional state administration not assigned to other government agencies or local government. Each county administrative board is led by a [[County governors of Sweden|County Governor]] ({{lang-sv|landshövding}}) appointed for a term of six years. The list of previous officeholders for the counties stretches back, in most cases, to 1634 when the counties were created by [[Lord High Chancellor of Sweden|Lord High Chancellor]] Count [[Axel Oxenstierna]]. The main responsibility of the County Administrative Board is to co-ordinate the development of the county in line with goals set by the Riksdag and Government.

There are older historical divisions, primarily the twenty-five [[Provinces of Sweden|provinces]] and three [[Lands of Sweden|lands]], which still retain cultural significance.

=== Political history ===
[[File:Scandinavia-12th century.png|thumb|left|Kingdoms of [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Svear]] (Sweonas) and [[Götar]] (Geats) in the 12th century, with modern borders in grey]]
The actual age of the kingdom of Sweden is unknown.<ref name="sh">{{cite book |last1=Hadenius |first1=Stig |last2=Nilsson |first2=Torbjörn |last3=Åselius |first3=Gunnar |title=Sveriges historia: vad varje svensk bör veta |trans-title=History of Sweden: what every Swede should know |year=1996 |publisher=Bonnier Alba |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=978-91-34-51784-4}}:
{|
|-
|  
|Hur och när det svenska riket uppstod vet vi inte. Först under 1100-talet börjar skriftliga dokument produceras i Sverige i någon större omfattning [...]
|  
|How and when the Swedish kingdom appeared is not known. It is not until the 12th century that written document begin to be produced in Sweden in any larger extent [...]
|}</ref> Establishing the age depends mostly on whether Sweden should be considered a nation when the ''Svear'' (Sweonas) ruled Svealand or if the emergence of the nation started with the ''Svear'' and the ''[[Götar]]'' (Geats) of Götaland being united under one ruler. In the first case, Svealand was first mentioned as having one single ruler in the year 98 by Tacitus, but it is almost impossible to know for how long it had been this way. However, historians usually start the line of [[Swedish monarchs]] from when Svealand and Götaland were ruled under the same king, namely Eric the Victorious (Geat) and his son [[Olof Skötkonung]] in the 10th century. These events are often described as the [[consolidation of Sweden]], although substantial areas were conquered and incorporated later.

Earlier kings, for which no reliable historical sources exist, can be read about in [[mythical kings of Sweden]] and [[semi-legendary kings of Sweden]]. Many of these kings are only mentioned in various [[Norse sagas|saga]] and blend with Norse mythology.

The title ''Sveriges och Götes Konung'' was last used for [[Gustaf I of Sweden]], after which the title became "[[Kings of Sweden|King of Sweden]], [[King of the Goths|of the Goths]] and [[King of the Wends|of the Wends]]" (''Sveriges, Götes och Vendes Konung'') in official documentation. Up until the beginning of the 1920s, all laws in Sweden were introduced with the words, "We, the king of Sweden, of the Goths and Wends". This title was used up until 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lagen.nu/1973:702|title=Kungl. Maj:ts kungörelse med anledning av konung Gustaf VI Adolfs frånfälle|publisher=Lagen.nu|access-date=17 September 2014|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712202406/https://lagen.nu/1973:702|archive-date=12 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The present King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, was the first monarch officially proclaimed "King of Sweden" (''Sveriges Konung'') with no additional peoples mentioned in his title.

The term ''riksdag'' was used for the first time in the 1540s, although the first meeting where representatives of different social groups were called to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole took place as early as 1435, in the town of [[Arboga]].<ref name=Riksdagen>{{cite web|title=The history of the Riksdag|url=http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-history-of-the-Riksdag/|publisher=[[Riksdag]]|access-date=9 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520020027/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-history-of-the-Riksdag/|archive-date=20 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[Riksdag of the Estates|Riksdag assemblies]] of 1527 and 1544, under King [[Gustav Vasa]], representatives of all four [[estates of the realm]] (clergy, [[Swedish nobility|nobility]], [[Bourgeoisie|townsmen]] and [[peasant]]s) were called on to participate for the first time.<ref name="Riksdagen" /> The monarchy became hereditary in 1544.

Executive power was historically shared between the King and an aristocratic [[Privy council]] until 1680, followed by the King's [[autocracy|autocratic rule]] initiated by the commoner estates of the Riksdag. As a reaction to the failed Great Northern War, a parliamentary system was introduced in 1719, followed by three different flavours of constitutional monarchy in 1772, 1789 and 1809, [[Swedish constitution of 1809|the latter]] granting several civil liberties. Already during the first of those three periods, the 'Era of Liberty' (1719–72) the Swedish Rikstag had developed into a very active Parliament, and this tradition continued into the nineteenth century, laying the basis for the transition towards modern democracy at the end of that century.<ref>{{cite book|author=Baten, Jörg |title=A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present.|date=2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=22|isbn=9781107507180}}</ref>

In 1866 Sweden became a constitutional monarchy with a [[bicameral]] parliament, with the First Chamber indirectly elected by local governments, and the Second Chamber directly elected in national elections every four years. In 1971 the parliament became unicameral. Legislative power was (symbolically) shared between the King and the Riksdag until 1975. Swedish taxation is controlled by the Riksdag.
[[File:Riksdagen September 2014 02.jpg|thumb|The Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament in 2014]]
Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements" (''Folkrörelser''), the most notable being trade unions, the independent Christian movement, the temperance movement, the [[women's movement]], and the [[Pirate Party (Sweden)|intellectual property pirate]] movements. Sweden was the first country in the world to outlaw [[corporal punishment]] of children by their parents (parents' right to spank their own children was first removed in 1966, and it was explicitly prohibited by law from July 1979<ref name="Durrant 1996">{{cite book |last=Durrant |first=Joan E. |editor1=Frehsee, Detlev |display-editors=etal|title=Family Violence Against Children: A Challenge for Society |date=1996 |location=Berlin |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-014996-8 |page=20 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8IyJkWAAXjkC&q=%22swedish+ban+on+corporal+punishment%22 |chapter=The Swedish Ban on Corporal Punishment: Its History and Effects}}</ref>).

Sweden is currently leading the EU in statistics measuring [[equality of opportunity|equality]] in the political system and equality in the education system.<ref name=EUEqualityReport>{{cite web|publisher=[[European Commission]] |work=[[Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion]] |title=Report On The Equality Between Men And Women |url=http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf |date=February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817175053/http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2007}}</ref> The ''Global Gender Gap Report 2006'' ranked Sweden as the number one country in terms of [[gender equality]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?lang=6&id=6605 |title=Nordic countries rank highest in gender equality |publisher=Norden.org |access-date=6 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821110128/http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?id=6605&lang=6 |archive-date=21 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Some Swedish political figures have become known worldwide, among these are: Raoul Wallenberg, [[Folke Bernadotte]], the former [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary-General]] of the United Nations [[Dag Hammarskjöld]], the former Prime Minister [[Olof Palme]], the former Prime Minister and later [[Foreign minister]] [[Carl Bildt]], the former President of the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly of the United Nations]] [[Jan Eliasson]], and the former [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] Iraq inspector [[Hans Blix]].

=== Judicial system ===
{{Main|Judiciary of Sweden}}
The courts are divided into two parallel and separate systems: The general courts ({{lang|sv|allmänna domstolar}}) for criminal and civil cases, and general administrative courts ({{lang|sv|allmänna förvaltningsdomstolar}}) for cases relating to disputes between private persons and the authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dom.se/templates/DV_InfoPage____2317.aspx |publisher=[[Swedish National Courts Administration]] |title=The Swedish courts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209002918/http://www.dom.se/templates/DV_InfoPage____2317.aspx |archive-date=9 February 2009|date=10 March 2005 }}</ref> Each of these systems has three tiers, where the top tier court of the respective system typically only will hear cases that may become [[precedent]]. There are also a number of special courts, which will hear a narrower set of cases, as set down by legislation. While independent in their rulings, some of these courts are operated as divisions within courts of the general or general administrative courts.

[[File:Hogsta domstolen Stockholm.jpg|thumb|[[Bonde Palace]] in Stockholm, seat of the [[Supreme Court of Sweden]]]]
The [[Supreme Court of Sweden]] ({{lang-sv|Högsta domstolen}}) is the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. Before a case can be decided by the Supreme Court, leave to appeal must be obtained, and with few exceptions, leave to appeal can be granted only when the case is of interest as a precedent. The Supreme Court consists of 16 Justices ({{lang-sv|justitieråd}}), appointed by the Government, but the court as an institution is independent of the Riksdag, and the Government is not able to interfere with the decisions of the court.

According to a victimisation survey of 1,201 residents in 2005, Sweden has above-average [[crime rate]]s compared to other EU countries. Sweden has high or above-average levels of assaults, sexual assaults, hate crimes, and consumer fraud. Sweden has low levels of burglary, car theft and drug problems. Bribe seeking is rare.<ref name="burdenofcrime2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf |title=EUICS report, The Burden of Crime in the EU, A Comparative Analysis of the |last=van Dijk |first=Jan |author2=Robert Manchin |author3=John van Kesteren |author4=Sami Nevala |author5=Gergely Hideg |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428050421/http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2008}}</ref>

A mid-November 2013 news report announced that four prisons in Sweden were closed during the year due to a significant drop in the number of inmates. The decrease in the number of Swedish prisoners was considered "out-of-the-ordinary" by the head of Sweden's prison and probation services, with prison numbers in Sweden falling by around 1% a year since 2004. Prisons were closed in the towns of Åby, Håja, Båtshagen, and Kristianstad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden closes four prisons as number of inmates plummets|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets|access-date=15 November 2013|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 November 2013|last=Orange|first=Richard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115000627/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets|archive-date=15 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Sweden}}
[[File:European-parliament-brussels-inside.JPG|thumb|The EU parliament in Brussels. Sweden is a member state of the European Union.]]

Throughout the 20th century, [[Swedish foreign policy]] was based on the principle of non-alignment in peacetime and [[neutral country|neutrality]] in wartime. Sweden's government pursued an independent course of nonalignment in times of peace so that neutrality would be possible in the event of war.<ref name="NB335-339" />

Sweden's doctrine of neutrality is often traced back to the 19th century as the country has not been in a [[war|state of war]] since the end of the [[Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)|Swedish campaign against Norway]] in 1814. During World War II Sweden joined neither the [[Allies of World War II|allied]] nor [[Axis powers|axis]] powers. This has sometimes been disputed since in effect Sweden allowed in select cases the Nazi regime to use its railroad system to transport troops and goods,<ref name="Koblik303-313" /><ref name="NB313-319" /> especially iron ore from mines in northern Sweden, which was vital to the German war machine.<ref name="NB313-319" /><ref>Nordstrom p. 302: "In fact, the plans were mostly a ruse to establish control of the crucial Norwegian port of Narvik and the iron mines of northern Sweden, which were vitally important to the German war efforts."</ref> However, Sweden also indirectly contributed to the defence of Finland in the Winter War, and permitted the training of Norwegian and Danish troops in Sweden after 1943.

[[File:ODA percent of GNI 2009.png|thumb|left|[[Official development assistance|Development aid]] measured in [[Gross national income|GNI]] in 2009. Source: OECD. As a percentage Sweden is the largest donor.]]

During the early [[Cold War]] era, Sweden combined its policy of non-alignment and a low profile in international affairs with a [[security policy]] based on strong [[National security|national defence]].<ref>As context, according to [[Edwin Reischauer]], "To be neutral you must be ready to be highly militarized, like Switzerland or Sweden." – ''see'' {{cite news |last=Chapin |first=Emerson |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DC163AF931A3575AC0A966958260&scp=1&sq=edwin+o+reischauer&st=nyt |title=Edwin Reischauer, Diplomat and Scholar, Dies at 79 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 September 1990 |access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref> The function of the Swedish military was to deter attack.<ref>Nordstrom, p 336: "As a corollary, a security policy based on strong national defences designed to discourage, but not prevent, attack was pursued. For the next several decades, the Swedish poured an annual average of about 5% of GDP into making their defenses credible."</ref> At the same time, the country maintained relatively close informal connections with the Western bloc, especially in the realm of intelligence exchange. In 1952, a Swedish [[DC-3]] was [[Catalina affair|shot down]] over the Baltic Sea by a Soviet [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15]] [[jet aircraft|jet]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]]. Later investigations revealed that the plane was actually gathering information for NATO.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cold War Spy Plane Found in Baltic Sea|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1010_031010_swedishspyplane.html|publisher=[[National Geographic News]]|access-date=10 June 2013|date=10 October 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329214137/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1010_031010_swedishspyplane.html|archive-date=29 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Another plane, a [[PBY Catalina|Catalina]] [[search and rescue]] plane, was sent out a few days later and shot down by the Soviets as well. Prime Minister Olof Palme made an official visit to [[Cuba]] during the 1970s, during which he denounced [[Fulgencio Batista]]'s government and praised contemporary [[26 July Movement|Cuban]] and [[Khmer Rouge|Cambodian]] revolutionaries in a speech.

Beginning in the late 1960s, Sweden attempted to play a more significant and independent role in international relations. It involved itself significantly in international peace efforts, especially through the United Nations, and in support to the [[Third World]].

On 27 October 1981, a [[Whiskey-class submarine]] ([[Soviet submarine S-363|''U 137'']]) from the [[Soviet Union]] ran aground close to the [[Karlskrona naval base|naval base]] at [[Karlskrona]] in the southern part of the country. Research has never clearly established whether the submarine ended up on the shoals through a navigational mistake or if an enemy committed espionage against Swedish military potential. The incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Sweden and the Soviet Union. Following the [[Assassination of Olof Palme|1986 assassination of Olof Palme]] and with the end of the Cold War, Sweden has adopted a more traditional foreign policy approach. Nevertheless, the country remains active in peace keeping missions and maintains a considerable foreign aid budget.

Since 1995 Sweden has been a member of the European Union, and as a consequence of a new world security situation the country's foreign policy doctrine has been partly modified, with Sweden playing a more active role in European security co-operation.

=== Military ===
{{Main|Swedish Armed Forces|Law enforcement in Sweden}}
[[File:Swedish JAS-39 Gripen landing.jpg|thumb|The Saab [[JAS 39 Gripen]] is an advanced Swedish multi-role [[fighter aircraft]] of the [[Swedish Air Force]].]]
The [[Law enforcement in Sweden|law is enforced in Sweden]] by several government entities. The Swedish police is a [[Government agencies in Sweden|Government agency]] concerned with police matters. The [[National Task Force]] is a national [[SWAT]] unit within the police force. The [[Swedish Security Service]]'s responsibilities are [[counter-espionage]], anti-terrorist activities, protection of the constitution and protection of sensitive objects and people.

The ''Försvarsmakten'' (Swedish Armed Forces) are a government agency reporting to the Swedish [[Ministry of Defence (Sweden)|Ministry of Defence]] and responsible for the [[peacetime]] operation of the armed forces of Sweden. The primary task of the agency is to train and deploy peacekeeping forces abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to refocus on the defence of Sweden in the event of war. The armed forces are divided into [[Swedish Army|Army]], [[Swedish Air Force|Air Force]] and [[Swedish Navy|Navy]]. The head of the armed forces is the [[Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces|Supreme Commander]] (''Överbefälhavaren'', ÖB), the most senior commissioned officer in the country. Up to 1974, the King was ''pro forma'' [[Commander in chief#Sweden|Commander-in-Chief]], but in reality it was clearly understood through the 20th century that the monarch would have no ''active'' role as a military leader.

[[File:Stridsfordon 90 Revinge 2012-2.jpg|thumb|The Infantry fighting vehicle [[Combat Vehicle 90|CV90]], which is produced and used by Sweden]]
Until the end of the Cold War, nearly all males reaching the age of [[military service]] were [[conscription|conscripted]]. In recent years, the number of conscripted males has shrunk dramatically, while the number of female volunteers has increased slightly. Recruitment has generally shifted towards finding the most motivated recruits, rather than solely focusing on those otherwise most fit for service. By law, all soldiers serving abroad must be volunteers. In 1975, the total number of conscripts was 45,000. By 2003, it was down to 15,000.

On 1 July 2010, Sweden ended routine conscription, switching to an all-volunteer force unless otherwise required for defence readiness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Rekrytering/Varnplikt/ |publisher=[[Swedish Armed Forces]] |title=Värnplikt |trans-title=Conscription |access-date=21 April 2010 |language=sv }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |title=Allmänna värnplikten skrotas |trans-title=General conscription scrapped |access-date=21 April 2010 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426203557/http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 |archive-date=26 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |title=Military conscription phase out under fire |access-date=21 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122021708/http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ |archive-date=22 January 2010}}</ref> Emphasis was to be placed on only recruiting those later prepared to volunteer for international service. The total forces gathered would consist of about 60,000 personnel. This in comparison with the 1980s, before the fall of the Soviet Union, when Sweden could gather up to 1,000,000 servicemembers.

However, on 11 December 2014, due to tensions in the Baltic area, the [[Swedish Government]] reintroduced one part of the [[Conscription in Sweden|Swedish conscription system]], [[Refresher training (military)|refresher training]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/repetitionsutbildning/fragor-och-svar-om-repetitionsutbildning/|title=Frågor och svar om repetitionsutbildning|last=Försvarsmakten|website=Försvarsmakten|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101191751/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/repetitionsutbildning/fragor-och-svar-om-repetitionsutbildning/|archive-date=1 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2 March 2017, the government decided to reintroduce the remaining part of the Swedish conscription system, basic military training. The first recruits began their training in 2018. As the law is now gender neutral, both men and women may have to serve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2017/03/regeringen-ateraktiverar-monstring-och-grundutbildning-med-varnplikt/|title=Regeringen återaktiverar mönstring och grundutbildning med värnplikt|first=Regeringen och|last=Regeringskansliet|date=2 March 2017|website=Regeringskansliet|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113222119/http://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2017/03/regeringen-ateraktiverar-monstring-och-grundutbildning-med-varnplikt/|archive-date=13 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden decided not to sign the UN treaty on the [[Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons|Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sweden declines to sign UN nuclear ban treaty |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190712/sweden-declines-to-sign-un-nuclear-treaty |work=The Local |date=12 July 2019}}</ref>

Swedish units have taken part in peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Chad.

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Sweden}}
[[File:Sweden GRP per Capita (2014).png|thumb|upright|[[Gross regional product]] (GRP) per capita in thousands of kronor (2014)]]
[[File:Sweden Product Exports (2019).svg|thumb|right|A proportional representation of Sweden exports, 2019]]
Sweden is the sixteenth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita and a high standard of living is experienced by its citizens. Sweden is an export-oriented [[mixed economy]]. Timber, [[hydropower]] and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy with a heavy emphasis on [[foreign trade]]. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports, while telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. Sweden is the ninth-largest [[arms industry|arms exporter in the world]]. Agriculture accounts for 2% of GDP and employment. The country ranks among the highest for telephone and Internet access penetration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |work=[[The World Factbook]] |title=EUROPE :: SWEDEN |access-date=16 February 2016 }}</ref>

Trade unions, employers' associations and collective agreements cover a large share of the employees in Sweden.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2019) [https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/en/publications/kollektivavtalens-tackningsgrad-samt-organisationsgraden-hos-arbetsgivarfoerbund-och-fackfoerbund(384bb031-c144-442b-a02b-44099819d605).html ''Kollektivavtalens täckningsgrad samt organisationsgraden hos arbetsgivarförbund och fackförbund''], Department of Sociology, Lund University. Studies in Social Policy, Industrial Relations, Working Life and Mobility. Research Reports 2019:1, Appendix 3 (in English) Tables A-G (in English)</ref><ref>Anders Kjellberg (2019) [https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/sv/publications/sweden-collective-bargaining-under-the-industry-norm(11510a6d-057c-4a81-b69b-a82670685caa).html "Sweden: collective bargaining under the industry norm"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725151859/https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/sv/publications/sweden-collective-bargaining-under-the-industry-norm(11510a6d-057c-4a81-b69b-a82670685caa).html |date=25 July 2019 }}, in Torsten Müller & Kurt Vandaele & Jeremy Waddington (eds.) ''Collective bargaining in Europe: towards an endgame'', European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) Brussels 2019. Vol. III (pp. 583-604)</ref> The high coverage of collective agreements is achieved despite the absence of state mechanisms extending collective agreements to whole industries or sectors. Both the prominent role of collective bargaining and the way in which the high rate of coverage is achieved reflect the dominance of self-regulation (regulation by the labour market parties themselves) over state regulation in Swedish industrial relations.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2017) [https://web.archive.org/web/20170418083350/http://portal.research.lu.se/ws/files/23904978/Kjellberg_FSNumhauserHenning_Self_Regulation_State_Regulation.pdf "Self-regulation versus State Regulation in Swedish Industrial Relations"] In Mia Rönnmar and Jenny Julén Votinius (eds.) ''Festskrift till Ann Numhauser-Henning''. Lund: Juristförlaget i Lund 2017, pp. 357–383</ref> When the Swedish [[Ghent system]] was changed in 2007, resulting in considerably raised fees to unemployment funds, a substantial decline in union density and density of unemployment funds occurred.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2011) [http://portal.research.lu.se/portal/files/3462138/2064087.pdf "The Decline in Swedish Union Density since 2007"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312071120/http://portal.research.lu.se/portal/files/3462138/2064087.pdf |date=12 March 2017 }} ''Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies'' (NJWLS) Vol. 1. No 1 (August 2011), pp. 67–93</ref><ref>Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen (2016) [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf "Attacks on union organizing: Reversible and irreversible changes to the Ghent-systems in Sweden and Denmark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf |date=9 March 2017 }} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp.279–302)</ref>

[[File:2018 Volvo XC90 Inscription D5 PowerPulse AWD 2.0.jpg|thumb|right|Sweden is home to [[Volvo Cars]], an automobile company with its headquarters in [[Gothenburg]]]]

In 2010 Sweden's income [[Gini coefficient]] was the third lowest among developed countries, at 0.25—slightly higher than Japan and Denmark—suggesting [[Income inequality in Sweden|Sweden had low income inequality]]. However, Sweden's wealth Gini coefficient at 0.853 was the second highest in developed countries, and above European and North American averages, suggesting high wealth inequality.<ref name=hdr2010>{{cite web|title=The Real Wealth of Nations: Pathways to Human Development (2010 Human Development Report – see Human Development Statistical Tables)|pages=152–156|publisher=[[United Nations Development Program]]|year=2011|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/|access-date=4 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716143706/http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=cs2010>{{cite web|title=Global Wealth Databook |publisher=[[Credit Suisse]] (using Statistics Sweden data) |year=2010 |pages=14–15, 83–86 |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/doc/credit_suisse_global_wealth_databook.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023001729/https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/doc/credit_suisse_global_wealth_databook.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> Even on a disposable income basis, the geographical distribution of Gini coefficient of income inequality varies within different regions and municipalities of Sweden. [[Danderyd Municipality|Danderyd]], outside Stockholm, has Sweden's highest Gini coefficient of income inequality, at 0.55, while [[Hofors Municipality|Hofors]] near Gävle has the lowest at 0.25. In and around Stockholm and Scania, two of the more densely populated regions of Sweden, the income Gini coefficient is between 0.35 and 0.55.<ref>{{cite book|title=Do unequal societies cause death and disease?|author1=Edvinsson, Sören |author2=Malmberg, Gunnar |author3=Häggström Lundevaller, Erling |name-list-style=amp |year=2011|publisher=[[Umeå University]] |url=http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-51702}}</ref>

In terms of structure, the Swedish economy is characterised by a large, knowledge-intensive and export-oriented manufacturing sector; an increasing, but comparatively small, business [[service sector]]; and by international standards, a large public service sector. Large organisations, both in manufacturing and services, dominate the [[Swedish economy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004050916/http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |archive-date=4 October 2006 |title=Doing Business Abroad – Innovation, Science and Technology |publisher=Infoexport.gc.ca |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> High and medium-high technology manufacturing accounts for 9.9% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/innovation/high-medium-high-technology-manufacturing.aspx |title=High- and medium-high-technology manufacturing |publisher=Conferenceboard.ca |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923032054/http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/innovation/high-medium-high-technology-manufacturing.aspx |archive-date=23 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 20 largest (by turnover) registered Swedish companies in 2007 were [[Volvo]], [[Ericsson]], [[Vattenfall]], [[Skanska]], [[Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB]], [[Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget]], [[Electrolux]], [[Volvo Personvagnar]], [[TeliaSonera]], [[Sandvik]], [[Scania AB|Scania]], [[ICA AB|ICA]], [[Hennes & Mauritz]], [[IKEA]], [[Nordea]], [[Preem]], [[Atlas Copco]], [[Securitas AB|Securitas]], [[Nordstjernan]] and [[SKF]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.largestcompanies.com/default$/lev2-TopList/lev2Desc-The_largest_companies_in_the_Nordic_countries_by%A0turnover%A0%28excl._national_subsidiaries%29/AdPageId-102/list-2/cc-SE/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120628210238/http://www.largestcompanies.com/default$/lev2-TopList/lev2Desc-The_largest_companies_in_the_Nordic_countries_by%A0turnover%A0(excl._national_subsidiaries)/AdPageId-102/list-2/cc-SE/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2012 |title=20 largest companies in Sweden |publisher=Largestcompanies.com |date=6 October 2009 |access-date=25 August 2010 }}</ref> The vast majority of Sweden's industry is [[private sector|privately]] controlled, unlike many other industrialised Western countries, and, in accordance with a historical standard, publicly owned enterprises are of minor importance.

[[File:Sw real gdp growth.svg|thumb|left|Real GDP growth in Sweden, 1996–2006]]

An estimated 4.5 million Swedish residents are employed and around a third of the workforce completed tertiary education. In terms of GDP per-hour-worked, Sweden was the world's ninth highest in 2006 at US$31, compared to US$22 in Spain and US$35 in the United States.<ref name="oecd2007" /> GDP per-hour-worked is growing 2.5% per year for the economy as a whole and the trade-terms-balanced productivity growth is 2%.<ref name="oecd2007" /> According to the OECD, deregulation, globalisation, and technology sector growth have been key productivity drivers.<ref name="oecd2007" /> Sweden is a world leader in privatised pensions and pension funding problems are relatively small compared to many other Western European countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/Research/SocialSecurity/bg1381.cfm|title=Pension Reform in Sweden: Lessons for American Policymakers|work=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=17 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113085905/http://www.heritage.org/Research/SocialSecurity/bg1381.cfm|archive-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> A pilot program to test the feasibility of a six-hour workday, without loss of pay, will commence in 2014, involving the participation of Gothenburg municipal staff. The Swedish government is seeking to reduce its costs through decreased sick leave hours and increased efficiency.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swedes to give six-hour workday a go|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20140408/swedish-workers-to-test-six-hour-work-days|first=Oliver|last=Gee|access-date=9 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Local]]|date=8 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409200149/http://www.thelocal.se/20140408/swedish-workers-to-test-six-hour-work-days|archive-date=9 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Euro accession.svg|thumb|Sweden is part of the [[Schengen Area]] and the EU single market.]]
The typical worker receives 40% of his or her labour costs after the [[tax wedge]]. Total tax collected by Sweden as a percentage of its GDP peaked at 52.3% in 1990.<ref name=oecdtax11 /> The country faced a real estate and banking crisis in 1990–1991, and consequently passed tax reforms in 1991 to implement tax rate cuts and tax base broadening over time.<ref name="AgellEnglund">{{cite journal|title=Tax reform of the Century – the Swedish Experiment|author1=Agell, Jonas|author2=Englund, Peter|author3=Södersten, Jan|name-list-style=amp|journal=National Tax Journal|volume=49|date=December 1996|pages=643–664|url=http://ntj.tax.org/wwtax/ntjrec.nsf/0/c7b05cd84d78235e85256863004b1f50/$file/v49n4643.pdf|issue=4|doi=10.1086/NTJ41789232|s2cid=232211459|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127123312/http://ntj.tax.org/wwtax/ntjrec.nsf/0/c7b05cd84d78235e85256863004b1f50/$file/v49n4643.pdf|archive-date=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="RiksbankHeikensten">{{cite web |url=http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Press-och-publicerat/Tal/1998/Financial-Crisis----Experiences-from-Sweden/ |title=Financial Crisis – Experiences from Sweden, Lars Heikensten (1998) |publisher=[[Sveriges Riksbank]] |date=15 July 1998 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202160149/http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Press-och-publicerat/Tal/1998/Financial-Crisis----Experiences-from-Sweden/ |archive-date=2 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1990, taxes as a percentage of GDP collected by Sweden have been dropping, with total tax rates for the highest income earners dropping the most.<ref name="BengtssonHolmlund">{{cite journal|title=Lifetime Versus Annual Tax Progressivity: Sweden, 1968–2009|author1=Bengtsson, Niklas |author2=Holmlund, Bertil |author3=Waldenström, Daniel |name-list-style=amp |date=June 2012|publisher=[[Uppsala University]] |ssrn=2098702}}</ref> In 2010 45.8% of the country's GDP was collected as taxes, the second highest among OECD countries, and nearly double the percentage in the US or South Korea.<ref name=oecdtax11>{{cite web|title=Revenue Statistics – Comparative tables|publisher=OECD, Europe|year=2011|url=http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=21699|access-date=13 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918223747/http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=21699|archive-date=18 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Tax income-financed employment represents a third of the Swedish workforce, a substantially higher proportion than in most other countries. Overall, GDP growth has been fast since reforms—especially those in manufacturing—were enacted in the early 1990s.<ref name="oecd2005">OECD Economic Surveys: Sweden – Volume 2005 Issue 9 by OECD Publishing</ref>
[[File:Nordstan Öst.JPG|thumb|left|[[Nordstan]] is one of the largest shopping malls in northern Europe]]
Sweden is the fourth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the [[World Economic Forum]] in its ''[[Global Competitiveness Report]] 2012–2013''.<ref name="wefcomp">{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210040419/http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |archive-date=10 December 2014 }}</ref> Sweden is the top performing country in the 2014 ''Global Green Economy Index (GGEI)''.<ref name="ggei">{{cite web |url=http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |title=2014 Global Green Economy Index |publisher=Dual Citizen LLC |date=19 October 2014 |access-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028201432/http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden is ranked fourth in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013.<ref name="imd">{{cite web |url=http://www.imd.org/wcc/news-wcy-ranking/ |title=IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013 |publisher=Imd.ch |date=30 May 2013 |access-date=9 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609063421/http://www.imd.org/wcc/news-wcy-ranking/ |archive-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the book ''The Flight of the Creative Class'' by the US economist Professor [[Richard Florida]] of the [[University of Toronto]], Sweden is ranked as having the best creativity in Europe for business and is predicted to become a talent magnet for the world's most purposeful workers. The book compiled an index to measure the kind of creativity it claims is most useful to business—talent, technology and tolerance.<ref>"{{cite web|url=http://www.isa.se/templates/News____59355.aspx |url-status=dead|title=Sweden most creative country in Europe & top talent hotspot |access-date=11 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070521053538/http://www.isa.se/templates/News____59355.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2007 }}, [[Invest in Sweden Agency]], 25 June 2005. Retrieved from Internet Archive 13 January 2014.</ref>

Sweden maintains its own currency, the [[Swedish krona]] (SEK), a result of the Swedes having rejected the [[euro]] in a referendum. The Swedish [[Sveriges Riksbank|Riksbank]]—founded in 1668 and thus the oldest central bank in the world—is currently focusing on price stability with an inflation target of 2%. According to the ''Economic Survey of Sweden 2007'' by the OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s, largely because of deregulation and quick utilisation of globalisation.<ref name="oecd2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0,3343,en_2649_34569_38048997_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=Economic survey of Sweden 2007 |publisher=Oecd.org |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426123744/http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0%2C3343%2Cen_2649_34569_38048997_1_1_1_1%2C00.html |archive-date=26 April 2011 }}</ref>

The largest trade flows are with Germany, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Finland.

Financial deregulation in the 1980s impacted adversely on the property market, leading to a bubble and eventually a crash in the early 1990s. Commercial property prices fell by up to two thirds, resulting in two Swedish banks having to be taken over by the government. In the following two decades the property sector strengthened. By 2014, legislators, economists and the IMF were again warning of a bubble with residential property prices soaring and the level of personal mortgage debt expanding. Household debt-to-income rose above 170% as the IMF was calling on legislators to consider zoning reform and other means of generating a greater supply of housing as demand was outstripping what was available, pushing prices higher. By August 2014, 40% of home borrowers had interest-only loans while those that didn't were repaying principal at a rate that would take 100 years to fully repay.<ref name="SwedenProperty">{{cite news|title=Sweden facing possible property bubble warns IMF|url=http://www.swedennews.net/index.php/sid/225058369|date=24 August 2014|access-date=26 August 2014|publisher=Sweden News.Net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827112345/http://www.swedennews.net/index.php/sid/225058369|archive-date=27 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Energy ===
{{See also|Energy in Sweden|Electricity in Sweden|Nordic energy market|Nuclear power in Sweden}}

[[File:Ringhals.JPG|thumb|[[Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant]], located south of [[Gothenburg]]]]
Sweden's energy market is largely privatised. The [[Nordic energy market]] is one of the first liberalised energy markets in Europe and it is traded in [[NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe]] and [[Nord Pool Spot]]. In 2006, out of a total electricity production of 139 [[TWh]], electricity from hydropower accounted for 61 TWh (44%), and [[nuclear power]] delivered 65 TWh (47%). At the same time, the use of [[biofuel]]s, [[peat]] etc. produced 13 TWh (9%) of electricity, while wind power produced 1 TWh (1%). Sweden was a net importer of electricity by a margin of 6 TWh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svenskenergi.se/upload/Statistik/Tidigare%20statistik/Kraftl%C3%A4get%20i%20%C3%A5r/ve_07-01.pdf |title=Kraftläget i Sverige, Vattensituationen |access-date=19 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080216021232/http://www.svenskenergi.se/upload/Statistik/Tidigare%20statistik/Kraftl%C3%A4get%20i%20%C3%A5r/ve_07-01.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2008 }}</ref> [[Biomass]] is mainly used to produce heat for [[district heating]] and [[central heating]] and industry processes.

The [[1973 oil crisis]] strengthened Sweden's commitment to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels. Since then, electricity has been generated mostly from hydropower and nuclear power. The use of nuclear power has been limited, however. Among other things, the accident of [[Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station]] (United States) prompted the Riksdag to ban new nuclear plants. In March 2005, an opinion poll showed that 83% supported maintaining or increasing nuclear power.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |title=Nuclear Power in Sweden |publisher=[[World Nuclear Association]] |date=September 2009 |access-date=29 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213132916/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |archive-date=13 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Politicians have made announcements about oil phase-out in Sweden, decrease of nuclear power, and multibillion-dollar investments in [[renewable energy]] and energy efficiency.<ref name="Agenda21" /><ref name="Vidal">{{cite news|last=Vidal |first=John |url=https://www.theguardian.com/oil/story/0,,1704954,00.html |title=Sweden plans to be world's first oil-free economy |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=13 March 2013 |location=London}}</ref> The country has for many years pursued a strategy of indirect taxation as an instrument of [[environmental policy]], including [[energy tax]]es in general and [[carbon dioxide]] taxes in particular.<ref name="Agenda21">{{cite web |publisher=[[United Nations]] |url=https://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |work=[[Agenda 21]] |title=NATURAL RESOURCE ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SWEDEN |date=April 1997 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064226/http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden was in 2014 a net exporter of electricity by a margin of 16 TWh; the production from windpower mills had increased to 11.5 TWh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.svenskenergi.se/Global/Statistik/Aktuellt%20kraftl%C3%A4ge/Aktuellt-Kraftl%C3%A4ge-Sverige-veckorapport.pdf |publisher=Svenskenergi.se |title=Kraftläget i Sverige |trans-title=Power situation in Sweden |language=sv |access-date=2 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102043811/http://www.svenskenergi.se/Global/Statistik/Aktuellt%20kraftl%C3%A4ge/Aktuellt-Kraftl%C3%A4ge-Sverige-veckorapport.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Sweden}}
[[File:Öresundsbron i solnedgång 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Öresund Bridge]] between [[Malmö]] and [[Copenhagen]] in Denmark]]

Sweden has {{convert|162707|km|mi|abbr=on}} of paved road and {{convert|1428|km|mi|abbr=on}} of expressways. [[List of motorways in Sweden|Motorways]] run through Sweden and over the Øresund Bridge to Denmark. New motorways are still under construction and a new motorway from Uppsala to [[Gävle]] was finished on 17 October 2007. Sweden had left-hand traffic (Vänstertrafik in Swedish) from approximately 1736 and continued to do so well into the 20th century. Voters rejected right-hand traffic in 1955, but after the Riksdag passed legislation in 1963 changeover took place on 3 September 1967, known in Swedish as [[Dagen H]].

The [[Stockholm metro]] is the only underground system in Sweden and serves the city of Stockholm via 100 stations. The rail transport market is privatised, but while there are many privately owned enterprises, the largest operators are still owned by state. The counties have financing, ticket and marketing responsibility for local trains. For other trains the operators handle tickets and marketing themselves. Operators include [[SJ AB|SJ]], [[Veolia Transport]], [[DSB (railway company)|DSB]], [[Green Cargo]], [[Tågkompaniet]] and [[Inlandsbanan]]. Most of the railways are owned and operated by [[Trafikverket]].

[[File:Hall, Stockholm Central Station.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stockholm Central Station]]]]

Most tram nets were closed in 1967, as Sweden changed from left-side to right-side driving. But they survived in [[Norrköping]], Stockholm and Gothenburg, with [[Gothenburg tram network]] being the largest. [[Lund tramway|A new tram line opened]] in [[Lund]] on 13 December 2020.

The largest airports include [[Stockholm–Arlanda Airport]] (16.1 million passengers in 2009) {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Stockholm, [[Göteborg Landvetter Airport]] (4.3 million passengers in 2008), and [[Stockholm–Skavsta Airport]] (2.0 million passengers). Sweden hosts the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, [[Port of Gothenburg|Port of Göteborg AB]] (Gothenburg) and the transnational company [[Copenhagen Malmö Port|Copenhagen Malmö Port AB]]. The most used airport for a large part of Southern Sweden is [[Copenhagen Airport|Kastrup or Copenhagen Airport]] which is located only 12 minutes by train from the closest Swedish railway station, [[Hyllie railway station|Hyllie]]. Copenhagen Airport also is the largest ''international'' airport in Scandinavia and Finland.

Sweden also has a number of car ferry connections to several neighbouring countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/baltic-sea/|title=Ferry to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Baltic, Russia, Germany.|last=Kowalski|first=Oliver|website=www.ferrylines.com|access-date=28 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816025904/http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/baltic-sea|archive-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> This includes a route from [[Umeå]] across [[Kvarken|the Gulf of Bothnia]] to [[Vaasa]] in Finland. There are several connections from the Stockholm area across the [[Sea of Åland]] to [[Mariehamn]] in the [[Åland Islands]] as well as [[Turku]] and [[Helsinki]] on the Finnish mainland and beyond to Estonia and [[Saint Petersburg|St Petersburg]] in Russia. Ferry routes from the Stockholm area also connect with [[Ventspils]] and [[Riga]] in Latvia as well as [[Gdańsk]] in Poland across the Baltic Sea. The ferry ports of [[Karlskrona]] and [[Karlshamn]] in southeastern Sweden serve [[Gdynia]], Poland, and [[Klaipėda|Klaipeda]], Lithuania. Ystad and Trelleborg near the southern tip of Sweden have ferry links with the Danish island of [[Bornholm]] and the German ports of [[Sassnitz]], [[Rostock]] and [[Travemünde]], respectively, and ferries run to [[Świnoujście]], Poland, from both of them. Trelleborg is the busiest ferry port in Sweden in terms of weight transported by lorry.<ref>John Bitton and Nils-Åke Svensson, "Øresund sett från himlen" (Oresund seen from the sky), 2005, {{ISBN|918530510-3}}, page 38</ref> Its route to Sassnitz started as a steam-operated railway ferry in the 19th century, and today's ferry still carries trains to [[Berlin]] during the summer months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snalltaget.se/om-oss/destinationer/berlin|title=Tåg till Berlin – Berlin Night Express – Nattåg till Berlin InterRail – Snälltåget|publisher=Snälltåget.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081052/http://www.snalltaget.se/om-oss/destinationer/berlin|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another ferry route to Travemünde originates from [[Malmö]]. Despite the opening of the fixed link to Denmark, the [[Øresund Bridge]], the busiest ferry route remains the short link across the narrowest section of the [[Øresund]] between [[Helsingborg]] and the Danish port of [[Helsingør]], known as the [[HH Ferry route]]. There are over seventy departures a day each way; during peak times, a ferry departs every fifteen minutes.<ref>At {{cite web|url=http://www.scandlines.se/tider-och-priser/tidtabell.aspx |title=Tidtabell |access-date=12 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224165755/http://www.scandlines.se/tider-och-priser/tidtabell.aspx |archive-date=24 December 2016 }} please press "Tidtabell 2 jan – 31 maj 2015" (Time table 2. January to 31. May 2015) for PDF download</ref> Ports higher up the Swedish west coast include [[Varberg]], with a ferry connection across the [[Kattegat]] to [[Grenaa]] in Denmark, and Göteborg, serving [[Frederikshavn]] at the northern tip of Denmark and [[Kiel]] in Germany. Finally, there are ferries from [[Strömstad]] near the Norwegian border to destinations around the [[Oslofjord]] in Norway. There used to be ferry services to the [[United Kingdom]] from Göteborg to destinations such as Immingham, Harwich and Newcastle, but these have been discontinued.

Sweden has two domestic ferry lines with large vessels, both connecting Gotland with the mainland. The lines leave from Visby harbour on the island, and the ferries sail to either [[Oskarshamn]] or Nynäshamn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destinationgotland.se/Farja/|title=Boka båtbiljetter till och från Gotland|work=destinationgotland.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093055/http://www.destinationgotland.se/Farja/|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> A smaller car ferry connects the island of [[Ven (Sweden)|Ven]] in Øresund with [[Landskrona]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ventrafiken.se/index.php/en/|title=Ventrafiken -Upplev sundets pärla|work=ventrafiken.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501190157/http://www.ventrafiken.se/index.php/en/|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Public policy ===
{{See also|Nordic model|Social welfare in Sweden}}
Sweden has one of the most highly developed welfare states in the world. According to a 2012 OECD report, the country had the second-highest public social spending as a percentage of its GDP after France (27.3% and 28.4%, respectively), and the third-highest total (public and private) social spending at 30.2% of its GDP, after France and [[Belgium]] (31.3% and 31.0%, respectively).<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Public Finance -> Social Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden spent 6.3% of its GDP, the 9th-highest among 34 OECD countries, to provide equal access to education.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Education -> Education Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> On health care, the country spent 10.0% of its total GDP, the 12th highest.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Health -> Health Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Historically, Sweden provided solid support for [[free trade]] (except agriculture) and mostly relatively strong and stable property rights (both private and public), though some economists have pointed out that Sweden promoted industries with tariffs and used publicly subsidised R&D during the country's early critical years of industrialisation.<ref name="H-J.C-Sweden">{{cite book |title=Kicking Away The Ladder |pages=39–42 |first=Ha-Joon |last=Chang}}</ref> After World War II a succession of governments expanded the welfare state by raising the taxes. During this period Sweden's economic growth was also one of the highest in the industrial world. A series of successive social reforms transformed the country into one of the most equal and developed on earth. The consistent growth of the welfare state led to Swedes achieving unprecedented levels of social mobility and quality of life—to this day Sweden consistently ranks at the top of league tables for health, literacy and Human Development—far ahead of some wealthier countries (for example the United States).<ref name="Equal Societies">{{cite web |url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/135-interim/$FILE/135%20-%20Submission%20-%20Childrens%20Hospitals%20Australasia%20(Attachment%20C).pdf |publisher=[[Department of Health (Australia)|Department of Health]] |title=The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better |first1=Richard |last1=Wilkinson |first2=Kate |last2=Pickett |date=8 March 2009 |access-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205120331/http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/135-interim/$FILE/135%20-%20Submission%20-%20Childrens%20Hospitals%20Australasia%20(Attachment%20C).pdf |archive-date=5 February 2016 }}</ref>

However, from the 1970s and onwards Sweden's GDP growth fell behind other industrialised countries and the country's per capita ranking fell from 4th to 14th place in a few decades.<ref name="eu-usa">[http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf EU versus USA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115141716/http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf |date=15 November 2016 }}, Fredrik Bergström & Robert Gidehag</ref> From the mid-1990s until today Sweden's economic growth has once again accelerated and has been higher than in most other industrialised countries (including the US) during the last 15 years.<ref name="growth-Swe">{{cite web|url=http://www.ekonomifakta.se/en/Facts-and-figures/Economy/Economic-growth/GDP-per-capita-/|title=Sweden's GDP per capita|date=16 September 2014|publisher=Ekonomifakta.se|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721130115/http://www.ekonomifakta.se/en/Facts-and-figures/Economy/Economic-growth/GDP-per-capita-/|archive-date=21 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A report from the [[United Nations Development Program]] predicted that Sweden's rating on the [[Human Development Index]] will fall from 0.949 in 2010 to 0.906 in 2030.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Asher|first1=Jana|author1-link=Jana Asher|last2=Osborne Daponte|first2=Beth|title=A Hypothetical Cohort Model of Human Development|journal=Human Development Research Paper|page=41|url=http://ww.rrojasdatabank.info/HDRP_2010_40.pdf|access-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219010417/http://ww.rrojasdatabank.info/HDRP_2010_40.pdf|archive-date=19 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sweden began slowing the expansion of the welfare state in the 1980s, and even trimming it back. Sweden has been relatively quick to adopt [[neoliberal]] policies, such as [[privatization]], [[financialization]] and [[deregulation]],<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Pierre|editor-first=Jon|date=2016|title=The Oxford Handbook of Swedish Politics (Oxford Handbooks)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDcICwAAQBAJ&pg=PA573|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|page=573|isbn=978-0199665679|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009201639/https://books.google.com/books?id=hDcICwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA573#v=onepage&q&f=false|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Springer |editor1-first=Simon |editor2-last=Birch |editor2-first=Kean |editor3-last=MacLeavy |editor3-first=Julie |date=2016 |title=The Handbook of Neoliberalism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M5qkDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA569 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |page=569 |isbn=978-1138844001 |access-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009201645/https://books.google.com/books?id=M5qkDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA569#v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> compared to countries such as France.<ref name="oecd2007" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/mginews/businessweek/swedenbalance.asp|title=Sweden's balancing lessons for Europe|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031224326/http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/mginews/businessweek/swedenbalance.asp|archive-date=31 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The current Swedish government is continuing the trend of moderate rollbacks of previous social reforms.<ref name="oecd2007" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9803876|title=Moderate revolution|work=[[The Economist]]|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104025637/http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9803876|archive-date=4 January 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Growth has been higher than in many other [[EU-15]] countries. Also since the mid-1980s, Sweden has had the fastest growth in inequality of any developed nation, according to the OECD. This has largely been attributed to the reduction in state benefits and a shift toward the privatisation of public services. According to Barbro Sorman, an activist of the opposition Left Party, "The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. Sweden is starting to look like the USA." Nevertheless, it remains far more egalitarian than most nations.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm|title=Swedish riots rage for fourth night|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=23 May 2013|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817040239/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm|archive-date=17 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Partly as a result of these privatisations and widening economic disparity, the Swedes in the 2014 elections put the Social Democrats back in power.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://time.com/3373946/sweden-parliament-election/ |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |title=Sweden Shifts to Left in Parliamentary Election |agency=Associated Press |date=14 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920215539/http://time.com/3373946/sweden-parliament-election/ |archive-date=20 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Igor |last=Bobic |date=13 September 2014 |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/13/sweden-austerity-election_n_5816010.html |title=Sweden's Turn Left Could Deal A Blow To European Austerity |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007050658/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/13/sweden-austerity-election_n_5816010.html |archive-date=7 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sweden adopted free market agricultural policies in 1990. Since the 1930s, the agricultural sector had been subject to price controls. In June 1990, the Riksdag voted for a new agricultural policy marking a significant shift away from price controls. As a result, [[food prices]] fell somewhat. However, the liberalisations soon became moot because EU agricultural controls supervened.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Econ Journal Watch]] |last=Lindberg |first=Henrik |title=The Role of Economists in Liberalising Swedish Agriculture |date=May 2007 |url=http://econjwatch.org/issues/volume-4-number-1-may-2007 |volume=4 |issue=2 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193526/http://econjwatch.org/issues/volume-4-number-1-may-2007 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the late 1960s, Sweden has had the highest tax quota (as percentage of GDP) in the industrialised world, although today the gap has narrowed and Denmark has surpassed Sweden as the most heavily taxed country among developed countries. Sweden has a two-step [[progressive tax]] scale with a municipal income tax of about 30% and an additional high-income state tax of 20–25% when a salary exceeds roughly 320,000 SEK per year. [[Payroll tax]]es amount to 32%. In addition, a national [[Value added tax|VAT]] of 25% is added to many things bought by private citizens, with the exception of food (12% VAT), transportation, and books (6% VAT). Certain items are subject to additional taxes, e.g. electricity, petrol/diesel and alcoholic beverages.

{{As of|2007|alt=In 2007}}, total tax revenue was 47.8% of GDP, the second-highest tax burden among developed countries, down from 49.1% 2006.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kenneth |last=Westerlund |title=Danmark har högsta skattetrycket |trans-title=Denmark has the highest tax burden |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |newspaper=[[Dagens Nyheter]] |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=11 March 2008 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214084943/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |archive-date=14 February 2009}}</ref> Sweden's inverted tax wedge – the amount going to the service worker's wallet – is approximately 15%, compared to 10% in Belgium, 30% in Ireland, and 50% in the United States.<ref name="eu-usa" /> Public sector spending amounts to 53% of the GDP. State and municipal employees total around a third of the workforce, much more than in most Western countries. Only Denmark has a larger public sector (38% of Danish workforce). Spending on transfers is also high.

In 2015 and 2016, 69 per cent of the employed workers is organised in trade unions. Union density in 2016 was 62% among blue-collar-workers (most of them in the [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation]], LO) and 75% among white-collar workers (most of them in the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, TCO, and the [[Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations]], SACO).<ref>Yearly averages excluding full-time students working part-time. See Anders Kjellberg [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21676527/Kollektivavtalst_ckning_samt_organisationsgrad_2017_LUP.pdf ''Kollektivavtalens täckningsgrad samt organisationsgraden hos arbetsgivarförbund och fackförbund''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312031300/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21676527/Kollektivavtalst_ckning_samt_organisationsgrad_2017_LUP.pdf |date=12 March 2017 }}, Department of Sociology, Lund University. Studies in Social Policy, Industrial Relations, Working Life and Mobility. Research Reports 2017:1, Appendix 3 (in English) Table A</ref> Sweden has state-supported union unemployment funds ([[Ghent system]]).<ref>Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf "Attacks on union organizing: Reversible and irreversible changes to the Ghent-systems in Sweden and Denmark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf |date=9 March 2017 }} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp.279–302)</ref> Trade unions have the right to elect two representatives to the board in all Swedish companies with more than 25 employees. Sweden has a relatively high amount of sick leave per worker in OECD: the average worker loses 24 days due to sickness.<ref name="oecd2005" />

The unemployment rate was 7.2% in May 2017 while the employment rate was 67.4%, with the workforce consisting of 4,983,000 people while 387,000 are unemployed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/labour-force-surveys/labour-force-surveys-lfs/pong/statistical-news/labour-force-surveys-lfs-may-2017/ |title=Continued increase in the number of employees in the municipal sector |work=Statistics Sweden |date=20 June 2017 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009190725/http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/labour-force-surveys/labour-force-surveys-lfs/pong/statistical-news/labour-force-surveys-lfs-may-2017/ |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/scb-72-procent-ar-arbetslosa |title=SCB: Arbetslösheten minskar i landet |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |agency=Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå |date=20 June 2017 |language=sv |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623040007/https://www.svd.se/scb-72-procent-ar-arbetslosa |archive-date=23 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unemployment among youth (aged 24 or younger) in 2012 was 24.2%, making Sweden the OECD country with the highest ratio of youth unemployment versus unemployment in general.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sweden: Highest ratio of youth unemployment|publisher=[[UNRIC|United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe]], Brussels|year=2012|url=http://www.unric.org/en/youth-unemployment/27411-sweden-highest-ratio-of-youth-unemployment|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202221352/http://www.unric.org/en/youth-unemployment/27411-sweden-highest-ratio-of-youth-unemployment|archive-date=2 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Science and technology ===
{{Main|Swedish inventions}}
[[File:AlfredNobel adjusted.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Alfred Nobel]], inventor of dynamite and institutor of the Nobel Prize]]

In the 18th century, Sweden's [[scientific revolution]] took off. Previously, technical progress had mainly come from mainland Europe.

In 1739, the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]] was founded, with people such as [[Carl Linnaeus]] and [[Anders Celsius]] as early members. Many of the companies founded by early pioneers still remain major international brands. [[Gustaf Dalén]] founded [[AGA AB|AGA]], and received the Nobel Prize for his [[sun valve]]. [[Alfred Nobel]] invented [[dynamite]] and instituted the Nobel Prizes. [[Lars Magnus Ericsson]] started the company bearing his name, Ericsson, still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. [[Jonas Wenström]] was an early pioneer in [[alternating current]] and is along with [[Serbia]]n-[[United States|American]] inventor [[Nikola Tesla]] credited as one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system.<ref name="si91e" />

The traditional engineering industry is still a major source of Swedish inventions, but pharmaceuticals, electronics and other high-tech industries are gaining ground. [[Tetra Pak]] was an invention for storing liquid foods, invented by [[Erik Wallenberg]]. [[Losec]], an ulcer medicine, was the world's best-selling drug in the 1990s and was developed by [[AstraZeneca]]. More recently [[Håkan Lans]] invented the [[Automatic Identification System]], a worldwide standard for shipping and civil aviation navigation. A large portion of the Swedish economy is to this day based on the export of technical inventions, and many large multinational corporations from Sweden have their origins in the ingenuity of Swedish inventors.<ref name="si91e">{{cite web|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Education/Research/Facts/Innovation/|title=Innovation, Science/Research: Inventing tomorrow's world|publisher=Sweden.se|access-date=27 January 2011|date=February 2010|work=Fact Sheet FS 4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104021652/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Education/Research/Facts/Innovation/|archive-date=4 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Swedish inventors held 47,112 patents in the United States {{as of|2014|alt=in 2014}}, according to the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]. As a nation, only ten other countries hold more patents than Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm |publisher=[[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] |title=Patents By Country, State, and Year – All Patent Types (December 2014) |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226160611/http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm |archive-date=26 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Combined, the public and the private sector in Sweden allocate over 3.5% of GDP to [[research & development]] (R&D) per year, making Sweden's investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP the second-highest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_res_and_dev_exp_of_gdp-economy-research-development-expenditure-gdp |title=% Of GDP > Research And Development Expenditure statistics – countries compared |publisher=NationMaster |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008062145/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_res_and_dev_exp_of_gdp-economy-research-development-expenditure-gdp |archive-date=8 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For several decades the [[Swedish government]] has prioritised scientific and R&D activities. As a percentage of GDP, the Swedish government spends the most of any nation on research and development.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gov_spe_in_res_and_dev-economy-government-spending-research-development |title=Government spending in research and development statistics – countries compared |publisher=NationMaster.com |date=1 April 2007 |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930043550/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gov_spe_in_res_and_dev-economy-government-spending-research-development |archive-date=30 September 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden tops other European countries in the number of published scientific works per capita.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |title=Embassy of Sweden New Delhi – Science & Technology |publisher=Swedenabroad.se |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916211008/http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |archive-date=16 September 2008 }}</ref>

In 2009, the decisions to construct Sweden's two largest scientific installations, the synchrotron radiation facility [[MAX IV|MAX IV Laboratory]] and the [[European Spallation Source]] (ESS), were taken.<ref>{{cite web|title=European Spallation Source|url=http://europeanspallationsource.se/|publisher=ESS AB|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517050510/http://europeanspallationsource.se/|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=MAX IV |url=https://www.maxlab.lu.se/maxiv |publisher=[[MAX-lab]] |access-date=16 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603131912/https://www.maxlab.lu.se/maxiv |archive-date=3 June 2013 }}</ref> Both installations will be built in [[Lund]]. The European Spallation Source, costing some SEK 14 billion to construct,<ref>{{cite web|title=MAX IV och ESS (in Swedish)|url=http://www.lu.se/forskning/starka-forskningsmiljoer/max-iv-och-ess|publisher=[[Lund University]]|access-date=16 October 2013|date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105020653/http://www.lu.se/forskning/starka-forskningsmiljoer/max-iv-och-ess|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> will begin initial operations in 2019 with construction completion scheduled for 2025. The ESS will give an approximately 30 times stronger neutron beam than any of today's existing neutron source installations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neutron scattering|url=http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2011/file_47455.pdf|publisher=[[Institute of Physics]]|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022104114/http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2011/file_47455.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The MAX IV, costing some SEK 3 billion, was inaugurated on 21 June 2016. Both facilities have strong implications on material research. Sweden was ranked 2nd in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2019 and 2020. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Release of the Global Innovation Index 2020: Who Will Finance Innovation?|url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2020/index.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=www.wipo.int|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Innovation Index 2019|url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2019/index.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=www.wipo.int|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=RTD - Item|url=https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/rtd/items/691898|access-date=2021-09-02|website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-10-28|title=Global Innovation Index|url=https://knowledge.insead.edu/entrepreneurship-innovation/global-innovation-index-2930|access-date=2021-09-02|website=INSEAD Knowledge|language=en}}</ref>

=== Taxes ===
{{Main|Taxation in Sweden}}
On average, 27% of taxpayer's money in Sweden goes to education and healthcare, whereas 5% goes to the police and military, and 42% to social security.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 August 2017|title=Offentliga sektorns utgifter|url=https://www.ekonomifakta.se/Fakta/Offentlig-ekonomi/Offentlig-sektor/Offentliga-sektorns-utgifter/?graph=/10870/all/all/|access-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707010104/https://www.ekonomifakta.se/Fakta/Offentlig-ekonomi/Offentlig-sektor/Offentliga-sektorns-utgifter/?graph=%2F10870%2Fall%2Fall%2F|archive-date=7 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The typical worker receives 40% of his or her labour costs after the [[tax wedge]]. Total tax collected by Sweden as a percentage of its GDP peaked at 52.3% in 1990.<ref name=oecdtax11 /> The country faced a real estate and banking crisis in 1990–1991, and consequently passed tax reforms in 1991 to implement tax rate cuts and tax base broadening over time.<ref name="AgellEnglund"/><ref name="RiksbankHeikensten"/> Since 1990, taxes as a percentage of GDP collected by Sweden have been dropping, with total tax rates for the highest income earners dropping the most.<ref name="BengtssonHolmlund"/> In 2010, 45.8% of the country's GDP was collected as taxes, the second highest among OECD countries, and nearly double the percentage in the US or South Korea.<ref name=oecdtax11/>

=== Pensions ===
{{Main|Social security in Sweden}}
Every Swedish resident receives a state pension. Swedish Pensions Agency is responsible for pensions. People who have worked in Sweden, but relocated to another country, can also receive the Swedish pension. There are several types of pensions in Sweden: national retirement, occupational and private pensions. A person can receive a combination of the various types of pensions.

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Sweden|Swedes}}
[[File:Swedishpopdensity.svg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|Population density in the counties of Sweden. ''people/km²'' {{legend|#E1E1FF|0–9.9}}{{legend|#CDCDFF|10–24.9}}{{legend|#A5A5FF|25–49.9}}{{legend|#7373FF|50–99.9}}{{legend|#2D2DFF|100–199.9}}{{legend|#0000FA|200+}}]]
The total resident population of Sweden was 10,377,781 in October 2020.<ref name="population" /> The population exceeded 10 million for the first time on Friday 20 January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6610701|title=Swedish population hits 10-million mark - Radio Sweden|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=20 January 2017|language=en|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20170120/swedens-population-reaches-historic-ten-million-milestone|title=Sweden's population reaches historic ten million milestone|date=20 January 2017|website=www.thelocal.se|language=en-GB|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref>

The average population density is just over 25 people per km2 (65 per square mile), with 1 437 persons per km2 in localities (continuous settlement with at least 200 inhabitants).<ref name="SCB2020">[https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-and-urban-areas-2018-population-2019/ Densification in half of Sweden’s urban areas]</ref>,<ref name="SCB2019">[https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-2018/ Roughly 87 percent of the population lives in localities and urban areas]</ref> 87% of the population live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area.<ref name="SCB2018">[https://www.scb.se/contentassets/745b357fd3b74ffd934fc4004ce5cf62/mi0810_2018a01_sm_mi38sm1901.pdf Statistiska tätorter 2018] page 33</ref> 63% of Swedes are in large urban areas.<ref name="SCB2018" /> It is substantially higher in the south than in the north. The capital city Stockholm has a municipal population of about 950,000 (with 1.5 million in the urban area and 2.3 million in the metropolitan area). The second- and third-largest cities are [[Gothenburg]] and [[Malmö]]. Greater Gothenburg counts just over a million inhabitants and the same goes for the western part of Scania, along the [[Öresund]]. The [[Öresund Region]], the Danish-Swedish cross-border region around the Öresund that Malmö is part of, has a population of 4 million. Outside of major cities, areas with notably higher population density include the agricultural part of Östergötland, the western coast, the area around Lake Mälaren and the agricultural area around Uppsala.

[[Norrland]], which covers approximately 60% of the Swedish territory, has a very low population density (below 5 people per square kilometre). The mountains and most of the remote coastal areas are almost unpopulated. Low population density exists also in large parts of western Svealand, as well as southern and central Småland. An area known as ''Finnveden'', which is located in the south-west of Småland, and mainly below the 57th parallel, can also be considered as almost empty of people.

Between 1820 and 1930, approximately 1.3 million Swedes, a third of the country's population at the time, [[Swedish emigration to North America|emigrated to North America]], and most of them to the United States. There are more than 4.4 million [[Swedish Americans]] according to a 2006 US Census Bureau estimate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_06_EST_DP2&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212411/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_06_EST_DP2&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2020 |title=United States – Selected Social Characteristics: 2006 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=21 March 2014 }}</ref> In [[Canada]], the community of [[Swedish Canadian|Swedish ancestry]] is 330,000 strong.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=30 June 2008 |date=2 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723224016/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/index-eng.cfm |archive-date=23 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are no official statistics on ethnicity, but according to Statistics Sweden, around 2,634,967 (25.5%) inhabitants of Sweden were of a [[Immigration to Sweden|foreign background]] in 2019, defined as being born abroad or born in Sweden with foreign born parents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgGrov/table/tableViewLayout1/ |title=Number of persons with foreign or Swedish background (rough division) by region, age and sex. Year 2002 - 2020 |work=[[Statistics Sweden]] |date=31 December 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021 }}</ref> Of these inhabitants, 2,019,733 persons were born abroad and 615,234 persons were born in Sweden to parents born abroad. In addition, 780,199 persons had one parent born abroad with the other parent born in Sweden.

Sweden has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the average age of 41.1 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : SWEDEN|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018}}</ref>
{{Largest cities of Sweden}}

=== Language ===
{{Main|Swedish language|Languages of Sweden}}
{{See also|Swedish dialects}}
[[File:Distribution-sv.png|thumb|left|Distribution of speakers of the Swedish language]]
The official language of Sweden is Swedish,<ref name="Swedish">{{cite web|url=http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Spraklag-2009600_sfs-2009-600/|title=Språklag (2009:600)|date=28 May 2009|publisher=[[Riksdag]]|language=sv|access-date=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110205547/http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Spraklag-2009600_sfs-2009-600/|archive-date=10 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Swedish2">{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20090701/20404|title=Swedish becomes official 'main language'|last=Landes|first=David|date=1 July 2009|newspaper=[[The Local]]|access-date=15 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210004646/http://www.thelocal.se/20090701/20404|archive-date=10 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> a North Germanic language, related and very similar to [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], but differing in pronunciation and [[orthography]]. Norwegians have little difficulty understanding Swedish, and Danes can also understand it, with slightly more difficulty than Norwegians. The same goes for standard Swedish speakers, who find it far easier to understand Norwegian than Danish. The [[Scanian dialects|dialects spoken in Scania]], the southernmost part of the country, are influenced by Danish because [[Skåneland|the region traditionally was a part of Denmark]] and is nowadays situated closely to it. [[Sweden Finns]] are Sweden's largest linguistic minority, comprising about 5% of Sweden's population,<ref name="Finns">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____255905.aspx |title=På lördag kan 440 000 flagga blått och vitt |trans-title=On Saturday 440 000 can flag blue and white |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |language=sv |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=16 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820073639/http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____255905.aspx |archive-date=20 August 2010}}</ref> and Finnish is recognised as a minority language.<ref name="Swedish2" /> Owing to a 21st-century influx of native speakers of [[Arabic language|Arabic]], the use of Arabic is likely more widespread in the country than that of Finnish. However, no official statistics are kept on language use.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6003931|title=Hur många språk talas i Sverige?|trans-title=How many languages are spoken in Sweden?|newspaper=[[Sveriges Radio]]|language=sv|date=29 October 2014|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090814/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6003931|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live|last1=Forsberg|first1=Ingrid}}</ref>

Along with Finnish, [[Minority languages of Sweden|four other minority languages]] are also recognised: [[Meänkieli]], [[Sami languages|Sami]], [[Romani language|Romani]], and [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]. Swedish became Sweden's official language on 1 July 2009, when a new language law was implemented.<ref name="Swedish2" /> The issue of whether Swedish should be declared the official language had been raised in the past, and the Riksdag voted on the matter in 2005, but the proposal narrowly failed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Svenskan blir inte officiellt språk|trans-title=Swedish will not become an official language|url=http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/svenskan-blir-inte-officiellt-sprak|publisher=[[Sveriges Television]]|language=sv|access-date=9 June 2013|date=7 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311014951/http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/svenskan-blir-inte-officiellt-sprak|archive-date=11 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In varying degrees, depending largely on frequency of interaction with English, a majority of Swedes, especially those born after World War II, understand and speak English, owing to trade links, the popularity of overseas travel, a strong Anglo-American influence and the tradition of [[subtitle (captioning)|subtitling]] rather than dubbing foreign television shows and films, and the [[Germanic languages|relative similarity]] of the two languages which makes learning English easier. In a 2005 survey by [[Eurobarometer]], 89% of Swedes reported the ability to speak English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/pdf/doc631_en.pdf |title=Europeans and their Languages|publisher=[[European Commission]] |date=12 March 2012 |access-date=17 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116073533/http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/pdf/doc631_en.pdf |archive-date=16 November 2013}}</ref>

English became a compulsory subject for secondary school students studying [[natural science]]s as early as 1849, and has been a compulsory subject for all Swedish students since the late 1940s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |title=English spoken – fast ibland hellre än bra |publisher=[[Lund University]] newsletter 7/1999 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106110733/http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |archive-date=6 January 2006 }}</ref> Depending on the local school authorities, English is currently a compulsory subject between [[first grade]] and [[ninth grade]], with all students continuing in secondary school studying English for at least another year. Most students also study one and sometimes two additional languages. These include (but are not limited to) German, French and Spanish. Some Danish and Norwegian is at times also taught as part of Swedish courses for native speakers. Because of the extensive [[mutual intelligibility]] between the three continental [[Scandinavian language]]s Swedish speakers often use their native language when visiting or living in Norway or Denmark.

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Sweden}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religions in Sweden (2018)<ref name="svenskakyrkan stats"/>
|label1 = [[Church of Sweden]]
|value1 = 57.7
|color1 = RoyalBlue
|label2 = Other Protestants
|value2 = 3.4
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]]
|value3 = 1.7
|color3 = Orchid
|label4 = [[Catholic Church in Sweden|Catholic Church]]
|value4 = 1.2
|color4 = Indigo
|label5 = Other Christian denominations
|value5 = 0.3
|color5 = DeepSkyBlue
|label6 = [[Islam in Sweden|Islam]]
|value6 = 1.9
|color6 = Green
|label7 = Other religions
|value7 = 0.3
|color7 = Yellow
|label8 = [[Irreligion in Sweden|Unaffiliated]]
|value8 = 33.5
|color8 = Honeydew
}}

Before the 11th century, Swedes adhered to [[Norse paganism]], worshiping [[Æsir]] gods, with its centre at the [[temple at Uppsala|Temple in Uppsala]]. With [[Christianization of Scandinavia|Christianisation]] in the 11th century, the laws of the country changed, forbidding worship of other deities until the late 19th century. After the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 1530s, a change led by [[Martin Luther]]'s Swedish associate [[Olaus Petri]], the authority of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] was abolished and [[Lutheranism]] became widespread. Adoption of Lutheranism was completed by the [[Uppsala Synod]] of 1593, and it became the official religion. During the era following the Reformation, usually known as the period of [[Lutheran orthodoxy]], small groups of non-Lutherans, especially [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] [[Dutch people|Dutchmen]], the [[Moravian Church]] and [[French Huguenots]] played a significant role in trade and industry, and were quietly tolerated as long as they kept a low religious profile.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gritsch|first1=Eric|title=A History of Lutheranism|date=2010|publisher=Fortress Press|location=Minneapolis|isbn=9781451407754|page=351|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ApWxByVqe-MC&q=lutheranism+history+in+sweden|access-date=20 March 2017}}</ref> The [[Sami people|Sami]] originally had their own [[Animism|shamanistic religion]], but they were converted to Lutheranism by Swedish missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries.

[[File:Katarina kyrka February 2015 02.jpg|thumb|The Protestant [[Katarina Church]] in Stockholm]]
[[File:Moske Malmo 2014Jun17 0002-3.jpg|thumb|The second oldest mosque in Sweden is the [[Malmö Mosque]], inaugurated in 1984]]

With religious liberalisations in the late 18th century believers of other faiths, including [[History of the Jews in Sweden|Judaism]] and [[Roman Catholicism]], were allowed to live and work freely in the country. However, until 1860 it remained illegal for Lutherans to convert to another religion. The 19th century saw the arrival of various [[Low church|evangelical]] [[free church]]es, and, towards the end of the century, [[secularism]], leading many to distance themselves from church rituals. Leaving the Church of Sweden became legal with the so-called dissenter law of 1860, but only under the provision of entering another [[Christian denomination]]. The right to stand outside any religious denomination was formally established in the law on [[freedom of religion]] in 1951.

In 2000, the [[Church of Sweden]] was disestablished. Sweden was the second [[Nordic country]] to [[Separation of church and state|disestablish]] its [[state church]] (after [[Finland]] did so in the Church Act of 1869).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Sweden.1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110072754/http://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Sweden.1.pdf|url-status=dead|title=MAARIT JÄNTERÄ-JAREBORG: Religion and the Secular State in Sweden|archive-date=10 January 2016}}</ref>

At the end of 2018, 57.7% of Swedes belonged to the [[Church of Sweden]]; this number had been decreasing by about 1.5 percentage points a year for the previous 7 years and one percentage point a year on average for the previous two decades.<ref name="svenskakyrkan.se">{{cite web |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=978164 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220162746/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=978164 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2020 |publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |title=Stift |trans-title=Diocese |format=PDF |language=sv }}</ref><ref name="thelocal1">{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/26878/20100527/ |title=Swedes depart church in droves |newspaper=[[The Local]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802045112/http://www.thelocal.se/26878/20100527/ |archive-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik/xls/medlem_diagram.xls |title=Medlemmar 1972–2006 |trans-title=Members 1972–2006 |format=xls |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930212556/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik/xls/medlem_diagram.xls |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> Approximately 2% of the church's members regularly attend Sunday services.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |title=Liturgy and Worship |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422193814/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |archive-date=22 April 2010}}</ref> The reason for the large number of inactive members is partly that, until 1996, children automatically became members at birth if at least one of the parents was a member. Since 1996, only children and adults who are [[infant baptism|christened]] become members. Some 275,000 Swedes are today members of various [[Evangelical Protestant]] free churches (where congregation attendance is much higher), and due to recent immigration, there are now some 100,000 [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christians]] and 92,000 Roman Catholics living in Sweden.<ref>[[:sv:Frikyrka|Statistics about free churches and immigration churches from Swedish Wikipedia – in Swedish]]</ref>

The first Muslim congregation was established in 1949, when a small contingent of [[Tatars]] migrated from Finland. Islam's presence in Sweden remained marginal until the 1960s, when Sweden started to receive migrants from [[the Balkans]] and [[Turkey]]. Further immigration from [[North Africa]] and the [[Middle East]] have brought the estimated [[Islam in Sweden|Muslim population]] to 600,000.<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/238650.pdf International Religious Freedom Report 2014 : Sweden], U.S. Department Of State.</ref> However, only about 110,000 were members of a congregation around 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article140868.ece |first1=Erik |last1=Magnusson |first2=Olle |last2=Lönnaeus |first3=Niklas |last3=Orrenius |title=Djup splittring bland Malmös muslimer |trans-title=Deep splits among Malmö's Muslims |newspaper=[[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]] |language=sv |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113112554/http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article140868.ece |archive-date=13 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sst.a.se/statistik.4.7501238311cc6f12fa580005236.html |title=Statistik |trans-title=Statistics |publisher=Swedish Commission for Government Support to Faith Communities |language=sv |year=2010 |access-date=4 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129111255/http://www.sst.a.se/statistik.4.7501238311cc6f12fa580005236.html |archive-date=29 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arvsfonden.se/upload/utvarderingar/Islam%20och%20muslimer%20i%20Sverige%20Mattias%20Gardell.pdf |first=Mattias |last=Gardell |title=Islam och muslimer i Sverige |trans-title=Islam and Muslims in Sweden |publisher=[[Inheritance Fund (Sweden)|Inheritance Fund]] |date=May 2010 |language=sv |access-date=4 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813171738/http://www.arvsfonden.se/upload/utvarderingar/Islam%20och%20muslimer%20i%20Sverige%20Mattias%20Gardell.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2010}}</ref>

According to the [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] 2010,<ref name="Special Eurobarometer 393">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |publisher=[[Eurobarometer]] |title=Biotechnology report 2010 |date=2010 |page=381 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}{{better source needed|date=January 2014}}</ref>
* '''18%''' of Swedish citizens responded that "they believe there is a god".
* '''45%''' answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force".
* '''34%''' answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".

According to a Demoskop study in 2015 about the beliefs of the Swedish showed that
* '''21%''' believed in a god (down from 35 percent in 2008).
* '''16%''' believed in ghosts.
* '''14%''' believed in creationism or intelligent design.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/20151030/belief-in-ghosts-rises-in-secular-sweden |newspaper=[[The Local]] |title=Belief in ghosts rises across secular Sweden |first=August |last=Håkansson |date=30 October 2015 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054008/http://www.thelocal.se/20151030/belief-in-ghosts-rises-in-secular-sweden |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vof.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/VoF-Undersökningen-2015.pdf |publisher=[[Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning]] |title=VoF-Undersökningen 2015 |trans-title=VoF survey of 2015 |date=2015 |access-date=17 February 2016 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083406/http://www.vof.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/VoF-Unders%C3%B6kningen-2015.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sociology professor [[Phil Zuckerman]] claims that Swedes, despite a lack of belief in God, commonly question the term [[atheist]], preferring to call themselves Christians while being content with remaining in the Church of Sweden.<ref name="Peter Steinfels">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/28beliefs.html?pagewanted=1|last=Steinfels|first=Peter|title=Scandinavian Nonbelievers, Which Is Not to Say Atheists|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|quote=Mr. Zuckerman, a sociologist who teaches at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., has reported his findings on religion in Denmark and Sweden in "Society Without God" (New York University Press, 2008). Much that he found will surprise many people, as it did him. The many nonbelievers he interviewed, both informally and in structured, taped and transcribed sessions, were anything but antireligious, for example. They typically balked at the label "atheist." An overwhelming majority had in fact been baptized, and many had been confirmed or married in church. Though they denied most of the traditional teachings of Christianity, they called themselves Christians, and most were content to remain in the Danish National Church or the Church of Sweden, the traditional national branches of Lutheranism.|access-date=31 December 2007|year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111010613/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/28beliefs.html?pagewanted=1|archive-date=11 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Religion continues to play a role in Swedish cultural identity.<ref name="Herbert2003"/> This is evidenced by the fact that the majority of Swedish adults continue to remain members of the Lutheran Church despite having to pay a [[church tax]]; moreover, rates of [[baptism]] remain high and [[Christian views on marriage|church weddings]] are increasing in Sweden.<ref name="Herbert2003">{{cite book |last1=Herbert |first1=David |title=Religion and Civil Society: Rethinking Public Religion in the Contemporary World |date=2003 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-0-7546-1339-8 |page=13 |language=en|quote=More than 80 percent of adults continue to choose to belong to the Lutheran Church in spite of its recent disestablishment and the cost of having to pay the church tax. Rates of baptism remain high and church weddings are increasing. In Sweden, religion appears to play a continuing role in cultural identity, in locating the individual to tradition.}}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{See also|Healthcare in Sweden|Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare}}
Healthcare in Sweden is mainly [[Publicly funded health care|tax-funded]], universal for all citizens and decentralized,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/economics/getting-better-value-for-money-from-sweden-s-healthcare-system_082725005676#.WiiR07pFxPY |title=Getting Better Value for Money from Sweden's Healthcare System {{!}} OECD READ edition|website=OECD iLibrary |access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> although private health care also exists. The health care system in Sweden is financed primarily through taxes levied by county councils and municipalities. A total of 21 councils are in charge with primary and hospital care within the country.

Private healthcare is a rarity in Sweden, and even those private institutions work under the mandated city councils.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/economics/oecd-economic-surveys-sweden-2005/improving-quality-and-value-for-money-in-healthcare_eco_surveys-swe-2005-7-en#.WiiXqLpFxPY#page5|title=Improving Quality and Value for Money in Healthcare {{!}} OECD READ edition|website=OECD iLibrary|language=en|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> The city councils regulates the rules and the establishment of potential private practices. Although in most countries care for the elderly or those who need psychiatric help is conducted privately, in Sweden local, publicly funded authorities are in charge of this type of care.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/apr/28/swedish-council-limit-private-profit-healthcare-public|title=Swedish council becomes first to limit private profits in healthcare|last=Orange|first=Richard|date=28 April 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 December 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Healthcare in Sweden is similar in quality to other developed nations. Sweden ranks in the top five countries with respect to low [[infant mortality]]. It also ranks high in [[life expectancy]] and in safe [[drinking water]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/sweden/|title=OECD Better Life Index|website=www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org}}</ref> In 2018, health and medical care represented around 11 per cent of GDP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sweden.se/society/health-care-in-sweden/|title=Healthcare in Sweden|date=5 May 2020|website=sweden.se}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Sweden}}
[[File:Entrance hall of Uppsala University main building.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Uppsala University]] (established 1477)]]
Children aged 1–5 years old are guaranteed a place in a public [[kindergarten]] ({{lang-sv|förskola}} or, colloquially, ''dagis''). Between the ages of 6 and 16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school. In the [[Programme for International Student Assessment]] (PISA), Swedish 15-year-old pupils score close to the OECD average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] |title=PISA results for Sweden |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229020307/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |archive-date=29 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> After completing the 9th grade, about 90% of the students continue with a three-year upper secondary school (''gymnasium''), which can lead to both a job qualification or entrance eligibility to university. The school system is largely financed by taxes.

The Swedish government treats public and independent schools equally<ref name="swedishmodeleconomist">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645 |title=The Swedish model |work=[[The Economist]] |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226014533/http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645 |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> by introducing [[education voucher]]s in 1992 as one of the first countries in the world after the Netherlands. Anyone can establish a for-profit school and the municipality must pay new schools the same amount as municipal schools get. School lunch is free for all students in Sweden, and providing breakfast is also encouraged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/school_food_in18countries.pdf |title=The provision of school food in 18 countries |publisher=[[Children's Food Trust]]|date=July 2008|access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301002902/http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/school_food_in18countries.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2013 }}</ref>

There are a number of different [[List of universities in Sweden|universities and colleges in Sweden]], the oldest and largest of which are situated in [[Uppsala University|Uppsala]], [[Lund University|Lund]], [[University of Gothenburg|Gothenburg]] and [[Stockholm University|Stockholm]]. In 2000, 32% of Swedish people held a [[tertiary education|tertiary degree]], making the country 5th in the OECD in that category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_att_ter-education-educational-attainment-tertiary |title=Tertiary > Educational Attainment statistics – countries compared |website=NationMaster.com |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104153515/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_att_ter-education-educational-attainment-tertiary |archive-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Along with several other European countries, the government also subsidises tuition of international students pursuing a degree at Swedish institutions, although a recent bill passed in the Riksdag will limit this subsidy to students from EEA countries and [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studyinsweden.se/Home/News-archive/2010/Tuition-fees-from-2011/ |title=Sweden introduces tuition fees and offers scholarships for students from outside EU |date=21 April 2010 |website=Studyinsweden.se |access-date=3 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628053602/http://www.studyinsweden.se/Home/News-archive/2010/Tuition-fees-from-2011/ |archive-date=28 June 2010}}</ref>

The large influx of immigrants to Swedish schools has been cited as a significant part of the reason why Sweden has dropped more than any other European country in the international [[PISA]] rankings.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 March 2016 |title=Immigrant children in Sweden blamed for country's poor test scores |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/immigrant-children-in-sweden-blamed-for-countrys-poor-test-scores-a6934111.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=28 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127202352/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/immigrant-children-in-sweden-blamed-for-countrys-poor-test-scores-a6934111.html |archive-date=27 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=What's behind the rising inequality in Sweden's schools, and can it be fixed? |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20180822/sweden-in-focus-education-inequality-schools |work=[[The Local]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125061419/https://www.thelocal.se/20180822/sweden-in-focus-education-inequality-schools |archive-date=25 November 2018 |date=22 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=16 June 2016 |title=Why Sweden's free schools are failing |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2016/06/why-sweden-s-free-schools-are-failing |work=[[New Statesman]] |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115014822/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2016/06/why-sweden-s-free-schools-are-failing|archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 2016 |title=Invandring säker faktor bakom Pisa-tappet |url=https://www.dagenssamhalle.se/kronika/invandring-saeker-faktor-bakom-pisa-tappet-22744 |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115082856/https://www.dagenssamhalle.se/kronika/invandring-saeker-faktor-bakom-pisa-tappet-22744 |work=Dagens Samhalle |archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
{{Main|Immigration to Sweden}}

Immigration has been a major source of [[population growth]] and cultural change throughout much of the [[history of Sweden]], and in recent centuries the country has been transformed from a nation of net emigration, ending after World War I, to a nation of net immigration, from World War II onwards. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants, settlement patterns, impact on upward [[social mobility]], crime, and voting behaviour.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21570836-immigration-and-growing-inequality-are-making-nordics-less-homogeneous-ins-and |title=Immigrants: The ins and the outs |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=2 February 2013 |access-date=10 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530054825/http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21570836-immigration-and-growing-inequality-are-making-nordics-less-homogeneous-ins-and |archive-date=30 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are no exact numbers on the [[ethnicity|ethnic]] background of migrants and their descendants in Sweden because the Swedish government does not base any statistics on ethnicity. This is, however, not to be confused with the migrants' [[Nationality|national backgrounds]], which are recorded.

Immigrants in Sweden are mostly concentrated in the urban areas of Svealand and Götaland.<ref name="scb%252Ese">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/PublishingCalendarViewInfo____259923.aspx?PublObjId=11400|title=Tabeller över Sveriges befolkning 2009|date=24 January 2009|publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]]|language=sv|trans-title=Tables of Sweden's population in 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812141807/http://www.scb.se/Pages/PublishingCalendarViewInfo____259923.aspx?PublObjId=11400|archive-date=12 August 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=1 September 2011}}</ref> Since the early 1970s, immigration to Sweden has been mostly due to refugee migration and family reunification from countries in the Middle East and Latin America.<ref name="MPI">{{cite web |url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/usfocus/display.cfm?ID=406 |title=Sweden: Restrictive Immigration Policy and Multiculturalism, Migration Policy Institute, 2006 |publisher=Migrationinformation.org |date=June 2006 |access-date=12 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805212457/http://www.migrationinformation.org//USfocus//display.cfm?ID=406 |archive-date=5 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, Sweden granted 21,958 people asylum, and 21,502 in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101P/Asylsokande/|title=Asylum-seekers during the year by country of citizenship and sex. Year 2002 - 2019|website=Statistikdatabasen|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref>

The ten largest groups of foreign-born persons in the Swedish [[civil registry]] in 2019 were from:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101E/FodelselandArK/?rxid=86abd797-7854-4564-9150-c9b06ae3ab07c9b06ae3ab07|title=Population by country of birth, age and sex. Year 2000 – 2018|date=7 April 2019|publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]]|access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref>
# {{flag|Syria}} (191,530)
#{{flag|Iraq}} (146,048)
# {{flag|Finland}} (144,561)
# {{flag|Poland}} (93,722)
# {{flag|Iran}} (80,136)
# {{flag|Somalia}} (70,173)
# {{flagdeco|Yugoslavia}} Former [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] (64,349)
# {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} (60,012)
# {{flag|Afghanistan}} (58,780)
# {{flag|Turkey}} (51,689)

According to an official investigation by [[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)#Financial Institutions and Markets Department|The Swedish Pensions Agency]] on order from the government, the immigration to Sweden will double the state's expenses for pensions to the population. The total immigration to Sweden for 2017 will be roughly 180 000 people, and after that 110 000 individuals every year.<ref name="DI Pensions">{{cite news|date=17 October 2017|title=Migrationen kan fördubbla statens kostnader för pensionärer|url=https://www.di.se/nyheter/migrationen-kan-fordubbla-statens-kostnader-for-pensionarer/|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117160557/https://www.di.se/nyheter/migrationen-kan-fordubbla-statens-kostnader-for-pensionarer/|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pensions Agency Report">{{cite news|date=13 October 2017|title=Pensionsmyndigheten svarar på regeringsuppdrag om migration|url=https://www.pensionsmyndigheten.se/nyheter-och-press/pressrum/pensionsmyndigheten-svarar-pa-regeringsuppdrag-om-migration|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117160618/https://www.pensionsmyndigheten.se/nyheter-och-press/pressrum/pensionsmyndigheten-svarar-pa-regeringsuppdrag-om-migration|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
{{Main|Crime in Sweden}}
{{See|Bombings in Sweden|Rape in Sweden}}
Figures from the 2013 Swedish Crime Survey (SCS) show that exposure to crime decreased from 2005 to 2013.<ref name=SCS2014>{{cite web|title=The Swedish Crime Survey 2013 – English summary of Brå report 2014:1|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.9eaaede145606cc86546f/1398774378897/2014_Swedish_Crime_Survey_2013.pdf|publisher=The [[Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention]]|access-date=15 July 2014|pages=5, 7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724052101/http://www.bra.se/download/18.9eaaede145606cc86546f/1398774378897/2014_Swedish_Crime_Survey_2013.pdf|archive-date=24 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2014 there has been an increase in exposure to some categories of crimes, including fraud, some property crime and especially sexual offences (with a 70% increase since 2013, which was partly caused by laws broadening the definition of rape<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bra.se/bra-in-english/home/crime-and-statistics/rape-and-sex-offences.html |title=Rape and sex offences |website=www.bra.se |language=en |access-date=19 October 2019}}</ref>) according to the 2016 SCS.<ref name=SCS2016>{{cite web|title=The Swedish Crime Survey 2016 – English summary of the Brå report 2016|url=https://www.bra.se/bra/bra-in-english/home/publications/archive/publications/2017-02-15-swedish-crime-survey-2016.html|publisher=[[Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention]]|access-date=2 March 2017|pages=5–7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303200845/https://www.bra.se/bra/bra-in-english/home/publications/archive/publications/2017-02-15-swedish-crime-survey-2016.html|archive-date=3 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Violence (both lethal and non-lethal) has been on a downward trend the last 25 years.<ref name=facts>{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/articles/2017/02/facts-about-migration-and-crime-in-sweden/|title=Facts about migration, integration and crime in Sweden|first=Regeringen och|last=Regeringskansliet|date=23 February 2017|website=Regeringskansliet|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115044305/http://www.government.se/articles/2017/02/facts-about-migration-and-crime-in-sweden|archive-date=15 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The figures for fraud and property damage (excluding car theft) are in contrast with the numbers of reported crimes under such categories which have remained roughly constant over the period 2014–16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20170112/swedens-2016-crime-stats-analyzed|title=Here are Sweden's crime stats for 2016|access-date=6 March 2017|date=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307045457/http://www.thelocal.se/20170112/swedens-2016-crime-stats-analyzed|archive-date=7 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The number of reported sexual offences clearly reflect the figures in the 2016 SCS, and car related damages/theft are also somewhat reflected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bra.se/bra/brott-och-statistik/valdtakt-och-sexualbrott.html|title=Rape & Sexual Offences|date=16 January 2017|website=bra.se|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170221212501/https://www.bra.se/bra/brott-och-statistik/valdtakt-och-sexualbrott.html|archive-date=21 February 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brottsrummet.se/sv/sexualbrott |title=Sexual Offences |website=Brottsrummet |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170317143743/http://www.brottsrummet.se/sv/sexualbrott |archive-date=17 March 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=17 March 2017 }}</ref> The number of convictions up to 2013 has remained between 110,000 and 130,000 in the 2000s — a decrease since the 1970s, when they numbered around 300,000 — despite the population growth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Personer lagförda för brott|page=5|language=sv|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.1ff479c3135e8540b29800013251/1338449406369/Sammanfattning_lagforda_2011.pdf|publisher=[[Brå]]|access-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708181451/http://bra.se/download/18.1ff479c3135e8540b29800013251/1338449406369/Sammanfattning_lagforda_2011.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Consistent with other [[Western world|Western]] countries in the [[post-war|postwar era]], the number of reported crimes has increased when measured from the 1950s; which can be explained by a number of factors, such as immigration, statistical and legislative changes and increased public willingness to report crime.<ref name=crime-trend-stats-1>{{cite web|title=Rapport 2008:23 – Brottsutvecklingen i sverige fram till år 2007|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.cba82f7130f475a2f180006972/2008_23_brottsuvecklingen.pdf|publisher=[[Brå]]|access-date=15 July 2014|pages=38, 41|language=sv|quote=I Sverige har den registrerade brottsligheten precis som i övriga västvärlden ökat kraftigt under efterkrigstiden. [...] Vid mitten av 1960-talet införde Polisen nya rutiner av statistikföring en vilket har framförts som en delförklaring till den kraftiga ökningen, i synnerhet i början av denna period (Brå 2004). [...] Detta beror sannolikt främst på att toleransen mot vålds- och sexualbrott har minskat i samhället. Att man i samhället tar våld på större allvar demonstreras inte minst genom att synen på olika våldshandlingar skärpts i lagstiftningen (ibid. samt kapitlet Sexualbrott)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112053148/http://www.bra.se/download/18.cba82f7130f475a2f180006972/2008_23_brottsuvecklingen.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Sweden}}
[[File:Nationalmuseum Stockholm.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Nationalmuseum]] in Stockholm]]
Sweden has many authors of worldwide recognition including [[August Strindberg]], [[Astrid Lindgren]], and Nobel Prize winners [[Selma Lagerlöf]] and [[Harry Martinson]]. In total seven [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prizes in Literature]] have been awarded to Swedes. The nation's most well-known artists are painters such as [[Carl Larsson]] and [[Anders Zorn]], and the sculptors [[Tobias Sergel]] and [[Carl Milles]].

Swedish 20th-century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days of cinema, with [[Mauritz Stiller]] and [[Victor Sjöström]]. In the 1920s–1980s, the filmmaker [[Ingmar Bergman]] and actors [[Greta Garbo]] and [[Ingrid Bergman]] became internationally noted people within cinema. More recently, the films of [[Lukas Moodysson]], [[Lasse Hallström]], and [[Ruben Östlund]] have received international recognition.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "[[sexual revolution]]", with gender equality having particularly been promoted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Reading/The-Swedish-myths-True-false-or-somewhere-in-between/ |title=The Swedish Myths: True, False, or Somewhere In Between? |publisher=Sweden.se |access-date=27 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917004928/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Reading/The-Swedish-myths-True-false-or-somewhere-in-between/ |archive-date=17 September 2010}}</ref> The early Swedish film ''[[I Am Curious (Yellow)]]'' (1967) reflected a liberal view of sexuality, including scenes of love making that caught international attention, and introduced the concept of the "Swedish sin" that had been introduced earlier in the US with Ingmar Bergman's ''[[Summer with Monika]].''

The image of "hot love and cold people" emerged. Sexual liberalism was seen as part of modernisation process that by breaking down traditional borders would lead to the emancipation of natural forces and desires.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Carl |last1=Marklund |title=Hot Love and Cold People. Sexual Liberalism as Political Escapism in Radical Sweden |year=2009 |journal=NORDEUROPAforum |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=83–101 |url=http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2009-1/marklund-carl-83/XML/ |access-date=5 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217062419/http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2009-1/marklund-carl-83/XML/ |archive-date=17 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sweden has also become very liberal towards homosexuality, as is reflected in the popular acceptance of films such as ''[[Fucking Åmål|Show Me Love]]'', which is about two young lesbians in the small Swedish town of Åmål. Since 1 May 2009, Sweden repealed its "registered partnership" laws and fully replaced them with [[gender-neutral marriage]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden passes new gay marriage law |newspaper=[[The Local]] |date=2 April 2009 |url=http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/ |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410151816/http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/ |archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> Sweden also offers [[domestic partnership]]s for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Cohabitation (''sammanboende'') by couples of all ages, including teenagers as well as elderly couples, is widespread. As of 2009, Sweden is experiencing a baby boom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Babyboom i Sverige? |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____231102.aspx |language=sv |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730195209/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____231102.aspx |archive-date=30 July 2009}}</ref>

===Music===

{{Main|Music of Sweden}}
[[File:ABBA - TopPop 1974 5.png|thumb|upright|right|The Swedish band [[ABBA]] in April 1974, a few days after they won the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1974|Eurovision Song Contest]]]]
Historical re-creations of Norse music have been attempted based on instruments found in Viking sites. The instruments used were the ''[[lur]]'' (a sort of trumpet), simple string instruments, wooden flutes and drums. Sweden has a significant [[Music of Sweden|folk-music]] scene. The ''[[joik]]'', a type of Sami music, is a chant that is part of the traditional Sami animistic spirituality. Notable composers include [[Carl Michael Bellman]] and [[Franz Berwald]].

Sweden also has a prominent choral music tradition. Out of a population of 9.5 million, it is estimated that five to six hundred thousand people sing in choirs.<ref>{{cite book |last=Durant |first=Colin |year=2003 |title=Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice |publisher=Routledge |pages=46–47 |isbn=978-0-415-94356-7 |quote=Sweden has a strong and enviable choral singing tradition. [..] All those interviewed placed great emphasis on the social identification through singing and also referred to the importance of Swedish folk song in the maintenance of the choral singing tradition and national identity.}}</ref>

In 2007, with over 800 million dollars in revenue, Sweden was the third-largest music exporter in the world and surpassed only by the US and the UK.<ref name="export music">{{cite web|url=http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615001724/http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2008 |title=Consulate General of Sweden Los Angeles – Export Music Sweden at MuseExpo |publisher=Swedenabroad.com |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120111124414/http://casgroup.fiu.edu/pages/docs/551/1264626358_Interesting_Facts_about_EU_Countries.pdf Interesting facts about EU countries]. casgroup.fiu.edu</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2013}} According to one source 2013, Sweden produces the most chart hits per capita in the world, followed by the UK and the USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svtplay.se/video/1628310/del-16-av-16 |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |work=[[Agenda (Swedish TV program)|Agenda]] |title=Del 16 av 16 |trans-title=Part 16 of 16 |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224031/http://www.svtplay.se/video/1628310/del-16-av-16 |archive-date=17 December 2013 }} at 19:45, citing the [[Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth]].</ref>
Sweden has a rather lively jazz scene. During the last sixty years or so it has attained a remarkably high artistic standard, stimulated by domestic as well as external influences and experiences. The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research has published an overview of jazz in Sweden by Lars Westin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visarkiv.se/en/jazz/index.htm |title=Lars Westin: Jazz in Sweden – an overview |publisher=Visarkiv.se |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623003444/http://www.visarkiv.se/en/jazz/index.htm |archive-date=23 June 2008}}</ref>

===Architecture===
{{Main|Architecture of Sweden}}
[[File:Djurgardsbron 2008.jpg|left|thumb|[[Djurgårdsbron]]]]
Before the 13th century almost all buildings were made of timber, but a shift began towards stone. Early Swedish stone buildings are the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] churches on the country side. As so happens, many of them were built in Scania and are in effect Danish churches. This would include the [[Lund Cathedral]] from the 11th century and the somewhat younger church in [[Dalby, Lund|Dalby]], but also many early [[Gothic (architecture)|Gothic]] churches built through influences of the Hanseatic League, such as in Ystad, Malmö and Helsingborg.

Cathedrals in other parts of Sweden were also built as seats of Sweden's bishops. The [[Skara Cathedral]] is of bricks from the 14th century, and the [[Uppsala Cathedral]] in the 15th. In 1230 the foundations of the [[Linköping]] Cathedral were made, the material was there [[limestone]], but the building took some 250 years to finish.

Among older structures are also some significant fortresses and other historical buildings such as at [[Borgholm Castle]], [[Halltorps Manor]] and [[Eketorp]] fortress on the island Öland, the [[Nyköping]] fortress and the [[Visby city wall]].

[[File:Kalmar domkyrka 002.jpg|thumb|[[Kalmar Cathedral]]]]
Around 1520 Sweden was out of the [[Middle Ages]] and united under King Gustav Vasa, who immediately initiated grand mansions, castles and fortresses to be built. Some of the more magnificent include [[Kalmar Castle]], [[Gripsholm Castle]] and the one at [[Vadstena]].

In the next two centuries, Sweden was designated by [[Baroque architecture]] and later the [[rococo]]. Notable projects from that time include the city Karlskrona, which has now also been declared a World Heritage Site and the [[Drottningholm Palace]].

1930 was the year of the great Stockholm exhibition, which marked the breakthrough of [[Functionalism (architecture)|Functionalism]], or "funkis" as it became known. The style came to dominate in the following decades. Some notable projects of this kind were the [[Million Programme]], offering affordable living in large apartment complexes.

The [[Ericsson Globe]] is the largest hemispherical building on Earth, Shaped like a large white ball, and took two and a half years to build. It's located in Stockholm.

===Media===
{{Main|Media in Sweden}}
[[File:Sveriges Television, 2.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of [[Sveriges Television]] in Stockholm]]
Swedes are among the greatest consumers of newspapers in the world, and nearly every town is served by a local paper. The country's main quality morning papers are ''[[Dagens Nyheter]]'' (liberal), ''[[Göteborgs-Posten]]'' (liberal), ''[[Svenska Dagbladet]]'' (liberal conservative) and ''[[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]]'' (liberal). The two largest evening [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloids]] are ''[[Aftonbladet]]'' (social democratic) and ''[[Expressen]]'' (liberal). The ad-financed, free international morning paper, ''[[Metro International]]'', was founded in Stockholm, Sweden. The country's news is reported in English by, among others, ''[[The Local]]'' (liberal).<ref>{{cite book |first=Kenneth E. |last=Olson |title=The history makers;: The press of Europe from its beginnings through 1965 |publisher=LSU Press |year=1966 |pages=33–49}}</ref>

The public broadcasting companies held a monopoly on radio and television for a long time in Sweden. Licence funded radio broadcasts started in 1925. A second radio network was started in 1954 and a third opened 1962 in response to pirate radio stations. Non-profit [[Community radio#Sweden|community radio]] was allowed in 1979 and in 1993 commercial local radio started.

The licence-funded television service was officially launched in 1956. A second channel, [[SVT2|TV2]], was launched in 1969. These two channels (operated by [[Sveriges Television]] since the late 1970s) held a monopoly until the 1980s when cable and satellite television became available. The first Swedish language satellite service was [[TV3 (Sweden)|TV3]] which started broadcasting from London in 1987. It was followed by [[Kanal 5 (Sweden)|Kanal 5]] in 1989 (then known as Nordic Channel) and [[TV4 (Sweden)|TV4]] in 1990.

In 1991 the government announced it would begin taking applications from private television companies wishing to broadcast on the [[terrestrial television|terrestrial network]]. TV4, which had previously been broadcasting via satellite, was granted a permit and began its terrestrial broadcasts in 1992, becoming the first private channel to broadcast television content from within the country.

Around half the population are connected to cable television. [[Digital terrestrial television in Sweden]] started in 1999 and the last analogue terrestrial broadcasts were terminated in 2007.

===Literature===
{{Main|Swedish literature}}
[[File:Portrait of August Strindberg by Richard Bergh 1905.jpg|upright|thumb|The writer and playwright [[August Strindberg]]]]

The first literary text from Sweden is the [[Rök runestone]], carved during the Viking Age c. 800 AD. With the conversion of the land to Christianity around 1100 AD, Sweden entered the [[Middle Ages]], during which monastic writers preferred to use Latin. Therefore, there are only a few texts in the [[Old Swedish]] from that period. Swedish literature only flourished when the Swedish language was standardised in the 16th century, a standardisation largely due to the full translation of the Bible into Swedish in 1541. This translation is the so-called [[Gustav Vasa Bible]].

With improved education and the freedom brought by [[secularisation]], the 17th century saw several notable authors develop the Swedish language further. Some key figures include [[Georg Stiernhielm]] (17th century), who was the first to write classical poetry in Swedish; [[Johan Henric Kellgren]] (18th century), the first to write fluent Swedish prose; Carl Michael Bellman (late 18th century), the first writer of [[burlesque]] ballads; and August Strindberg (late 19th century), a socio-realistic writer and playwright who won worldwide fame. The early 20th century continued to produce notable authors, such as Selma Lagerlöf, (Nobel laureate 1909), [[Verner von Heidenstam]] (Nobel laureate 1916) and [[Pär Lagerkvist]] (Nobel laureate 1951).

In recent decades, a handful of Swedish writers have established themselves internationally, including the detective novelist [[Henning Mankell]] and the writer of spy fiction [[Jan Guillou]]. The Swedish writer to have made the most lasting impression on world literature is the children's book writer Astrid Lindgren, and her books about [[Pippi Longstocking]], [[Emil i Lönneberga|Emil]], and others. In 2008, the second best-selling fiction author in the world was [[Stieg Larsson]], whose ''Millennium'' series of crime novels is being published posthumously to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/15/bestselling-fiction-authors-in-the-world-for-2008/ |title=Bestselling fiction authors in the world for 2008 |publisher=Abebooks.com |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529183203/http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/15/bestselling-fiction-authors-in-the-world-for-2008/ |archive-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Larsson drew heavily on the work of Lindgren by basing his central character, Lisbeth Salander, on Longstocking.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/26/stieg-larsson-thriller-novels-sweden|title=Poisoned Legacy Left By The King Of Thrillers|first=Vanessa|last=Thorpe|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=17 September 2014|date=25 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013155817/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/26/stieg-larsson-thriller-novels-sweden|archive-date=13 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Holidays===
{{Main|Public holidays in Sweden}}
[[File:Valborgsbrasa-1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Walpurgis Night]] bonfire in Sweden]]
Apart from traditional Protestant [[Liturgical year|Christian holidays]], Sweden also celebrates some unique holidays, some of a pre-Christian tradition. They include [[Midsummer]] celebrating the summer [[solstice]]; [[Walpurgis Night]] (''Valborgsmässoafton'') on 30 April lighting bonfires; and Labour Day or Mayday on 1 May is dedicated to socialist demonstrations. The day of giver-of-light [[Saint Lucy|Saint Lucia]], 13 December, is widely acknowledged in elaborate celebrations which betoken its Italian origin and commence the month-long Christmas season.

6 June is the [[National holiday of Sweden|National Day of Sweden]] and has since 2005 been a public holiday. Furthermore, there are [[Flag flying days in Sweden|official flag flying day]] observances and a [[Namesdays in Sweden]] calendar. In August many Swedes have ''kräftskivor'' (crayfish dinner parties). [[Martin of Tours]] Eve is celebrated in [[Scania]] in November with ''Mårten Gås'' parties, where roast goose and ''[[svartsoppa]]'' ('black soup', made of goose stock, fruit, spices, spirits and goose blood) are served. The [[Sami people|Sami]], one of Sweden's indigenous minorities, have their holiday on 6 February and Scania celebrate their Scanian Flag day on the third Sunday in July.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lokala Nyheter Skåne |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/skanska-flaggans-dag |title=Så firas skånska flaggans dag | SVT Nyheter |newspaper=SVT Nyheter |date=21 July 2019 |publisher=Svt.se |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref>

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Swedish cuisine}}
[[File:Sveriges Nationaldag 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Cinnamon roll]]s originated in Sweden and Denmark.]]

Swedish cuisine, like that of the other [[Nordic countries]] ([[Cuisine of Denmark|Denmark]], [[Cuisine of Norway|Norway]] and [[Cuisine of Finland|Finland]]), was traditionally simple. Fish (particularly [[herring]]), meat, potatoes and [[dairy products]] played prominent roles. Spices were sparse. Preparations include Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes and [[lingonberry jam]]; [[Pancake#Sweden, Norway|pancakes]]; ''[[pyttipanna]]'', a spiced fried hash of meat and potatoes originally meant to use up any left-overs of meat; ''[[lutefisk|lutfisk]]''; and the ''[[smörgåsbord]]'', or lavish buffet. ''[[Akvavit]]'' is a popular alcoholic [[distilled beverage]], and the drinking of ''[[snaps]]'' is of cultural importance. The traditional flat and dry [[crisp bread]] has developed into several contemporary variants. Regionally important foods are the ''[[surströmming]]'' (a fermented fish) in northern Sweden and [[eel]] in southern Sweden.

Swedish traditional dishes, some of which are many hundreds of years old, are still an important part of Swedish everyday meals, in spite of the fact that modern-day Swedish cuisine adopts many international dishes.

In August, at the traditional feast known as crayfish party, ''[[kräftskiva]]'', Swedes eat large amounts of [[crayfish]] boiled with dill.

===Cinema===
{{Main|Cinema of Sweden}}
Swedes have been fairly prominent in the film area through the years. A number of Swedish people have found success in Hollywood, including Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo and [[Max von Sydow]]. Amongst several directors who have made internationally successful films can be mentioned Ingmar Bergman, Lukas Moodysson and Lasse Hallström.

===Fashion===
Interest in fashion is big in Sweden and the country is headquartering famous brands like [[H&M|Hennes & Mauritz]] (operating as H&M), [[J. Lindeberg]] (operating as JL), [[Acne Jeans|Acne]], [[Lindex]], [[Odd Molly]], [[Cheap Monday]], [[Gant U.S.A.|Gant]], [[WESC]], [[Filippa K]], and [[Nakkna]] within its borders. These companies, however, are composed largely of buyers who import fashionable goods from throughout Europe and America, continuing the trend of Swedish business toward multinational economic dependency like many of its neighbours.

===Sports===
{{Main|Sport in Sweden}}
[[File:Björn Borg2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Former World No. 1 tennis player [[Björn Borg]]]]
Sport activities are a national movement with half of the population actively participating in organised sporting activities. The two main spectator sports are [[Association football|football]] and [[ice hockey]]. Second to football, [[horse sports]] (of which most of the participants are women) have the highest number of practitioners. Thereafter, [[golf]], [[orienteering]], [[gymnastics]], [[track and field]], and the [[team sport]]s of [[ice hockey]], [[handball]], [[floorball]], [[basketball]] and [[bandy]] are the most popular in terms of practitioners.<ref>{{cite web |title=Idrottsrörelsen i siffror |url=https://www.rf.se/globalassets/riksidrottsforbundet/nya-dokument/nya-dokumentbanken/idrottsrorelsen-i-siffror/2019-idrotten-i-siffror---sisu.pdf?w=900&h=900 |website=rf.se |publisher=Swedish Sports Confederation|language=sv}}</ref>

The [[Swedish national men's ice hockey team]], affectionately known as ''Tre Kronor'' (English: [[Three Crowns]]; the national symbol of Sweden), is regarded as one of the best in the world. The team has won the [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]] nine times, placing them third in the all-time medal count. Tre Kronor also won Olympic gold medals in [[Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics|1994]] and [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006]]. In 2006, Tre Kronor became the first national hockey team to win both the Olympic and world championships in the same year. The [[Sweden national football team|Swedish national football team]] has seen some success at the World Cup in the past, finishing second when they hosted the tournament in 1958, and third twice, in [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]] and [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]].

Sweden hosted the [[1912 Summer Olympics]], [[Equestrian at the 1956 Summer Olympics]] and the [[FIFA World Cup]] in [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]. Other big sports events include the [[UEFA Euro 1992]], [[1995 FIFA Women's World Cup]], [[1995 World Championships in Athletics]], [[UEFA Women's Euro 2013]], and several championships of ice hockey, [[curling]], athletics, [[skiing]], [[Bandy World Championship|bandy]], [[figure skating]] and swimming.

In 2016, The Swedish Poker Federation (Svepof) has joined The [[International Federation of Poker]] (IFP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pokerfed.org/2016/05/17/sweden-becomes-member-ifp-family/|title=Sweden Becomes a Member of the IFP Family|last=Goenka|first=Varun|date=17 May 2016|website=International Federation of Poker|access-date=4 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715082640/http://pokerfed.org/2016/05/17/sweden-becomes-member-ifp-family/|archive-date=15 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sweden|Arctic}}
*[[List of Sweden-related topics]]
* [[Outline of Sweden]]
* [[329 Svea]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* Bagge, Sverre (2005). "The Scandinavian Kingdoms". In ''The New Cambridge Medieval History''. Eds. Rosamond McKitterick et al. Cambridge University Press, 2005. {{ISBN|0-521-36289-X}}.
* {{cite journal |title=Radical principles and the legal institution of marriage: domestic relations law and social democracy in Sweden—BRADLEY 4 (2): 154—International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |journal=International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=154–185 |doi=10.1093/lawfam/4.2.154 |year=1990 |last1=Bradley |first1=David }}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ Sweden]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* {{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx |title=Sweden's population 2012 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |access-date=24 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105201119/http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2013 }}
* Durant, Colin (2003). ''Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice'', Routledge, pp. 46–47. {{ISBN|0-415-94356-6}}.
* Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989). ''Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia''. Praeger Publishers, 1989. {{ISBN|0-275-93188-9}}.
* {{Cite book|title=The Northern Wars. War, State and Society in Northeastern Europe 1558–1721|first=Robert I|last=Frost|publisher=Longman|year=2000|isbn=978-0-582-06429-4}}
* Koblik, Steven (1975). ''Sweden's Development from Poverty to Affluence 1750–1970''. University of Minnesota Press. {{ISBN|0-8166-0757-5}}.
* {{cite book | last1 = Larsson | first1 = Torbjörn | first2 = Henry | last2 = Bäck | title = Governing and Governance in Sweden | location = Lund | publisher = [[Studentlitteratur]] AB | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-91-44-03682-3 | ref = Larsson & Bäck }}
* Magocsi, Paul Robert (1998). ''Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples''. University of Minnesota Press, 1998. {{ISBN|0-8020-2938-8}}.
* [https://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden] Agenda 21 – Natural Resource Aspects – Sweden. 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997.
* Nordstrom, Byron J. (2000). ''Scandinavia since 1500''. [[University of Minnesota Press]], 2000. {{ISBN|0-8166-2098-9}}.
* {{cite book | last = Petersson | first = Olof | title = Den offentliga makten | location = Stockholm | publisher = SNS Förlag | year = 2010 | language = sv | isbn = 978-91-86203-66-5 | ref = Petersson }}
* {{cite book |last1=Sawyer |first1=Birgit |last2=Sawyer |first2=Peter H. |author2-link=Peter Hayes Sawyer |title=Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=1993 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jGJrXOjYvQgC|isbn=978-0-8166-1739-5}}
* Ståhl, Solveig. (1999). [https://web.archive.org/web/20060106110733/http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html "English spoken – fast ibland hellre än bra"]. ''LUM, Lunds universitet med''delar, 7:1999, 3 September 1999. In Swedish.
* {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____193256.aspx |title=2006 census |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731025052/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____193256.aspx |archive-date=31 July 2009 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____25897.aspx |title=Preliminary Population Statistics, by month, 2004–2006 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |date=1 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714003037/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____25897.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2009 }}
* {{cite book |title=Yearbook of Housing and Building Statistics 2007 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]], Energy, Rents and Real Estate Statistics Unit |year=2007 |isbn=978-91-618-1361-2 |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BO0801_2007A01_BR_BO01SA0701.pdf |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325013009/http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BO0801_2007A01_BR_BO01SA0701.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Sweden |volume=26 |pages=188–221 |short=1}}
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook Sweden: Social and economic conditions] (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
* {{cite book |title=World Criminal Justice Systems: A Survey |first=Richard J. |last=Terrill |publisher=[[Elsevier]] |year=2009 |edition=7 |isbn=978-1-59345-612-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJaEzC1CBe8C&pg=PA248 }}
* Uddhammar, Emil (1993). ''Partierna och den stora staten: en analys av statsteorier och svensk politik under 1900-talet''. Stockholm, City University Press.
* [[United States Department of State]] – [https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2880.htm Sweden]
* Zuckerman, Phil (2007), Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns PDF i Cambridge Companion to Atheism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-60367-6}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Sweden}}
{{Wikivoyage}}

* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ Sweden]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/576478/Sweden Sweden] entry at ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090125101315/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/sweden.htm Sweden] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{curlie|Regional/Europe/Sweden}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17955808 Sweden profile] from the [[BBC News]]
* {{Wikiatlas|Sweden}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|52822}}
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=SE Key Development Forecasts for Sweden] from [[International Futures]]
* [http://www.studyinsweden.se/ Study in Sweden] – official guide to studying in Sweden
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141230162402/http://www.circle.lu.se/upload/CIRCLE/workingpapers/200906_Schoen.pdf Wayback Machine] Technological Waves and Economic Growth in Sweden 1850–2005
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150928122527/http://eh.net/encyclopedia/sweden-economic-growth-and-structural-change-1800-2000/ Sweden – Economic Growth and Structural Change, 1800–2000] — EH.Net Encyclopedia
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131207061449/http://www.vifanord.de/index.php?id=1&L=1&rd=243343734 vifanord] – a digital library that provides scientific information on the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as the Baltic region as a whole

'''Public sector'''
* [https://sweden.se/ Sweden.se] — Sweden’s official portal
* [http://www.riksdagen.se/en/ The Swedish Parliament] – official website
* [http://www.government.se/ The Government of Sweden] – official website
* [http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt.4.367010ad11497db6cba800054503.html The Royal Court] – official website of the Swedish Monarchy

'''News media'''
* [http://www.radiosweden.org/ Radio Sweden] – public service
* [http://www.svt.se/ Sveriges Television] {{in lang|sv}} – public service
* [http://www.dn.se/ Dagens Nyheter] {{in lang|sv}}
* [http://www.svd.se/ Svenska Dagbladet] {{in lang|sv}}
* [http://www.thelocal.se/ The Local – Sweden's news in English] – independent English language news site

'''Trade'''
* [http://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/Country/SWE/Year/2012/Summary World Bank Summary Trade Statistics Sweden]

'''Travel'''
* [http://www.visitsweden.com/ VisitSweden.com] – official travel and tourism website for Sweden
{{Sweden topics}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Articles related to Sweden
|list =
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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sweden| ]]
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Talk:Sweden

2021-11-24T16:12:38Z

Lirae22: /* Precedence */ new section

Sweden

2021-11-24T16:07:37Z

Lirae22: Undid revision 1056945603 by TylerBurden (talk) there's a constitution. The speaker has precedence

{{short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{About|the country}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Coord|63|N|16|E|type:country_region:SE|display=title}}{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Sweden
| common_name = Sweden
| native_name = {{native name|sv|Konungariket Sverige}}
| image_flag = Flag of Sweden.svg
| image_coat = Great coat of arms of Sweden.svg
| symbol_type = [[Coat of arms of Sweden|Coat of arms]]
| national_motto = {{lang|sv|För Sverige – i tiden}}{{ref label|aaa|a}} (English: "For Sweden – With the Times")<ref>{{cite web |title = Mottoes of The Kings and Queens of Sweden |url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/themonarchyinsweden/mottoesofthemonarchs.4.396160511584257f2180004713.html |publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] |website = www.kungahuset.se |access-date = 22 December 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223021154/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/themonarchyinsweden/mottoesofthemonarchs.4.396160511584257f2180004713.html |archive-date = 23 December 2015 |url-status=live |df = dmy-all }}</ref>
| national_anthem = ''{{lang|sv|[[Du gamla, Du fria]]}}''{{ref label|bbb|b}} ({{Lang-en|"Thou ancient, Thou free"}})<div style="padding-top:0.5em;">{{center|[[File:United States Navy Band - Sweden.ogg]]}}</div>
| royal_anthem = ''{{lang|sv|[[Kungssången]]}}'' (English: "Song of the King")
| image_map = {{Switcher|[[File:EU-Sweden (orthographic projection).svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show globe|[[File:EU-Sweden.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show map of Europe|default=1}}
| map_caption = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Sweden.svg}}
| capital = [[Stockholm]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|59|21|N|18|4|E|type:city}}
| largest_city = capital
| official_languages = [[Swedish language|Swedish]]{{ref label|ccc|c}}
| languages_type = National minority languages
| languages = {{hlist | [[Sámi languages|Sámi]] | [[Finnish language|Finnish]] | [[Meänkieli language|Meänkieli]] | [[Romani language|Romani]] | [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]}}
| ethnic_groups = {{unbulleted list
| 74.5% [[Swedes|Swedish]]
| 25.5% [[Immigration to Sweden|Others]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2019
| ethnic_groups_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgFin/ |title= Number of persons with foreign or Swedish background (detailed division) by region, age and sex. Year 2002 - 2019 |date = 31 December 2019 |website=SCB.se |publisher=Statistics Sweden |access-date = 19 January 2021}}</ref>
| religion = {{ublist |item_style=white-space;
|66.8% [[Christianity in Sweden|Christianity]]
|—60.3% [[Church of Sweden]]{{efn|The Monarch and dynastic members of the Royal House must at all times be [[Protestantism|Protestant Christians]] of the [[Church of Sweden]], but protestantism has not been the official state religion since the year 2000.<ref name="The Act of Succession">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Act-of-Succession/| title = The Act of Succession | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 24 October 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Nergelius:42-44">[[#Nergelius|Nergelius]]: pp. 42–44.</ref><ref name="svenskakyrkan stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik|title=Svenska kyrkan i siffror|publisher=Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan)}}</ref> However, the Church is recognized by law<ref>.[http://riksdagen.se/webbnav/index.aspx?nid=3911&bet=1998:1591 "SFS 1998:1591"], Riksdagen</ref> and is still supported by the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sweden.org.za/church-of-sweden.html|title=Church of Sweden|website=www.sweden.org.za|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref>}}
|—6.5% Other [[List of Christian denominations|Christian]]
|27.0% [[Irreligion in Sweden|No religion]]
|5.0% [[Islam in Sweden|Islam]]
|1.2% [[Religion in Sweden|Others]]}}
| religion_year = 2017
| religion_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/sweden#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010&region_name=All+Countries&restrictions_year=2016|title=Religions in Sweden | PEW-GRF|website=www.globalreligiousfutures.org|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hackett|first1=Conrad|title=5 facts about the Muslim population in Europe|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/29/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/|website=Pew Research/Fact Tank|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817033409/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/29/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| demonym = {{hlist |[[Swedish people|Swedish]] |[[Swedes|Swede]]}}
| government_type = {{nowrap|[[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[constitutional monarchy]]}}
| leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of Sweden|Monarch]]
| leader_name1 = [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]]
| leader_title2 = [[Speaker of the Riksdag]]
| leader_name2 = [[Andreas Norlén]]
| leader_title3 = [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name3 = [[Magdalena Andersson]]
| legislature = [[Riksdag]]
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Sweden|History]]
| established_event1 = A unified Swedish kingdom established
| established_date1 = By the early 12th century
| established_event2 = Part of [[Kalmar Union]]
| established_date2 = 1397–1523
| established_event3 = Part of [[Swedish-Norwegian Union]]
| established_date3 = 4 November 1814 – August 1905<ref name=NEsvno>{{cite web|last1=Norborg|first1=Lars-Arne|title=svensk–norska unionen|url=http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/svensk-norska-unionen|website=ne.se|publisher=[[Nationalencyklopedin]]|access-date=6 August 2015|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/svensk-norska-unionen|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| established_event4 = [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|Joined]] the [[European Union]]
| established_date4 = 1 January 1995
| area_km2 = 450,295
| area_rank = 55th
| area_sq_mi = 175,896
| percent_water = 8.37 (as of 2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER#}}</ref>
| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 10,402,070<ref name=population>[https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/befolkning/befolkningens-sammansattning/befolkningsstatistik/] [[Statistics Sweden]]. Retrieved 8 July 2021.</ref>
| population_estimate_year = February 2021
| population_estimate_rank = 88th
| population_density_km2 = 25
| population_density_sq_mi = 65
| population_density_rank = 198th
| GDP_PPP = {{nowrap|{{increase}} $563.882 billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=61&pr.y=4&sy=2017&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=144&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>}}
| GDP_PPP_year = 2020
| GDP_PPP_rank = 39th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $52,477<ref name="imf2" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 16th
| GDP_nominal = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} $528.929 billion<ref name="imf2" />}}
| GDP_nominal_year = 2020
| GDP_nominal_rank = 23rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{decrease}} $50,339<ref name="imf2" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 12th
| Gini = 26.9 
| Gini_year = 2020
| Gini_change = decrease 
| Gini_ref = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey|publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>
| Gini_rank =
| HDI = 0.945 
| HDI_year = 2019
| HDI_change = increase 
| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite book|title=Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene|date=15 December 2020|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|isbn=978-92-1-126442-5|pages=343–346|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 7th
| currency = [[Swedish krona]]
| currency_code = SEK
| time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| date_format = YYYY-MM-DD
| drives_on = right{{ref label|eee|e}}
| calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Sweden|+46]]
| cctld = [[.se]]{{ref label|fff|f}}
| footnote_a = {{note|aaa}} "{{lang|sv|För Sverige – I tiden}}" has been adopted by [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]] as his personal motto.
| footnote_b = {{note|bbb}} ''{{lang|sv|[[Du gamla, Du fria]]}}'' has never been officially adopted as national anthem, but is so by convention.
| footnote_c = {{note|ccc}} Since 1 July 2009.<ref name="Swedish" /><ref name="Swedish2" /> Five other languages are [[Minority languages of Sweden|officially recognised as minority languages]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119#item100400 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206102022/http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119 |archive-date=6 February 2014 |title=Är svenskan också officiellt språk i Sverige? |trans-title=Is Swedish also an official language in Sweden? |publisher=[[Swedish Language Council]] |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=22 June 2008 |language=sv}}</ref> [[Finnish language|Finnish]], [[Meänkieli]], [[Romani language|Romani]], [[Sami languages|Sami]], and [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]. The [[Swedish Sign Language]] also has a special status.
| footnote_d = {{note|ddd}} Persons who have foreign backgrounds are defined as persons who are foreign born, or born in Sweden with foreign born parents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgGrov/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=86abd797-7854-4564-9150-c9b06ae3ab07c9b06ae3ab07# |title=Statistical database - Select variable and values |publisher=Statistikdatabasen.scb.se |date=19 March 2020 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> As the [[Government of Sweden|Swedish government]] does not base any statistics on [[ethnicity]], there are no exact numbers on the [[Ethnicity|ethnic]] background of migrants and their descendants in Sweden. This is not, however, to be confused with migrants' [[Nationality|national backgrounds]], which are recorded.
| footnote_e = {{note|eee}} Since [[Dagen H|3 September 1967]].
| footnote_f = {{note|fff}} The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
| iso3166code = SE
| today =
}}

'''Sweden''' ({{lang-sv|Sverige}} {{IPA-sv|ˈsvæ̌rjɛ||Sv-Sverige.ogg}}), officially the '''Kingdom of Sweden''' ({{lang-sv|links=no|Konungariket Sverige}} {{IPA-sv|ˈkôːnɵŋaˌriːkɛt ˈsvæ̌rjɛ||Sv-Konungariket Sverige.ogg}}), is a [[Nordic countries|Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]].<ref name="UNGEGN">The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of Sweden. [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/geonames/ UNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden.]</ref> It borders [[Norway]] to the west and north, [[Finland]] to the east, and is connected to [[Denmark]] in the southwest by [[Øresund Bridge|a bridge-tunnel]] across the [[Øresund|Öresund Strait]]. At {{convert|450295|km2|sqmi}}, Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe, the third-largest country in the [[European Union]], and the [[List of European countries by area|fifth largest country]] in Europe. The [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city is [[Stockholm]]. Sweden has a total population of 10.4 million;<ref name="population" /> and a low population density of {{convert|25|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}. 87% of Swedes live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area. The highest concentration is in the central and southern half of the country.

Sweden is part of the geographical area of [[Fennoscandia]]. The [[Swedish climate|climate]] is in general mild for its northerly latitude due to significant maritime influence. In spite of the high latitude, Sweden often has warm continental summers, being located in between the [[North Atlantic]], the [[Baltic Sea]], and vast [[Russia]]. The general climate and environment vary significantly from the south and north due to the vast latitudinal difference, and much of Sweden has reliably cold and snowy winters. [[South Sweden|Southern Sweden]] is predominantly [[agriculture|agricultural]], while [[Norrland terrain|the north]] is heavily forested and includes a portion of the [[Scandinavian Mountains]].

[[Germanic peoples]] have inhabited Sweden since [[prehistoric times]], emerging into history as the [[Geats]] ({{lang-sv|Götar|links=no}}) and [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Swedes]] ({{lang|sv|Svear}}) and constituting the sea peoples known as the [[Norsemen]]. An independent Swedish state emerged during the early 12th century. After the [[Black Death]] in the middle of the 14th century killed about a third of the [[Scandinavia]]n population,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://historiska.se/upptack-historien/artikel/digerdoden/ |title=Digerdöden |publisher=Historiska Museet |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902010901/http://historiska.se/upptack-historien/artikel/digerdoden/ |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fof.se/tidning/2013/1/artikel/varre-forskarna-anat-digerdoden |title=Värre än forskarna anat: Digerdöden |date=15 December 2012 |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902012004/http://fof.se/tidning/2013/1/artikel/varre-forskarna-anat-digerdoden |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> the dominance of the [[Hanseatic League]] in Northern Europe threatened Scandinavia economically and politically. This led to the forming of the Scandinavian [[Kalmar Union]] in 1397,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/sverige-under-medeltiden-:del-3-av-3-kalmarunionens-tid. |title=Artikelarkiv |website=SO-rummet |access-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009181105/https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/sverige-under-medeltiden-:del-3-av-3-kalmarunionens-tid. |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which Sweden left in 1523. When Sweden became involved in the [[Thirty Years' War]] on the Protestant side, an expansion of its territories began and eventually the [[Swedish Empire]] was formed. This became one of the [[great power]]s of Europe until the early 18th century. Swedish territories outside the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]] were gradually lost during the 18th and 19th centuries, ending with the annexation of present-day Finland by [[Russian Empire|Russia]] in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814 when Norway was militarily forced into a [[union between Sweden and Norway|personal union]], which [[dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden|peacefully dissolved]] in 1905. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, maintaining an official policy of [[Swedish neutrality|neutrality]] in foreign affairs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/2/among-the-disclosures-in-the-19-documents-released/ |title=WikiLeaks reveal Swedes gave intel on Russia, Iran |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |first=Ben |last=Birnbaum |date=2 December 2010 |access-date=10 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721081420/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/2/among-the-disclosures-in-the-19-documents-released/ |archive-date=21 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Sweden celebrated 200 years of peace, breaking even [[Switzerland]]'s record for peace.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20140815/sweden-celebrates-200-years-of-peace |title=Sweden celebrates 200 years of peace |newspaper=[[The Local]] |first=Solveig |last=Rundquist |date=15 August 2014 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> Sweden was formally neutral through both world wars and the [[Cold War]], albeit Sweden has since 2009 openly moved towards cooperation with [[NATO]].

Sweden is a [[constitutional monarchy]] and a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[democracy]], with [[legislature|legislative power]] vested in the 349-member [[unicameral]] {{lang|sv|[[Riksdag]]}}. It is a [[unitary state]], currently divided into [[counties of Sweden|21 counties]] and [[municipalities of Sweden|290 municipalities]]. Sweden maintains a [[Nordic model|Nordic social welfare system]] that provides [[universal health care]] and [[tertiary education]] for its citizens. It has the [[list of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|world's eleventh-highest per capita income]] and ranks very highly in [[quality of life]], health, [[education Index|education]], protection of [[freedom in the World|civil liberties]], economic competitiveness, [[gini coefficient|income equality]], [[gender equality]], [[legatum Prosperity Index|prosperity]] and [[human Development Index|human development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2013_EN_complete.pdf |title=2013 Human Development Report |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |access-date=28 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818132717/http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2013_EN_complete.pdf |archive-date=18 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="OECD Better Life Index">{{cite web |title=OECD Better Life Index |url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |publisher=[[OECD Publishing]] |access-date=27 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901021731/http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |archive-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wefcomp" /> Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995, but has rejected NATO membership, as well as [[Eurozone]] membership following a [[2003 Swedish euro referendum|referendum]]. It is also a member of the [[United Nations]], the [[Nordic Council]], the [[Council of Europe]], the [[World Trade Organization]] and the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD).

== Etymology ==
{{Main|Name of Sweden}}

The word Sweden is derived from 17th century [[Middle Dutch]] and [[Middle Low German]]. As early as 1287, references are found in Middle Dutch referring to a ''lande van sweden'' ("land of (the) Swedes"), with ''swede'' as the singular form.<ref>[https://gtb.ivdnt.org/iWDB/search?actie=article&wdb=VMNW&id=ID4508&lemmodern=Zweden Lemma: SWEDEN], ''[[Dutch Language Union#Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal|Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal]]</ref> In [[Old English]] the country was named ''Swéoland'' and ''Swíoríce'' ([[Old Norse]] ''Svíþjóð''). [[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] of the 12th and 13th centuries used ''Suane'', ''Swane'' (with the adjective as ''Suaneis''). In [[Scots language|Scots]] ''Swane'', ''Swaine'', appears in the 16th century. [[Early Modern English]] used ''Swedeland''.<ref>{{OED|Sweden|ID=195631}}</ref>

The Swedish name ''Sverige'' (a compound of the words ''Svea'' and ''rike'', with [[lenition]] of the consonant [k], first recorded in the cognate ''Swēorice'' in [[Beowulf]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |trans-title=Swedish etymological dictionary |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerup |location=Lund |language=sv |page=917 |url=http://runeberg.org/svetym/1005.html |access-date=30 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828081321/http://runeberg.org/svetym/1005.html |archive-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> literally means "realm of the [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Swedes]]", excluding the [[Geats]] in [[Götaland]].

Variations of the name ''Sweden'' are used in most languages, with the exception of [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] using ''Sverige'', [[Faroese language|Faroese]] ''Svøríki'', [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] ''Svíþjóð'', and the more notable exception of some [[Finnic languages]] where ''Ruotsi'' ([[Finnish language|Finnish]]) and ''Rootsi'' ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]) are used, names commonly considered as referring to the people from the coastal areas of [[Roslagen]], [[Uppland]], who were known as the ''[[Rus' people|Rus']]'', and through them etymologically related to the English name for [[Russia]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The etymology of ''Swedes'', and thus ''Sweden'', is generally agreed to derive from a root *[[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/swé|s(w)e]], meaning "one's own",<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Indogermanisches-Etymologisches-Woerterbuch ''Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch'' by Julius Pokorny] (English translation), p. 1493</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Friesen (von) |first=O. |title=Verdandis småskrifter (Verdandis Pamphlets) nr. 200. |year=1915 |location=Stockholm}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |url=https://archive.org/details/svensketymologis00hell |trans-title=Swedish etymological dictionary |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerup |location=Lund |language=sv |page=[https://archive.org/details/svensketymologis00hell/page/915 915]}}</ref> referring to one's own Germanic tribe.

==History==
{{Main|History of Sweden}}

===Prehistory===
{{Main|Prehistoric Sweden}}
[[File:Vendel I helmet 456057.jpg|thumb|A [[Vendel Period|Vendel-era]] helmet, at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities]]
Sweden's prehistory begins in the [[Allerød oscillation]], a warm period around 12,000 BC,<ref name="DelsonTattersall2004">{{cite book|author1=Eric Delson|author2=Ian Tattersall|author3=John Van Couvering|title=Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory: Second Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6GFGsswTIO8C&pg=PA569|year=2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-58228-9|page=569}}</ref> with Late [[Palaeolithic]] [[reindeer]]-hunting camps of the [[Bromme culture]] at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province, [[Scania]]. This period was characterized by small bands of [[Hunter-gatherer|hunter-gatherer-fishers]] using [[flint]] technology.<ref name="Price2015">{{cite book|author=Theron Douglas Price|title=Ancient Scandinavia: An Archaeological History from the First Humans to the Vikings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbC6BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA43|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-023197-2|page=43}}</ref>

Sweden is first described in a written source in ''[[Germania (book)|Germania]]'' by [[Tacitus]] in 98 AD.<ref name="ElgánScobbie2015">{{cite book|author1=Elisabeth Elgán|author2=Irene Scobbie|title=Historical Dictionary of Sweden|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iJpCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA5|year=2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-5071-0|page=5}}</ref> In [[s:Germania#XLIV|Germania 44 and 45]] he mentions the Swedes (''Suiones'') as a powerful tribe (''distinguished not merely for their arms and men, but for their powerful fleets'') with ships that had a [[prow]] at each end ([[longship]]s).<ref name="Brunsdale2016">{{cite book|author=Mitzi M. Brunsdale|title=Encyclopedia of Nordic Crime Fiction: Works and Authors of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden Since 1967|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAQXDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA368|year=2016|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-7536-0|page=368}}</ref> Which kings (''kuningaz'') ruled these Suiones is unknown, but [[Norse mythology]] presents a long line of legendary and semi-legendary kings going back to the last centuries BC. As for literacy in Sweden itself, the [[runic alphabet|runic script]] was in use among the south Scandinavian elite by at least the 2nd century AD, but all that has come down to the present from the Roman Period is curt inscriptions on artefacts, mainly of male names, demonstrating that the people of south Scandinavia spoke [[Proto-Norse]] at the time, a language ancestral to Swedish and other [[North Germanic languages]].<ref name="McIntosh2019">{{cite book|author=Christopher McIntosh|title=Beyond the North Wind: The Fall and Rise of the Mystic North|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6vpwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA71|year=2019|publisher=Red Wheel Weiser|isbn=978-1-63341-090-9|pages=71–72}}</ref>

In the 6th century, [[Jordanes]] names two tribes living in [[Scandza]], both of which are now considered to be synonymous with the Swedes: the ''Suetidi'' and ''Suehans''. ''Suetidi'' is considered to be the Latin form of ''Svíþjóð'', the Old Norse name for the Swedes. Jordanes describes the ''Suetidi'' and ''[[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Dani]]'' as being of the same stock and the tallest of people. He later mentions other Scandinavian tribes as being of a same stature.<ref name="Berend2007">{{cite book|author=Nora Berend|title=Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' c.900–1200|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmFrVUb5DSwC&pg=PA174|year=2007|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-46836-7|page=174}}</ref> The ''Suehans'' were known to the Roman world as suppliers of black fox skins and, according to Jordanes, had very fine horses, similar to those of the ''[[Thuringians|Thyringi]]'' of ''Germania'' (''alia vero gens ibi moratur Suehans, quae velud Thyringi equis utuntur eximiis''). The Icelandic historian [[Snorri Sturluson]] also wrote that the Swedish king [[Adils]] (Eadgils) had the finest horses of his day.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===The Vikings===
{{See also|Early Swedish history|Foundation of Modern Sweden|Varangians}}
[[File:Vikings-Voyages.png|upright=1.3|thumb|left|[[Viking]] expeditions (blue lines)]]

The Swedish [[Viking Age]] lasted roughly from the 8th century to the 11th century. It is believed that Swedish Vikings and [[Gutar]] mainly travelled east and south, going to Finland, Estonia, the [[Baltic countries]], Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the [[Black Sea]] and even as far as [[Baghdad]]. Their routes passed [[The Trade Route from the Varangians to the Greeks|through the Dnieper]] south to [[Constantinople]], on which they carried out numerous raids. The [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]] noticed their great skills in war, and invited them to serve as his personal bodyguard, known as the [[Varangian Guard]]. The Swedish Vikings, called [[Rus (people)|Rus]] are believed to be the founding fathers of [[Kievan Rus']].<ref name="MartinMartin1995">{{cite book|author1=Janet L. B. Martin|author2=John D. Martin|title=Medieval Russia, 980-1584|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRCc3TtL9bIC&pg=PA2|year=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-36832-2|page=2}}</ref> The Arab traveller [[Ibn Fadlan]] described these Vikings as follows:

{{quote|I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the [[Volga|Itil]]. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy; they wear neither tunics nor caftans, but the men wear a garment which covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free. Each man has an axe, a sword, and a knife, and keeps each by him at all times. The swords are broad and grooved, of Frankish sort.<ref>Quoted from: Gwyn Jones. ''A History of the Vikings''. Oxford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-19-280134-1}}. Page 164.</ref>}}
[[File:Bildsten med skepp 800-1099 Tjängvide, Gotland.jpg|thumb|The [[Tjängvide image stone]] dating from 800 to 1099, example of Viking art]]
The actions of these [[Vikings|Swedish Vikings]] are commemorated on many [[runestone]]s in Sweden, such as the [[Greece runestones]] and the [[Varangian runestones]]. There was also considerable participation in expeditions westwards, which are commemorated on stones such as the [[England runestones]]. The last major Swedish Viking expedition appears to have been the ill-fated expedition of [[Ingvar the Far-Travelled]] to [[Serkland]], the region south-east of the [[Caspian Sea]]. Its members are commemorated on the [[Ingvar runestones]], none of which mentions any survivor. What happened to the crew is unknown, but it is believed that they died of sickness.

=== The Kingdom of Sweden ===
It is not known when and how the kingdom of Sweden was born, but the [[list of Swedish monarchs]] is drawn from the first kings known to have ruled both [[Svealand]] (Sweden) and Götaland (Gothia) as one province, beginning with [[Eric the Victorious]]. Sweden and Gothia were two separate nations long before that and since antiquity. It is not known how long they existed: the epic poem ''Beowulf'' describes semi-legendary [[Swedish-Geatish wars]] in the 6th century. ''Götaland'' in this sense mainly includes the provinces of [[Östergötland]] (East Gothia) and [[Västergötland]] (West Gothia). The island of [[Gotland]] was disputed by other than Swedes, at this time (Danish, Hanseatic, and Gotland-domestic). [[Småland]] was at that time of little interest to anyone due to the deep pine forests, and only the city of [[Kalmar]] with its castle was of importance. The south-west parts of the Scandinavian peninsula consisted of three Danish provinces ([[Scania]], [[Blekinge]] and [[Halland]]). North of Halland, Denmark had a direct border to Norway and its province [[Bohuslän]]. But there were Swedish settlements along the southern coastline of [[Norrland]].

[[File:Suecia 1-064 ; Gambla Ubsala högar.png|thumb|left|[[Gamla Uppsala]] (Old Uppsala), a site of religious and political importance in the early days of Sweden]]

During the early stages of the Scandinavian Viking Age, [[Ystad]] in the [[Denmark|Danish]] province Scania and [[Paviken]] on Gotland were flourishing centres of trade, but they were not parts of the early Swedish Kingdom. Remains of what is believed to have been a large market dating from 600 to 700 CE have been found in Ystad.<ref name="Sawyer" /> In Paviken, an important centre of trade in the Baltic region during the 9th and 10th century, remains have been found of a large Viking Age harbour with shipbuilding yards and handicraft industries. Between 800 and 1000, trade brought an abundance of silver to Gotland, and according to some scholars, the Gotlanders of this era hoarded more silver than the rest of the population of Scandinavia combined.<ref name="Sawyer">{{cite book |last1=Sawyer |first1=Birgit |first2=Peter |last2=Sawyer |year=1993 |title=Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |isbn=978-0-8166-1739-5 |pages=150–153}}</ref>

[[Ansgar|St Ansgar]] is usually credited with introducing Christianity in 829, but the new religion did not begin to fully replace [[paganism]] until the 12th century. During the 11th century, Christianity became the prevalent religion, and from 1050 Sweden is counted as a Christian nation. The period between 1100 and 1400 was characterised by internal power struggles and competition among the Nordic kingdoms. In the years 1150–1293 according to the legend of [[Eric IX of Sweden|Eric IX]] and the ''[[Eric Chronicles]]'' Swedish kings made a [[First Swedish Crusade|first]], [[Second Swedish Crusade|second]] and [[Third Swedish Crusade|third crusade]] to pagan Finland against [[Finns proper|Finns]], [[Tavastians]] and [[Karelians]] and started conflicts with the [[Kievan Rus'|Rus']] who no longer had any connection with Sweden.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bagge |first=Sverre |chapter=The Scandinavian Kingdoms |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History |editor-first=Rosamond |editor-last=McKitterick |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-521-36289-4 |page=724 |quote=Swedish expansion in Finland led to conflicts with Rus', which were temporarily brought to an end by a peace treaty in 1323, dividing the Karelian peninsula and the northern areas between the two countries.}}</ref> The [[Swedish colonisation of Finland|Swedish colonisation]] of the coastal areas of Finland started also during the 12th and 13th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=När kom svenskarna till Finland?|editor-first=Ann-Marie|editor-last=Ivars|editor-first2=Lena|editor-last2= Hulden|publisher=Studier utg. av Svenska Litteratursällskapet i Finland 646|year=2002|location=Helsinki}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Om svenskarnes inflyttningar till Finland|last=Meinander|first=Carl Fredrik|publisher=Historisk Tidskrift för Finland 3/1983|year=1983}}</ref> In the 14th century, the Swedish colonisation of coastal areas of Finland began to be more organised and in the end of the century several of the coastal areas of Finland were inhabited mostly by Swedes.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sveriges Österland: Från forntiden till Gustav Vasa. Finlands svenska historia 1. Skrifter utgivna av Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland 702:1.|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland; Stockholm: Atlantis|year=2008|location=Helsinki}}</ref>

[[File:Skogbonaden.jpg|thumb|[[Skog tapestry]], made most probably during the late 13th century.]]

Except for the provinces of Scania, Blekinge and Halland in the south-west of the Scandinavian peninsula, which were parts of the Kingdom of Denmark during this time, [[feudalism]] never developed in Sweden as it did in the rest of Europe.<ref>{{cite book |first=Franklin D. |last=Scott |title=Sweden: The Nation's History |url=https://archive.org/details/swedennationshis00scot |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis |year=1977 |page=[https://archive.org/details/swedennationshis00scot/page/58 58]|isbn=9780816608041 }}</ref> The peasantry, therefore, remained largely a class of free farmers throughout most of Swedish history. [[Slavery]] (also called [[thrall]]dom) was not common in Sweden,<ref>{{cite book |url=http://runeberg.org/nfcj/0106.html |title=Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi. Bd 30 |editor-last=Westrin |editor-first=Theodor |edition=New, rev. and richly ill. |year=1920 |publisher=Nordisk familjeboks förl. |location=Stockholm |pages=159–160 |access-date=17 September 2014 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620062821/http://runeberg.org/nfcj/0106.html |archive-date=20 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and what slavery there was tended to be driven out of existence thanks to the spread of Christianity as well as to the difficulty to obtain slaves from the lands east of the Baltic Sea, and by the development of cities before the 16th century.<ref>Scott, p. 55.</ref> Indeed, both slavery and [[serfdom]] were abolished altogether by a decree of [[Magnus IV of Sweden|King Magnus IV]] in 1335. Former slaves tended to be absorbed into the peasantry, and some became labourers in the towns. Still, Sweden remained a poor and economically backward country in which barter was the primary means of exchange. For instance, the farmers of the province of [[Dalsland]] would transport their butter to the mining districts of Sweden and exchange it there for iron, which they would then take to the coast and trade for fish, which they consumed, while the iron would be shipped abroad.<ref>Scott, pp. 55–56.</ref>

In the middle of the 14th century, Sweden was struck by the [[Black Death]].<ref>Scott, pp. 56–57.</ref> The population of Sweden and most of Europe was decimated. The population (at same territory) did not reach the numbers of the year 1348 again until the beginning of the 19th century. One third of the population died in the triennium of 1349–1351. During this period, the Swedish cities began to acquire greater rights and were strongly influenced by German merchants of the [[Hanseatic League]], active especially at [[Visby]]. In 1319, Sweden and Norway were united under King Magnus Eriksson, and in 1397 Queen [[Margaret I of Denmark]] effected the personal union of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through the [[Kalmar Union]]. However, Margaret's successors, whose rule was also centred in Denmark, were unable to control the Swedish nobility.

[[File:Gustav Vasa.jpg|thumb|left|185px|[[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav I]] [[Swedish War of Liberation|liberated]] Sweden from [[Christian II of Denmark]], ending the [[Kalmar Union]]. He established the [[House of Vasa]] which ruled Sweden and [[Poland]] until the 17th century]]

Many times the Swedish crown was inherited by child kings over the course of the kingdom's existence; consequently, real power was held for long periods by regents (notably those of the [[Sture]] family) chosen by the Swedish parliament. King [[Christian II of Denmark]], who asserted his claim to Sweden by force of arms, ordered a massacre of Swedish nobles in Stockholm in 1520. This came to be known as the "[[Stockholm blood bath]]" and stirred the Swedish nobility to new resistance and, on 6 June (now Sweden's national holiday) in 1523, they made [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav Vasa]] their king.<ref>Scott, p. 121.</ref> This is sometimes considered as the [[foundation of modern Sweden]]. Shortly afterwards the new king rejected Catholicism and led Sweden into the [[Protestant Reformation]].

The Hanseatic League had been officially formed at [[Lübeck]] on the Baltic coast of [[Holy Roman Empire|Northern Germany]] in 1356. The League sought civil and commercial privileges from the princes and royalty of the countries and cities along the coasts of the Baltic Sea.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Robert S. |last1=Hoyt |first2=Stanley |last2=Chodorow |title=Europe in the Middle Ages |url=https://archive.org/details/europeinmiddleag00robe |url-access=registration |publisher=Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich, Inc. |location=New York |year=1976 |page=[https://archive.org/details/europeinmiddleag00robe/page/628 628]|isbn=9780155247123 }}</ref> In exchange, they offered a certain amount of protection to the joining cities. Having their own navy, the Hansa were able to sweep the Baltic Sea free of pirates.<ref>{{cite book |first=John B. |last=Wolfe |title=The Emergence of European Civilization |publisher=Harper & Row Pub. |location=New York |year=1962 |pages=50–51}}</ref> The privileges obtained by the Hansa included assurances that only Hansa citizens would be allowed to trade from the ports where they were located. They sought agreement to be free of all customs and taxes. With these concessions, Lübeck merchants flocked to Stockholm, where they soon came to dominate the city's economic life and made the port city of Stockholm into the leading commercial and industrial city of Sweden.<ref name="Scott, p. 52">Scott, p. 52.</ref> Under the Hanseatic trade, two-thirds of Stockholm's imports consisted of [[textiles]], while the remaining third was [[salt]]. The main exports from Sweden were [[iron]] and [[copper]].<ref name="Scott, p. 52"/>

However, the Swedes began to resent the monopoly trading position of the Hansa (mostly consisting of German citizens), and to resent the income they felt they lost to the Hansa. Consequently, when Gustav Vasa or [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav I]] broke the monopoly power of the Hanseatic League he was regarded as a hero by the Swedish people.<ref>Scott, p. 132.</ref> History now views Gustav I as the father of the modern Swedish nation. The foundations laid by Gustav would take time to develop. Furthermore, when Sweden did develop, freed itself from the Hanseatic League, and entered its golden era, the fact that the peasantry had traditionally been free meant that more of the economic benefits flowed back to them rather than going to a feudal landowning class.<ref>Scott, pp. 156–157.</ref>

The end of the 16th century was marked by a final phase of rivalry between the remaining Catholics and the new Protestant communities. In 1592, Gustav Vasa's Catholic grandson and [[king of Poland]], [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund]], ascended the Swedish throne.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfB5DwAAQBAJ&q=sigismund+vasa+1592&pg=PA35|title=British and Irish Emigrants and Exiles in Europe, 1603–1688|first=David|last=Worthington|date=15 January 2010|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9789047444589|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> He pursued to strengthen [[Holy See|Rome]]'s influence by initiating [[Counter-Reformation]] and created a dual monarchy, which temporarily became known as the [[Polish-Swedish Union]]. His despotic rule, strongly characterized by intolerance towards the Protestants, sparked a [[War against Sigismund|civil war]] that plunged Sweden into poverty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ba08AAAAIAAJ&q=war+against+sigismund&pg=PA172|title=the cambridge modern history|date=3 June 2019|publisher=CUP Archive|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> In opposition, Sigismund's uncle and successor, [[Charles IX of Sweden|Charles Vasa]], summoned the [[Uppsala Synod]] in 1593 which officially confirmed the modern [[Church of Sweden]] as [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]. Following his [[deposition (politics)|deposition]] in 1599, Sigismund attempted to reclaim the throne at every expense and hostilities between [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland]] and Sweden continued for the next one hundred years.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b912JnKpYTkC&q=poland+and+sweden&pg=PA327|title=God's Playground A History of Poland: Volume 1: The Origins to 1795|first=Norman|last=Davies|date=24 February 2005|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780199253395|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref>

===Swedish Empire===
[[File:Gustave Adolphe at Breitenfeld-Johann Walter-f3706497.jpg|thumb|[[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustavus Adolphus]] at the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] in 1631.]]
{{See also|History of Sweden (1611–48)|Swedish Empire|Swedish overseas colonies|Age of Liberty|Gustavian era|Sweden–Finland|Union between Sweden and Norway}}

During the 17th century, Sweden emerged as a European [[great power]]. Before the emergence of the Swedish Empire, Sweden was a poor and sparsely populated country on the fringe of European civilisation, with no significant power or reputation. Sweden rose to prominence on a continental scale during the reign of king [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustavus Adolphus]], seizing territories from Russia and [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland–Lithuania]] in multiple conflicts, including the [[Thirty Years' War]].{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=102}}

During the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered approximately half of the Holy Roman states and defeated the Imperial army at the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] in 1631.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} Gustav Adolphus planned to become the new [[Holy Roman Emperor]], ruling over a united Scandinavia and the Holy Roman states, but he was killed at the [[Battle of Lützen (1632)|Battle of Lützen]] in 1632. After the [[Battle of Nördlingen (1634)|Battle of Nördlingen]] in 1634, Sweden's only significant military defeat of the war, pro-Swedish sentiment among the German states faded.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} These German provinces broke away from Swedish power one by one, leaving Sweden with only a few northern German territories: [[Swedish Pomerania]], [[Bremen-Verden]] and [[Wismar]]. From 1643 to 1645, during the last years of the war, Sweden and [[Denmark-Norway]] fought the [[Torstenson War]]. The result of that conflict and the conclusion of the Thirty Years' War helped establish postwar Sweden as a major force in Europe.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}}

[[File:Swedish Empire.svg|thumb|left|260px|The [[Swedish Empire]] between 1611 and 1815, with its absolute peak between 1658 and 1660.]]

In the middle of the 17th century Sweden was the third-largest country in Europe by land area, surpassed by only Russia and Spain. Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of [[Charles X of Sweden|Charles X]] after the [[treaty of Roskilde]] in 1658, following Charles X's risky but successful [[March Across the Belts|crossing of the Danish Belts]].<ref name="HayesPSH">"A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1./Hayes..." Hayes, Carlton J. H. (1882–1964), ''Title: A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1.'', 2002-12-08, Project Gutenberg, webpage: [http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext04/7hsr110.htm Infomot-7hsr110]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117105207/http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext04/7hsr110.htm |date=17 November 2007}}</ref><ref>However, Sweden's largest territorial extent lasted from 1319 to 1343 with [[Magnus IV of Sweden|Magnus Eriksson]] ruling all of the [[Lands of Sweden|traditional lands of Sweden]] and Norway.</ref> The foundation of Sweden's success during this period is credited to Gustav I's major changes to the Swedish economy in the 16th century, and his introduction of [[Protestantism]].<ref name="GusEB">"Gustav I Vasa – Britannica Concise" (biography), ''Britannica Concise'', 2007, webpage: [https://archive.today/20121206031538/http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9366349/Gustav-I-Vasa EBConcise-Gustav-I-Vasa].</ref> In the 17th century, Sweden was engaged in many wars, for example with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, with both sides competing for territories of today's [[Baltic states]], with Sweden suffering a notable defeat at the [[Battle of Kircholm]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/images/kircholm_27_sept.htm |title=Battle of Kircholm 1605 |publisher=Kismeta.com |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614093403/http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/images/kircholm_27_sept.htm |archive-date=14 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> One-third of the Finnish population died in the devastating [[Great Famine of 1695–1697]] that struck the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm|title=Finland and the Swedish Empire|publisher=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]]|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226013534/http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm|archive-date=26 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Famine also hit Sweden, killing roughly 10% of Sweden's population.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Ewan |first2=Janay |last2=Nugent |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153 |title=Finding the family in medieval and early modern Scotland |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |page=153 |isbn=978-0-7546-6049-1 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905194502/https://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Swedes conducted a series of invasions into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]].{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=156}} After more than half a century of almost constant warfare, the Swedish economy had deteriorated. It became the lifetime task of Charles X's son, [[Charles XI of Sweden|Charles XI]], to rebuild the economy and refit the army.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=216}} His legacy to his son, the coming ruler of Sweden, [[Charles XII of Sweden|Charles XII]], was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great fleet.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=222}} Russia, the most serious threat to Sweden at this time, had a larger army but lagged far behind in both equipment and training.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=232}}

After the [[Battle of Narva (1700)|Battle of Narva]] in 1700, one of the first battles of the [[Great Northern War]], the Russian army was so severely devastated that Sweden had an open chance to invade Russia.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=230}} However, Charles XII did not pursue the Russian army, instead [[Swedish invasion of Poland (1701–1706)|turning against Poland–Lithuania]] and defeating the Polish king, [[Augustus II the Strong]], and his Saxon allies at the [[Battle of Kliszów]] in 1702.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=272}} This gave Russia time to rebuild and modernise its army.

[[File:Marten's Poltava.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Battle of Poltava]] in 1709. In the following years, Russia and her allies occupied all [[Dominions of Sweden|Swedish dominions]] on the Baltic coast and even Finland.]]

After the success of invading Poland, Charles XII decided to make an attempt at [[Swedish invasion of Russia|invading Russia]], but this ended in a decisive Russian victory at the [[Battle of Poltava]] in 1709.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=290}} After a long march exposed to [[Cossack]] raids, the Russian Tsar [[Peter the Great]]'s [[scorched-earth]] techniques and [[Great Frost of 1709|the extremely cold winter of 1709]], the Swedes stood weakened with a shattered morale and were enormously outnumbered against the Russian army at Poltava.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=286}} The defeat meant the beginning of the end for the Swedish Empire. In addition, [[The plague during the Great Northern War|the plague raging in East Central Europe]] devastated the Swedish dominions and reached Central Sweden in 1710.<ref>{{cite book|last=Frandsen|first=Karl-Erik|title=The Last Plague in the Baltic Region. 1709–1713|location=Copenhagen|year=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F3bNWrVRMb8C|page=80|isbn=9788763507707}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Engström|first=Nils Göran|title=Pesten i Finland 1710|trans-title=The plague in Finland in 1710|journal=Hippokrates. Suomen Lääketieteen Historian Seuran Vuosikirja|volume=11|year=1994|pages=38–46|pmid=11640321}}</ref> Returning to Sweden in 1715, Charles XII launched [[Great Northern War and Norway|two campaigns against Norway]] on 1716 and 1718, respectively. During the second attempt, he was shot to death during the [[Siege of Fredriksten|siege of]] [[Fredriksten]] fortress.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=295}} The Swedes were not militarily defeated at Fredriksten, but the whole structure and organisation of the campaign fell apart with the king's death, and the army withdrew.

Forced to cede large areas of land in the [[Treaty of Nystad]] in 1721, Sweden also lost its place as an empire and as the dominant state on the Baltic Sea.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=296}} With Sweden's lost influence, Russia emerged as an empire and became one of [[European balance of power|Europe's dominant nations]]. As the war finally ended in 1721, Sweden had lost an estimated 200,000 men, 150,000 of those from the area of present-day Sweden and 50,000 from the [[Finland under Swedish rule|Finnish part of Sweden]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ericson|first=Lars|title=Svenska knektar|location=Lund|publisher=Historiska media|year=2004|language=sv|page=92}}</ref>

In the 18th century, Sweden did not have enough resources to maintain its territories outside Scandinavia, and most of them were lost, culminating with [[Finnish War|the loss in 1809]] of eastern Sweden to Russia, which became the highly autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Principality of Finland]] in [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russia]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Eino|last1=Jutikkala|first2=Kauko|last2=Pirinen|title=A History of Finland|location=Helsinki|year=2003|isbn=951-0-27911-0|page=287}}</ref>

In interest of re-establishing Swedish dominance in the Baltic Sea, Sweden allied itself against its traditional ally and benefactor, France, in the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. However, in 1810, a French Marshal, [[Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte]], was chosen as heir presumptive to the decrepit [[Charles XIII]]; in 1818, he established the [[House of Bernadotte]], taking the [[regnal name]] of Charles XIV. Sweden's role in the [[Battle of Leipzig]] gave it the authority to force Denmark–Norway, an ally of France, to cede Norway to the King of Sweden on 14 January 1814 in exchange for the northern German provinces, at the [[Treaty of Kiel]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Schäfer|first=Anton|title=Zeittafel der Rechtsgeschichte. Von den Anfängen über Rom bis 1919. Mit Schwerpunkt Österreich und zeitgenössischen Bezügen|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l_GeQfwJufAC|year=2002|publisher=Edition Europa Verlag|isbn=3-9500616-8-1|edition=3|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l_GeQfwJufAC/page/n27 137]|language=de}}</ref> The Norwegian attempts to keep their status as a sovereign state were rejected by the Swedish king, [[Charles XIII]]. He launched a [[Swedish–Norwegian War (1814)|military campaign against Norway]] on 27 July 1814, ending in the [[Convention of Moss]], which forced Norway into a [[Union between Sweden and Norway|personal union]] with Sweden under the Swedish crown, which lasted until 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norgeshistorie.no/grunnlov-og-ny-union/artikler/1333-mossekonvensjonen.html |title=Mossekonvensjonen
|work=Norges historie |publisher=[[University of Oslo]] |last=Ottosen |first=Morten Nordhagen |date=25 November 2015|access-date=9 December 2019 |language=no}}</ref> The 1814 campaign was the last time Sweden was at war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20140814/sweden-and-norway-celebrate-200-years-of-peace|title=Sweden and Norway celebrate peace treaty|publisher=The Local Europe AB|date=14 August 2014|access-date=9 December 2019}}</ref>

===Modern history===
{{See also|Modernization of Sweden|Swedish emigration to the United States}}
[[File:Starvation image from Fäderneslandet 1867.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Illustration of starvation in northern Sweden, [[Swedish famine of 1867–1869|Famine of 1867–1869]]]]
The [[Swedish East India Company]], ''Ostindiska Kompaniet'', began in 1731. The obvious choice of home port was [[Gothenburg]] at Sweden's west coast, the mouth of [[Göta älv|Göta älv river]] is very wide and has the county's largest and best harbour for high-seas journeys. The trade continued into the 19th century, and caused the little town to become Sweden's second city.<ref>Tore Frängsmyr, "Ostindiska Kompaniet", Publisher- "Bokförlaget Bra Böcker", [[Höganäs]], 1976. (No ISBN to be found), backside overview and</ref>
There was a significant population increase during the 18th and 19th centuries, which the writer [[Esaias Tegnér]] in 1833 attributed to "the peace, the [[smallpox vaccine]], and the potatoes".<ref>{{cite book|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8020-2938-6|page=1220|editor-last=Magocsi |editor-first=Paul Robert}}</ref> Between 1750 and 1850, the population in Sweden doubled. According to some scholars, mass emigration to America became the only way to prevent famine and rebellion; over 1% of the population emigrated annually during the 1880s.<ref name="Einhorn">{{cite book |last1=Einhorn |first1=Eric |first2=John |last2=Logue |year=1989 |title=Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia |publisher=Praeger Publishers |page=[https://archive.org/details/modernwelfaresta00einh_0/page/9 9] |isbn=978-0275931889 |quote=Though Denmark, where industrialization had begun in the 1850s, was reasonably prosperous by the end of the nineteenth century, both Sweden and Norway were terribly poor. Only the safety valve of mass emigration to America prevented famine and rebellion. At the peak of emigration in the 1880s, over 1% of the total population of both countries emigrated annually. |url=https://archive.org/details/modernwelfaresta00einh_0/page/9 }}</ref> Nevertheless, Sweden remained poor, retaining a nearly entirely agricultural economy even as Denmark and Western European countries began to industrialise.<ref name=Einhorn /><ref>{{cite book |last=Koblik |first=Steven |year=1975 |title=Sweden's Development From Poverty to Affluence, 1750–1970 |url=https://archive.org/details/swedensdevelopme0000kobl |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/swedensdevelopme0000kobl/page/8 8–9] |isbn=978-0816607662 |quote=In economic and social terms the eighteenth century was more a transitional than a revolutionary period. Sweden was, in light of contemporary Western European standards, a relatively poor but stable country. ...It has been estimated that 75–80% of the population was involved in agricultural pursuits during the late eighteenth century. One hundred years later, the corresponding figure was still 72%.}}</ref>
[[File:Farewell to home, Göteborg, 1905.jpg|thumb|Swedish emigrants boarding ship in [[Gothenburg]] in 1905]]
Many looked towards America for a better life during this time. It is thought that between 1850 and 1910 more than one million Swedes moved to the United States.<ref>Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989), p. 8.</ref> In the early 20th century, more Swedes lived in Chicago than in [[Gothenburg]] (Sweden's second largest city).<ref>Ulf Beijbom, [http://www.americanwest.com/swedemigr/pages/emigra.htm "European emigration", The House of Emigrants, Växjö, Sweden] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803004438/http://www.americanwest.com/swedemigr/pages/emigra.htm |date=3 August 2008}}</ref> Most Swedish [[immigrants]] moved to the [[Midwestern United States]], with a large population in [[Minnesota]], with a few others moving to other parts of the United States and Canada.

Despite the slow rate of industrialisation into the 19th century, many important changes were taking place in the agrarian economy due to constant innovations and a rapid population growth.<ref name="Koblik9-10">Koblik, pp. 9–10.</ref> These innovations included government-sponsored programmes of [[enclosure]], aggressive exploitation of agricultural lands, and the introduction of new crops such as the potato.<ref name="Koblik9-10" /> Because the Swedish peasantry had never been enserfed as elsewhere in Europe,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook |title=Sweden: Social and economic conditions (2007) |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530024645/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook |archive-date=30 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Citation needed|reason=Need a citation which explains why absence of historical serfdom had these political implications (Esping-Andersen may help?)|date=January 2021}} the Swedish farming culture began to take on a critical role in Swedish politics, which has continued through modern times with modern Agrarian party (now called the Centre Party).<ref>Koblik, p. 11: "The agrarian revolution in Sweden is of fundamental importance for Sweden's modern development. Throughout Swedish history the countryside has taken an unusually important role in comparison with other European states."</ref> Between 1870 and 1914, Sweden began developing the industrialised economy that exists today.<ref>Koblik, p. 90. "It is usually suggested that between 1870 and 1914 Sweden emerged from its primarily agrarian economic system into a modern industrial economy."</ref>

Strong grassroots movements sprang up in Sweden during the latter half of the 19th century (trade unions, [[temperance movement|temperance]] groups, and independent religious groups), creating a strong foundation of democratic principles. In 1889 The Swedish Social Democratic Party was founded. These movements precipitated Sweden's migration into a modern parliamentary democracy, achieved by the time of World War I. As the [[Industrial Revolution]] progressed during the 20th century, people gradually moved into cities to work in factories and became involved in socialist unions. A communist revolution was avoided in 1917, following the re-introduction of [[parliamentarism]], and the country was [[Democracy|democratised]].

===World War I and World War II===
{{Main|Sweden during World War I|Sweden during World War II}}

Sweden was officially neutral during [[World War I]], although, under German pressure, they did take steps which were detrimental to the [[Allies of World War I|Allied powers]] including mining the [[Øresund]] channel, thus closing it to Allied shipping, and allowing the Germans to use Swedish facilities and the Swedish cipher to transmit secret messages to their overseas embassies.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Siney|first=Marion C.|title=Swedish neutrality and economic warfare in World War I|journal=Conspectus of History|year=1975|volume=1|issue=2|url=http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/ConspectusH&CISOPTR=410&REC=1}}</ref> Sweden also allowed volunteers to fight for the [[White Guard (Finland)|White Guards]] alongside the Germans against the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red Guards]] and Russians in the [[Finnish Civil War]], and briefly occupied the [[Åland Islands]] in co-operation with Germany.

[[File:Swedish soldier during ww2.JPG|thumb|left|A Swedish soldier during World War II. Sweden remained neutral during the conflict.]]

As in the First World War, Sweden remained officially neutral during [[World War II]], although its neutrality during World War II has been disputed.<ref name="Koblik303-313">Koblik, pp. 303–313.</ref><ref>Nordstrom, p. 315: "Sweden's government attempted to maintain at least a semblance of neutrality while it bent to the demands of the prevailing side in the struggle. Although effective in preserving the country's sovereignty, this approach generated criticism at home from many who believed the threat to Sweden was less serious than the government claimed, problems with the warring powers, ill feelings among its neighbours, and frequent criticism in the postwar period."</ref> Sweden was under German influence for much of the war, as ties to the rest of the world were cut off through blockades.<ref name="Koblik303-313" /> The Swedish government felt that it was in no position to openly contest Germany,<ref name="NB313-319" /> and therefore made some concessions.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zubicky|first=Sioma|year=1997|title=Med förintelsen i bagaget|language=sv|publisher=Bonnier Carlsen|location=Stockholm|isbn=978-91-638-3436-3|page=122}}</ref> Sweden also supplied steel and machined parts to Germany throughout the war. The Swedish government unofficially supported Finland in the [[Winter War]] and the [[Continuation War]] by allowing volunteers and [[materiel]] to be shipped to Finland. However, Sweden supported Norwegian resistance against Germany, and in 1943 helped [[Rescue of the Danish Jews|rescue Danish Jews]] from deportation to [[Nazi concentration camps]].

During the last year of the war, Sweden began to play a role in humanitarian efforts, and many refugees, among them several thousand Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, were rescued thanks to the [[White Buses|Swedish rescue missions to internment camps]] and partly because Sweden served as a haven for refugees, primarily from the [[Nordic countries]] and the Baltic states.<ref name="NB313-319" /> The Swedish diplomat [[Raoul Wallenberg]] and his colleagues ensured the safety of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/wallenberg.html |title=Raoul Wallenberg |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=28 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205181950/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/wallenberg.html |archive-date=5 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nevertheless, both Swedes and others have argued that Sweden could have done more to oppose the Nazis' war efforts, even if it meant increasing the risk of occupation.<ref name="NB313-319">Nordstrom, pp. 313–319.</ref>

===Post-war era===
[[File:Olivecrona erlander 380.jpg|thumb|[[Tage Erlander]] (left), Prime Minister under the ruling [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] from 1946 to 1969.]]
Sweden was officially a neutral country and remained outside [[NATO]] and [[Warsaw Pact]] membership during the [[Cold War]], but privately Sweden's leadership had strong ties with the United States and other western governments. Following the war, Sweden took advantage of an intact industrial base, social stability and its natural resources to expand its industry to supply the rebuilding of Europe.<ref name="NB335-339">Nordstrom, pp. 335–339.</ref> Sweden received aid under the [[Marshall Plan]] and participated in the OECD. During most of the post-war era, the country was governed by the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] largely in co-operation with [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation|trade unions]] and industry. The government actively pursued an internationally competitive manufacturing sector of primarily large corporations.<ref name="svensteinmo" />

Sweden was one of the founding states of the [[European Free Trade Area]] (EFTA). During the 1960s the EFTA countries were often referred to as the '''Outer Seven''', as opposed to the [[Inner Six]] of the then-[[European Economic Community]] (EEC).<ref>{{cite news |title=Finland: Now, the Seven and a Half |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=7 April 1961 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |access-date=18 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104144427/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |archive-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sweden, like many industrialised countries, entered a period of economic decline and upheaval following the oil embargoes of 1973–74 and 1978–79.<ref>Nordstrom, p. 344: "During the last 25 years of the century a host of problems plagued the economies of Norden and the West. Although many were present before, the 1973 and 1980 global oil crises acted as catalysts in bringing them to the fore."</ref> In the 1980s several key Swedish industries were significantly restructured. Shipbuilding was discontinued, wood pulp was integrated into modernised paper production, the steel industry was concentrated and specialised, and mechanical engineering was robotised.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Krantz |first1=Olle |first2=Lennart |last2=Schön |year=2007 |title=Swedish Historical National Accounts, 1800–2000 |location=Lund |publisher=Almqvist and Wiksell International}}{{Page needed|date=February 2016}}</ref>

Between 1970 and 1990, the overall tax burden rose by over 10%, and the growth was low compared with other countries in Western Europe. Eventually, the government began to spend over half of the country's gross domestic product. Swedish GDP per capita ranking declined during this time.<ref name="svensteinmo">''Globalization and Taxation: Challenges to the Swedish Welfare State''. By Sven Steinmo.</ref>

===Recent history===
{{See also|History of Sweden (1991–present)}}
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|right|Sweden joined the European Union in 1995 and signed the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in 2007.]]

A bursting real estate bubble caused by inadequate controls on lending combined with an international recession and a policy switch from anti-unemployment policies to anti-inflationary policies resulted in a [[Sweden financial crisis 1990-1994|fiscal crisis]] in the early 1990s.<ref>Englund, P. 1990. "Financial deregulation in Sweden." European Economic Review 34 (2–3): 385–393. Korpi TBD. Meidner, R. 1997. "The Swedish model in an era of mass unemployment." Economic and Industrial Democracy 18 (1): 87–97. Olsen, Gregg M. 1999. "Half empty or half full? The Swedish welfare state in transition." Canadian Review of Sociology & Anthropology, 36 (2): 241–268.</ref> Sweden's GDP declined by around 5%. In 1992, a run on the currency caused the central bank to briefly increase interest rates to 500%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1025624.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215084954/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1025624.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=Sweden's 'Crazy' 500% Interest Rate; Fails to Faze Most Citizens, Businesses; Hike Seen as Short-Term Move to Protect Krona From Devaluation |publisher=Highbeam.com |date=18 September 1992 |access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFh9qk0wBYC&pg=PA44 |title=The Great Financial Crisis in Finland and Sweden |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-84844-305-1 |last1=Jonung |first1=Lars |last2=Kiander |first2=Jaakko |last3=Vartia |first3=Pentti |year=2009 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905193823/https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFh9qk0wBYC&pg=PA44 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The response of the government was to cut spending and institute a multitude of reforms to improve Sweden's competitiveness, among them reducing the [[welfare state]] and [[Privatization|privatising]] public services and goods. Much of the political establishment promoted EU membership, and [[1994 Swedish European Union membership referendum|a referendum]] passed with 52.3% in favour of joining the EU on 13 November 1994. Sweden joined the [[European Union]] on 1 January 1995. In a 2003 referendum the Swedish electorate [[2003 Swedish euro referendum|voted against]] the country joining the [[European Monetary Union|Euro]] currency. In [[2006 Swedish general election|2006]] Sweden got its first majority government for decades as the centre-right [[The Alliance (Sweden)|Alliance]] defeated the incumbent Social Democrat government. Following the rapid growth of support for the anti-immigration [[Sweden Democrats]], and their entrance to the Riksdag in [[2010 Swedish general election|2010]], the Alliance became a minority cabinet.

Sweden remains non-aligned militarily, although it participates in some joint military exercises with NATO and some other countries, in addition to extensive co-operation with other European countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry. Among others, Swedish companies export weapons that were used by the American military in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207 |title=New Swedish weapon in Iraq |newspaper=[[The Local]] |date=7 February 2006 |access-date=10 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429052619/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207 |archive-date=29 April 2013}}</ref> Sweden also has a long history of participating in international military operations, including [[Afghanistan]], where Swedish troops are under NATO command, and in EU-sponsored [[peacekeeping]] operations in [[Kosovo]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], and [[Cyprus]]. Sweden also participated in [[2011 military intervention in Libya|enforcing]] a [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973|UN mandated no-fly zone]] over Libya during the [[Arab Spring]]. Sweden held the chair of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2009.

[[File:Second day of Husby riots, three burning cars.jpg|thumb|Second day of the Stockholm Husby riots. The picture shows three cars on fire in the Stockholm suburb of Husby, 20 May 2013]]
In recent decades Sweden has become a more culturally diverse nation due to significant immigration; in 2013 it was estimated that 15 per cent of the population was foreign-born, and an additional 5 per cent of the population were born to two immigrant parents. The influx of immigrants has brought new social challenges. Violent incidents have [[Rosengård#Violence|periodically occurred]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Rioting breaks out in Malmö suburb |url=http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726145940/http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ |archive-date=26 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fires and rioting after Malmö suburb unrest |url=http://www.thelocal.se/26354/20100429/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205114737/http://www.thelocal.se/26354/20100429/ |archive-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> including the [[May 2013 Stockholm riots|2013 Stockholm riots]] which broke out following the police shooting of an elderly Portuguese immigrant.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden Riots Put Faces to Statistics as Stockholm Burns|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-26/sweden-riots-put-faces-to-statistics-as-stockholm-burns.html|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|access-date=30 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708032558/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-26/sweden-riots-put-faces-to-statistics-as-stockholm-burns.html|archive-date=8 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In response to these violent events, the [[Far-right politics|anti-immigration]] opposition party, the [[Sweden Democrats]], promoted their anti-immigration policies, while the [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] opposition blamed growing inequality caused by the [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] government's socioeconomic policies.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |last=Higgins |first=Andrew |date=26 May 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/swedens-riots-put-its-identity-in-question.html?pagewanted=all |title=In Sweden, Riots Put an Identity in Question |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=1 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531100256/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/swedens-riots-put-its-identity-in-question.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, [[Stefan Löfven]] (Social Democrats) won the General Election and became the new Swedish Prime Minister. The Sweden Democrats held the balance of power and voted the government's budget down in the Riksdag, but due to agreements between the government and the Alliance, the government was able to hang onto power.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30610500|title=Sweden parties reach budget deal to avoid snap election|work=[[BBC News]]|date=27 December 2014|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106013135/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30610500|archive-date=6 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden was heavily affected by the [[2015 European migrant crisis]], eventually forcing the government to tighten regulations of entry to the country, as Sweden received thousands of asylum seekers and migrants predominantly from [[Africa]] and the [[Middle East]] per week in autumn, overwhelming existing structures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/world/europe/sweden-denmark-border-check-migrants.html?_r=0|title=Sweden and Denmark add border controls to stem flows of migrants|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Dan|last=Bilefsky|date=5 January 2016|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107062853/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/world/europe/sweden-denmark-border-check-migrants.html?_r=0|archive-date=7 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the asylum restrictions were relaxed again later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190619/sweden-rolls-back-strict-rules-on-family-reunification|title=Immigration: Sweden rolls back strict rules on family reunification|date=19 June 2019|access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref>

The [[2018 Swedish general election|2018 general election]] saw the [[Red-Greens (Sweden)|Red-greens]] lose seats to the right-wing [[Sweden Democrats]] and to the centre-right parties of the former [[Alliance (Sweden)|Alliance]]. Despite holding only 33% of the seats in the Riksdag, the Social Democrats and the Greens managed to [[2018–19 Swedish government formation|form]] a [[Löfven II Cabinet|minority government]] in January 2019, relying on supply and confidence from the [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]], [[Liberals (Sweden)|Liberals]] and the [[Left Party (Sweden)|Left Party]].

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Sweden}}
[[File:Vy mot Stora Sjöfallet från Saltoluokta.jpg|thumb|left|View of the [[Stora Sjöfallet National Park]]]]
Situated in Northern Europe, Sweden lies west of the [[Baltic Sea]] and [[Gulf of Bothnia]], providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]]. To the west is the [[Scandinavian mountain chain]] (Skanderna), a range that separates Sweden from [[Norway]]. Finland is located to its north-east. It has maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, [[Poland]], Russia, [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]] and [[Estonia]], and it is also linked to Denmark (south-west) by the [[Öresund Bridge]]. Its border with Norway ([[List of countries and territories by land borders|1,619 km]] long) is the longest uninterrupted border within Europe.

Sweden lies between latitudes [[55th parallel north|55°]] and [[70th parallel north|70° N]], and mostly between longitudes [[11th meridian east|11°]] and [[25th meridian east|25° E]] (part of [[Stora Drammen]] island is just west of 11°).
[[File:Odarslövsvägen–flygbild 06 september 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Scania]] in southern Sweden]]
[[File:Sandön - KMB - 16001000454384.jpg|thumb|[[Sandhamn]] island, [[Stockholm archipelago]]]]

At {{convert|449964|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, Sweden is the 55th-largest country in the world,<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Comparison: Area|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Sweden&countryCode=sw&regionCode=eu&rank=55#sw|work=Central Intelligence Agency|publisher=Cia.gov|access-date=19 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602150716/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Sweden&countryCode=sw&regionCode=eu&rank=55#sw|archive-date=2 June 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Area and population of European countries|fifth-largest country]] in Europe, and the largest country in Northern Europe. The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of Lake Hammarsjön, near [[Kristianstad]], at {{convert|-2.41|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} below sea level. The highest point is [[Kebnekaise]] at {{convert|2111|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].

Sweden has 25 [[Provinces of Sweden|provinces]] or ''landskap'', based on culture, geography and history. While these provinces serve no political or administrative purpose, they play an important role in people's [[self-concept|self-identity]]. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large ''[[lands of Sweden|lands]]'', parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. The sparsely populated Norrland encompasses almost 60% of the country. Sweden also has the [[Vindelfjällens Nature Reserve|Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve]], one of the largest protected areas in Europe, totaling 562,772 ha (approx. 5,628 km{{sup|2}}).

About 15% of Sweden lies north of the [[Arctic Circle]]. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65% of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests. The highest population density is in the [[Øresund Region|Öresund Region]] in southern Sweden, along the western coast up to central Bohuslän, and in the valley of lake [[Mälaren]] and Stockholm. Gotland and [[Öland]] are Sweden's largest [[islands of Sweden|islands]]; [[Vänern]] and [[Vättern]] are its largest lakes. Vänern is the third largest in Europe, after [[Lake Ladoga]] and [[Lake Onega]] in Russia. Combined with the third- and fourth-largest lakes Mälaren and [[Hjälmaren]], these lakes take up a significant part of southern Sweden's area. Sweden's extensive waterway availability throughout the south was exploited with the building of the [[Göta Canal]] in the 19th century, shortening the potential distance between the Baltic Sea south of [[Norrköping]] and [[Gothenburg]] by using the lake and river network to facilitate the canal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotakanal.se/en/|title=Göta kanal official website|publisher=[[Göta Canal]]|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112033839/http://www.gotakanal.se/en/|archive-date=12 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sweden also has [[List of rivers of Sweden|plenty of long rivers]] draining the lakes. Northern and Central Sweden have several wide rivers known as ''älvar'', commonly sourced within the Scandinavian Mountains. The longest river is [[Klarälven]]-[[Göta älv]], which originates in [[Trøndelag]] in central Norway, running 720 miles before it enters the sea at [[Gothenburg]]. [[Dalälven]] and the [[Torne (river)|Torne]] are the second and third longest rivers in the country. Torne marks a large part of the [[Finland-Sweden border|Finland border]]. In southern Sweden, narrower rivers known as ''åar'' are also common. The vast majority of municipal seats are set either on the sea, a river or a lake and the majority of the country's population live in coastal municipalities.

===Climate===

Most of Sweden has a [[temperate climate]], despite its northern [[latitude]], with largely four distinct seasons and mild temperatures throughout the year. The winter in the far south is usually weak and is manifested only through some shorter periods with snow and sub-zero temperatures, autumn may well turn into spring there, without a distinct period of winter. The northern parts of the country have a [[subarctic climate]] while the central parts have a [[humid continental climate]]. The coastal south can be defined as having either a [[humid continental climate]] using the 0°C isotherm, or an [[oceanic climate]] using the -3°C isotherm.

Due to the increased maritime moderation in the peninsular south, summer differences between the coastlines of the southernmost and northernmost regions are about {{convert|2|C-change}} in summer and {{convert|10|C-change}} in winter. This grows further when comparing areas in the northern interior where the winter difference in the far north is about {{convert|15|C-change}} throughout the country. The warmest summers usually happen in the [[Mälaren Valley]] around [[Stockholm]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smhi.se/data/meteorologi/dataserier-med-normalvarden-for-perioden-1991-2020-1.167775|title=Dataserier med normalvärden för perioden 1991-2020|publisher=[[SMHI]]|language=sv|accessdate=1 November 2021}}</ref> due to the vast landmass shielding the middle east coast from Atlantic low-pressure systems in July compared to the south and west. Daytime highs in Sweden's municipal seats vary from {{convert|19|C|F}} to {{convert|24|C|F}} in July and {{convert|-9|C|F}} to {{convert|3|C|F}} in January. The colder temperatures are influenced by the higher elevation in the northern interior. At sea level instead, the coldest average highs range from {{convert|21|C|F}} to {{convert|-6|C|F}}. As a result of the mild summers, the arctic region of [[Norrbotten County|Norrbotten]] has some of the northernmost [[agriculture]] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slu.se/fakulteter/vh/samverkan/regional-jordbruksforskning-for-norra-sverige/rjn-det-norrlandska-klimatets-fordelar/|title=Det norrländska klimatets fördelar|publisher=Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet|language=sv|date=5 October 2021|accessdate=1 November 2021}}</ref>

Sweden is much warmer and drier than other places at a similar latitude, and even somewhat farther south, mainly because of the combination of the [[Gulf Stream]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml |publisher=BBC |title=BBC Climate and the Gulf Stream |access-date=29 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928040727/http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml |archive-date=28 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ |title=The Gulf Stream Myth |journal=Monthly Weather Review |volume=28 |issue=9 |pages=393–394 |access-date=29 October 2008 |bibcode=1900MWRv...28..393W |last1=Watts |first1=Harvey Maitland |year=1900 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1900)28[393:TGSM]2.0.CO;2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225021029/http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ |archive-date=25 February 2011 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> and the general west wind drift, caused by the direction of planet Earth's rotation. Continental west-coasts (to which all of Scandinavia belongs, as the westernmost part of the [[Eurasia|Eurasian continent]]), are notably warmer than continental east-coasts; this can also be seen by comparing e.g. the Canadian cities of [[Vancouver]] and [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] with each other, the winter in west coast Vancouver is much milder; also, for example, central and southern Sweden has much milder winters than many parts of Russia, Canada, and the northern United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm |publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]] |title=Global Climate Maps |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117173015/http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/sustdev/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm |archive-date=17 November 2006}}</ref> Because of Sweden's high latitude, the length of daylight varies greatly. North of the Arctic Circle, the [[Midnight sun|sun never sets]] for part of each summer, and [[Polar night|it never rises]] for part of each winter. In the capital, [[Stockholm]], daylight lasts for more than 18 hours in late June but only around 6 hours in late December. Sweden receives between 1,100 and 1,900 hours of sunshine annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |title=Normal solskenstid för ett år |language=sv |publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]] |access-date=27 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826085626/http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |archive-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map SWE present.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Sweden using the 0°C isotherm]]
[[File:Sweden Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Sweden using the -3°C isotherm]]

The highest temperature ever recorded in Sweden was {{convert|38|°C|°F|abbr=on}} in [[Målilla]] in 1947,{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} while the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-52.6|°C|1|abbr=on}} in Vuoggatjålme on 2 February 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data.php?month=02&year=1966&id=SWE00140744&path=weather_stations/sw000000000_szz99999999/SWE00140744.dly&name=Vuoggatjalme&country=Sweden |title=Weather Data: Sweden, Vuoggatjalme, 1966, February |publisher=geographic.org |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> Temperatures expected in Sweden are heavily influenced by the large Fennoscandian landmass, as well as continental Europe and western Russia, which allows hot or cool inland air to be easily transported to Sweden. That, in turn, renders most of Sweden's southern areas having warmer summers than almost everywhere in the nearby [[British Isles]], even matching temperatures found along the continental Atlantic coast as far south as in northern [[Spain]]. In winter, however, the same high-pressure systems sometimes put the entire country far below freezing temperatures. There is some maritime moderation from the Atlantic which renders the Swedish continental climate less severe than that of nearby Russia. Even though temperature patterns differ between north and south, the summer climate is surprisingly similar all through the entire country in spite of the large latitudinal differences. This is due to the south's being surrounded by a greater mass of water, with the wider Baltic Sea and the Atlantic air passing over lowland areas from the south-west.

Apart from the ice-free Atlantic bringing marine air into Sweden tempering winters, the mildness is further explained by prevailing low-pressure systems postponing winter, with the long nights often staying above freezing in the south of the country due to the abundant cloud cover. By the time winter finally breaks through, daylight hours rise quickly, ensuring that daytime temperatures soar quickly in spring. With the greater number of clear nights, frosts remain commonplace quite far south as late as April. The cold winters occur when low-pressure systems are weaker. An example is that the coldest ever month (January 1987) in Stockholm was also the sunniest January month on record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_precipitation_sunshine_jan15.pdf?71642|title=Precipitation, Sunshine & Radiation for January 2015 (all-time records section)|language=sv|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_precipitation_sunshine_jan15.pdf?71642|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_temperature_wind_jan15.pdf?18701|title=Temperature & Wind – January 2015 (all-time records section)|language=sv|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_temperature_wind_jan15.pdf?18701|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The relative strength of low and high-pressure systems of marine and continental air also define the highly variable summers. When hot continental air hits the country, the long days and short nights frequently bring temperatures up to {{convert|30|C|F}} or above even in coastal areas. Nights normally remain cool, especially in inland areas. Coastal areas can see so-called ''tropical nights'' above {{convert|20|C|F}} occur due to the moderating sea influence during warmer summers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smhi.se/kunskapsbanken/meteorologi/tropiska-natter-1.1085|title=Tropiska nätter|trans-title=Tropical nights|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|language=sv|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065821/http://www.smhi.se/kunskapsbanken/meteorologi/tropiska-natter-1.1085|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Summers can be cool, especially in the north of the country. Transitional seasons are normally quite extensive and the four-season climate applies to most of Sweden's territory, except in Scania where some years do not record a [[meteorological winter]] (see table below) or in the high Lapland mountains where polar microclimates exist.

On average, most of Sweden receives between {{convert|500|and|800|mm|0|abbr=on}} of precipitation each year, making it considerably drier than the [[Precipitation (meteorology)|global average]]. The south-western part of the country receives more precipitation, between {{convert|1000|and|1200|mm|0|abbr=on}}, and some mountain areas in the north are estimated to receive up to {{convert|2000|mm|0|abbr=on}}. Despite northerly locations, southern and central Sweden may have almost no snow in some winters. Most of Sweden is located in the [[rain shadow]] of the Scandinavian Mountains through Norway and north-west Sweden. The blocking of cool and wet air in summer, as well as the greater landmass, leads to warm and dry summers far north in the country, with quite warm summers at the Bothnia Bay coast at 65 degrees latitude, which is unheard of elsewhere in the world at such northerly coastlines.

It is predicted that as the [[Barents Sea]] gets less frozen in the coming winters, becoming thus "Atlantified", additional evaporation will increase future snowfalls in Sweden and much of continental Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Arctic sea-ice loss fuels extreme European snowfall|journal=[[Nature Geoscience]]|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00719-y|last1=Bailey|first1=Hannah|date=1 April 2021|last2=Hubbard|first2=Alun|last3=Klen|first3=Eric S.|last4=Mustonen|first4=Kaisa-Riikka|last5=Akers|first5=Pete D.|last6=Marttila|first6=Hannu|last7=Welker|first7=Jeffrey M.|volume=14|issue=5|pages=283–288|doi=10.1038/s41561-021-00719-y|bibcode=2021NatGe..14..283B|s2cid=232765992}}</ref>

=== Vegetation ===
{{See also|Wildlife of Sweden}}
[[File:Sweden Vegetation Zones.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Map of Sweden's five major vegetation zones]]
Sweden has a considerable south to north distance (stretching between the [[latitude]]s N 55:20:13 and N 69:03:36) which causes large climatic difference, especially during the winter. The related matter of the length and strength of the four seasons plays a role in which plants that ''naturally'' can grow at various places. Sweden is divided in five major vegetation zones. These are:

* The southern deciduous forest zone
* The southern coniferous forest zone
* The northern coniferous forest zone, or the [[Taiga]]
* The alpine-birch zone
* The bare mountain zone

Southern deciduous forest zone, also known as the nemoral region, the southern deciduous forest zone is a part of a larger vegetation zone which also includes Denmark and large parts of Central Europe. It has to a rather large degree become agricultural areas, but larger and smaller forests still exist. The region is characterised by a large wealth of trees and shrubs. The [[beech]] are the most dominant tree, but [[oak]] can also form smaller forests. [[elm]] at one time formed forests, but have been heavily reduced due to [[Dutch Elm disease]]. Other important trees and shrubs in this zone include [[hornbeam]], [[Sambucus nigra|elder]], [[Corylus avellana|hazel]], [[Lonicera xylosteum|fly honeysuckle]], [[Tilia|linden (lime)]], [[Euonymus europaeus|spindle]], [[Taxus baccata|yew]], [[alder buckthorn]], [[blackthorn]], [[Populus tremula|aspen]], [[European rowan]], [[Swedish whitebeam]], [[Juniperus communis|juniper]], [[European holly]], [[Hedera helix|ivy]], [[Cornus sanguinea|dogwood]], [[goat willow]], [[Larix decidua|larch]], [[Prunus padus|bird cherry]], [[Prunus avium|wild cherry]], [[maple]], [[Fraxinus excelsior|ash]], [[alder]] along creeks, and in sandy soil [[birch]] compete with [[pine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-lovskogsregionen/|title=Södra lövskogsregionen – Skogskunskap|website=www.skogskunskap.se|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044304/https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-lovskogsregionen/|archive-date=12 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Spruce]] is not native but between approximately 1870 and 1980, large areas were planted with it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forest and Buildings |url=http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/historia-utveckling/skogens-landskap/skog-och-bebyggelse/Pages/index.aspx |website=lansstyrelsen.se |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012055002/http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/historia-utveckling/skogens-landskap/skog-och-bebyggelse/Pages/index.aspx |archive-date=12 October 2017 |language=sv|quote="Granskogen, som spreds norrifrån, nådde inte Skåne förrän mot slutet av 1800-talet. Under 1900-talets första hälft planterades stora arealer granskog." or in English "The spruce forest, which spread from the north, did not reach Scania until the end of the 19th century. During the first half of the twentieth century, large areas of pine forest were planted."}}</ref> They tend to grow too quickly due to being outside of their native range<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27655197|title=Summary in English PDF, page 8 at}}</ref> and large distances between the tree rings cause poor board quality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/om-oss/var-tidning-skogseko/skogseko-2-2017/skogen-vaxer-battre--men-riskerna-blir-fler/|title=Skogen växer bättre – men riskerna blir fler|website=www.skogsstyrelsen.se|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012043833/https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/om-oss/var-tidning-skogseko/skogseko-2-2017/skogen-vaxer-battre--men-riskerna-blir-fler/|archive-date=12 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later some spruce trees began to die before reaching optimal height, and many more of the coniferous trees were uprooted during cyclones.<ref>Quote from [[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]], section "2" at [https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2015-01-04/en-kvarts-miljard-trad-foll-under-stormnatten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044809/https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2015-01-04/en-kvarts-miljard-trad-foll-under-stormnatten |date=12 October 2017 }},"''Efter stormen kritiserades skogsägarna för att de dominerande granskogarna gjorde att stormen tog hårdare. Uppblandning med lövträd gör skog stryktåligare''" or in English "After the storm, the spruce and pine forest owners were criticized for the domination of the forests that made the storm tougher. Admixture with hardwood makes forest more stringent"</ref><ref>[[Dagens Nyheter]] about the same. [https://www.dn.se/nyheter/vetenskap/analys-dags-plantera-lovskog-i-soder/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044443/https://www.dn.se/nyheter/vetenskap/analys-dags-plantera-lovskog-i-soder/ |date=12 October 2017 }}</ref> During the last 40–50 years large areas of former spruce plantings have been replanted with deciduous forest.<ref>About the 1984 "Ädellövskogslagen" [http://www.naturait.se/adellovskogen/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044321/http://www.naturait.se/adellovskogen/ |date=12 October 2017 }} – "''I Sydsverige (Skåne, Halland och Blekinge) skall minst 70% av beståndet utgöras av ädellöv. Enligt ädellövskogslagen skall efter slutavverkning, alltid ny ädellövskog anläggas på sådana marker.''" or "In southern Sweden (Scania, Halland and Blekinge) at least 70% of the stock must be of [[edible leaves]]. According to the 'edible deciduous forests law', after ever harvesting, new deciduous forests must always be planted on such fields." (in these three provinces)</ref>

Southern coniferous forest zone, also known as the boreo-nemoral region, the southern coniferous forest zone is delimited by the [[oak]]'s northern natural limit (''limes norrlandicus'') and the [[Spruce]]'s southern natural limit,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-barrskogsregionen/|title=Södra barrskogsregionen – Skogskunskap|website=www.skogskunskap.se|access-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013120343/https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-barrskogsregionen/|archive-date=13 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> between the southern deciduous zone and the [[Taiga]] farther north. In the southern parts of this zone the coniferous species are found, mainly [[spruce]] and [[pine]], mixed with various deciduous trees. [[Birch]] grows largely everywhere. The [[beech]]'s northern boundary crosses this zone. This is however not the case with [[oak]] and [[Fraxinus excelsior|ash]]. Although in its natural area, also ''planted'' Spruce are common, and such woods are very dense, as the spruces can grow very tight, especially in this vegetation zone's southern areas.

The northern coniferous forest zone or the [[Taiga]] begins north of the natural boundary of the [[oak]]. Of deciduous species the [[birch]] is the only one of significance. [[Pine]] and [[spruce]] are dominant, but the forests are slowly but surely more sparsely grown the farther towards the north it gets. In the extreme north is it difficult to state the trees forms true forests at all, due to the large distances between the trees.<ref name="RydénMigula2003">{{cite book|author1=Lars Rydén|author2=Pawel Migula|author3=Magnus Andersson|title=Environmental science: understanding, protecting and managing the environment in the Baltic Sea region|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VIopLSQyI5MC&pg=PA82|year=2003|publisher=Baltic University Press|isbn=978-91-970017-0-0|page=82}}</ref>

The alpine-birch zone, in the Scandinavian mountains, depending on both latitude and altitude, is an area where only a smaller kind of [[birch]] (''Betula pubescens'' or ''B.tortuosa'') can grow. Where this vegetation zone ends, no trees grow at all: the bare mountain zone.<ref>Swedish Encyclopedia "Bonniers Lexikon", vol 13 of 15, article "Sverige", Sweden, columns 1046–1050</ref>

Sweden had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.35/10, ranking it 103th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057}}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
=== Constitutional framework ===
{{Main|Politics of Sweden}}
[[File:Nationaldagen EM1B2097 (48018075518).jpg|thumb|right|The current [[Monarchy of Sweden|King of Sweden]], [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]], and his consort, [[Queen Silvia of Sweden|Queen Silvia]]]]

Sweden has four fundamental laws ({{lang-sv|grundlagar}}) which together form the [[Constitution of Sweden|Constitution]]: the Instrument of Government ({{lang-sv|Regeringsformen}}), the [[Swedish Act of Succession|Act of Succession]] ({{lang-sv|Successionsordningen}}), the Freedom of the Press Act ({{lang-sv|Tryckfrihetsförordningen}}), and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression ({{lang-sv|Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen}}).<ref name="The Constitution">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/| title = The Constitution| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141110215202/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/| archive-date = 10 November 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Petersson:38-40">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 38–40.</ref>

The public sector in Sweden is divided into two parts: the [[legal person]] known as the State ({{lang-sv|staten}}){{efn|The State ({{lang-sv|staten}}) is also descriptively translated into English as the "central government", not to be confused with the [[Government of Sweden|Government]], i.e. the cabinet which is but one organ of the State.}} and local authorities:{{efn|An alternate English translation is "local governments".}} the latter include regional [[County councils of Sweden|County Councils]] ({{lang-sv|landsting}}) and local [[Municipalities of Sweden|Municipalities]] ({{lang-sv|kommuner}}).<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:16-18">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: pp. 16–18.</ref><ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: pp. 212–215.</ref><ref name="Petersson:92">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 92.</ref><ref name="Petersson:174">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 174.</ref> The local authorities, rather than the State, make up the larger part of the public sector in Sweden.<ref name="Petersson:79">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 79.</ref> County Councils and Municipalities are independent of one another, the former merely covers a larger geographical area than the latter.<ref name="Petersson:79" /><ref name="Larsson & Bäck:210">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: p. 210.</ref> The local authorities have self-rule, as mandated by the Constitution, and their own tax base.<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215" /><ref name="Petersson:79-82">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 79–82.</ref> Notwithstanding their self-rule, local authorities are nevertheless in practice interdependent upon the State, as the parameters of their responsibilities and the extent of their jurisdiction are specified in the Local Government Act ({{lang-sv|Kommunallagen}}) passed by the [[Riksdag]].<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215" /><ref name="Petersson:80-82">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 80–82.</ref>

Sweden is a [[constitutional monarchy]], and [[Monarchy of Sweden|King]] [[Carl XVI Gustaf]] is the [[head of state]], but the role of the monarch is limited to ceremonial and representative functions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Monarchy/Facts/Monarchy/ |title=Monarchy: A modern royal family |publisher=Sweden.se |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425154216/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Monarchy/Facts/Monarchy/ |archive-date=25 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the provisions of the 1974 Instrument of Government, the King lacks any formal political power.<ref name="The Instrument of Government">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Instrument-of-Government/| title = The Instrument of Government| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141024155000/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Instrument-of-Government/| archive-date = 24 October 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="The Head of State">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/2853/nocache/true/a/21785/dictionary/true |title=The Head of State |publisher=[[Government of Sweden]] |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225235411/http://www.government.se/sb/d/2853/nocache/true/a/21785/dictionary/true |archive-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> The King opens the annual Riksdag session, chairs the Special Council held during a change of Government, holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Government, chairs the meetings of the ''Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs'' ({{lang-sv|Utrikesnämnden}}), and receives [[Letters of Credence]] of foreign ambassadors to Sweden and signs those of Swedish ambassadors sent abroad.<ref name="Duties of the Monarch">{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html | title = Duties of the Monarch | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150316041821/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html | archive-date = 16 March 2015 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="A new government is formed">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/A-new-government-is-formed/ | title = A new government is formed | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141109002503/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/A-new-government-is-formed/ | archive-date = 9 November 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> In addition, the King pays [[List of state visits made by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|State Visits abroad]] and receives those incoming as host.<ref name="Duties of the Monarch" /> Apart from strictly official duties, the King and the other members of [[Swedish Royal Family|Royal Family]] undertake a variety of unofficial and other representative duties within Sweden and abroad.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/download/18.4ea495e313c19c119aa766c/1390581085970/Verksamhetsberattelse2012_eng.pdf | title = Annual Report 2012 | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140604080143/http://www.kungahuset.se/download/18.4ea495e313c19c119aa766c/1390581085970/Verksamhetsberattelse2012_eng.pdf | archive-date = 4 June 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

[[Legislative power]] is vested in the [[unicameral]] Riksdag with 349 members. [[Elections in Sweden|General elections]] are held every four years, on the second Sunday of September. Legislation may be initiated by the Government or by members of the Riksdag. Members are elected on the basis of [[proportional representation]] to a four-year term. The internal workings of the Riksdag are, in addition to the Instrument of Government, regulated by the Riksdag Act ({{lang-sv|Riksdagsordningen}}).<ref name="The Riksdag Act – almost a fundamental law">{{cite web|url=https://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Riksdag-Act---almost-a-fundamental-law/ |title=The Riksdag Act – almost a fundamental law |publisher=The [[Riksdag]] |access-date=9 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024155003/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Riksdag-Act---almost-a-fundamental-law/ |archive-date=24 October 2014}}</ref> The fundamental laws can be altered by the Riksdag alone; only an absolute majority with two separate votes, separated by a general election in between, is required.<ref name="The Constitution" />

[[File:Rosenbad 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|left|[[Rosenbad]], in central [[Stockholm]], has been the seat of the Government since 1981.<ref name="The Swedish Government Offices – a historical perspective">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/4140/ |title=The Swedish Government Offices – a historical perspective |publisher=[[Government Offices of Sweden]] |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024144929/http://www.government.se/sb/d/4140/ |archive-date=24 October 2014}}</ref>]]
The [[Government of Sweden|Government]] ({{lang-sv|Regeringen}}) operates as a [[Cabinet collective responsibility|collegial body with collective responsibility]] and consists of the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] {{mdash}} appointed and dismissed by the [[Speaker of the Riksdag]] (following an actual vote in the Riksdag before an appointment can be made) {{mdash}} and other [[cabinet minister]]s ({{lang-sv|Statsråd}}), appointed and dismissed at the sole discretion of the Prime Minister.<ref name="Forming a government">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/| title = Forming a government| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141009160056/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/| archive-date = 9 October 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref> The Government is the supreme executive authority and is [[Parliamentary system|responsible for its actions to the Riksdag]].<ref name="IG">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | title = The Instrument of Government (as of 2012) | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141008133940/http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | archive-date = 8 October 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Most of the State administrative authorities ({{lang-sv|statliga förvaltningsmyndigheter}}) report to the Government, including (but not limited to) the [[Swedish Armed Forces|Armed Forces]], the [[Enforcement Authority]], the [[National Library of Sweden|National Library]], the [[Swedish police]] and the [[Swedish Tax Agency|Tax Agency]]. A unique feature of Swedish State administration is that individual cabinet ministers ''do not bear any'' [[individual ministerial responsibility]] for the performance of the agencies within their portfolio; as the [[Director-General#Sweden|director-generals]] and other heads of government agencies reports directly to the Government as a whole; and individual ministers are prohibited to interfere; thus the origin of the pejorative in Swedish political parlance term ''[[ministerstyre]]'' (English: "ministerial rule") in matters that are to be handled by the individual agencies, unless otherwise specifically provided for in law.

The [[Judiciary of Sweden|Judiciary]] is independent from the Riksdag, Government and other State administrative authorities.<ref name="The Swedish courts">{{cite web | url = http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/ | title = The Swedish courts | publisher = [[Swedish National Courts Administration]] | access-date = 9 November 2014 | date = 27 November 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141019174305/http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/ | archive-date = 19 October 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The role of [[judicial review]] of legislation is not practised by the courts; instead, the [[Council on Legislation (Sweden)|Council on Legislation]] gives non-binding opinions on legality.{{sfn|Terrill|2009|p=243}} There is no [[stare decisis]] in that courts are not bound by [[precedent]], although it is influential.{{sfn|Terrill|2009|p=246}}

=== Political parties and elections ===
{{Main|List of political parties in Sweden|Elections in Sweden}}
[[File:Riksdag.ipred b9dn510 4451.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Riksdag]] chamber, at the time of a vote, in 2009]]
The Swedish Social Democratic Party has played a leading role in Swedish politics since 1917, after the [[Democratic socialism|Reformists]] had confirmed their strength and the [[Left Party (Sweden)|left-wing revolutionaries]] formed their own party. After 1932, most governments have been [[Dominant-party system#Europe|dominated]] by the Social Democrats. Only five general elections since World War II—[[1976 Swedish general election|1976]], [[1979 Swedish general election|1979]], [[1991 Swedish general election|1991]], [[2006 Swedish general election|2006]] and [[2010 Swedish general election|2010]]—have given the assembled bloc of centre-right parties enough seats in the Riksdag to form a government.

For over 50 years, Sweden had had five parties who continually received enough votes to gain seats in the Riksdag—the Social Democrats, the [[Moderate Party]], the [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]], the [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)|Liberal People's Party]] and the Left Party—before the [[Green Party (Sweden)|Green Party]] became the sixth party in the [[1988 Swedish general election|1988 election]]. In the 1991 election, while the Greens lost their seats, two new parties gained seats for the first time: the [[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Christian Democrats]] and [[New Democracy (Sweden)|New Democracy]]. The [[1994 Swedish general election|1994 election]] saw the return of the Greens and the demise of New Democracy. It was not until elections in 2010 that an eighth party, the [[Sweden Democrats]], gained Riksdag seats. In the elections to the [[European Parliament]], parties who have failed to pass the Riksdag threshold have managed to gain representation at that venue: the [[June List]] ([[2004 European Parliament election in Sweden|2004–2009]]), the [[Pirate Party (Sweden)|Pirate Party]] ([[2009 European Parliament election in Sweden|2009–2014]]), and [[Feminist Initiative (Sweden)|Feminist Initiative]] ([[2014 European Parliament election in Sweden|2014–2019]]).

[[File:Inför slutdebatten i SVT.jpg|thumb|left|The party leaders lined up before the start of the [[Sveriges Television|televised]] live debate on 12 September 2014.]]
In the [[2006 Sweden general election|2006 general election]] the Moderate Party formed the centre-right [[Alliance for Sweden]] bloc and won a majority of the Riksdag seats. In the [[2010 Swedish general election|2010 general election]] the Alliance contended against a unified left block consisting of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Government-politics/Reading/Center-right-wins-Swedish-election--but-short-of-majority/ |title=Center–right wins Swedish election — but short of majority |publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]] International/Radio Sweden |date=20 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511050348/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Government-politics/Reading/Center-right-wins-Swedish-election--but-short-of-majority/ |archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> The Alliance won a plurality of 173 seats, but remained two seats short of a 175-seat majority. Nevertheless, neither the Alliance, nor the left block, chose to form a coalition with the Sweden Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html |publisher=[[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]] |title=Val till riksdagen |author=The Official Website of the Swedish Election Authority |access-date=18 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809101606/http://www.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html |archive-date=9 August 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The outcome of the [[2014 Sweden general election|2014 general election]] resulted in the attainment of more seats by the three centre-left parties in comparison to the centre-right Alliance for Sweden, with the two blocs receiving 159 and 141 seats respectively.<ref name="2014 Election Result">{{cite web | url = http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/protokoll/protokoll_00R.pdf | title = Beslut 2014-09-20 | language = sv | publisher = [[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140924075521/http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/protokoll/protokoll_00R.pdf | archive-date = 24 September 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The non-aligned Sweden Democrats more than doubled their support and won the remaining 49 seats.<ref name="2014 Election Result" /> On 3 October 2014, Stefan Löfven formed a [[minority government]] consisting of the [[Löfven I Cabinet|Social Democrats and the Greens]].<ref name="Sweden's new Government">{{cite web | url = http://www.government.se/sb/d/575/a/247235 | title = Sweden's new Government | publisher = [[Government Offices of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006234923/http://www.government.se/sb/d/575/a/247235 | archive-date = 6 October 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Change of Government Council at the Royal Palace of Stockholm">{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/latestnews/changeofgovernmentcouncilattheroyalpalaceofstockholm.5.67e94750148caf4ad27127.html | title = Change of Government Council at the Royal Palace of Stockholm | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141108004043/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/latestnews/changeofgovernmentcouncilattheroyalpalaceofstockholm.5.67e94750148caf4ad27127.html | archive-date = 8 November 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Election turnout in Sweden has always been high by international comparison. Although it declined in recent decades, the latest elections saw an increase in voter turnout (80.11% in [[2002 Sweden general election|2002]], 81.99% in 2006, 84.63% in 2010, 85.81 in [[2014 Swedish general election|2014]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster – Val 2014|publisher=[[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]]|language=sv|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503192853/http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|archive-date=3 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and 87.18% in [[2018 Swedish general election|2018]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster - Val 2018|website=data.val.se|access-date=18 January 2019}}</ref> Swedish politicians enjoyed a high degree of confidence from the citizens in the 1960s, However, that level of confidence has since declined steadily, and is now at a markedly lower level than in its Scandinavian neighbours.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Norris, Pippa |author=Holmberg, Sören |title=Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1999|pages=103–123|isbn=978-0-19-829568-6}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Regions of Sweden|Municipalities of Sweden|County Administrative Boards of Sweden|Administrative divisions of Sweden}}
[[File:SWE-Map Kommuner2007.svg|thumb|upright|Municipal divisions of Sweden]]
Sweden is a [[unitary state]] divided into 21 regions (''regioner'') and 290 municipalities (''kommuner''). Every region corresponds to a [[counties of Sweden|county]] (''län'') with a number of municipalities per county. Regions and municipalities are both local government bur have different roles and separate responsibilities. Health care, public transport and certain cultural institutions are administered by county councils. Preschools, primary and secondary schooling, public water utilities, garbage disposal, elderly care and rescue services are administered by the municipalities. [[Gotland]] is a special case of being a region with only one municipality and the functions of region and municipality are performed by the same organisation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Municipalities and regions |url=https://skr.se/skr/tjanster/englishpages/municipalitiesandregions.1088.html |access-date=2021-11-21 |website=skr.se |language=en}}</ref>

Municipal and region government in Sweden is similar to [[city commission government|city commission]] and [[cabinet-style council]] government. Both levels have legislative assemblies ([[municipal council (Sweden)|municipal councils]] and region assemblies of between 31 and 101 members (always an uneven number) that are elected from [[party-list proportional representation]] at the general election which are held every four years in conjunction with the national parliamentary elections.

Municipalities are also divided into a total of 2,512 [[Parishes of Sweden|parishes]] (''församlingar''). These have no official political responsibilities but are traditional subdivisions of the [[Church of Sweden]] and still have some importance as census districts for census-taking and elections.

The Swedish central government has 21 [[County Administrative Boards of Sweden|County Administrative Boards]] ({{lang-sv|länsstyrelser}}), which are responsible for regional state administration not assigned to other government agencies or local government. Each county administrative board is led by a [[County governors of Sweden|County Governor]] ({{lang-sv|landshövding}}) appointed for a term of six years. The list of previous officeholders for the counties stretches back, in most cases, to 1634 when the counties were created by [[Lord High Chancellor of Sweden|Lord High Chancellor]] Count [[Axel Oxenstierna]]. The main responsibility of the County Administrative Board is to co-ordinate the development of the county in line with goals set by the Riksdag and Government.

There are older historical divisions, primarily the twenty-five [[Provinces of Sweden|provinces]] and three [[Lands of Sweden|lands]], which still retain cultural significance.

=== Political history ===
[[File:Scandinavia-12th century.png|thumb|left|Kingdoms of [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Svear]] (Sweonas) and [[Götar]] (Geats) in the 12th century, with modern borders in grey]]
The actual age of the kingdom of Sweden is unknown.<ref name="sh">{{cite book |last1=Hadenius |first1=Stig |last2=Nilsson |first2=Torbjörn |last3=Åselius |first3=Gunnar |title=Sveriges historia: vad varje svensk bör veta |trans-title=History of Sweden: what every Swede should know |year=1996 |publisher=Bonnier Alba |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=978-91-34-51784-4}}:
{|
|-
|  
|Hur och när det svenska riket uppstod vet vi inte. Först under 1100-talet börjar skriftliga dokument produceras i Sverige i någon större omfattning [...]
|  
|How and when the Swedish kingdom appeared is not known. It is not until the 12th century that written document begin to be produced in Sweden in any larger extent [...]
|}</ref> Establishing the age depends mostly on whether Sweden should be considered a nation when the ''Svear'' (Sweonas) ruled Svealand or if the emergence of the nation started with the ''Svear'' and the ''[[Götar]]'' (Geats) of Götaland being united under one ruler. In the first case, Svealand was first mentioned as having one single ruler in the year 98 by Tacitus, but it is almost impossible to know for how long it had been this way. However, historians usually start the line of [[Swedish monarchs]] from when Svealand and Götaland were ruled under the same king, namely Eric the Victorious (Geat) and his son [[Olof Skötkonung]] in the 10th century. These events are often described as the [[consolidation of Sweden]], although substantial areas were conquered and incorporated later.

Earlier kings, for which no reliable historical sources exist, can be read about in [[mythical kings of Sweden]] and [[semi-legendary kings of Sweden]]. Many of these kings are only mentioned in various [[Norse sagas|saga]] and blend with Norse mythology.

The title ''Sveriges och Götes Konung'' was last used for [[Gustaf I of Sweden]], after which the title became "[[Kings of Sweden|King of Sweden]], [[King of the Goths|of the Goths]] and [[King of the Wends|of the Wends]]" (''Sveriges, Götes och Vendes Konung'') in official documentation. Up until the beginning of the 1920s, all laws in Sweden were introduced with the words, "We, the king of Sweden, of the Goths and Wends". This title was used up until 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lagen.nu/1973:702|title=Kungl. Maj:ts kungörelse med anledning av konung Gustaf VI Adolfs frånfälle|publisher=Lagen.nu|access-date=17 September 2014|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712202406/https://lagen.nu/1973:702|archive-date=12 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The present King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, was the first monarch officially proclaimed "King of Sweden" (''Sveriges Konung'') with no additional peoples mentioned in his title.

The term ''riksdag'' was used for the first time in the 1540s, although the first meeting where representatives of different social groups were called to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole took place as early as 1435, in the town of [[Arboga]].<ref name=Riksdagen>{{cite web|title=The history of the Riksdag|url=http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-history-of-the-Riksdag/|publisher=[[Riksdag]]|access-date=9 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520020027/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-history-of-the-Riksdag/|archive-date=20 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[Riksdag of the Estates|Riksdag assemblies]] of 1527 and 1544, under King [[Gustav Vasa]], representatives of all four [[estates of the realm]] (clergy, [[Swedish nobility|nobility]], [[Bourgeoisie|townsmen]] and [[peasant]]s) were called on to participate for the first time.<ref name="Riksdagen" /> The monarchy became hereditary in 1544.

Executive power was historically shared between the King and an aristocratic [[Privy council]] until 1680, followed by the King's [[autocracy|autocratic rule]] initiated by the commoner estates of the Riksdag. As a reaction to the failed Great Northern War, a parliamentary system was introduced in 1719, followed by three different flavours of constitutional monarchy in 1772, 1789 and 1809, [[Swedish constitution of 1809|the latter]] granting several civil liberties. Already during the first of those three periods, the 'Era of Liberty' (1719–72) the Swedish Rikstag had developed into a very active Parliament, and this tradition continued into the nineteenth century, laying the basis for the transition towards modern democracy at the end of that century.<ref>{{cite book|author=Baten, Jörg |title=A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present.|date=2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=22|isbn=9781107507180}}</ref>

In 1866 Sweden became a constitutional monarchy with a [[bicameral]] parliament, with the First Chamber indirectly elected by local governments, and the Second Chamber directly elected in national elections every four years. In 1971 the parliament became unicameral. Legislative power was (symbolically) shared between the King and the Riksdag until 1975. Swedish taxation is controlled by the Riksdag.
[[File:Riksdagen September 2014 02.jpg|thumb|The Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament in 2014]]
Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements" (''Folkrörelser''), the most notable being trade unions, the independent Christian movement, the temperance movement, the [[women's movement]], and the [[Pirate Party (Sweden)|intellectual property pirate]] movements. Sweden was the first country in the world to outlaw [[corporal punishment]] of children by their parents (parents' right to spank their own children was first removed in 1966, and it was explicitly prohibited by law from July 1979<ref name="Durrant 1996">{{cite book |last=Durrant |first=Joan E. |editor1=Frehsee, Detlev |display-editors=etal|title=Family Violence Against Children: A Challenge for Society |date=1996 |location=Berlin |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-014996-8 |page=20 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8IyJkWAAXjkC&q=%22swedish+ban+on+corporal+punishment%22 |chapter=The Swedish Ban on Corporal Punishment: Its History and Effects}}</ref>).

Sweden is currently leading the EU in statistics measuring [[equality of opportunity|equality]] in the political system and equality in the education system.<ref name=EUEqualityReport>{{cite web|publisher=[[European Commission]] |work=[[Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion]] |title=Report On The Equality Between Men And Women |url=http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf |date=February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817175053/http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2007}}</ref> The ''Global Gender Gap Report 2006'' ranked Sweden as the number one country in terms of [[gender equality]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?lang=6&id=6605 |title=Nordic countries rank highest in gender equality |publisher=Norden.org |access-date=6 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821110128/http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?id=6605&lang=6 |archive-date=21 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Some Swedish political figures have become known worldwide, among these are: Raoul Wallenberg, [[Folke Bernadotte]], the former [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary-General]] of the United Nations [[Dag Hammarskjöld]], the former Prime Minister [[Olof Palme]], the former Prime Minister and later [[Foreign minister]] [[Carl Bildt]], the former President of the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly of the United Nations]] [[Jan Eliasson]], and the former [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] Iraq inspector [[Hans Blix]].

=== Judicial system ===
{{Main|Judiciary of Sweden}}
The courts are divided into two parallel and separate systems: The general courts ({{lang|sv|allmänna domstolar}}) for criminal and civil cases, and general administrative courts ({{lang|sv|allmänna förvaltningsdomstolar}}) for cases relating to disputes between private persons and the authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dom.se/templates/DV_InfoPage____2317.aspx |publisher=[[Swedish National Courts Administration]] |title=The Swedish courts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209002918/http://www.dom.se/templates/DV_InfoPage____2317.aspx |archive-date=9 February 2009|date=10 March 2005 }}</ref> Each of these systems has three tiers, where the top tier court of the respective system typically only will hear cases that may become [[precedent]]. There are also a number of special courts, which will hear a narrower set of cases, as set down by legislation. While independent in their rulings, some of these courts are operated as divisions within courts of the general or general administrative courts.

[[File:Hogsta domstolen Stockholm.jpg|thumb|[[Bonde Palace]] in Stockholm, seat of the [[Supreme Court of Sweden]]]]
The [[Supreme Court of Sweden]] ({{lang-sv|Högsta domstolen}}) is the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. Before a case can be decided by the Supreme Court, leave to appeal must be obtained, and with few exceptions, leave to appeal can be granted only when the case is of interest as a precedent. The Supreme Court consists of 16 Justices ({{lang-sv|justitieråd}}), appointed by the Government, but the court as an institution is independent of the Riksdag, and the Government is not able to interfere with the decisions of the court.

According to a victimisation survey of 1,201 residents in 2005, Sweden has above-average [[crime rate]]s compared to other EU countries. Sweden has high or above-average levels of assaults, sexual assaults, hate crimes, and consumer fraud. Sweden has low levels of burglary, car theft and drug problems. Bribe seeking is rare.<ref name="burdenofcrime2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf |title=EUICS report, The Burden of Crime in the EU, A Comparative Analysis of the |last=van Dijk |first=Jan |author2=Robert Manchin |author3=John van Kesteren |author4=Sami Nevala |author5=Gergely Hideg |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428050421/http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2008}}</ref>

A mid-November 2013 news report announced that four prisons in Sweden were closed during the year due to a significant drop in the number of inmates. The decrease in the number of Swedish prisoners was considered "out-of-the-ordinary" by the head of Sweden's prison and probation services, with prison numbers in Sweden falling by around 1% a year since 2004. Prisons were closed in the towns of Åby, Håja, Båtshagen, and Kristianstad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden closes four prisons as number of inmates plummets|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets|access-date=15 November 2013|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 November 2013|last=Orange|first=Richard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115000627/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets|archive-date=15 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Sweden}}
[[File:European-parliament-brussels-inside.JPG|thumb|The EU parliament in Brussels. Sweden is a member state of the European Union.]]

Throughout the 20th century, [[Swedish foreign policy]] was based on the principle of non-alignment in peacetime and [[neutral country|neutrality]] in wartime. Sweden's government pursued an independent course of nonalignment in times of peace so that neutrality would be possible in the event of war.<ref name="NB335-339" />

Sweden's doctrine of neutrality is often traced back to the 19th century as the country has not been in a [[war|state of war]] since the end of the [[Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)|Swedish campaign against Norway]] in 1814. During World War II Sweden joined neither the [[Allies of World War II|allied]] nor [[Axis powers|axis]] powers. This has sometimes been disputed since in effect Sweden allowed in select cases the Nazi regime to use its railroad system to transport troops and goods,<ref name="Koblik303-313" /><ref name="NB313-319" /> especially iron ore from mines in northern Sweden, which was vital to the German war machine.<ref name="NB313-319" /><ref>Nordstrom p. 302: "In fact, the plans were mostly a ruse to establish control of the crucial Norwegian port of Narvik and the iron mines of northern Sweden, which were vitally important to the German war efforts."</ref> However, Sweden also indirectly contributed to the defence of Finland in the Winter War, and permitted the training of Norwegian and Danish troops in Sweden after 1943.

[[File:ODA percent of GNI 2009.png|thumb|left|[[Official development assistance|Development aid]] measured in [[Gross national income|GNI]] in 2009. Source: OECD. As a percentage Sweden is the largest donor.]]

During the early [[Cold War]] era, Sweden combined its policy of non-alignment and a low profile in international affairs with a [[security policy]] based on strong [[National security|national defence]].<ref>As context, according to [[Edwin Reischauer]], "To be neutral you must be ready to be highly militarized, like Switzerland or Sweden." – ''see'' {{cite news |last=Chapin |first=Emerson |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DC163AF931A3575AC0A966958260&scp=1&sq=edwin+o+reischauer&st=nyt |title=Edwin Reischauer, Diplomat and Scholar, Dies at 79 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 September 1990 |access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref> The function of the Swedish military was to deter attack.<ref>Nordstrom, p 336: "As a corollary, a security policy based on strong national defences designed to discourage, but not prevent, attack was pursued. For the next several decades, the Swedish poured an annual average of about 5% of GDP into making their defenses credible."</ref> At the same time, the country maintained relatively close informal connections with the Western bloc, especially in the realm of intelligence exchange. In 1952, a Swedish [[DC-3]] was [[Catalina affair|shot down]] over the Baltic Sea by a Soviet [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15]] [[jet aircraft|jet]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]]. Later investigations revealed that the plane was actually gathering information for NATO.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cold War Spy Plane Found in Baltic Sea|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1010_031010_swedishspyplane.html|publisher=[[National Geographic News]]|access-date=10 June 2013|date=10 October 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329214137/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1010_031010_swedishspyplane.html|archive-date=29 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Another plane, a [[PBY Catalina|Catalina]] [[search and rescue]] plane, was sent out a few days later and shot down by the Soviets as well. Prime Minister Olof Palme made an official visit to [[Cuba]] during the 1970s, during which he denounced [[Fulgencio Batista]]'s government and praised contemporary [[26 July Movement|Cuban]] and [[Khmer Rouge|Cambodian]] revolutionaries in a speech.

Beginning in the late 1960s, Sweden attempted to play a more significant and independent role in international relations. It involved itself significantly in international peace efforts, especially through the United Nations, and in support to the [[Third World]].

On 27 October 1981, a [[Whiskey-class submarine]] ([[Soviet submarine S-363|''U 137'']]) from the [[Soviet Union]] ran aground close to the [[Karlskrona naval base|naval base]] at [[Karlskrona]] in the southern part of the country. Research has never clearly established whether the submarine ended up on the shoals through a navigational mistake or if an enemy committed espionage against Swedish military potential. The incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Sweden and the Soviet Union. Following the [[Assassination of Olof Palme|1986 assassination of Olof Palme]] and with the end of the Cold War, Sweden has adopted a more traditional foreign policy approach. Nevertheless, the country remains active in peace keeping missions and maintains a considerable foreign aid budget.

Since 1995 Sweden has been a member of the European Union, and as a consequence of a new world security situation the country's foreign policy doctrine has been partly modified, with Sweden playing a more active role in European security co-operation.

=== Military ===
{{Main|Swedish Armed Forces|Law enforcement in Sweden}}
[[File:Swedish JAS-39 Gripen landing.jpg|thumb|The Saab [[JAS 39 Gripen]] is an advanced Swedish multi-role [[fighter aircraft]] of the [[Swedish Air Force]].]]
The [[Law enforcement in Sweden|law is enforced in Sweden]] by several government entities. The Swedish police is a [[Government agencies in Sweden|Government agency]] concerned with police matters. The [[National Task Force]] is a national [[SWAT]] unit within the police force. The [[Swedish Security Service]]'s responsibilities are [[counter-espionage]], anti-terrorist activities, protection of the constitution and protection of sensitive objects and people.

The ''Försvarsmakten'' (Swedish Armed Forces) are a government agency reporting to the Swedish [[Ministry of Defence (Sweden)|Ministry of Defence]] and responsible for the [[peacetime]] operation of the armed forces of Sweden. The primary task of the agency is to train and deploy peacekeeping forces abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to refocus on the defence of Sweden in the event of war. The armed forces are divided into [[Swedish Army|Army]], [[Swedish Air Force|Air Force]] and [[Swedish Navy|Navy]]. The head of the armed forces is the [[Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces|Supreme Commander]] (''Överbefälhavaren'', ÖB), the most senior commissioned officer in the country. Up to 1974, the King was ''pro forma'' [[Commander in chief#Sweden|Commander-in-Chief]], but in reality it was clearly understood through the 20th century that the monarch would have no ''active'' role as a military leader.

[[File:Stridsfordon 90 Revinge 2012-2.jpg|thumb|The Infantry fighting vehicle [[Combat Vehicle 90|CV90]], which is produced and used by Sweden]]
Until the end of the Cold War, nearly all males reaching the age of [[military service]] were [[conscription|conscripted]]. In recent years, the number of conscripted males has shrunk dramatically, while the number of female volunteers has increased slightly. Recruitment has generally shifted towards finding the most motivated recruits, rather than solely focusing on those otherwise most fit for service. By law, all soldiers serving abroad must be volunteers. In 1975, the total number of conscripts was 45,000. By 2003, it was down to 15,000.

On 1 July 2010, Sweden ended routine conscription, switching to an all-volunteer force unless otherwise required for defence readiness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Rekrytering/Varnplikt/ |publisher=[[Swedish Armed Forces]] |title=Värnplikt |trans-title=Conscription |access-date=21 April 2010 |language=sv }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |title=Allmänna värnplikten skrotas |trans-title=General conscription scrapped |access-date=21 April 2010 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426203557/http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 |archive-date=26 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |title=Military conscription phase out under fire |access-date=21 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122021708/http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ |archive-date=22 January 2010}}</ref> Emphasis was to be placed on only recruiting those later prepared to volunteer for international service. The total forces gathered would consist of about 60,000 personnel. This in comparison with the 1980s, before the fall of the Soviet Union, when Sweden could gather up to 1,000,000 servicemembers.

However, on 11 December 2014, due to tensions in the Baltic area, the [[Swedish Government]] reintroduced one part of the [[Conscription in Sweden|Swedish conscription system]], [[Refresher training (military)|refresher training]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/repetitionsutbildning/fragor-och-svar-om-repetitionsutbildning/|title=Frågor och svar om repetitionsutbildning|last=Försvarsmakten|website=Försvarsmakten|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101191751/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/repetitionsutbildning/fragor-och-svar-om-repetitionsutbildning/|archive-date=1 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2 March 2017, the government decided to reintroduce the remaining part of the Swedish conscription system, basic military training. The first recruits began their training in 2018. As the law is now gender neutral, both men and women may have to serve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2017/03/regeringen-ateraktiverar-monstring-och-grundutbildning-med-varnplikt/|title=Regeringen återaktiverar mönstring och grundutbildning med värnplikt|first=Regeringen och|last=Regeringskansliet|date=2 March 2017|website=Regeringskansliet|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113222119/http://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2017/03/regeringen-ateraktiverar-monstring-och-grundutbildning-med-varnplikt/|archive-date=13 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden decided not to sign the UN treaty on the [[Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons|Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sweden declines to sign UN nuclear ban treaty |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190712/sweden-declines-to-sign-un-nuclear-treaty |work=The Local |date=12 July 2019}}</ref>

Swedish units have taken part in peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Chad.

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Sweden}}
[[File:Sweden GRP per Capita (2014).png|thumb|upright|[[Gross regional product]] (GRP) per capita in thousands of kronor (2014)]]
[[File:Sweden Product Exports (2019).svg|thumb|right|A proportional representation of Sweden exports, 2019]]
Sweden is the sixteenth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita and a high standard of living is experienced by its citizens. Sweden is an export-oriented [[mixed economy]]. Timber, [[hydropower]] and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy with a heavy emphasis on [[foreign trade]]. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports, while telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. Sweden is the ninth-largest [[arms industry|arms exporter in the world]]. Agriculture accounts for 2% of GDP and employment. The country ranks among the highest for telephone and Internet access penetration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |work=[[The World Factbook]] |title=EUROPE :: SWEDEN |access-date=16 February 2016 }}</ref>

Trade unions, employers' associations and collective agreements cover a large share of the employees in Sweden.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2019) [https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/en/publications/kollektivavtalens-tackningsgrad-samt-organisationsgraden-hos-arbetsgivarfoerbund-och-fackfoerbund(384bb031-c144-442b-a02b-44099819d605).html ''Kollektivavtalens täckningsgrad samt organisationsgraden hos arbetsgivarförbund och fackförbund''], Department of Sociology, Lund University. Studies in Social Policy, Industrial Relations, Working Life and Mobility. Research Reports 2019:1, Appendix 3 (in English) Tables A-G (in English)</ref><ref>Anders Kjellberg (2019) [https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/sv/publications/sweden-collective-bargaining-under-the-industry-norm(11510a6d-057c-4a81-b69b-a82670685caa).html "Sweden: collective bargaining under the industry norm"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725151859/https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/sv/publications/sweden-collective-bargaining-under-the-industry-norm(11510a6d-057c-4a81-b69b-a82670685caa).html |date=25 July 2019 }}, in Torsten Müller & Kurt Vandaele & Jeremy Waddington (eds.) ''Collective bargaining in Europe: towards an endgame'', European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) Brussels 2019. Vol. III (pp. 583-604)</ref> The high coverage of collective agreements is achieved despite the absence of state mechanisms extending collective agreements to whole industries or sectors. Both the prominent role of collective bargaining and the way in which the high rate of coverage is achieved reflect the dominance of self-regulation (regulation by the labour market parties themselves) over state regulation in Swedish industrial relations.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2017) [https://web.archive.org/web/20170418083350/http://portal.research.lu.se/ws/files/23904978/Kjellberg_FSNumhauserHenning_Self_Regulation_State_Regulation.pdf "Self-regulation versus State Regulation in Swedish Industrial Relations"] In Mia Rönnmar and Jenny Julén Votinius (eds.) ''Festskrift till Ann Numhauser-Henning''. Lund: Juristförlaget i Lund 2017, pp. 357–383</ref> When the Swedish [[Ghent system]] was changed in 2007, resulting in considerably raised fees to unemployment funds, a substantial decline in union density and density of unemployment funds occurred.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2011) [http://portal.research.lu.se/portal/files/3462138/2064087.pdf "The Decline in Swedish Union Density since 2007"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312071120/http://portal.research.lu.se/portal/files/3462138/2064087.pdf |date=12 March 2017 }} ''Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies'' (NJWLS) Vol. 1. No 1 (August 2011), pp. 67–93</ref><ref>Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen (2016) [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf "Attacks on union organizing: Reversible and irreversible changes to the Ghent-systems in Sweden and Denmark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf |date=9 March 2017 }} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp.279–302)</ref>

[[File:2018 Volvo XC90 Inscription D5 PowerPulse AWD 2.0.jpg|thumb|right|Sweden is home to [[Volvo Cars]], an automobile company with its headquarters in [[Gothenburg]]]]

In 2010 Sweden's income [[Gini coefficient]] was the third lowest among developed countries, at 0.25—slightly higher than Japan and Denmark—suggesting [[Income inequality in Sweden|Sweden had low income inequality]]. However, Sweden's wealth Gini coefficient at 0.853 was the second highest in developed countries, and above European and North American averages, suggesting high wealth inequality.<ref name=hdr2010>{{cite web|title=The Real Wealth of Nations: Pathways to Human Development (2010 Human Development Report – see Human Development Statistical Tables)|pages=152–156|publisher=[[United Nations Development Program]]|year=2011|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/|access-date=4 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716143706/http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=cs2010>{{cite web|title=Global Wealth Databook |publisher=[[Credit Suisse]] (using Statistics Sweden data) |year=2010 |pages=14–15, 83–86 |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/doc/credit_suisse_global_wealth_databook.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023001729/https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/doc/credit_suisse_global_wealth_databook.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> Even on a disposable income basis, the geographical distribution of Gini coefficient of income inequality varies within different regions and municipalities of Sweden. [[Danderyd Municipality|Danderyd]], outside Stockholm, has Sweden's highest Gini coefficient of income inequality, at 0.55, while [[Hofors Municipality|Hofors]] near Gävle has the lowest at 0.25. In and around Stockholm and Scania, two of the more densely populated regions of Sweden, the income Gini coefficient is between 0.35 and 0.55.<ref>{{cite book|title=Do unequal societies cause death and disease?|author1=Edvinsson, Sören |author2=Malmberg, Gunnar |author3=Häggström Lundevaller, Erling |name-list-style=amp |year=2011|publisher=[[Umeå University]] |url=http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-51702}}</ref>

In terms of structure, the Swedish economy is characterised by a large, knowledge-intensive and export-oriented manufacturing sector; an increasing, but comparatively small, business [[service sector]]; and by international standards, a large public service sector. Large organisations, both in manufacturing and services, dominate the [[Swedish economy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004050916/http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |archive-date=4 October 2006 |title=Doing Business Abroad – Innovation, Science and Technology |publisher=Infoexport.gc.ca |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> High and medium-high technology manufacturing accounts for 9.9% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/innovation/high-medium-high-technology-manufacturing.aspx |title=High- and medium-high-technology manufacturing |publisher=Conferenceboard.ca |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923032054/http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/innovation/high-medium-high-technology-manufacturing.aspx |archive-date=23 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 20 largest (by turnover) registered Swedish companies in 2007 were [[Volvo]], [[Ericsson]], [[Vattenfall]], [[Skanska]], [[Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB]], [[Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget]], [[Electrolux]], [[Volvo Personvagnar]], [[TeliaSonera]], [[Sandvik]], [[Scania AB|Scania]], [[ICA AB|ICA]], [[Hennes & Mauritz]], [[IKEA]], [[Nordea]], [[Preem]], [[Atlas Copco]], [[Securitas AB|Securitas]], [[Nordstjernan]] and [[SKF]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.largestcompanies.com/default$/lev2-TopList/lev2Desc-The_largest_companies_in_the_Nordic_countries_by%A0turnover%A0%28excl._national_subsidiaries%29/AdPageId-102/list-2/cc-SE/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120628210238/http://www.largestcompanies.com/default$/lev2-TopList/lev2Desc-The_largest_companies_in_the_Nordic_countries_by%A0turnover%A0(excl._national_subsidiaries)/AdPageId-102/list-2/cc-SE/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2012 |title=20 largest companies in Sweden |publisher=Largestcompanies.com |date=6 October 2009 |access-date=25 August 2010 }}</ref> The vast majority of Sweden's industry is [[private sector|privately]] controlled, unlike many other industrialised Western countries, and, in accordance with a historical standard, publicly owned enterprises are of minor importance.

[[File:Sw real gdp growth.svg|thumb|left|Real GDP growth in Sweden, 1996–2006]]

An estimated 4.5 million Swedish residents are employed and around a third of the workforce completed tertiary education. In terms of GDP per-hour-worked, Sweden was the world's ninth highest in 2006 at US$31, compared to US$22 in Spain and US$35 in the United States.<ref name="oecd2007" /> GDP per-hour-worked is growing 2.5% per year for the economy as a whole and the trade-terms-balanced productivity growth is 2%.<ref name="oecd2007" /> According to the OECD, deregulation, globalisation, and technology sector growth have been key productivity drivers.<ref name="oecd2007" /> Sweden is a world leader in privatised pensions and pension funding problems are relatively small compared to many other Western European countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/Research/SocialSecurity/bg1381.cfm|title=Pension Reform in Sweden: Lessons for American Policymakers|work=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=17 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113085905/http://www.heritage.org/Research/SocialSecurity/bg1381.cfm|archive-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> A pilot program to test the feasibility of a six-hour workday, without loss of pay, will commence in 2014, involving the participation of Gothenburg municipal staff. The Swedish government is seeking to reduce its costs through decreased sick leave hours and increased efficiency.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swedes to give six-hour workday a go|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20140408/swedish-workers-to-test-six-hour-work-days|first=Oliver|last=Gee|access-date=9 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Local]]|date=8 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409200149/http://www.thelocal.se/20140408/swedish-workers-to-test-six-hour-work-days|archive-date=9 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Euro accession.svg|thumb|Sweden is part of the [[Schengen Area]] and the EU single market.]]
The typical worker receives 40% of his or her labour costs after the [[tax wedge]]. Total tax collected by Sweden as a percentage of its GDP peaked at 52.3% in 1990.<ref name=oecdtax11 /> The country faced a real estate and banking crisis in 1990–1991, and consequently passed tax reforms in 1991 to implement tax rate cuts and tax base broadening over time.<ref name="AgellEnglund">{{cite journal|title=Tax reform of the Century – the Swedish Experiment|author1=Agell, Jonas|author2=Englund, Peter|author3=Södersten, Jan|name-list-style=amp|journal=National Tax Journal|volume=49|date=December 1996|pages=643–664|url=http://ntj.tax.org/wwtax/ntjrec.nsf/0/c7b05cd84d78235e85256863004b1f50/$file/v49n4643.pdf|issue=4|doi=10.1086/NTJ41789232|s2cid=232211459|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127123312/http://ntj.tax.org/wwtax/ntjrec.nsf/0/c7b05cd84d78235e85256863004b1f50/$file/v49n4643.pdf|archive-date=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="RiksbankHeikensten">{{cite web |url=http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Press-och-publicerat/Tal/1998/Financial-Crisis----Experiences-from-Sweden/ |title=Financial Crisis – Experiences from Sweden, Lars Heikensten (1998) |publisher=[[Sveriges Riksbank]] |date=15 July 1998 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202160149/http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Press-och-publicerat/Tal/1998/Financial-Crisis----Experiences-from-Sweden/ |archive-date=2 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1990, taxes as a percentage of GDP collected by Sweden have been dropping, with total tax rates for the highest income earners dropping the most.<ref name="BengtssonHolmlund">{{cite journal|title=Lifetime Versus Annual Tax Progressivity: Sweden, 1968–2009|author1=Bengtsson, Niklas |author2=Holmlund, Bertil |author3=Waldenström, Daniel |name-list-style=amp |date=June 2012|publisher=[[Uppsala University]] |ssrn=2098702}}</ref> In 2010 45.8% of the country's GDP was collected as taxes, the second highest among OECD countries, and nearly double the percentage in the US or South Korea.<ref name=oecdtax11>{{cite web|title=Revenue Statistics – Comparative tables|publisher=OECD, Europe|year=2011|url=http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=21699|access-date=13 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918223747/http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=21699|archive-date=18 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Tax income-financed employment represents a third of the Swedish workforce, a substantially higher proportion than in most other countries. Overall, GDP growth has been fast since reforms—especially those in manufacturing—were enacted in the early 1990s.<ref name="oecd2005">OECD Economic Surveys: Sweden – Volume 2005 Issue 9 by OECD Publishing</ref>
[[File:Nordstan Öst.JPG|thumb|left|[[Nordstan]] is one of the largest shopping malls in northern Europe]]
Sweden is the fourth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the [[World Economic Forum]] in its ''[[Global Competitiveness Report]] 2012–2013''.<ref name="wefcomp">{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210040419/http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |archive-date=10 December 2014 }}</ref> Sweden is the top performing country in the 2014 ''Global Green Economy Index (GGEI)''.<ref name="ggei">{{cite web |url=http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |title=2014 Global Green Economy Index |publisher=Dual Citizen LLC |date=19 October 2014 |access-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028201432/http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden is ranked fourth in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013.<ref name="imd">{{cite web |url=http://www.imd.org/wcc/news-wcy-ranking/ |title=IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013 |publisher=Imd.ch |date=30 May 2013 |access-date=9 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609063421/http://www.imd.org/wcc/news-wcy-ranking/ |archive-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the book ''The Flight of the Creative Class'' by the US economist Professor [[Richard Florida]] of the [[University of Toronto]], Sweden is ranked as having the best creativity in Europe for business and is predicted to become a talent magnet for the world's most purposeful workers. The book compiled an index to measure the kind of creativity it claims is most useful to business—talent, technology and tolerance.<ref>"{{cite web|url=http://www.isa.se/templates/News____59355.aspx |url-status=dead|title=Sweden most creative country in Europe & top talent hotspot |access-date=11 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070521053538/http://www.isa.se/templates/News____59355.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2007 }}, [[Invest in Sweden Agency]], 25 June 2005. Retrieved from Internet Archive 13 January 2014.</ref>

Sweden maintains its own currency, the [[Swedish krona]] (SEK), a result of the Swedes having rejected the [[euro]] in a referendum. The Swedish [[Sveriges Riksbank|Riksbank]]—founded in 1668 and thus the oldest central bank in the world—is currently focusing on price stability with an inflation target of 2%. According to the ''Economic Survey of Sweden 2007'' by the OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s, largely because of deregulation and quick utilisation of globalisation.<ref name="oecd2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0,3343,en_2649_34569_38048997_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=Economic survey of Sweden 2007 |publisher=Oecd.org |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426123744/http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0%2C3343%2Cen_2649_34569_38048997_1_1_1_1%2C00.html |archive-date=26 April 2011 }}</ref>

The largest trade flows are with Germany, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Finland.

Financial deregulation in the 1980s impacted adversely on the property market, leading to a bubble and eventually a crash in the early 1990s. Commercial property prices fell by up to two thirds, resulting in two Swedish banks having to be taken over by the government. In the following two decades the property sector strengthened. By 2014, legislators, economists and the IMF were again warning of a bubble with residential property prices soaring and the level of personal mortgage debt expanding. Household debt-to-income rose above 170% as the IMF was calling on legislators to consider zoning reform and other means of generating a greater supply of housing as demand was outstripping what was available, pushing prices higher. By August 2014, 40% of home borrowers had interest-only loans while those that didn't were repaying principal at a rate that would take 100 years to fully repay.<ref name="SwedenProperty">{{cite news|title=Sweden facing possible property bubble warns IMF|url=http://www.swedennews.net/index.php/sid/225058369|date=24 August 2014|access-date=26 August 2014|publisher=Sweden News.Net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827112345/http://www.swedennews.net/index.php/sid/225058369|archive-date=27 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Energy ===
{{See also|Energy in Sweden|Electricity in Sweden|Nordic energy market|Nuclear power in Sweden}}

[[File:Ringhals.JPG|thumb|[[Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant]], located south of [[Gothenburg]]]]
Sweden's energy market is largely privatised. The [[Nordic energy market]] is one of the first liberalised energy markets in Europe and it is traded in [[NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe]] and [[Nord Pool Spot]]. In 2006, out of a total electricity production of 139 [[TWh]], electricity from hydropower accounted for 61 TWh (44%), and [[nuclear power]] delivered 65 TWh (47%). At the same time, the use of [[biofuel]]s, [[peat]] etc. produced 13 TWh (9%) of electricity, while wind power produced 1 TWh (1%). Sweden was a net importer of electricity by a margin of 6 TWh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svenskenergi.se/upload/Statistik/Tidigare%20statistik/Kraftl%C3%A4get%20i%20%C3%A5r/ve_07-01.pdf |title=Kraftläget i Sverige, Vattensituationen |access-date=19 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080216021232/http://www.svenskenergi.se/upload/Statistik/Tidigare%20statistik/Kraftl%C3%A4get%20i%20%C3%A5r/ve_07-01.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2008 }}</ref> [[Biomass]] is mainly used to produce heat for [[district heating]] and [[central heating]] and industry processes.

The [[1973 oil crisis]] strengthened Sweden's commitment to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels. Since then, electricity has been generated mostly from hydropower and nuclear power. The use of nuclear power has been limited, however. Among other things, the accident of [[Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station]] (United States) prompted the Riksdag to ban new nuclear plants. In March 2005, an opinion poll showed that 83% supported maintaining or increasing nuclear power.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |title=Nuclear Power in Sweden |publisher=[[World Nuclear Association]] |date=September 2009 |access-date=29 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213132916/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |archive-date=13 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Politicians have made announcements about oil phase-out in Sweden, decrease of nuclear power, and multibillion-dollar investments in [[renewable energy]] and energy efficiency.<ref name="Agenda21" /><ref name="Vidal">{{cite news|last=Vidal |first=John |url=https://www.theguardian.com/oil/story/0,,1704954,00.html |title=Sweden plans to be world's first oil-free economy |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=13 March 2013 |location=London}}</ref> The country has for many years pursued a strategy of indirect taxation as an instrument of [[environmental policy]], including [[energy tax]]es in general and [[carbon dioxide]] taxes in particular.<ref name="Agenda21">{{cite web |publisher=[[United Nations]] |url=https://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |work=[[Agenda 21]] |title=NATURAL RESOURCE ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SWEDEN |date=April 1997 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064226/http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden was in 2014 a net exporter of electricity by a margin of 16 TWh; the production from windpower mills had increased to 11.5 TWh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.svenskenergi.se/Global/Statistik/Aktuellt%20kraftl%C3%A4ge/Aktuellt-Kraftl%C3%A4ge-Sverige-veckorapport.pdf |publisher=Svenskenergi.se |title=Kraftläget i Sverige |trans-title=Power situation in Sweden |language=sv |access-date=2 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102043811/http://www.svenskenergi.se/Global/Statistik/Aktuellt%20kraftl%C3%A4ge/Aktuellt-Kraftl%C3%A4ge-Sverige-veckorapport.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Sweden}}
[[File:Öresundsbron i solnedgång 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Öresund Bridge]] between [[Malmö]] and [[Copenhagen]] in Denmark]]

Sweden has {{convert|162707|km|mi|abbr=on}} of paved road and {{convert|1428|km|mi|abbr=on}} of expressways. [[List of motorways in Sweden|Motorways]] run through Sweden and over the Øresund Bridge to Denmark. New motorways are still under construction and a new motorway from Uppsala to [[Gävle]] was finished on 17 October 2007. Sweden had left-hand traffic (Vänstertrafik in Swedish) from approximately 1736 and continued to do so well into the 20th century. Voters rejected right-hand traffic in 1955, but after the Riksdag passed legislation in 1963 changeover took place on 3 September 1967, known in Swedish as [[Dagen H]].

The [[Stockholm metro]] is the only underground system in Sweden and serves the city of Stockholm via 100 stations. The rail transport market is privatised, but while there are many privately owned enterprises, the largest operators are still owned by state. The counties have financing, ticket and marketing responsibility for local trains. For other trains the operators handle tickets and marketing themselves. Operators include [[SJ AB|SJ]], [[Veolia Transport]], [[DSB (railway company)|DSB]], [[Green Cargo]], [[Tågkompaniet]] and [[Inlandsbanan]]. Most of the railways are owned and operated by [[Trafikverket]].

[[File:Hall, Stockholm Central Station.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stockholm Central Station]]]]

Most tram nets were closed in 1967, as Sweden changed from left-side to right-side driving. But they survived in [[Norrköping]], Stockholm and Gothenburg, with [[Gothenburg tram network]] being the largest. [[Lund tramway|A new tram line opened]] in [[Lund]] on 13 December 2020.

The largest airports include [[Stockholm–Arlanda Airport]] (16.1 million passengers in 2009) {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Stockholm, [[Göteborg Landvetter Airport]] (4.3 million passengers in 2008), and [[Stockholm–Skavsta Airport]] (2.0 million passengers). Sweden hosts the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, [[Port of Gothenburg|Port of Göteborg AB]] (Gothenburg) and the transnational company [[Copenhagen Malmö Port|Copenhagen Malmö Port AB]]. The most used airport for a large part of Southern Sweden is [[Copenhagen Airport|Kastrup or Copenhagen Airport]] which is located only 12 minutes by train from the closest Swedish railway station, [[Hyllie railway station|Hyllie]]. Copenhagen Airport also is the largest ''international'' airport in Scandinavia and Finland.

Sweden also has a number of car ferry connections to several neighbouring countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/baltic-sea/|title=Ferry to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Baltic, Russia, Germany.|last=Kowalski|first=Oliver|website=www.ferrylines.com|access-date=28 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816025904/http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/baltic-sea|archive-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> This includes a route from [[Umeå]] across [[Kvarken|the Gulf of Bothnia]] to [[Vaasa]] in Finland. There are several connections from the Stockholm area across the [[Sea of Åland]] to [[Mariehamn]] in the [[Åland Islands]] as well as [[Turku]] and [[Helsinki]] on the Finnish mainland and beyond to Estonia and [[Saint Petersburg|St Petersburg]] in Russia. Ferry routes from the Stockholm area also connect with [[Ventspils]] and [[Riga]] in Latvia as well as [[Gdańsk]] in Poland across the Baltic Sea. The ferry ports of [[Karlskrona]] and [[Karlshamn]] in southeastern Sweden serve [[Gdynia]], Poland, and [[Klaipėda|Klaipeda]], Lithuania. Ystad and Trelleborg near the southern tip of Sweden have ferry links with the Danish island of [[Bornholm]] and the German ports of [[Sassnitz]], [[Rostock]] and [[Travemünde]], respectively, and ferries run to [[Świnoujście]], Poland, from both of them. Trelleborg is the busiest ferry port in Sweden in terms of weight transported by lorry.<ref>John Bitton and Nils-Åke Svensson, "Øresund sett från himlen" (Oresund seen from the sky), 2005, {{ISBN|918530510-3}}, page 38</ref> Its route to Sassnitz started as a steam-operated railway ferry in the 19th century, and today's ferry still carries trains to [[Berlin]] during the summer months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snalltaget.se/om-oss/destinationer/berlin|title=Tåg till Berlin – Berlin Night Express – Nattåg till Berlin InterRail – Snälltåget|publisher=Snälltåget.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081052/http://www.snalltaget.se/om-oss/destinationer/berlin|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another ferry route to Travemünde originates from [[Malmö]]. Despite the opening of the fixed link to Denmark, the [[Øresund Bridge]], the busiest ferry route remains the short link across the narrowest section of the [[Øresund]] between [[Helsingborg]] and the Danish port of [[Helsingør]], known as the [[HH Ferry route]]. There are over seventy departures a day each way; during peak times, a ferry departs every fifteen minutes.<ref>At {{cite web|url=http://www.scandlines.se/tider-och-priser/tidtabell.aspx |title=Tidtabell |access-date=12 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224165755/http://www.scandlines.se/tider-och-priser/tidtabell.aspx |archive-date=24 December 2016 }} please press "Tidtabell 2 jan – 31 maj 2015" (Time table 2. January to 31. May 2015) for PDF download</ref> Ports higher up the Swedish west coast include [[Varberg]], with a ferry connection across the [[Kattegat]] to [[Grenaa]] in Denmark, and Göteborg, serving [[Frederikshavn]] at the northern tip of Denmark and [[Kiel]] in Germany. Finally, there are ferries from [[Strömstad]] near the Norwegian border to destinations around the [[Oslofjord]] in Norway. There used to be ferry services to the [[United Kingdom]] from Göteborg to destinations such as Immingham, Harwich and Newcastle, but these have been discontinued.

Sweden has two domestic ferry lines with large vessels, both connecting Gotland with the mainland. The lines leave from Visby harbour on the island, and the ferries sail to either [[Oskarshamn]] or Nynäshamn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destinationgotland.se/Farja/|title=Boka båtbiljetter till och från Gotland|work=destinationgotland.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093055/http://www.destinationgotland.se/Farja/|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> A smaller car ferry connects the island of [[Ven (Sweden)|Ven]] in Øresund with [[Landskrona]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ventrafiken.se/index.php/en/|title=Ventrafiken -Upplev sundets pärla|work=ventrafiken.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501190157/http://www.ventrafiken.se/index.php/en/|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Public policy ===
{{See also|Nordic model|Social welfare in Sweden}}
Sweden has one of the most highly developed welfare states in the world. According to a 2012 OECD report, the country had the second-highest public social spending as a percentage of its GDP after France (27.3% and 28.4%, respectively), and the third-highest total (public and private) social spending at 30.2% of its GDP, after France and [[Belgium]] (31.3% and 31.0%, respectively).<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Public Finance -> Social Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden spent 6.3% of its GDP, the 9th-highest among 34 OECD countries, to provide equal access to education.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Education -> Education Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> On health care, the country spent 10.0% of its total GDP, the 12th highest.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Health -> Health Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Historically, Sweden provided solid support for [[free trade]] (except agriculture) and mostly relatively strong and stable property rights (both private and public), though some economists have pointed out that Sweden promoted industries with tariffs and used publicly subsidised R&D during the country's early critical years of industrialisation.<ref name="H-J.C-Sweden">{{cite book |title=Kicking Away The Ladder |pages=39–42 |first=Ha-Joon |last=Chang}}</ref> After World War II a succession of governments expanded the welfare state by raising the taxes. During this period Sweden's economic growth was also one of the highest in the industrial world. A series of successive social reforms transformed the country into one of the most equal and developed on earth. The consistent growth of the welfare state led to Swedes achieving unprecedented levels of social mobility and quality of life—to this day Sweden consistently ranks at the top of league tables for health, literacy and Human Development—far ahead of some wealthier countries (for example the United States).<ref name="Equal Societies">{{cite web |url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/135-interim/$FILE/135%20-%20Submission%20-%20Childrens%20Hospitals%20Australasia%20(Attachment%20C).pdf |publisher=[[Department of Health (Australia)|Department of Health]] |title=The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better |first1=Richard |last1=Wilkinson |first2=Kate |last2=Pickett |date=8 March 2009 |access-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205120331/http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/135-interim/$FILE/135%20-%20Submission%20-%20Childrens%20Hospitals%20Australasia%20(Attachment%20C).pdf |archive-date=5 February 2016 }}</ref>

However, from the 1970s and onwards Sweden's GDP growth fell behind other industrialised countries and the country's per capita ranking fell from 4th to 14th place in a few decades.<ref name="eu-usa">[http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf EU versus USA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115141716/http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf |date=15 November 2016 }}, Fredrik Bergström & Robert Gidehag</ref> From the mid-1990s until today Sweden's economic growth has once again accelerated and has been higher than in most other industrialised countries (including the US) during the last 15 years.<ref name="growth-Swe">{{cite web|url=http://www.ekonomifakta.se/en/Facts-and-figures/Economy/Economic-growth/GDP-per-capita-/|title=Sweden's GDP per capita|date=16 September 2014|publisher=Ekonomifakta.se|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721130115/http://www.ekonomifakta.se/en/Facts-and-figures/Economy/Economic-growth/GDP-per-capita-/|archive-date=21 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A report from the [[United Nations Development Program]] predicted that Sweden's rating on the [[Human Development Index]] will fall from 0.949 in 2010 to 0.906 in 2030.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Asher|first1=Jana|author1-link=Jana Asher|last2=Osborne Daponte|first2=Beth|title=A Hypothetical Cohort Model of Human Development|journal=Human Development Research Paper|page=41|url=http://ww.rrojasdatabank.info/HDRP_2010_40.pdf|access-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219010417/http://ww.rrojasdatabank.info/HDRP_2010_40.pdf|archive-date=19 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sweden began slowing the expansion of the welfare state in the 1980s, and even trimming it back. Sweden has been relatively quick to adopt [[neoliberal]] policies, such as [[privatization]], [[financialization]] and [[deregulation]],<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Pierre|editor-first=Jon|date=2016|title=The Oxford Handbook of Swedish Politics (Oxford Handbooks)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDcICwAAQBAJ&pg=PA573|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|page=573|isbn=978-0199665679|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009201639/https://books.google.com/books?id=hDcICwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA573#v=onepage&q&f=false|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Springer |editor1-first=Simon |editor2-last=Birch |editor2-first=Kean |editor3-last=MacLeavy |editor3-first=Julie |date=2016 |title=The Handbook of Neoliberalism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M5qkDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA569 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |page=569 |isbn=978-1138844001 |access-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009201645/https://books.google.com/books?id=M5qkDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA569#v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> compared to countries such as France.<ref name="oecd2007" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/mginews/businessweek/swedenbalance.asp|title=Sweden's balancing lessons for Europe|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031224326/http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/mginews/businessweek/swedenbalance.asp|archive-date=31 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The current Swedish government is continuing the trend of moderate rollbacks of previous social reforms.<ref name="oecd2007" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9803876|title=Moderate revolution|work=[[The Economist]]|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104025637/http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9803876|archive-date=4 January 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Growth has been higher than in many other [[EU-15]] countries. Also since the mid-1980s, Sweden has had the fastest growth in inequality of any developed nation, according to the OECD. This has largely been attributed to the reduction in state benefits and a shift toward the privatisation of public services. According to Barbro Sorman, an activist of the opposition Left Party, "The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. Sweden is starting to look like the USA." Nevertheless, it remains far more egalitarian than most nations.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm|title=Swedish riots rage for fourth night|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=23 May 2013|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817040239/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm|archive-date=17 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Partly as a result of these privatisations and widening economic disparity, the Swedes in the 2014 elections put the Social Democrats back in power.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://time.com/3373946/sweden-parliament-election/ |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |title=Sweden Shifts to Left in Parliamentary Election |agency=Associated Press |date=14 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920215539/http://time.com/3373946/sweden-parliament-election/ |archive-date=20 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Igor |last=Bobic |date=13 September 2014 |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/13/sweden-austerity-election_n_5816010.html |title=Sweden's Turn Left Could Deal A Blow To European Austerity |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007050658/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/13/sweden-austerity-election_n_5816010.html |archive-date=7 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sweden adopted free market agricultural policies in 1990. Since the 1930s, the agricultural sector had been subject to price controls. In June 1990, the Riksdag voted for a new agricultural policy marking a significant shift away from price controls. As a result, [[food prices]] fell somewhat. However, the liberalisations soon became moot because EU agricultural controls supervened.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Econ Journal Watch]] |last=Lindberg |first=Henrik |title=The Role of Economists in Liberalising Swedish Agriculture |date=May 2007 |url=http://econjwatch.org/issues/volume-4-number-1-may-2007 |volume=4 |issue=2 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193526/http://econjwatch.org/issues/volume-4-number-1-may-2007 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the late 1960s, Sweden has had the highest tax quota (as percentage of GDP) in the industrialised world, although today the gap has narrowed and Denmark has surpassed Sweden as the most heavily taxed country among developed countries. Sweden has a two-step [[progressive tax]] scale with a municipal income tax of about 30% and an additional high-income state tax of 20–25% when a salary exceeds roughly 320,000 SEK per year. [[Payroll tax]]es amount to 32%. In addition, a national [[Value added tax|VAT]] of 25% is added to many things bought by private citizens, with the exception of food (12% VAT), transportation, and books (6% VAT). Certain items are subject to additional taxes, e.g. electricity, petrol/diesel and alcoholic beverages.

{{As of|2007|alt=In 2007}}, total tax revenue was 47.8% of GDP, the second-highest tax burden among developed countries, down from 49.1% 2006.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kenneth |last=Westerlund |title=Danmark har högsta skattetrycket |trans-title=Denmark has the highest tax burden |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |newspaper=[[Dagens Nyheter]] |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=11 March 2008 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214084943/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |archive-date=14 February 2009}}</ref> Sweden's inverted tax wedge – the amount going to the service worker's wallet – is approximately 15%, compared to 10% in Belgium, 30% in Ireland, and 50% in the United States.<ref name="eu-usa" /> Public sector spending amounts to 53% of the GDP. State and municipal employees total around a third of the workforce, much more than in most Western countries. Only Denmark has a larger public sector (38% of Danish workforce). Spending on transfers is also high.

In 2015 and 2016, 69 per cent of the employed workers is organised in trade unions. Union density in 2016 was 62% among blue-collar-workers (most of them in the [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation]], LO) and 75% among white-collar workers (most of them in the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, TCO, and the [[Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations]], SACO).<ref>Yearly averages excluding full-time students working part-time. See Anders Kjellberg [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21676527/Kollektivavtalst_ckning_samt_organisationsgrad_2017_LUP.pdf ''Kollektivavtalens täckningsgrad samt organisationsgraden hos arbetsgivarförbund och fackförbund''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312031300/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21676527/Kollektivavtalst_ckning_samt_organisationsgrad_2017_LUP.pdf |date=12 March 2017 }}, Department of Sociology, Lund University. Studies in Social Policy, Industrial Relations, Working Life and Mobility. Research Reports 2017:1, Appendix 3 (in English) Table A</ref> Sweden has state-supported union unemployment funds ([[Ghent system]]).<ref>Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf "Attacks on union organizing: Reversible and irreversible changes to the Ghent-systems in Sweden and Denmark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf |date=9 March 2017 }} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp.279–302)</ref> Trade unions have the right to elect two representatives to the board in all Swedish companies with more than 25 employees. Sweden has a relatively high amount of sick leave per worker in OECD: the average worker loses 24 days due to sickness.<ref name="oecd2005" />

The unemployment rate was 7.2% in May 2017 while the employment rate was 67.4%, with the workforce consisting of 4,983,000 people while 387,000 are unemployed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/labour-force-surveys/labour-force-surveys-lfs/pong/statistical-news/labour-force-surveys-lfs-may-2017/ |title=Continued increase in the number of employees in the municipal sector |work=Statistics Sweden |date=20 June 2017 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009190725/http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/labour-force-surveys/labour-force-surveys-lfs/pong/statistical-news/labour-force-surveys-lfs-may-2017/ |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/scb-72-procent-ar-arbetslosa |title=SCB: Arbetslösheten minskar i landet |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |agency=Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå |date=20 June 2017 |language=sv |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623040007/https://www.svd.se/scb-72-procent-ar-arbetslosa |archive-date=23 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unemployment among youth (aged 24 or younger) in 2012 was 24.2%, making Sweden the OECD country with the highest ratio of youth unemployment versus unemployment in general.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sweden: Highest ratio of youth unemployment|publisher=[[UNRIC|United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe]], Brussels|year=2012|url=http://www.unric.org/en/youth-unemployment/27411-sweden-highest-ratio-of-youth-unemployment|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202221352/http://www.unric.org/en/youth-unemployment/27411-sweden-highest-ratio-of-youth-unemployment|archive-date=2 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Science and technology ===
{{Main|Swedish inventions}}
[[File:AlfredNobel adjusted.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Alfred Nobel]], inventor of dynamite and institutor of the Nobel Prize]]

In the 18th century, Sweden's [[scientific revolution]] took off. Previously, technical progress had mainly come from mainland Europe.

In 1739, the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]] was founded, with people such as [[Carl Linnaeus]] and [[Anders Celsius]] as early members. Many of the companies founded by early pioneers still remain major international brands. [[Gustaf Dalén]] founded [[AGA AB|AGA]], and received the Nobel Prize for his [[sun valve]]. [[Alfred Nobel]] invented [[dynamite]] and instituted the Nobel Prizes. [[Lars Magnus Ericsson]] started the company bearing his name, Ericsson, still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. [[Jonas Wenström]] was an early pioneer in [[alternating current]] and is along with [[Serbia]]n-[[United States|American]] inventor [[Nikola Tesla]] credited as one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system.<ref name="si91e" />

The traditional engineering industry is still a major source of Swedish inventions, but pharmaceuticals, electronics and other high-tech industries are gaining ground. [[Tetra Pak]] was an invention for storing liquid foods, invented by [[Erik Wallenberg]]. [[Losec]], an ulcer medicine, was the world's best-selling drug in the 1990s and was developed by [[AstraZeneca]]. More recently [[Håkan Lans]] invented the [[Automatic Identification System]], a worldwide standard for shipping and civil aviation navigation. A large portion of the Swedish economy is to this day based on the export of technical inventions, and many large multinational corporations from Sweden have their origins in the ingenuity of Swedish inventors.<ref name="si91e">{{cite web|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Education/Research/Facts/Innovation/|title=Innovation, Science/Research: Inventing tomorrow's world|publisher=Sweden.se|access-date=27 January 2011|date=February 2010|work=Fact Sheet FS 4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104021652/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Education/Research/Facts/Innovation/|archive-date=4 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Swedish inventors held 47,112 patents in the United States {{as of|2014|alt=in 2014}}, according to the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]. As a nation, only ten other countries hold more patents than Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm |publisher=[[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] |title=Patents By Country, State, and Year – All Patent Types (December 2014) |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226160611/http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm |archive-date=26 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Combined, the public and the private sector in Sweden allocate over 3.5% of GDP to [[research & development]] (R&D) per year, making Sweden's investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP the second-highest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_res_and_dev_exp_of_gdp-economy-research-development-expenditure-gdp |title=% Of GDP > Research And Development Expenditure statistics – countries compared |publisher=NationMaster |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008062145/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_res_and_dev_exp_of_gdp-economy-research-development-expenditure-gdp |archive-date=8 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For several decades the [[Swedish government]] has prioritised scientific and R&D activities. As a percentage of GDP, the Swedish government spends the most of any nation on research and development.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gov_spe_in_res_and_dev-economy-government-spending-research-development |title=Government spending in research and development statistics – countries compared |publisher=NationMaster.com |date=1 April 2007 |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930043550/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gov_spe_in_res_and_dev-economy-government-spending-research-development |archive-date=30 September 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden tops other European countries in the number of published scientific works per capita.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |title=Embassy of Sweden New Delhi – Science & Technology |publisher=Swedenabroad.se |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916211008/http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |archive-date=16 September 2008 }}</ref>

In 2009, the decisions to construct Sweden's two largest scientific installations, the synchrotron radiation facility [[MAX IV|MAX IV Laboratory]] and the [[European Spallation Source]] (ESS), were taken.<ref>{{cite web|title=European Spallation Source|url=http://europeanspallationsource.se/|publisher=ESS AB|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517050510/http://europeanspallationsource.se/|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=MAX IV |url=https://www.maxlab.lu.se/maxiv |publisher=[[MAX-lab]] |access-date=16 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603131912/https://www.maxlab.lu.se/maxiv |archive-date=3 June 2013 }}</ref> Both installations will be built in [[Lund]]. The European Spallation Source, costing some SEK 14 billion to construct,<ref>{{cite web|title=MAX IV och ESS (in Swedish)|url=http://www.lu.se/forskning/starka-forskningsmiljoer/max-iv-och-ess|publisher=[[Lund University]]|access-date=16 October 2013|date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105020653/http://www.lu.se/forskning/starka-forskningsmiljoer/max-iv-och-ess|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> will begin initial operations in 2019 with construction completion scheduled for 2025. The ESS will give an approximately 30 times stronger neutron beam than any of today's existing neutron source installations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neutron scattering|url=http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2011/file_47455.pdf|publisher=[[Institute of Physics]]|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022104114/http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2011/file_47455.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The MAX IV, costing some SEK 3 billion, was inaugurated on 21 June 2016. Both facilities have strong implications on material research. Sweden was ranked 2nd in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2019 and 2020. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Release of the Global Innovation Index 2020: Who Will Finance Innovation?|url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2020/index.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=www.wipo.int|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Innovation Index 2019|url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2019/index.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=www.wipo.int|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=RTD - Item|url=https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/rtd/items/691898|access-date=2021-09-02|website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-10-28|title=Global Innovation Index|url=https://knowledge.insead.edu/entrepreneurship-innovation/global-innovation-index-2930|access-date=2021-09-02|website=INSEAD Knowledge|language=en}}</ref>

=== Taxes ===
{{Main|Taxation in Sweden}}
On average, 27% of taxpayer's money in Sweden goes to education and healthcare, whereas 5% goes to the police and military, and 42% to social security.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 August 2017|title=Offentliga sektorns utgifter|url=https://www.ekonomifakta.se/Fakta/Offentlig-ekonomi/Offentlig-sektor/Offentliga-sektorns-utgifter/?graph=/10870/all/all/|access-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707010104/https://www.ekonomifakta.se/Fakta/Offentlig-ekonomi/Offentlig-sektor/Offentliga-sektorns-utgifter/?graph=%2F10870%2Fall%2Fall%2F|archive-date=7 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The typical worker receives 40% of his or her labour costs after the [[tax wedge]]. Total tax collected by Sweden as a percentage of its GDP peaked at 52.3% in 1990.<ref name=oecdtax11 /> The country faced a real estate and banking crisis in 1990–1991, and consequently passed tax reforms in 1991 to implement tax rate cuts and tax base broadening over time.<ref name="AgellEnglund"/><ref name="RiksbankHeikensten"/> Since 1990, taxes as a percentage of GDP collected by Sweden have been dropping, with total tax rates for the highest income earners dropping the most.<ref name="BengtssonHolmlund"/> In 2010, 45.8% of the country's GDP was collected as taxes, the second highest among OECD countries, and nearly double the percentage in the US or South Korea.<ref name=oecdtax11/>

=== Pensions ===
{{Main|Social security in Sweden}}
Every Swedish resident receives a state pension. Swedish Pensions Agency is responsible for pensions. People who have worked in Sweden, but relocated to another country, can also receive the Swedish pension. There are several types of pensions in Sweden: national retirement, occupational and private pensions. A person can receive a combination of the various types of pensions.

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Sweden|Swedes}}
[[File:Swedishpopdensity.svg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|Population density in the counties of Sweden. ''people/km²'' {{legend|#E1E1FF|0–9.9}}{{legend|#CDCDFF|10–24.9}}{{legend|#A5A5FF|25–49.9}}{{legend|#7373FF|50–99.9}}{{legend|#2D2DFF|100–199.9}}{{legend|#0000FA|200+}}]]
The total resident population of Sweden was 10,377,781 in October 2020.<ref name="population" /> The population exceeded 10 million for the first time on Friday 20 January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6610701|title=Swedish population hits 10-million mark - Radio Sweden|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=20 January 2017|language=en|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20170120/swedens-population-reaches-historic-ten-million-milestone|title=Sweden's population reaches historic ten million milestone|date=20 January 2017|website=www.thelocal.se|language=en-GB|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref>

The average population density is just over 25 people per km2 (65 per square mile), with 1 437 persons per km2 in localities (continuous settlement with at least 200 inhabitants).<ref name="SCB2020">[https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-and-urban-areas-2018-population-2019/ Densification in half of Sweden’s urban areas]</ref>,<ref name="SCB2019">[https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-2018/ Roughly 87 percent of the population lives in localities and urban areas]</ref> 87% of the population live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area.<ref name="SCB2018">[https://www.scb.se/contentassets/745b357fd3b74ffd934fc4004ce5cf62/mi0810_2018a01_sm_mi38sm1901.pdf Statistiska tätorter 2018] page 33</ref> 63% of Swedes are in large urban areas.<ref name="SCB2018" /> It is substantially higher in the south than in the north. The capital city Stockholm has a municipal population of about 950,000 (with 1.5 million in the urban area and 2.3 million in the metropolitan area). The second- and third-largest cities are [[Gothenburg]] and [[Malmö]]. Greater Gothenburg counts just over a million inhabitants and the same goes for the western part of Scania, along the [[Öresund]]. The [[Öresund Region]], the Danish-Swedish cross-border region around the Öresund that Malmö is part of, has a population of 4 million. Outside of major cities, areas with notably higher population density include the agricultural part of Östergötland, the western coast, the area around Lake Mälaren and the agricultural area around Uppsala.

[[Norrland]], which covers approximately 60% of the Swedish territory, has a very low population density (below 5 people per square kilometre). The mountains and most of the remote coastal areas are almost unpopulated. Low population density exists also in large parts of western Svealand, as well as southern and central Småland. An area known as ''Finnveden'', which is located in the south-west of Småland, and mainly below the 57th parallel, can also be considered as almost empty of people.

Between 1820 and 1930, approximately 1.3 million Swedes, a third of the country's population at the time, [[Swedish emigration to North America|emigrated to North America]], and most of them to the United States. There are more than 4.4 million [[Swedish Americans]] according to a 2006 US Census Bureau estimate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_06_EST_DP2&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212411/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_06_EST_DP2&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2020 |title=United States – Selected Social Characteristics: 2006 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=21 March 2014 }}</ref> In [[Canada]], the community of [[Swedish Canadian|Swedish ancestry]] is 330,000 strong.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=30 June 2008 |date=2 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723224016/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/index-eng.cfm |archive-date=23 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are no official statistics on ethnicity, but according to Statistics Sweden, around 2,634,967 (25.5%) inhabitants of Sweden were of a [[Immigration to Sweden|foreign background]] in 2019, defined as being born abroad or born in Sweden with foreign born parents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgGrov/table/tableViewLayout1/ |title=Number of persons with foreign or Swedish background (rough division) by region, age and sex. Year 2002 - 2020 |work=[[Statistics Sweden]] |date=31 December 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021 }}</ref> Of these inhabitants, 2,019,733 persons were born abroad and 615,234 persons were born in Sweden to parents born abroad. In addition, 780,199 persons had one parent born abroad with the other parent born in Sweden.

Sweden has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the average age of 41.1 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : SWEDEN|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018}}</ref>
{{Largest cities of Sweden}}

=== Language ===
{{Main|Swedish language|Languages of Sweden}}
{{See also|Swedish dialects}}
[[File:Distribution-sv.png|thumb|left|Distribution of speakers of the Swedish language]]
The official language of Sweden is Swedish,<ref name="Swedish">{{cite web|url=http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Spraklag-2009600_sfs-2009-600/|title=Språklag (2009:600)|date=28 May 2009|publisher=[[Riksdag]]|language=sv|access-date=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110205547/http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Spraklag-2009600_sfs-2009-600/|archive-date=10 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Swedish2">{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20090701/20404|title=Swedish becomes official 'main language'|last=Landes|first=David|date=1 July 2009|newspaper=[[The Local]]|access-date=15 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210004646/http://www.thelocal.se/20090701/20404|archive-date=10 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> a North Germanic language, related and very similar to [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], but differing in pronunciation and [[orthography]]. Norwegians have little difficulty understanding Swedish, and Danes can also understand it, with slightly more difficulty than Norwegians. The same goes for standard Swedish speakers, who find it far easier to understand Norwegian than Danish. The [[Scanian dialects|dialects spoken in Scania]], the southernmost part of the country, are influenced by Danish because [[Skåneland|the region traditionally was a part of Denmark]] and is nowadays situated closely to it. [[Sweden Finns]] are Sweden's largest linguistic minority, comprising about 5% of Sweden's population,<ref name="Finns">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____255905.aspx |title=På lördag kan 440 000 flagga blått och vitt |trans-title=On Saturday 440 000 can flag blue and white |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |language=sv |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=16 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820073639/http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____255905.aspx |archive-date=20 August 2010}}</ref> and Finnish is recognised as a minority language.<ref name="Swedish2" /> Owing to a 21st-century influx of native speakers of [[Arabic language|Arabic]], the use of Arabic is likely more widespread in the country than that of Finnish. However, no official statistics are kept on language use.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6003931|title=Hur många språk talas i Sverige?|trans-title=How many languages are spoken in Sweden?|newspaper=[[Sveriges Radio]]|language=sv|date=29 October 2014|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090814/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6003931|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live|last1=Forsberg|first1=Ingrid}}</ref>

Along with Finnish, [[Minority languages of Sweden|four other minority languages]] are also recognised: [[Meänkieli]], [[Sami languages|Sami]], [[Romani language|Romani]], and [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]. Swedish became Sweden's official language on 1 July 2009, when a new language law was implemented.<ref name="Swedish2" /> The issue of whether Swedish should be declared the official language had been raised in the past, and the Riksdag voted on the matter in 2005, but the proposal narrowly failed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Svenskan blir inte officiellt språk|trans-title=Swedish will not become an official language|url=http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/svenskan-blir-inte-officiellt-sprak|publisher=[[Sveriges Television]]|language=sv|access-date=9 June 2013|date=7 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311014951/http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/svenskan-blir-inte-officiellt-sprak|archive-date=11 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In varying degrees, depending largely on frequency of interaction with English, a majority of Swedes, especially those born after World War II, understand and speak English, owing to trade links, the popularity of overseas travel, a strong Anglo-American influence and the tradition of [[subtitle (captioning)|subtitling]] rather than dubbing foreign television shows and films, and the [[Germanic languages|relative similarity]] of the two languages which makes learning English easier. In a 2005 survey by [[Eurobarometer]], 89% of Swedes reported the ability to speak English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/pdf/doc631_en.pdf |title=Europeans and their Languages|publisher=[[European Commission]] |date=12 March 2012 |access-date=17 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116073533/http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/pdf/doc631_en.pdf |archive-date=16 November 2013}}</ref>

English became a compulsory subject for secondary school students studying [[natural science]]s as early as 1849, and has been a compulsory subject for all Swedish students since the late 1940s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |title=English spoken – fast ibland hellre än bra |publisher=[[Lund University]] newsletter 7/1999 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106110733/http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |archive-date=6 January 2006 }}</ref> Depending on the local school authorities, English is currently a compulsory subject between [[first grade]] and [[ninth grade]], with all students continuing in secondary school studying English for at least another year. Most students also study one and sometimes two additional languages. These include (but are not limited to) German, French and Spanish. Some Danish and Norwegian is at times also taught as part of Swedish courses for native speakers. Because of the extensive [[mutual intelligibility]] between the three continental [[Scandinavian language]]s Swedish speakers often use their native language when visiting or living in Norway or Denmark.

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Sweden}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religions in Sweden (2018)<ref name="svenskakyrkan stats"/>
|label1 = [[Church of Sweden]]
|value1 = 57.7
|color1 = RoyalBlue
|label2 = Other Protestants
|value2 = 3.4
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]]
|value3 = 1.7
|color3 = Orchid
|label4 = [[Catholic Church in Sweden|Catholic Church]]
|value4 = 1.2
|color4 = Indigo
|label5 = Other Christian denominations
|value5 = 0.3
|color5 = DeepSkyBlue
|label6 = [[Islam in Sweden|Islam]]
|value6 = 1.9
|color6 = Green
|label7 = Other religions
|value7 = 0.3
|color7 = Yellow
|label8 = [[Irreligion in Sweden|Unaffiliated]]
|value8 = 33.5
|color8 = Honeydew
}}

Before the 11th century, Swedes adhered to [[Norse paganism]], worshiping [[Æsir]] gods, with its centre at the [[temple at Uppsala|Temple in Uppsala]]. With [[Christianization of Scandinavia|Christianisation]] in the 11th century, the laws of the country changed, forbidding worship of other deities until the late 19th century. After the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 1530s, a change led by [[Martin Luther]]'s Swedish associate [[Olaus Petri]], the authority of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] was abolished and [[Lutheranism]] became widespread. Adoption of Lutheranism was completed by the [[Uppsala Synod]] of 1593, and it became the official religion. During the era following the Reformation, usually known as the period of [[Lutheran orthodoxy]], small groups of non-Lutherans, especially [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] [[Dutch people|Dutchmen]], the [[Moravian Church]] and [[French Huguenots]] played a significant role in trade and industry, and were quietly tolerated as long as they kept a low religious profile.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gritsch|first1=Eric|title=A History of Lutheranism|date=2010|publisher=Fortress Press|location=Minneapolis|isbn=9781451407754|page=351|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ApWxByVqe-MC&q=lutheranism+history+in+sweden|access-date=20 March 2017}}</ref> The [[Sami people|Sami]] originally had their own [[Animism|shamanistic religion]], but they were converted to Lutheranism by Swedish missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries.

[[File:Katarina kyrka February 2015 02.jpg|thumb|The Protestant [[Katarina Church]] in Stockholm]]
[[File:Moske Malmo 2014Jun17 0002-3.jpg|thumb|The second oldest mosque in Sweden is the [[Malmö Mosque]], inaugurated in 1984]]

With religious liberalisations in the late 18th century believers of other faiths, including [[History of the Jews in Sweden|Judaism]] and [[Roman Catholicism]], were allowed to live and work freely in the country. However, until 1860 it remained illegal for Lutherans to convert to another religion. The 19th century saw the arrival of various [[Low church|evangelical]] [[free church]]es, and, towards the end of the century, [[secularism]], leading many to distance themselves from church rituals. Leaving the Church of Sweden became legal with the so-called dissenter law of 1860, but only under the provision of entering another [[Christian denomination]]. The right to stand outside any religious denomination was formally established in the law on [[freedom of religion]] in 1951.

In 2000, the [[Church of Sweden]] was disestablished. Sweden was the second [[Nordic country]] to [[Separation of church and state|disestablish]] its [[state church]] (after [[Finland]] did so in the Church Act of 1869).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Sweden.1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110072754/http://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Sweden.1.pdf|url-status=dead|title=MAARIT JÄNTERÄ-JAREBORG: Religion and the Secular State in Sweden|archive-date=10 January 2016}}</ref>

At the end of 2018, 57.7% of Swedes belonged to the [[Church of Sweden]]; this number had been decreasing by about 1.5 percentage points a year for the previous 7 years and one percentage point a year on average for the previous two decades.<ref name="svenskakyrkan.se">{{cite web |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=978164 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220162746/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=978164 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2020 |publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |title=Stift |trans-title=Diocese |format=PDF |language=sv }}</ref><ref name="thelocal1">{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/26878/20100527/ |title=Swedes depart church in droves |newspaper=[[The Local]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802045112/http://www.thelocal.se/26878/20100527/ |archive-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik/xls/medlem_diagram.xls |title=Medlemmar 1972–2006 |trans-title=Members 1972–2006 |format=xls |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930212556/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik/xls/medlem_diagram.xls |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> Approximately 2% of the church's members regularly attend Sunday services.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |title=Liturgy and Worship |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422193814/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |archive-date=22 April 2010}}</ref> The reason for the large number of inactive members is partly that, until 1996, children automatically became members at birth if at least one of the parents was a member. Since 1996, only children and adults who are [[infant baptism|christened]] become members. Some 275,000 Swedes are today members of various [[Evangelical Protestant]] free churches (where congregation attendance is much higher), and due to recent immigration, there are now some 100,000 [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christians]] and 92,000 Roman Catholics living in Sweden.<ref>[[:sv:Frikyrka|Statistics about free churches and immigration churches from Swedish Wikipedia – in Swedish]]</ref>

The first Muslim congregation was established in 1949, when a small contingent of [[Tatars]] migrated from Finland. Islam's presence in Sweden remained marginal until the 1960s, when Sweden started to receive migrants from [[the Balkans]] and [[Turkey]]. Further immigration from [[North Africa]] and the [[Middle East]] have brought the estimated [[Islam in Sweden|Muslim population]] to 600,000.<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/238650.pdf International Religious Freedom Report 2014 : Sweden], U.S. Department Of State.</ref> However, only about 110,000 were members of a congregation around 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article140868.ece |first1=Erik |last1=Magnusson |first2=Olle |last2=Lönnaeus |first3=Niklas |last3=Orrenius |title=Djup splittring bland Malmös muslimer |trans-title=Deep splits among Malmö's Muslims |newspaper=[[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]] |language=sv |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113112554/http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article140868.ece |archive-date=13 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sst.a.se/statistik.4.7501238311cc6f12fa580005236.html |title=Statistik |trans-title=Statistics |publisher=Swedish Commission for Government Support to Faith Communities |language=sv |year=2010 |access-date=4 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129111255/http://www.sst.a.se/statistik.4.7501238311cc6f12fa580005236.html |archive-date=29 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arvsfonden.se/upload/utvarderingar/Islam%20och%20muslimer%20i%20Sverige%20Mattias%20Gardell.pdf |first=Mattias |last=Gardell |title=Islam och muslimer i Sverige |trans-title=Islam and Muslims in Sweden |publisher=[[Inheritance Fund (Sweden)|Inheritance Fund]] |date=May 2010 |language=sv |access-date=4 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813171738/http://www.arvsfonden.se/upload/utvarderingar/Islam%20och%20muslimer%20i%20Sverige%20Mattias%20Gardell.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2010}}</ref>

According to the [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] 2010,<ref name="Special Eurobarometer 393">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |publisher=[[Eurobarometer]] |title=Biotechnology report 2010 |date=2010 |page=381 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}{{better source needed|date=January 2014}}</ref>
* '''18%''' of Swedish citizens responded that "they believe there is a god".
* '''45%''' answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force".
* '''34%''' answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".

According to a Demoskop study in 2015 about the beliefs of the Swedish showed that
* '''21%''' believed in a god (down from 35 percent in 2008).
* '''16%''' believed in ghosts.
* '''14%''' believed in creationism or intelligent design.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/20151030/belief-in-ghosts-rises-in-secular-sweden |newspaper=[[The Local]] |title=Belief in ghosts rises across secular Sweden |first=August |last=Håkansson |date=30 October 2015 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054008/http://www.thelocal.se/20151030/belief-in-ghosts-rises-in-secular-sweden |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vof.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/VoF-Undersökningen-2015.pdf |publisher=[[Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning]] |title=VoF-Undersökningen 2015 |trans-title=VoF survey of 2015 |date=2015 |access-date=17 February 2016 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083406/http://www.vof.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/VoF-Unders%C3%B6kningen-2015.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sociology professor [[Phil Zuckerman]] claims that Swedes, despite a lack of belief in God, commonly question the term [[atheist]], preferring to call themselves Christians while being content with remaining in the Church of Sweden.<ref name="Peter Steinfels">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/28beliefs.html?pagewanted=1|last=Steinfels|first=Peter|title=Scandinavian Nonbelievers, Which Is Not to Say Atheists|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|quote=Mr. Zuckerman, a sociologist who teaches at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., has reported his findings on religion in Denmark and Sweden in "Society Without God" (New York University Press, 2008). Much that he found will surprise many people, as it did him. The many nonbelievers he interviewed, both informally and in structured, taped and transcribed sessions, were anything but antireligious, for example. They typically balked at the label "atheist." An overwhelming majority had in fact been baptized, and many had been confirmed or married in church. Though they denied most of the traditional teachings of Christianity, they called themselves Christians, and most were content to remain in the Danish National Church or the Church of Sweden, the traditional national branches of Lutheranism.|access-date=31 December 2007|year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111010613/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/28beliefs.html?pagewanted=1|archive-date=11 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Religion continues to play a role in Swedish cultural identity.<ref name="Herbert2003"/> This is evidenced by the fact that the majority of Swedish adults continue to remain members of the Lutheran Church despite having to pay a [[church tax]]; moreover, rates of [[baptism]] remain high and [[Christian views on marriage|church weddings]] are increasing in Sweden.<ref name="Herbert2003">{{cite book |last1=Herbert |first1=David |title=Religion and Civil Society: Rethinking Public Religion in the Contemporary World |date=2003 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-0-7546-1339-8 |page=13 |language=en|quote=More than 80 percent of adults continue to choose to belong to the Lutheran Church in spite of its recent disestablishment and the cost of having to pay the church tax. Rates of baptism remain high and church weddings are increasing. In Sweden, religion appears to play a continuing role in cultural identity, in locating the individual to tradition.}}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{See also|Healthcare in Sweden|Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare}}
Healthcare in Sweden is mainly [[Publicly funded health care|tax-funded]], universal for all citizens and decentralized,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/economics/getting-better-value-for-money-from-sweden-s-healthcare-system_082725005676#.WiiR07pFxPY |title=Getting Better Value for Money from Sweden's Healthcare System {{!}} OECD READ edition|website=OECD iLibrary |access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> although private health care also exists. The health care system in Sweden is financed primarily through taxes levied by county councils and municipalities. A total of 21 councils are in charge with primary and hospital care within the country.

Private healthcare is a rarity in Sweden, and even those private institutions work under the mandated city councils.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/economics/oecd-economic-surveys-sweden-2005/improving-quality-and-value-for-money-in-healthcare_eco_surveys-swe-2005-7-en#.WiiXqLpFxPY#page5|title=Improving Quality and Value for Money in Healthcare {{!}} OECD READ edition|website=OECD iLibrary|language=en|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> The city councils regulates the rules and the establishment of potential private practices. Although in most countries care for the elderly or those who need psychiatric help is conducted privately, in Sweden local, publicly funded authorities are in charge of this type of care.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/apr/28/swedish-council-limit-private-profit-healthcare-public|title=Swedish council becomes first to limit private profits in healthcare|last=Orange|first=Richard|date=28 April 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 December 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Healthcare in Sweden is similar in quality to other developed nations. Sweden ranks in the top five countries with respect to low [[infant mortality]]. It also ranks high in [[life expectancy]] and in safe [[drinking water]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/sweden/|title=OECD Better Life Index|website=www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org}}</ref> In 2018, health and medical care represented around 11 per cent of GDP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sweden.se/society/health-care-in-sweden/|title=Healthcare in Sweden|date=5 May 2020|website=sweden.se}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Sweden}}
[[File:Entrance hall of Uppsala University main building.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Uppsala University]] (established 1477)]]
Children aged 1–5 years old are guaranteed a place in a public [[kindergarten]] ({{lang-sv|förskola}} or, colloquially, ''dagis''). Between the ages of 6 and 16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school. In the [[Programme for International Student Assessment]] (PISA), Swedish 15-year-old pupils score close to the OECD average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] |title=PISA results for Sweden |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229020307/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |archive-date=29 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> After completing the 9th grade, about 90% of the students continue with a three-year upper secondary school (''gymnasium''), which can lead to both a job qualification or entrance eligibility to university. The school system is largely financed by taxes.

The Swedish government treats public and independent schools equally<ref name="swedishmodeleconomist">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645 |title=The Swedish model |work=[[The Economist]] |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226014533/http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645 |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> by introducing [[education voucher]]s in 1992 as one of the first countries in the world after the Netherlands. Anyone can establish a for-profit school and the municipality must pay new schools the same amount as municipal schools get. School lunch is free for all students in Sweden, and providing breakfast is also encouraged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/school_food_in18countries.pdf |title=The provision of school food in 18 countries |publisher=[[Children's Food Trust]]|date=July 2008|access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301002902/http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/school_food_in18countries.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2013 }}</ref>

There are a number of different [[List of universities in Sweden|universities and colleges in Sweden]], the oldest and largest of which are situated in [[Uppsala University|Uppsala]], [[Lund University|Lund]], [[University of Gothenburg|Gothenburg]] and [[Stockholm University|Stockholm]]. In 2000, 32% of Swedish people held a [[tertiary education|tertiary degree]], making the country 5th in the OECD in that category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_att_ter-education-educational-attainment-tertiary |title=Tertiary > Educational Attainment statistics – countries compared |website=NationMaster.com |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104153515/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_att_ter-education-educational-attainment-tertiary |archive-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Along with several other European countries, the government also subsidises tuition of international students pursuing a degree at Swedish institutions, although a recent bill passed in the Riksdag will limit this subsidy to students from EEA countries and [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studyinsweden.se/Home/News-archive/2010/Tuition-fees-from-2011/ |title=Sweden introduces tuition fees and offers scholarships for students from outside EU |date=21 April 2010 |website=Studyinsweden.se |access-date=3 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628053602/http://www.studyinsweden.se/Home/News-archive/2010/Tuition-fees-from-2011/ |archive-date=28 June 2010}}</ref>

The large influx of immigrants to Swedish schools has been cited as a significant part of the reason why Sweden has dropped more than any other European country in the international [[PISA]] rankings.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 March 2016 |title=Immigrant children in Sweden blamed for country's poor test scores |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/immigrant-children-in-sweden-blamed-for-countrys-poor-test-scores-a6934111.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=28 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127202352/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/immigrant-children-in-sweden-blamed-for-countrys-poor-test-scores-a6934111.html |archive-date=27 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=What's behind the rising inequality in Sweden's schools, and can it be fixed? |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20180822/sweden-in-focus-education-inequality-schools |work=[[The Local]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125061419/https://www.thelocal.se/20180822/sweden-in-focus-education-inequality-schools |archive-date=25 November 2018 |date=22 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=16 June 2016 |title=Why Sweden's free schools are failing |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2016/06/why-sweden-s-free-schools-are-failing |work=[[New Statesman]] |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115014822/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2016/06/why-sweden-s-free-schools-are-failing|archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 2016 |title=Invandring säker faktor bakom Pisa-tappet |url=https://www.dagenssamhalle.se/kronika/invandring-saeker-faktor-bakom-pisa-tappet-22744 |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115082856/https://www.dagenssamhalle.se/kronika/invandring-saeker-faktor-bakom-pisa-tappet-22744 |work=Dagens Samhalle |archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
{{Main|Immigration to Sweden}}

Immigration has been a major source of [[population growth]] and cultural change throughout much of the [[history of Sweden]], and in recent centuries the country has been transformed from a nation of net emigration, ending after World War I, to a nation of net immigration, from World War II onwards. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants, settlement patterns, impact on upward [[social mobility]], crime, and voting behaviour.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21570836-immigration-and-growing-inequality-are-making-nordics-less-homogeneous-ins-and |title=Immigrants: The ins and the outs |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=2 February 2013 |access-date=10 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530054825/http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21570836-immigration-and-growing-inequality-are-making-nordics-less-homogeneous-ins-and |archive-date=30 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are no exact numbers on the [[ethnicity|ethnic]] background of migrants and their descendants in Sweden because the Swedish government does not base any statistics on ethnicity. This is, however, not to be confused with the migrants' [[Nationality|national backgrounds]], which are recorded.

Immigrants in Sweden are mostly concentrated in the urban areas of Svealand and Götaland.<ref name="scb%252Ese">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/PublishingCalendarViewInfo____259923.aspx?PublObjId=11400|title=Tabeller över Sveriges befolkning 2009|date=24 January 2009|publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]]|language=sv|trans-title=Tables of Sweden's population in 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812141807/http://www.scb.se/Pages/PublishingCalendarViewInfo____259923.aspx?PublObjId=11400|archive-date=12 August 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=1 September 2011}}</ref> Since the early 1970s, immigration to Sweden has been mostly due to refugee migration and family reunification from countries in the Middle East and Latin America.<ref name="MPI">{{cite web |url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/usfocus/display.cfm?ID=406 |title=Sweden: Restrictive Immigration Policy and Multiculturalism, Migration Policy Institute, 2006 |publisher=Migrationinformation.org |date=June 2006 |access-date=12 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805212457/http://www.migrationinformation.org//USfocus//display.cfm?ID=406 |archive-date=5 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, Sweden granted 21,958 people asylum, and 21,502 in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101P/Asylsokande/|title=Asylum-seekers during the year by country of citizenship and sex. Year 2002 - 2019|website=Statistikdatabasen|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref>

The ten largest groups of foreign-born persons in the Swedish [[civil registry]] in 2019 were from:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101E/FodelselandArK/?rxid=86abd797-7854-4564-9150-c9b06ae3ab07c9b06ae3ab07|title=Population by country of birth, age and sex. Year 2000 – 2018|date=7 April 2019|publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]]|access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref>
# {{flag|Syria}} (191,530)
#{{flag|Iraq}} (146,048)
# {{flag|Finland}} (144,561)
# {{flag|Poland}} (93,722)
# {{flag|Iran}} (80,136)
# {{flag|Somalia}} (70,173)
# {{flagdeco|Yugoslavia}} Former [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] (64,349)
# {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} (60,012)
# {{flag|Afghanistan}} (58,780)
# {{flag|Turkey}} (51,689)

According to an official investigation by [[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)#Financial Institutions and Markets Department|The Swedish Pensions Agency]] on order from the government, the immigration to Sweden will double the state's expenses for pensions to the population. The total immigration to Sweden for 2017 will be roughly 180 000 people, and after that 110 000 individuals every year.<ref name="DI Pensions">{{cite news|date=17 October 2017|title=Migrationen kan fördubbla statens kostnader för pensionärer|url=https://www.di.se/nyheter/migrationen-kan-fordubbla-statens-kostnader-for-pensionarer/|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117160557/https://www.di.se/nyheter/migrationen-kan-fordubbla-statens-kostnader-for-pensionarer/|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pensions Agency Report">{{cite news|date=13 October 2017|title=Pensionsmyndigheten svarar på regeringsuppdrag om migration|url=https://www.pensionsmyndigheten.se/nyheter-och-press/pressrum/pensionsmyndigheten-svarar-pa-regeringsuppdrag-om-migration|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117160618/https://www.pensionsmyndigheten.se/nyheter-och-press/pressrum/pensionsmyndigheten-svarar-pa-regeringsuppdrag-om-migration|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
{{Main|Crime in Sweden}}
{{See|Bombings in Sweden|Rape in Sweden}}
Figures from the 2013 Swedish Crime Survey (SCS) show that exposure to crime decreased from 2005 to 2013.<ref name=SCS2014>{{cite web|title=The Swedish Crime Survey 2013 – English summary of Brå report 2014:1|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.9eaaede145606cc86546f/1398774378897/2014_Swedish_Crime_Survey_2013.pdf|publisher=The [[Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention]]|access-date=15 July 2014|pages=5, 7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724052101/http://www.bra.se/download/18.9eaaede145606cc86546f/1398774378897/2014_Swedish_Crime_Survey_2013.pdf|archive-date=24 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2014 there has been an increase in exposure to some categories of crimes, including fraud, some property crime and especially sexual offences (with a 70% increase since 2013, which was partly caused by laws broadening the definition of rape<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bra.se/bra-in-english/home/crime-and-statistics/rape-and-sex-offences.html |title=Rape and sex offences |website=www.bra.se |language=en |access-date=19 October 2019}}</ref>) according to the 2016 SCS.<ref name=SCS2016>{{cite web|title=The Swedish Crime Survey 2016 – English summary of the Brå report 2016|url=https://www.bra.se/bra/bra-in-english/home/publications/archive/publications/2017-02-15-swedish-crime-survey-2016.html|publisher=[[Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention]]|access-date=2 March 2017|pages=5–7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303200845/https://www.bra.se/bra/bra-in-english/home/publications/archive/publications/2017-02-15-swedish-crime-survey-2016.html|archive-date=3 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Violence (both lethal and non-lethal) has been on a downward trend the last 25 years.<ref name=facts>{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/articles/2017/02/facts-about-migration-and-crime-in-sweden/|title=Facts about migration, integration and crime in Sweden|first=Regeringen och|last=Regeringskansliet|date=23 February 2017|website=Regeringskansliet|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115044305/http://www.government.se/articles/2017/02/facts-about-migration-and-crime-in-sweden|archive-date=15 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The figures for fraud and property damage (excluding car theft) are in contrast with the numbers of reported crimes under such categories which have remained roughly constant over the period 2014–16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20170112/swedens-2016-crime-stats-analyzed|title=Here are Sweden's crime stats for 2016|access-date=6 March 2017|date=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307045457/http://www.thelocal.se/20170112/swedens-2016-crime-stats-analyzed|archive-date=7 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The number of reported sexual offences clearly reflect the figures in the 2016 SCS, and car related damages/theft are also somewhat reflected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bra.se/bra/brott-och-statistik/valdtakt-och-sexualbrott.html|title=Rape & Sexual Offences|date=16 January 2017|website=bra.se|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170221212501/https://www.bra.se/bra/brott-och-statistik/valdtakt-och-sexualbrott.html|archive-date=21 February 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brottsrummet.se/sv/sexualbrott |title=Sexual Offences |website=Brottsrummet |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170317143743/http://www.brottsrummet.se/sv/sexualbrott |archive-date=17 March 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=17 March 2017 }}</ref> The number of convictions up to 2013 has remained between 110,000 and 130,000 in the 2000s — a decrease since the 1970s, when they numbered around 300,000 — despite the population growth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Personer lagförda för brott|page=5|language=sv|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.1ff479c3135e8540b29800013251/1338449406369/Sammanfattning_lagforda_2011.pdf|publisher=[[Brå]]|access-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708181451/http://bra.se/download/18.1ff479c3135e8540b29800013251/1338449406369/Sammanfattning_lagforda_2011.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Consistent with other [[Western world|Western]] countries in the [[post-war|postwar era]], the number of reported crimes has increased when measured from the 1950s; which can be explained by a number of factors, such as immigration, statistical and legislative changes and increased public willingness to report crime.<ref name=crime-trend-stats-1>{{cite web|title=Rapport 2008:23 – Brottsutvecklingen i sverige fram till år 2007|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.cba82f7130f475a2f180006972/2008_23_brottsuvecklingen.pdf|publisher=[[Brå]]|access-date=15 July 2014|pages=38, 41|language=sv|quote=I Sverige har den registrerade brottsligheten precis som i övriga västvärlden ökat kraftigt under efterkrigstiden. [...] Vid mitten av 1960-talet införde Polisen nya rutiner av statistikföring en vilket har framförts som en delförklaring till den kraftiga ökningen, i synnerhet i början av denna period (Brå 2004). [...] Detta beror sannolikt främst på att toleransen mot vålds- och sexualbrott har minskat i samhället. Att man i samhället tar våld på större allvar demonstreras inte minst genom att synen på olika våldshandlingar skärpts i lagstiftningen (ibid. samt kapitlet Sexualbrott)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112053148/http://www.bra.se/download/18.cba82f7130f475a2f180006972/2008_23_brottsuvecklingen.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Sweden}}
[[File:Nationalmuseum Stockholm.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Nationalmuseum]] in Stockholm]]
Sweden has many authors of worldwide recognition including [[August Strindberg]], [[Astrid Lindgren]], and Nobel Prize winners [[Selma Lagerlöf]] and [[Harry Martinson]]. In total seven [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prizes in Literature]] have been awarded to Swedes. The nation's most well-known artists are painters such as [[Carl Larsson]] and [[Anders Zorn]], and the sculptors [[Tobias Sergel]] and [[Carl Milles]].

Swedish 20th-century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days of cinema, with [[Mauritz Stiller]] and [[Victor Sjöström]]. In the 1920s–1980s, the filmmaker [[Ingmar Bergman]] and actors [[Greta Garbo]] and [[Ingrid Bergman]] became internationally noted people within cinema. More recently, the films of [[Lukas Moodysson]], [[Lasse Hallström]], and [[Ruben Östlund]] have received international recognition.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "[[sexual revolution]]", with gender equality having particularly been promoted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Reading/The-Swedish-myths-True-false-or-somewhere-in-between/ |title=The Swedish Myths: True, False, or Somewhere In Between? |publisher=Sweden.se |access-date=27 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917004928/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Reading/The-Swedish-myths-True-false-or-somewhere-in-between/ |archive-date=17 September 2010}}</ref> The early Swedish film ''[[I Am Curious (Yellow)]]'' (1967) reflected a liberal view of sexuality, including scenes of love making that caught international attention, and introduced the concept of the "Swedish sin" that had been introduced earlier in the US with Ingmar Bergman's ''[[Summer with Monika]].''

The image of "hot love and cold people" emerged. Sexual liberalism was seen as part of modernisation process that by breaking down traditional borders would lead to the emancipation of natural forces and desires.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Carl |last1=Marklund |title=Hot Love and Cold People. Sexual Liberalism as Political Escapism in Radical Sweden |year=2009 |journal=NORDEUROPAforum |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=83–101 |url=http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2009-1/marklund-carl-83/XML/ |access-date=5 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217062419/http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2009-1/marklund-carl-83/XML/ |archive-date=17 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sweden has also become very liberal towards homosexuality, as is reflected in the popular acceptance of films such as ''[[Fucking Åmål|Show Me Love]]'', which is about two young lesbians in the small Swedish town of Åmål. Since 1 May 2009, Sweden repealed its "registered partnership" laws and fully replaced them with [[gender-neutral marriage]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden passes new gay marriage law |newspaper=[[The Local]] |date=2 April 2009 |url=http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/ |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410151816/http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/ |archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> Sweden also offers [[domestic partnership]]s for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Cohabitation (''sammanboende'') by couples of all ages, including teenagers as well as elderly couples, is widespread. As of 2009, Sweden is experiencing a baby boom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Babyboom i Sverige? |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____231102.aspx |language=sv |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730195209/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____231102.aspx |archive-date=30 July 2009}}</ref>

===Music===

{{Main|Music of Sweden}}
[[File:ABBA - TopPop 1974 5.png|thumb|upright|right|The Swedish band [[ABBA]] in April 1974, a few days after they won the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1974|Eurovision Song Contest]]]]
Historical re-creations of Norse music have been attempted based on instruments found in Viking sites. The instruments used were the ''[[lur]]'' (a sort of trumpet), simple string instruments, wooden flutes and drums. Sweden has a significant [[Music of Sweden|folk-music]] scene. The ''[[joik]]'', a type of Sami music, is a chant that is part of the traditional Sami animistic spirituality. Notable composers include [[Carl Michael Bellman]] and [[Franz Berwald]].

Sweden also has a prominent choral music tradition. Out of a population of 9.5 million, it is estimated that five to six hundred thousand people sing in choirs.<ref>{{cite book |last=Durant |first=Colin |year=2003 |title=Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice |publisher=Routledge |pages=46–47 |isbn=978-0-415-94356-7 |quote=Sweden has a strong and enviable choral singing tradition. [..] All those interviewed placed great emphasis on the social identification through singing and also referred to the importance of Swedish folk song in the maintenance of the choral singing tradition and national identity.}}</ref>

In 2007, with over 800 million dollars in revenue, Sweden was the third-largest music exporter in the world and surpassed only by the US and the UK.<ref name="export music">{{cite web|url=http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615001724/http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2008 |title=Consulate General of Sweden Los Angeles – Export Music Sweden at MuseExpo |publisher=Swedenabroad.com |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120111124414/http://casgroup.fiu.edu/pages/docs/551/1264626358_Interesting_Facts_about_EU_Countries.pdf Interesting facts about EU countries]. casgroup.fiu.edu</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2013}} According to one source 2013, Sweden produces the most chart hits per capita in the world, followed by the UK and the USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svtplay.se/video/1628310/del-16-av-16 |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |work=[[Agenda (Swedish TV program)|Agenda]] |title=Del 16 av 16 |trans-title=Part 16 of 16 |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224031/http://www.svtplay.se/video/1628310/del-16-av-16 |archive-date=17 December 2013 }} at 19:45, citing the [[Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth]].</ref>
Sweden has a rather lively jazz scene. During the last sixty years or so it has attained a remarkably high artistic standard, stimulated by domestic as well as external influences and experiences. The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research has published an overview of jazz in Sweden by Lars Westin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visarkiv.se/en/jazz/index.htm |title=Lars Westin: Jazz in Sweden – an overview |publisher=Visarkiv.se |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623003444/http://www.visarkiv.se/en/jazz/index.htm |archive-date=23 June 2008}}</ref>

===Architecture===
{{Main|Architecture of Sweden}}
[[File:Djurgardsbron 2008.jpg|left|thumb|[[Djurgårdsbron]]]]
Before the 13th century almost all buildings were made of timber, but a shift began towards stone. Early Swedish stone buildings are the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] churches on the country side. As so happens, many of them were built in Scania and are in effect Danish churches. This would include the [[Lund Cathedral]] from the 11th century and the somewhat younger church in [[Dalby, Lund|Dalby]], but also many early [[Gothic (architecture)|Gothic]] churches built through influences of the Hanseatic League, such as in Ystad, Malmö and Helsingborg.

Cathedrals in other parts of Sweden were also built as seats of Sweden's bishops. The [[Skara Cathedral]] is of bricks from the 14th century, and the [[Uppsala Cathedral]] in the 15th. In 1230 the foundations of the [[Linköping]] Cathedral were made, the material was there [[limestone]], but the building took some 250 years to finish.

Among older structures are also some significant fortresses and other historical buildings such as at [[Borgholm Castle]], [[Halltorps Manor]] and [[Eketorp]] fortress on the island Öland, the [[Nyköping]] fortress and the [[Visby city wall]].

[[File:Kalmar domkyrka 002.jpg|thumb|[[Kalmar Cathedral]]]]
Around 1520 Sweden was out of the [[Middle Ages]] and united under King Gustav Vasa, who immediately initiated grand mansions, castles and fortresses to be built. Some of the more magnificent include [[Kalmar Castle]], [[Gripsholm Castle]] and the one at [[Vadstena]].

In the next two centuries, Sweden was designated by [[Baroque architecture]] and later the [[rococo]]. Notable projects from that time include the city Karlskrona, which has now also been declared a World Heritage Site and the [[Drottningholm Palace]].

1930 was the year of the great Stockholm exhibition, which marked the breakthrough of [[Functionalism (architecture)|Functionalism]], or "funkis" as it became known. The style came to dominate in the following decades. Some notable projects of this kind were the [[Million Programme]], offering affordable living in large apartment complexes.

The [[Ericsson Globe]] is the largest hemispherical building on Earth, Shaped like a large white ball, and took two and a half years to build. It's located in Stockholm.

===Media===
{{Main|Media in Sweden}}
[[File:Sveriges Television, 2.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of [[Sveriges Television]] in Stockholm]]
Swedes are among the greatest consumers of newspapers in the world, and nearly every town is served by a local paper. The country's main quality morning papers are ''[[Dagens Nyheter]]'' (liberal), ''[[Göteborgs-Posten]]'' (liberal), ''[[Svenska Dagbladet]]'' (liberal conservative) and ''[[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]]'' (liberal). The two largest evening [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloids]] are ''[[Aftonbladet]]'' (social democratic) and ''[[Expressen]]'' (liberal). The ad-financed, free international morning paper, ''[[Metro International]]'', was founded in Stockholm, Sweden. The country's news is reported in English by, among others, ''[[The Local]]'' (liberal).<ref>{{cite book |first=Kenneth E. |last=Olson |title=The history makers;: The press of Europe from its beginnings through 1965 |publisher=LSU Press |year=1966 |pages=33–49}}</ref>

The public broadcasting companies held a monopoly on radio and television for a long time in Sweden. Licence funded radio broadcasts started in 1925. A second radio network was started in 1954 and a third opened 1962 in response to pirate radio stations. Non-profit [[Community radio#Sweden|community radio]] was allowed in 1979 and in 1993 commercial local radio started.

The licence-funded television service was officially launched in 1956. A second channel, [[SVT2|TV2]], was launched in 1969. These two channels (operated by [[Sveriges Television]] since the late 1970s) held a monopoly until the 1980s when cable and satellite television became available. The first Swedish language satellite service was [[TV3 (Sweden)|TV3]] which started broadcasting from London in 1987. It was followed by [[Kanal 5 (Sweden)|Kanal 5]] in 1989 (then known as Nordic Channel) and [[TV4 (Sweden)|TV4]] in 1990.

In 1991 the government announced it would begin taking applications from private television companies wishing to broadcast on the [[terrestrial television|terrestrial network]]. TV4, which had previously been broadcasting via satellite, was granted a permit and began its terrestrial broadcasts in 1992, becoming the first private channel to broadcast television content from within the country.

Around half the population are connected to cable television. [[Digital terrestrial television in Sweden]] started in 1999 and the last analogue terrestrial broadcasts were terminated in 2007.

===Literature===
{{Main|Swedish literature}}
[[File:Portrait of August Strindberg by Richard Bergh 1905.jpg|upright|thumb|The writer and playwright [[August Strindberg]]]]

The first literary text from Sweden is the [[Rök runestone]], carved during the Viking Age c. 800 AD. With the conversion of the land to Christianity around 1100 AD, Sweden entered the [[Middle Ages]], during which monastic writers preferred to use Latin. Therefore, there are only a few texts in the [[Old Swedish]] from that period. Swedish literature only flourished when the Swedish language was standardised in the 16th century, a standardisation largely due to the full translation of the Bible into Swedish in 1541. This translation is the so-called [[Gustav Vasa Bible]].

With improved education and the freedom brought by [[secularisation]], the 17th century saw several notable authors develop the Swedish language further. Some key figures include [[Georg Stiernhielm]] (17th century), who was the first to write classical poetry in Swedish; [[Johan Henric Kellgren]] (18th century), the first to write fluent Swedish prose; Carl Michael Bellman (late 18th century), the first writer of [[burlesque]] ballads; and August Strindberg (late 19th century), a socio-realistic writer and playwright who won worldwide fame. The early 20th century continued to produce notable authors, such as Selma Lagerlöf, (Nobel laureate 1909), [[Verner von Heidenstam]] (Nobel laureate 1916) and [[Pär Lagerkvist]] (Nobel laureate 1951).

In recent decades, a handful of Swedish writers have established themselves internationally, including the detective novelist [[Henning Mankell]] and the writer of spy fiction [[Jan Guillou]]. The Swedish writer to have made the most lasting impression on world literature is the children's book writer Astrid Lindgren, and her books about [[Pippi Longstocking]], [[Emil i Lönneberga|Emil]], and others. In 2008, the second best-selling fiction author in the world was [[Stieg Larsson]], whose ''Millennium'' series of crime novels is being published posthumously to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/15/bestselling-fiction-authors-in-the-world-for-2008/ |title=Bestselling fiction authors in the world for 2008 |publisher=Abebooks.com |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529183203/http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/15/bestselling-fiction-authors-in-the-world-for-2008/ |archive-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Larsson drew heavily on the work of Lindgren by basing his central character, Lisbeth Salander, on Longstocking.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/26/stieg-larsson-thriller-novels-sweden|title=Poisoned Legacy Left By The King Of Thrillers|first=Vanessa|last=Thorpe|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=17 September 2014|date=25 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013155817/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/26/stieg-larsson-thriller-novels-sweden|archive-date=13 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Holidays===
{{Main|Public holidays in Sweden}}
[[File:Valborgsbrasa-1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Walpurgis Night]] bonfire in Sweden]]
Apart from traditional Protestant [[Liturgical year|Christian holidays]], Sweden also celebrates some unique holidays, some of a pre-Christian tradition. They include [[Midsummer]] celebrating the summer [[solstice]]; [[Walpurgis Night]] (''Valborgsmässoafton'') on 30 April lighting bonfires; and Labour Day or Mayday on 1 May is dedicated to socialist demonstrations. The day of giver-of-light [[Saint Lucy|Saint Lucia]], 13 December, is widely acknowledged in elaborate celebrations which betoken its Italian origin and commence the month-long Christmas season.

6 June is the [[National holiday of Sweden|National Day of Sweden]] and has since 2005 been a public holiday. Furthermore, there are [[Flag flying days in Sweden|official flag flying day]] observances and a [[Namesdays in Sweden]] calendar. In August many Swedes have ''kräftskivor'' (crayfish dinner parties). [[Martin of Tours]] Eve is celebrated in [[Scania]] in November with ''Mårten Gås'' parties, where roast goose and ''[[svartsoppa]]'' ('black soup', made of goose stock, fruit, spices, spirits and goose blood) are served. The [[Sami people|Sami]], one of Sweden's indigenous minorities, have their holiday on 6 February and Scania celebrate their Scanian Flag day on the third Sunday in July.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lokala Nyheter Skåne |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/skanska-flaggans-dag |title=Så firas skånska flaggans dag | SVT Nyheter |newspaper=SVT Nyheter |date=21 July 2019 |publisher=Svt.se |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref>

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Swedish cuisine}}
[[File:Sveriges Nationaldag 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Cinnamon roll]]s originated in Sweden and Denmark.]]

Swedish cuisine, like that of the other [[Nordic countries]] ([[Cuisine of Denmark|Denmark]], [[Cuisine of Norway|Norway]] and [[Cuisine of Finland|Finland]]), was traditionally simple. Fish (particularly [[herring]]), meat, potatoes and [[dairy products]] played prominent roles. Spices were sparse. Preparations include Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes and [[lingonberry jam]]; [[Pancake#Sweden, Norway|pancakes]]; ''[[pyttipanna]]'', a spiced fried hash of meat and potatoes originally meant to use up any left-overs of meat; ''[[lutefisk|lutfisk]]''; and the ''[[smörgåsbord]]'', or lavish buffet. ''[[Akvavit]]'' is a popular alcoholic [[distilled beverage]], and the drinking of ''[[snaps]]'' is of cultural importance. The traditional flat and dry [[crisp bread]] has developed into several contemporary variants. Regionally important foods are the ''[[surströmming]]'' (a fermented fish) in northern Sweden and [[eel]] in southern Sweden.

Swedish traditional dishes, some of which are many hundreds of years old, are still an important part of Swedish everyday meals, in spite of the fact that modern-day Swedish cuisine adopts many international dishes.

In August, at the traditional feast known as crayfish party, ''[[kräftskiva]]'', Swedes eat large amounts of [[crayfish]] boiled with dill.

===Cinema===
{{Main|Cinema of Sweden}}
Swedes have been fairly prominent in the film area through the years. A number of Swedish people have found success in Hollywood, including Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo and [[Max von Sydow]]. Amongst several directors who have made internationally successful films can be mentioned Ingmar Bergman, Lukas Moodysson and Lasse Hallström.

===Fashion===
Interest in fashion is big in Sweden and the country is headquartering famous brands like [[H&M|Hennes & Mauritz]] (operating as H&M), [[J. Lindeberg]] (operating as JL), [[Acne Jeans|Acne]], [[Lindex]], [[Odd Molly]], [[Cheap Monday]], [[Gant U.S.A.|Gant]], [[WESC]], [[Filippa K]], and [[Nakkna]] within its borders. These companies, however, are composed largely of buyers who import fashionable goods from throughout Europe and America, continuing the trend of Swedish business toward multinational economic dependency like many of its neighbours.

===Sports===
{{Main|Sport in Sweden}}
[[File:Björn Borg2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Former World No. 1 tennis player [[Björn Borg]]]]
Sport activities are a national movement with half of the population actively participating in organised sporting activities. The two main spectator sports are [[Association football|football]] and [[ice hockey]]. Second to football, [[horse sports]] (of which most of the participants are women) have the highest number of practitioners. Thereafter, [[golf]], [[orienteering]], [[gymnastics]], [[track and field]], and the [[team sport]]s of [[ice hockey]], [[handball]], [[floorball]], [[basketball]] and [[bandy]] are the most popular in terms of practitioners.<ref>{{cite web |title=Idrottsrörelsen i siffror |url=https://www.rf.se/globalassets/riksidrottsforbundet/nya-dokument/nya-dokumentbanken/idrottsrorelsen-i-siffror/2019-idrotten-i-siffror---sisu.pdf?w=900&h=900 |website=rf.se |publisher=Swedish Sports Confederation|language=sv}}</ref>

The [[Swedish national men's ice hockey team]], affectionately known as ''Tre Kronor'' (English: [[Three Crowns]]; the national symbol of Sweden), is regarded as one of the best in the world. The team has won the [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]] nine times, placing them third in the all-time medal count. Tre Kronor also won Olympic gold medals in [[Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics|1994]] and [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006]]. In 2006, Tre Kronor became the first national hockey team to win both the Olympic and world championships in the same year. The [[Sweden national football team|Swedish national football team]] has seen some success at the World Cup in the past, finishing second when they hosted the tournament in 1958, and third twice, in [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]] and [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]].

Sweden hosted the [[1912 Summer Olympics]], [[Equestrian at the 1956 Summer Olympics]] and the [[FIFA World Cup]] in [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]. Other big sports events include the [[UEFA Euro 1992]], [[1995 FIFA Women's World Cup]], [[1995 World Championships in Athletics]], [[UEFA Women's Euro 2013]], and several championships of ice hockey, [[curling]], athletics, [[skiing]], [[Bandy World Championship|bandy]], [[figure skating]] and swimming.

In 2016, The Swedish Poker Federation (Svepof) has joined The [[International Federation of Poker]] (IFP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pokerfed.org/2016/05/17/sweden-becomes-member-ifp-family/|title=Sweden Becomes a Member of the IFP Family|last=Goenka|first=Varun|date=17 May 2016|website=International Federation of Poker|access-date=4 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715082640/http://pokerfed.org/2016/05/17/sweden-becomes-member-ifp-family/|archive-date=15 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sweden|Arctic}}
*[[List of Sweden-related topics]]
* [[Outline of Sweden]]
* [[329 Svea]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* Bagge, Sverre (2005). "The Scandinavian Kingdoms". In ''The New Cambridge Medieval History''. Eds. Rosamond McKitterick et al. Cambridge University Press, 2005. {{ISBN|0-521-36289-X}}.
* {{cite journal |title=Radical principles and the legal institution of marriage: domestic relations law and social democracy in Sweden—BRADLEY 4 (2): 154—International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |journal=International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=154–185 |doi=10.1093/lawfam/4.2.154 |year=1990 |last1=Bradley |first1=David }}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ Sweden]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* {{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx |title=Sweden's population 2012 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |access-date=24 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105201119/http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2013 }}
* Durant, Colin (2003). ''Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice'', Routledge, pp. 46–47. {{ISBN|0-415-94356-6}}.
* Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989). ''Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia''. Praeger Publishers, 1989. {{ISBN|0-275-93188-9}}.
* {{Cite book|title=The Northern Wars. War, State and Society in Northeastern Europe 1558–1721|first=Robert I|last=Frost|publisher=Longman|year=2000|isbn=978-0-582-06429-4}}
* Koblik, Steven (1975). ''Sweden's Development from Poverty to Affluence 1750–1970''. University of Minnesota Press. {{ISBN|0-8166-0757-5}}.
* {{cite book | last1 = Larsson | first1 = Torbjörn | first2 = Henry | last2 = Bäck | title = Governing and Governance in Sweden | location = Lund | publisher = [[Studentlitteratur]] AB | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-91-44-03682-3 | ref = Larsson & Bäck }}
* Magocsi, Paul Robert (1998). ''Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples''. University of Minnesota Press, 1998. {{ISBN|0-8020-2938-8}}.
* [https://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden] Agenda 21 – Natural Resource Aspects – Sweden. 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997.
* Nordstrom, Byron J. (2000). ''Scandinavia since 1500''. [[University of Minnesota Press]], 2000. {{ISBN|0-8166-2098-9}}.
* {{cite book | last = Petersson | first = Olof | title = Den offentliga makten | location = Stockholm | publisher = SNS Förlag | year = 2010 | language = sv | isbn = 978-91-86203-66-5 | ref = Petersson }}
* {{cite book |last1=Sawyer |first1=Birgit |last2=Sawyer |first2=Peter H. |author2-link=Peter Hayes Sawyer |title=Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=1993 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jGJrXOjYvQgC|isbn=978-0-8166-1739-5}}
* Ståhl, Solveig. (1999). [https://web.archive.org/web/20060106110733/http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html "English spoken – fast ibland hellre än bra"]. ''LUM, Lunds universitet med''delar, 7:1999, 3 September 1999. In Swedish.
* {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____193256.aspx |title=2006 census |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731025052/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____193256.aspx |archive-date=31 July 2009 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____25897.aspx |title=Preliminary Population Statistics, by month, 2004–2006 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |date=1 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714003037/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____25897.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2009 }}
* {{cite book |title=Yearbook of Housing and Building Statistics 2007 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]], Energy, Rents and Real Estate Statistics Unit |year=2007 |isbn=978-91-618-1361-2 |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BO0801_2007A01_BR_BO01SA0701.pdf |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325013009/http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BO0801_2007A01_BR_BO01SA0701.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Sweden |volume=26 |pages=188–221 |short=1}}
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook Sweden: Social and economic conditions] (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
* {{cite book |title=World Criminal Justice Systems: A Survey |first=Richard J. |last=Terrill |publisher=[[Elsevier]] |year=2009 |edition=7 |isbn=978-1-59345-612-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJaEzC1CBe8C&pg=PA248 }}
* Uddhammar, Emil (1993). ''Partierna och den stora staten: en analys av statsteorier och svensk politik under 1900-talet''. Stockholm, City University Press.
* [[United States Department of State]] – [https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2880.htm Sweden]
* Zuckerman, Phil (2007), Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns PDF i Cambridge Companion to Atheism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-60367-6}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Sweden}}
{{Wikivoyage}}

* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ Sweden]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/576478/Sweden Sweden] entry at ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090125101315/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/sweden.htm Sweden] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{curlie|Regional/Europe/Sweden}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17955808 Sweden profile] from the [[BBC News]]
* {{Wikiatlas|Sweden}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|52822}}
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=SE Key Development Forecasts for Sweden] from [[International Futures]]
* [http://www.studyinsweden.se/ Study in Sweden] – official guide to studying in Sweden
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141230162402/http://www.circle.lu.se/upload/CIRCLE/workingpapers/200906_Schoen.pdf Wayback Machine] Technological Waves and Economic Growth in Sweden 1850–2005
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150928122527/http://eh.net/encyclopedia/sweden-economic-growth-and-structural-change-1800-2000/ Sweden – Economic Growth and Structural Change, 1800–2000] — EH.Net Encyclopedia
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131207061449/http://www.vifanord.de/index.php?id=1&L=1&rd=243343734 vifanord] – a digital library that provides scientific information on the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as the Baltic region as a whole

'''Public sector'''
* [https://sweden.se/ Sweden.se] — Sweden’s official portal
* [http://www.riksdagen.se/en/ The Swedish Parliament] – official website
* [http://www.government.se/ The Government of Sweden] – official website
* [http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt.4.367010ad11497db6cba800054503.html The Royal Court] – official website of the Swedish Monarchy

'''News media'''
* [http://www.radiosweden.org/ Radio Sweden] – public service
* [http://www.svt.se/ Sveriges Television] {{in lang|sv}} – public service
* [http://www.dn.se/ Dagens Nyheter] {{in lang|sv}}
* [http://www.svd.se/ Svenska Dagbladet] {{in lang|sv}}
* [http://www.thelocal.se/ The Local – Sweden's news in English] – independent English language news site

'''Trade'''
* [http://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/Country/SWE/Year/2012/Summary World Bank Summary Trade Statistics Sweden]

'''Travel'''
* [http://www.visitsweden.com/ VisitSweden.com] – official travel and tourism website for Sweden
{{Sweden topics}}
{{Navboxes
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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sweden| ]]
[[Category:Germanic countries and territories]]
[[Category:Northern European countries]]
[[Category:Members of the Nordic Council]]
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[[Category:Swedish-speaking countries and territories]]

Sweden

2021-11-24T13:14:45Z

Lirae22: Update Prime Minister and restore order of precedence.

{{short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{About|the country}}
{{pp-semi|small=yes}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Coord|63|N|16|E|type:country_region:SE|display=title}}{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Kingdom of Sweden
| common_name = Sweden
| native_name = {{native name|sv|Konungariket Sverige}}
| image_flag = Flag of Sweden.svg
| image_coat = Great coat of arms of Sweden.svg
| symbol_type = [[Coat of arms of Sweden|Coat of arms]]
| national_motto = {{lang|sv|För Sverige – i tiden}}{{ref label|aaa|a}} (English: "For Sweden – With the Times")<ref>{{cite web |title = Mottoes of The Kings and Queens of Sweden |url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/themonarchyinsweden/mottoesofthemonarchs.4.396160511584257f2180004713.html |publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] |website = www.kungahuset.se |access-date = 22 December 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223021154/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchytheroyalcourt/themonarchyinsweden/mottoesofthemonarchs.4.396160511584257f2180004713.html |archive-date = 23 December 2015 |url-status=live |df = dmy-all }}</ref>
| national_anthem = ''{{lang|sv|[[Du gamla, Du fria]]}}''{{ref label|bbb|b}} ({{Lang-en|"Thou ancient, Thou free"}})<div style="padding-top:0.5em;">{{center|[[File:United States Navy Band - Sweden.ogg]]}}</div>
| royal_anthem = ''{{lang|sv|[[Kungssången]]}}'' (English: "Song of the King")
| image_map = {{Switcher|[[File:EU-Sweden (orthographic projection).svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show globe|[[File:EU-Sweden.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show map of Europe|default=1}}
| map_caption = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Sweden.svg}}
| capital = [[Stockholm]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|59|21|N|18|4|E|type:city}}
| largest_city = capital
| official_languages = [[Swedish language|Swedish]]{{ref label|ccc|c}}
| languages_type = National minority languages
| languages = {{hlist | [[Sámi languages|Sámi]] | [[Finnish language|Finnish]] | [[Meänkieli language|Meänkieli]] | [[Romani language|Romani]] | [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]}}
| ethnic_groups = {{unbulleted list
| 74.5% [[Swedes|Swedish]]
| 25.5% [[Immigration to Sweden|Others]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2019
| ethnic_groups_ref = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgFin/ |title= Number of persons with foreign or Swedish background (detailed division) by region, age and sex. Year 2002 - 2019 |date = 31 December 2019 |website=SCB.se |publisher=Statistics Sweden |access-date = 19 January 2021}}</ref>
| religion = {{ublist |item_style=white-space;
|66.8% [[Christianity in Sweden|Christianity]]
|—60.3% [[Church of Sweden]]{{efn|The Monarch and dynastic members of the Royal House must at all times be [[Protestantism|Protestant Christians]] of the [[Church of Sweden]], but protestantism has not been the official state religion since the year 2000.<ref name="The Act of Succession">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Act-of-Succession/| title = The Act of Succession | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 24 October 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Nergelius:42-44">[[#Nergelius|Nergelius]]: pp. 42–44.</ref><ref name="svenskakyrkan stats">{{cite web|url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik|title=Svenska kyrkan i siffror|publisher=Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan)}}</ref> However, the Church is recognized by law<ref>.[http://riksdagen.se/webbnav/index.aspx?nid=3911&bet=1998:1591 "SFS 1998:1591"], Riksdagen</ref> and is still supported by the state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sweden.org.za/church-of-sweden.html|title=Church of Sweden|website=www.sweden.org.za|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref>}}
|—6.5% Other [[List of Christian denominations|Christian]]
|27.0% [[Irreligion in Sweden|No religion]]
|5.0% [[Islam in Sweden|Islam]]
|1.2% [[Religion in Sweden|Others]]}}
| religion_year = 2017
| religion_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalreligiousfutures.org/countries/sweden#/?affiliations_religion_id=0&affiliations_year=2010&region_name=All+Countries&restrictions_year=2016|title=Religions in Sweden | PEW-GRF|website=www.globalreligiousfutures.org|access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hackett|first1=Conrad|title=5 facts about the Muslim population in Europe|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/29/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/|website=Pew Research/Fact Tank|publisher=Pew Research Center|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817033409/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/11/29/5-facts-about-the-muslim-population-in-europe/|archive-date=17 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
| demonym = {{hlist |[[Swedish people|Swedish]] |[[Swedes|Swede]]}}
| government_type = {{nowrap|[[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[constitutional monarchy]]}}
| leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of Sweden|Monarch]]
| leader_name1 = [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]]
| leader_title2 = [[Speaker of the Riksdag]]
| leader_name2 = [[Andreas Norlén]]
| leader_title3 = [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name3 = [[Magdalena Andersson]]
| legislature = [[Riksdag]]
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Sweden|History]]
| established_event1 = A unified Swedish kingdom established
| established_date1 = By the early 12th century
| established_event2 = Part of [[Kalmar Union]]
| established_date2 = 1397–1523
| established_event3 = Part of [[Swedish-Norwegian Union]]
| established_date3 = 4 November 1814 – August 1905<ref name=NEsvno>{{cite web|last1=Norborg|first1=Lars-Arne|title=svensk–norska unionen|url=http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/svensk-norska-unionen|website=ne.se|publisher=[[Nationalencyklopedin]]|access-date=6 August 2015|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/svensk-norska-unionen|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
| established_event4 = [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|Joined]] the [[European Union]]
| established_date4 = 1 January 1995
| area_km2 = 450,295
| area_rank = 55th
| area_sq_mi = 175,896
| percent_water = 8.37 (as of 2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER#}}</ref>
| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 10,402,070<ref name=population>[https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/befolkning/befolkningens-sammansattning/befolkningsstatistik/] [[Statistics Sweden]]. Retrieved 8 July 2021.</ref>
| population_estimate_year = February 2021
| population_estimate_rank = 88th
| population_density_km2 = 25
| population_density_sq_mi = 65
| population_density_rank = 198th
| GDP_PPP = {{nowrap|{{increase}} $563.882 billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=61&pr.y=4&sy=2017&ey=2021&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=144&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2019 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>}}
| GDP_PPP_year = 2020
| GDP_PPP_rank = 39th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $52,477<ref name="imf2" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 16th
| GDP_nominal = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} $528.929 billion<ref name="imf2" />}}
| GDP_nominal_year = 2020
| GDP_nominal_rank = 23rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{decrease}} $50,339<ref name="imf2" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 12th
| Gini = 26.9 
| Gini_year = 2020
| Gini_change = decrease 
| Gini_ref = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income – EU-SILC survey|publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref>
| Gini_rank =
| HDI = 0.945 
| HDI_year = 2019
| HDI_change = increase 
| HDI_ref = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite book|title=Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene|date=15 December 2020|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|isbn=978-92-1-126442-5|pages=343–346|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 7th
| currency = [[Swedish krona]]
| currency_code = SEK
| time_zone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| time_zone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| date_format = YYYY-MM-DD
| drives_on = right{{ref label|eee|e}}
| calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Sweden|+46]]
| cctld = [[.se]]{{ref label|fff|f}}
| footnote_a = {{note|aaa}} "{{lang|sv|För Sverige – I tiden}}" has been adopted by [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]] as his personal motto.
| footnote_b = {{note|bbb}} ''{{lang|sv|[[Du gamla, Du fria]]}}'' has never been officially adopted as national anthem, but is so by convention.
| footnote_c = {{note|ccc}} Since 1 July 2009.<ref name="Swedish" /><ref name="Swedish2" /> Five other languages are [[Minority languages of Sweden|officially recognised as minority languages]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119#item100400 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206102022/http://www.sprakradet.se/servlet/GetDoc?meta_id=2119 |archive-date=6 February 2014 |title=Är svenskan också officiellt språk i Sverige? |trans-title=Is Swedish also an official language in Sweden? |publisher=[[Swedish Language Council]] |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=22 June 2008 |language=sv}}</ref> [[Finnish language|Finnish]], [[Meänkieli]], [[Romani language|Romani]], [[Sami languages|Sami]], and [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]. The [[Swedish Sign Language]] also has a special status.
| footnote_d = {{note|ddd}} Persons who have foreign backgrounds are defined as persons who are foreign born, or born in Sweden with foreign born parents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgGrov/table/tableViewLayout1/?rxid=86abd797-7854-4564-9150-c9b06ae3ab07c9b06ae3ab07# |title=Statistical database - Select variable and values |publisher=Statistikdatabasen.scb.se |date=19 March 2020 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> As the [[Government of Sweden|Swedish government]] does not base any statistics on [[ethnicity]], there are no exact numbers on the [[Ethnicity|ethnic]] background of migrants and their descendants in Sweden. This is not, however, to be confused with migrants' [[Nationality|national backgrounds]], which are recorded.
| footnote_e = {{note|eee}} Since [[Dagen H|3 September 1967]].
| footnote_f = {{note|fff}} The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
| iso3166code = SE
| today =
}}

'''Sweden''' ({{lang-sv|Sverige}} {{IPA-sv|ˈsvæ̌rjɛ||Sv-Sverige.ogg}}), officially the '''Kingdom of Sweden''' ({{lang-sv|links=no|Konungariket Sverige}} {{IPA-sv|ˈkôːnɵŋaˌriːkɛt ˈsvæ̌rjɛ||Sv-Konungariket Sverige.ogg}}), is a [[Nordic countries|Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]].<ref name="UNGEGN">The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of Sweden. [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/geonames/ UNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden.]</ref> It borders [[Norway]] to the west and north, [[Finland]] to the east, and is connected to [[Denmark]] in the southwest by [[Øresund Bridge|a bridge-tunnel]] across the [[Øresund|Öresund Strait]]. At {{convert|450295|km2|sqmi}}, Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe, the third-largest country in the [[European Union]], and the [[List of European countries by area|fifth largest country]] in Europe. The [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city is [[Stockholm]]. Sweden has a total population of 10.4 million;<ref name="population" /> and a low population density of {{convert|25|PD/km2|PD/sqmi}}. 87% of Swedes live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area. The highest concentration is in the central and southern half of the country.

Sweden is part of the geographical area of [[Fennoscandia]]. The [[Swedish climate|climate]] is in general mild for its northerly latitude due to significant maritime influence. In spite of the high latitude, Sweden often has warm continental summers, being located in between the [[North Atlantic]], the [[Baltic Sea]], and vast [[Russia]]. The general climate and environment vary significantly from the south and north due to the vast latitudinal difference, and much of Sweden has reliably cold and snowy winters. [[South Sweden|Southern Sweden]] is predominantly [[agriculture|agricultural]], while [[Norrland terrain|the north]] is heavily forested and includes a portion of the [[Scandinavian Mountains]].

[[Germanic peoples]] have inhabited Sweden since [[prehistoric times]], emerging into history as the [[Geats]] ({{lang-sv|Götar|links=no}}) and [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Swedes]] ({{lang|sv|Svear}}) and constituting the sea peoples known as the [[Norsemen]]. An independent Swedish state emerged during the early 12th century. After the [[Black Death]] in the middle of the 14th century killed about a third of the [[Scandinavia]]n population,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://historiska.se/upptack-historien/artikel/digerdoden/ |title=Digerdöden |publisher=Historiska Museet |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902010901/http://historiska.se/upptack-historien/artikel/digerdoden/ |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fof.se/tidning/2013/1/artikel/varre-forskarna-anat-digerdoden |title=Värre än forskarna anat: Digerdöden |date=15 December 2012 |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902012004/http://fof.se/tidning/2013/1/artikel/varre-forskarna-anat-digerdoden |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> the dominance of the [[Hanseatic League]] in Northern Europe threatened Scandinavia economically and politically. This led to the forming of the Scandinavian [[Kalmar Union]] in 1397,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/sverige-under-medeltiden-:del-3-av-3-kalmarunionens-tid. |title=Artikelarkiv |website=SO-rummet |access-date=1 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009181105/https://www.so-rummet.se/fakta-artiklar/sverige-under-medeltiden-:del-3-av-3-kalmarunionens-tid. |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which Sweden left in 1523. When Sweden became involved in the [[Thirty Years' War]] on the Protestant side, an expansion of its territories began and eventually the [[Swedish Empire]] was formed. This became one of the [[great power]]s of Europe until the early 18th century. Swedish territories outside the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]] were gradually lost during the 18th and 19th centuries, ending with the annexation of present-day Finland by [[Russian Empire|Russia]] in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814 when Norway was militarily forced into a [[union between Sweden and Norway|personal union]], which [[dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden|peacefully dissolved]] in 1905. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, maintaining an official policy of [[Swedish neutrality|neutrality]] in foreign affairs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/2/among-the-disclosures-in-the-19-documents-released/ |title=WikiLeaks reveal Swedes gave intel on Russia, Iran |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |first=Ben |last=Birnbaum |date=2 December 2010 |access-date=10 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721081420/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/2/among-the-disclosures-in-the-19-documents-released/ |archive-date=21 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, Sweden celebrated 200 years of peace, breaking even [[Switzerland]]'s record for peace.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20140815/sweden-celebrates-200-years-of-peace |title=Sweden celebrates 200 years of peace |newspaper=[[The Local]] |first=Solveig |last=Rundquist |date=15 August 2014 |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> Sweden was formally neutral through both world wars and the [[Cold War]], albeit Sweden has since 2009 openly moved towards cooperation with [[NATO]].

Sweden is a [[constitutional monarchy]] and a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[democracy]], with [[legislature|legislative power]] vested in the 349-member [[unicameral]] {{lang|sv|[[Riksdag]]}}. It is a [[unitary state]], currently divided into [[counties of Sweden|21 counties]] and [[municipalities of Sweden|290 municipalities]]. Sweden maintains a [[Nordic model|Nordic social welfare system]] that provides [[universal health care]] and [[tertiary education]] for its citizens. It has the [[list of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|world's eleventh-highest per capita income]] and ranks very highly in [[quality of life]], health, [[education Index|education]], protection of [[freedom in the World|civil liberties]], economic competitiveness, [[gini coefficient|income equality]], [[gender equality]], [[legatum Prosperity Index|prosperity]] and [[human Development Index|human development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2013_EN_complete.pdf |title=2013 Human Development Report |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |access-date=28 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818132717/http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2013_EN_complete.pdf |archive-date=18 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="OECD Better Life Index">{{cite web |title=OECD Better Life Index |url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |publisher=[[OECD Publishing]] |access-date=27 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901021731/http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/#/11111111111 |archive-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wefcomp" /> Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995, but has rejected NATO membership, as well as [[Eurozone]] membership following a [[2003 Swedish euro referendum|referendum]]. It is also a member of the [[United Nations]], the [[Nordic Council]], the [[Council of Europe]], the [[World Trade Organization]] and the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD).

== Etymology ==
{{Main|Name of Sweden}}

The word Sweden is derived from 17th century [[Middle Dutch]] and [[Middle Low German]]. As early as 1287, references are found in Middle Dutch referring to a ''lande van sweden'' ("land of (the) Swedes"), with ''swede'' as the singular form.<ref>[https://gtb.ivdnt.org/iWDB/search?actie=article&wdb=VMNW&id=ID4508&lemmodern=Zweden Lemma: SWEDEN], ''[[Dutch Language Union#Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal|Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal]]</ref> In [[Old English]] the country was named ''Swéoland'' and ''Swíoríce'' ([[Old Norse]] ''Svíþjóð''). [[Anglo-Norman language|Anglo-Norman]] of the 12th and 13th centuries used ''Suane'', ''Swane'' (with the adjective as ''Suaneis''). In [[Scots language|Scots]] ''Swane'', ''Swaine'', appears in the 16th century. [[Early Modern English]] used ''Swedeland''.<ref>{{OED|Sweden|ID=195631}}</ref>

The Swedish name ''Sverige'' (a compound of the words ''Svea'' and ''rike'', with [[lenition]] of the consonant [k], first recorded in the cognate ''Swēorice'' in [[Beowulf]])<ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |trans-title=Swedish etymological dictionary |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerup |location=Lund |language=sv |page=917 |url=http://runeberg.org/svetym/1005.html |access-date=30 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828081321/http://runeberg.org/svetym/1005.html |archive-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> literally means "realm of the [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Swedes]]", excluding the [[Geats]] in [[Götaland]].

Variations of the name ''Sweden'' are used in most languages, with the exception of [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] using ''Sverige'', [[Faroese language|Faroese]] ''Svøríki'', [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] ''Svíþjóð'', and the more notable exception of some [[Finnic languages]] where ''Ruotsi'' ([[Finnish language|Finnish]]) and ''Rootsi'' ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]) are used, names commonly considered as referring to the people from the coastal areas of [[Roslagen]], [[Uppland]], who were known as the ''[[Rus' people|Rus']]'', and through them etymologically related to the English name for [[Russia]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The etymology of ''Swedes'', and thus ''Sweden'', is generally agreed to derive from a root *[[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/swé|s(w)e]], meaning "one's own",<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Indogermanisches-Etymologisches-Woerterbuch ''Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch'' by Julius Pokorny] (English translation), p. 1493</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Friesen (von) |first=O. |title=Verdandis småskrifter (Verdandis Pamphlets) nr. 200. |year=1915 |location=Stockholm}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hellquist |first=Elof |title=Svensk etymologisk ordbok |url=https://archive.org/details/svensketymologis00hell |trans-title=Swedish etymological dictionary |year=1922 |publisher=Gleerup |location=Lund |language=sv |page=[https://archive.org/details/svensketymologis00hell/page/915 915]}}</ref> referring to one's own Germanic tribe.

==History==
{{Main|History of Sweden}}

===Prehistory===
{{Main|Prehistoric Sweden}}
[[File:Vendel I helmet 456057.jpg|thumb|A [[Vendel Period|Vendel-era]] helmet, at the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities]]
Sweden's prehistory begins in the [[Allerød oscillation]], a warm period around 12,000 BC,<ref name="DelsonTattersall2004">{{cite book|author1=Eric Delson|author2=Ian Tattersall|author3=John Van Couvering|title=Encyclopedia of Human Evolution and Prehistory: Second Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6GFGsswTIO8C&pg=PA569|year=2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-58228-9|page=569}}</ref> with Late [[Palaeolithic]] [[reindeer]]-hunting camps of the [[Bromme culture]] at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province, [[Scania]]. This period was characterized by small bands of [[Hunter-gatherer|hunter-gatherer-fishers]] using [[flint]] technology.<ref name="Price2015">{{cite book|author=Theron Douglas Price|title=Ancient Scandinavia: An Archaeological History from the First Humans to the Vikings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbC6BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA43|year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-023197-2|page=43}}</ref>

Sweden is first described in a written source in ''[[Germania (book)|Germania]]'' by [[Tacitus]] in 98 AD.<ref name="ElgánScobbie2015">{{cite book|author1=Elisabeth Elgán|author2=Irene Scobbie|title=Historical Dictionary of Sweden|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8iJpCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA5|year=2015|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-5071-0|page=5}}</ref> In [[s:Germania#XLIV|Germania 44 and 45]] he mentions the Swedes (''Suiones'') as a powerful tribe (''distinguished not merely for their arms and men, but for their powerful fleets'') with ships that had a [[prow]] at each end ([[longship]]s).<ref name="Brunsdale2016">{{cite book|author=Mitzi M. Brunsdale|title=Encyclopedia of Nordic Crime Fiction: Works and Authors of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden Since 1967|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qAQXDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA368|year=2016|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-7536-0|page=368}}</ref> Which kings (''kuningaz'') ruled these Suiones is unknown, but [[Norse mythology]] presents a long line of legendary and semi-legendary kings going back to the last centuries BC. As for literacy in Sweden itself, the [[runic alphabet|runic script]] was in use among the south Scandinavian elite by at least the 2nd century AD, but all that has come down to the present from the Roman Period is curt inscriptions on artefacts, mainly of male names, demonstrating that the people of south Scandinavia spoke [[Proto-Norse]] at the time, a language ancestral to Swedish and other [[North Germanic languages]].<ref name="McIntosh2019">{{cite book|author=Christopher McIntosh|title=Beyond the North Wind: The Fall and Rise of the Mystic North|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6vpwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA71|year=2019|publisher=Red Wheel Weiser|isbn=978-1-63341-090-9|pages=71–72}}</ref>

In the 6th century, [[Jordanes]] names two tribes living in [[Scandza]], both of which are now considered to be synonymous with the Swedes: the ''Suetidi'' and ''Suehans''. ''Suetidi'' is considered to be the Latin form of ''Svíþjóð'', the Old Norse name for the Swedes. Jordanes describes the ''Suetidi'' and ''[[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Dani]]'' as being of the same stock and the tallest of people. He later mentions other Scandinavian tribes as being of a same stature.<ref name="Berend2007">{{cite book|author=Nora Berend|title=Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus' c.900–1200|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UmFrVUb5DSwC&pg=PA174|year=2007|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-46836-7|page=174}}</ref> The ''Suehans'' were known to the Roman world as suppliers of black fox skins and, according to Jordanes, had very fine horses, similar to those of the ''[[Thuringians|Thyringi]]'' of ''Germania'' (''alia vero gens ibi moratur Suehans, quae velud Thyringi equis utuntur eximiis''). The Icelandic historian [[Snorri Sturluson]] also wrote that the Swedish king [[Adils]] (Eadgils) had the finest horses of his day.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===The Vikings===
{{See also|Early Swedish history|Foundation of Modern Sweden|Varangians}}
[[File:Vikings-Voyages.png|upright=1.3|thumb|left|[[Viking]] expeditions (blue lines)]]

The Swedish [[Viking Age]] lasted roughly from the 8th century to the 11th century. It is believed that Swedish Vikings and [[Gutar]] mainly travelled east and south, going to Finland, Estonia, the [[Baltic countries]], Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, the [[Black Sea]] and even as far as [[Baghdad]]. Their routes passed [[The Trade Route from the Varangians to the Greeks|through the Dnieper]] south to [[Constantinople]], on which they carried out numerous raids. The [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Theophilos (emperor)|Theophilos]] noticed their great skills in war, and invited them to serve as his personal bodyguard, known as the [[Varangian Guard]]. The Swedish Vikings, called [[Rus (people)|Rus]] are believed to be the founding fathers of [[Kievan Rus']].<ref name="MartinMartin1995">{{cite book|author1=Janet L. B. Martin|author2=John D. Martin|title=Medieval Russia, 980-1584|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRCc3TtL9bIC&pg=PA2|year=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-36832-2|page=2}}</ref> The Arab traveller [[Ibn Fadlan]] described these Vikings as follows:

{{quote|I have seen the Rus as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the [[Volga|Itil]]. I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy; they wear neither tunics nor caftans, but the men wear a garment which covers one side of the body and leaves a hand free. Each man has an axe, a sword, and a knife, and keeps each by him at all times. The swords are broad and grooved, of Frankish sort.<ref>Quoted from: Gwyn Jones. ''A History of the Vikings''. Oxford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-19-280134-1}}. Page 164.</ref>}}
[[File:Bildsten med skepp 800-1099 Tjängvide, Gotland.jpg|thumb|The [[Tjängvide image stone]] dating from 800 to 1099, example of Viking art]]
The actions of these [[Vikings|Swedish Vikings]] are commemorated on many [[runestone]]s in Sweden, such as the [[Greece runestones]] and the [[Varangian runestones]]. There was also considerable participation in expeditions westwards, which are commemorated on stones such as the [[England runestones]]. The last major Swedish Viking expedition appears to have been the ill-fated expedition of [[Ingvar the Far-Travelled]] to [[Serkland]], the region south-east of the [[Caspian Sea]]. Its members are commemorated on the [[Ingvar runestones]], none of which mentions any survivor. What happened to the crew is unknown, but it is believed that they died of sickness.

=== The Kingdom of Sweden ===
It is not known when and how the kingdom of Sweden was born, but the [[list of Swedish monarchs]] is drawn from the first kings known to have ruled both [[Svealand]] (Sweden) and Götaland (Gothia) as one province, beginning with [[Eric the Victorious]]. Sweden and Gothia were two separate nations long before that and since antiquity. It is not known how long they existed: the epic poem ''Beowulf'' describes semi-legendary [[Swedish-Geatish wars]] in the 6th century. ''Götaland'' in this sense mainly includes the provinces of [[Östergötland]] (East Gothia) and [[Västergötland]] (West Gothia). The island of [[Gotland]] was disputed by other than Swedes, at this time (Danish, Hanseatic, and Gotland-domestic). [[Småland]] was at that time of little interest to anyone due to the deep pine forests, and only the city of [[Kalmar]] with its castle was of importance. The south-west parts of the Scandinavian peninsula consisted of three Danish provinces ([[Scania]], [[Blekinge]] and [[Halland]]). North of Halland, Denmark had a direct border to Norway and its province [[Bohuslän]]. But there were Swedish settlements along the southern coastline of [[Norrland]].

[[File:Suecia 1-064 ; Gambla Ubsala högar.png|thumb|left|[[Gamla Uppsala]] (Old Uppsala), a site of religious and political importance in the early days of Sweden]]

During the early stages of the Scandinavian Viking Age, [[Ystad]] in the [[Denmark|Danish]] province Scania and [[Paviken]] on Gotland were flourishing centres of trade, but they were not parts of the early Swedish Kingdom. Remains of what is believed to have been a large market dating from 600 to 700 CE have been found in Ystad.<ref name="Sawyer" /> In Paviken, an important centre of trade in the Baltic region during the 9th and 10th century, remains have been found of a large Viking Age harbour with shipbuilding yards and handicraft industries. Between 800 and 1000, trade brought an abundance of silver to Gotland, and according to some scholars, the Gotlanders of this era hoarded more silver than the rest of the population of Scandinavia combined.<ref name="Sawyer">{{cite book |last1=Sawyer |first1=Birgit |first2=Peter |last2=Sawyer |year=1993 |title=Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |isbn=978-0-8166-1739-5 |pages=150–153}}</ref>

[[Ansgar|St Ansgar]] is usually credited with introducing Christianity in 829, but the new religion did not begin to fully replace [[paganism]] until the 12th century. During the 11th century, Christianity became the prevalent religion, and from 1050 Sweden is counted as a Christian nation. The period between 1100 and 1400 was characterised by internal power struggles and competition among the Nordic kingdoms. In the years 1150–1293 according to the legend of [[Eric IX of Sweden|Eric IX]] and the ''[[Eric Chronicles]]'' Swedish kings made a [[First Swedish Crusade|first]], [[Second Swedish Crusade|second]] and [[Third Swedish Crusade|third crusade]] to pagan Finland against [[Finns proper|Finns]], [[Tavastians]] and [[Karelians]] and started conflicts with the [[Kievan Rus'|Rus']] who no longer had any connection with Sweden.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bagge |first=Sverre |chapter=The Scandinavian Kingdoms |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History |editor-first=Rosamond |editor-last=McKitterick |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-521-36289-4 |page=724 |quote=Swedish expansion in Finland led to conflicts with Rus', which were temporarily brought to an end by a peace treaty in 1323, dividing the Karelian peninsula and the northern areas between the two countries.}}</ref> The [[Swedish colonisation of Finland|Swedish colonisation]] of the coastal areas of Finland started also during the 12th and 13th century.<ref>{{Cite book|title=När kom svenskarna till Finland?|editor-first=Ann-Marie|editor-last=Ivars|editor-first2=Lena|editor-last2= Hulden|publisher=Studier utg. av Svenska Litteratursällskapet i Finland 646|year=2002|location=Helsinki}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Om svenskarnes inflyttningar till Finland|last=Meinander|first=Carl Fredrik|publisher=Historisk Tidskrift för Finland 3/1983|year=1983}}</ref> In the 14th century, the Swedish colonisation of coastal areas of Finland began to be more organised and in the end of the century several of the coastal areas of Finland were inhabited mostly by Swedes.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Sveriges Österland: Från forntiden till Gustav Vasa. Finlands svenska historia 1. Skrifter utgivna av Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland 702:1.|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland; Stockholm: Atlantis|year=2008|location=Helsinki}}</ref>

[[File:Skogbonaden.jpg|thumb|[[Skog tapestry]], made most probably during the late 13th century.]]

Except for the provinces of Scania, Blekinge and Halland in the south-west of the Scandinavian peninsula, which were parts of the Kingdom of Denmark during this time, [[feudalism]] never developed in Sweden as it did in the rest of Europe.<ref>{{cite book |first=Franklin D. |last=Scott |title=Sweden: The Nation's History |url=https://archive.org/details/swedennationshis00scot |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis |year=1977 |page=[https://archive.org/details/swedennationshis00scot/page/58 58]|isbn=9780816608041 }}</ref> The peasantry, therefore, remained largely a class of free farmers throughout most of Swedish history. [[Slavery]] (also called [[thrall]]dom) was not common in Sweden,<ref>{{cite book |url=http://runeberg.org/nfcj/0106.html |title=Nordisk familjebok: konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi. Bd 30 |editor-last=Westrin |editor-first=Theodor |edition=New, rev. and richly ill. |year=1920 |publisher=Nordisk familjeboks förl. |location=Stockholm |pages=159–160 |access-date=17 September 2014 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620062821/http://runeberg.org/nfcj/0106.html |archive-date=20 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and what slavery there was tended to be driven out of existence thanks to the spread of Christianity as well as to the difficulty to obtain slaves from the lands east of the Baltic Sea, and by the development of cities before the 16th century.<ref>Scott, p. 55.</ref> Indeed, both slavery and [[serfdom]] were abolished altogether by a decree of [[Magnus IV of Sweden|King Magnus IV]] in 1335. Former slaves tended to be absorbed into the peasantry, and some became labourers in the towns. Still, Sweden remained a poor and economically backward country in which barter was the primary means of exchange. For instance, the farmers of the province of [[Dalsland]] would transport their butter to the mining districts of Sweden and exchange it there for iron, which they would then take to the coast and trade for fish, which they consumed, while the iron would be shipped abroad.<ref>Scott, pp. 55–56.</ref>

In the middle of the 14th century, Sweden was struck by the [[Black Death]].<ref>Scott, pp. 56–57.</ref> The population of Sweden and most of Europe was decimated. The population (at same territory) did not reach the numbers of the year 1348 again until the beginning of the 19th century. One third of the population died in the triennium of 1349–1351. During this period, the Swedish cities began to acquire greater rights and were strongly influenced by German merchants of the [[Hanseatic League]], active especially at [[Visby]]. In 1319, Sweden and Norway were united under King Magnus Eriksson, and in 1397 Queen [[Margaret I of Denmark]] effected the personal union of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through the [[Kalmar Union]]. However, Margaret's successors, whose rule was also centred in Denmark, were unable to control the Swedish nobility.

[[File:Gustav Vasa.jpg|thumb|left|185px|[[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav I]] [[Swedish War of Liberation|liberated]] Sweden from [[Christian II of Denmark]], ending the [[Kalmar Union]]. He established the [[House of Vasa]] which ruled Sweden and [[Poland]] until the 17th century]]

Many times the Swedish crown was inherited by child kings over the course of the kingdom's existence; consequently, real power was held for long periods by regents (notably those of the [[Sture]] family) chosen by the Swedish parliament. King [[Christian II of Denmark]], who asserted his claim to Sweden by force of arms, ordered a massacre of Swedish nobles in Stockholm in 1520. This came to be known as the "[[Stockholm blood bath]]" and stirred the Swedish nobility to new resistance and, on 6 June (now Sweden's national holiday) in 1523, they made [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav Vasa]] their king.<ref>Scott, p. 121.</ref> This is sometimes considered as the [[foundation of modern Sweden]]. Shortly afterwards the new king rejected Catholicism and led Sweden into the [[Protestant Reformation]].

The Hanseatic League had been officially formed at [[Lübeck]] on the Baltic coast of [[Holy Roman Empire|Northern Germany]] in 1356. The League sought civil and commercial privileges from the princes and royalty of the countries and cities along the coasts of the Baltic Sea.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Robert S. |last1=Hoyt |first2=Stanley |last2=Chodorow |title=Europe in the Middle Ages |url=https://archive.org/details/europeinmiddleag00robe |url-access=registration |publisher=Harcourt, Brace & Jovanovich, Inc. |location=New York |year=1976 |page=[https://archive.org/details/europeinmiddleag00robe/page/628 628]|isbn=9780155247123 }}</ref> In exchange, they offered a certain amount of protection to the joining cities. Having their own navy, the Hansa were able to sweep the Baltic Sea free of pirates.<ref>{{cite book |first=John B. |last=Wolfe |title=The Emergence of European Civilization |publisher=Harper & Row Pub. |location=New York |year=1962 |pages=50–51}}</ref> The privileges obtained by the Hansa included assurances that only Hansa citizens would be allowed to trade from the ports where they were located. They sought agreement to be free of all customs and taxes. With these concessions, Lübeck merchants flocked to Stockholm, where they soon came to dominate the city's economic life and made the port city of Stockholm into the leading commercial and industrial city of Sweden.<ref name="Scott, p. 52">Scott, p. 52.</ref> Under the Hanseatic trade, two-thirds of Stockholm's imports consisted of [[textiles]], while the remaining third was [[salt]]. The main exports from Sweden were [[iron]] and [[copper]].<ref name="Scott, p. 52"/>

However, the Swedes began to resent the monopoly trading position of the Hansa (mostly consisting of German citizens), and to resent the income they felt they lost to the Hansa. Consequently, when Gustav Vasa or [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav I]] broke the monopoly power of the Hanseatic League he was regarded as a hero by the Swedish people.<ref>Scott, p. 132.</ref> History now views Gustav I as the father of the modern Swedish nation. The foundations laid by Gustav would take time to develop. Furthermore, when Sweden did develop, freed itself from the Hanseatic League, and entered its golden era, the fact that the peasantry had traditionally been free meant that more of the economic benefits flowed back to them rather than going to a feudal landowning class.<ref>Scott, pp. 156–157.</ref>

The end of the 16th century was marked by a final phase of rivalry between the remaining Catholics and the new Protestant communities. In 1592, Gustav Vasa's Catholic grandson and [[king of Poland]], [[Sigismund III Vasa|Sigismund]], ascended the Swedish throne.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfB5DwAAQBAJ&q=sigismund+vasa+1592&pg=PA35|title=British and Irish Emigrants and Exiles in Europe, 1603–1688|first=David|last=Worthington|date=15 January 2010|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9789047444589|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> He pursued to strengthen [[Holy See|Rome]]'s influence by initiating [[Counter-Reformation]] and created a dual monarchy, which temporarily became known as the [[Polish-Swedish Union]]. His despotic rule, strongly characterized by intolerance towards the Protestants, sparked a [[War against Sigismund|civil war]] that plunged Sweden into poverty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ba08AAAAIAAJ&q=war+against+sigismund&pg=PA172|title=the cambridge modern history|date=3 June 2019|publisher=CUP Archive|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> In opposition, Sigismund's uncle and successor, [[Charles IX of Sweden|Charles Vasa]], summoned the [[Uppsala Synod]] in 1593 which officially confirmed the modern [[Church of Sweden]] as [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]. Following his [[deposition (politics)|deposition]] in 1599, Sigismund attempted to reclaim the throne at every expense and hostilities between [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland]] and Sweden continued for the next one hundred years.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b912JnKpYTkC&q=poland+and+sweden&pg=PA327|title=God's Playground A History of Poland: Volume 1: The Origins to 1795|first=Norman|last=Davies|date=24 February 2005|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780199253395|access-date=3 June 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref>

===Swedish Empire===
[[File:Gustave Adolphe at Breitenfeld-Johann Walter-f3706497.jpg|thumb|[[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustavus Adolphus]] at the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] in 1631.]]
{{See also|History of Sweden (1611–48)|Swedish Empire|Swedish overseas colonies|Age of Liberty|Gustavian era|Sweden–Finland|Union between Sweden and Norway}}

During the 17th century, Sweden emerged as a European [[great power]]. Before the emergence of the Swedish Empire, Sweden was a poor and sparsely populated country on the fringe of European civilisation, with no significant power or reputation. Sweden rose to prominence on a continental scale during the reign of king [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|Gustavus Adolphus]], seizing territories from Russia and [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland–Lithuania]] in multiple conflicts, including the [[Thirty Years' War]].{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=102}}

During the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered approximately half of the Holy Roman states and defeated the Imperial army at the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] in 1631.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} Gustav Adolphus planned to become the new [[Holy Roman Emperor]], ruling over a united Scandinavia and the Holy Roman states, but he was killed at the [[Battle of Lützen (1632)|Battle of Lützen]] in 1632. After the [[Battle of Nördlingen (1634)|Battle of Nördlingen]] in 1634, Sweden's only significant military defeat of the war, pro-Swedish sentiment among the German states faded.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}} These German provinces broke away from Swedish power one by one, leaving Sweden with only a few northern German territories: [[Swedish Pomerania]], [[Bremen-Verden]] and [[Wismar]]. From 1643 to 1645, during the last years of the war, Sweden and [[Denmark-Norway]] fought the [[Torstenson War]]. The result of that conflict and the conclusion of the Thirty Years' War helped establish postwar Sweden as a major force in Europe.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=103}}

[[File:Swedish Empire.svg|thumb|left|260px|The [[Swedish Empire]] between 1611 and 1815, with its absolute peak between 1658 and 1660.]]

In the middle of the 17th century Sweden was the third-largest country in Europe by land area, surpassed by only Russia and Spain. Sweden reached its largest territorial extent under the rule of [[Charles X of Sweden|Charles X]] after the [[treaty of Roskilde]] in 1658, following Charles X's risky but successful [[March Across the Belts|crossing of the Danish Belts]].<ref name="HayesPSH">"A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1./Hayes..." Hayes, Carlton J. H. (1882–1964), ''Title: A Political and Social History of Modern Europe V.1.'', 2002-12-08, Project Gutenberg, webpage: [http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext04/7hsr110.htm Infomot-7hsr110]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117105207/http://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/etext04/7hsr110.htm |date=17 November 2007}}</ref><ref>However, Sweden's largest territorial extent lasted from 1319 to 1343 with [[Magnus IV of Sweden|Magnus Eriksson]] ruling all of the [[Lands of Sweden|traditional lands of Sweden]] and Norway.</ref> The foundation of Sweden's success during this period is credited to Gustav I's major changes to the Swedish economy in the 16th century, and his introduction of [[Protestantism]].<ref name="GusEB">"Gustav I Vasa – Britannica Concise" (biography), ''Britannica Concise'', 2007, webpage: [https://archive.today/20121206031538/http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9366349/Gustav-I-Vasa EBConcise-Gustav-I-Vasa].</ref> In the 17th century, Sweden was engaged in many wars, for example with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, with both sides competing for territories of today's [[Baltic states]], with Sweden suffering a notable defeat at the [[Battle of Kircholm]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/images/kircholm_27_sept.htm |title=Battle of Kircholm 1605 |publisher=Kismeta.com |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614093403/http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/images/kircholm_27_sept.htm |archive-date=14 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> One-third of the Finnish population died in the devastating [[Great Famine of 1695–1697]] that struck the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm|title=Finland and the Swedish Empire|publisher=[[Library of Congress Country Studies]]|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226013534/http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm|archive-date=26 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Famine also hit Sweden, killing roughly 10% of Sweden's population.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Ewan |first2=Janay |last2=Nugent |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153 |title=Finding the family in medieval and early modern Scotland |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |page=153 |isbn=978-0-7546-6049-1 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905194502/https://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Swedes conducted a series of invasions into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]].{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=156}} After more than half a century of almost constant warfare, the Swedish economy had deteriorated. It became the lifetime task of Charles X's son, [[Charles XI of Sweden|Charles XI]], to rebuild the economy and refit the army.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=216}} His legacy to his son, the coming ruler of Sweden, [[Charles XII of Sweden|Charles XII]], was one of the finest arsenals in the world, a large standing army and a great fleet.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=222}} Russia, the most serious threat to Sweden at this time, had a larger army but lagged far behind in both equipment and training.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=232}}

After the [[Battle of Narva (1700)|Battle of Narva]] in 1700, one of the first battles of the [[Great Northern War]], the Russian army was so severely devastated that Sweden had an open chance to invade Russia.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=230}} However, Charles XII did not pursue the Russian army, instead [[Swedish invasion of Poland (1701–1706)|turning against Poland–Lithuania]] and defeating the Polish king, [[Augustus II the Strong]], and his Saxon allies at the [[Battle of Kliszów]] in 1702.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=272}} This gave Russia time to rebuild and modernise its army.

[[File:Marten's Poltava.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Battle of Poltava]] in 1709. In the following years, Russia and her allies occupied all [[Dominions of Sweden|Swedish dominions]] on the Baltic coast and even Finland.]]

After the success of invading Poland, Charles XII decided to make an attempt at [[Swedish invasion of Russia|invading Russia]], but this ended in a decisive Russian victory at the [[Battle of Poltava]] in 1709.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=290}} After a long march exposed to [[Cossack]] raids, the Russian Tsar [[Peter the Great]]'s [[scorched-earth]] techniques and [[Great Frost of 1709|the extremely cold winter of 1709]], the Swedes stood weakened with a shattered morale and were enormously outnumbered against the Russian army at Poltava.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=286}} The defeat meant the beginning of the end for the Swedish Empire. In addition, [[The plague during the Great Northern War|the plague raging in East Central Europe]] devastated the Swedish dominions and reached Central Sweden in 1710.<ref>{{cite book|last=Frandsen|first=Karl-Erik|title=The Last Plague in the Baltic Region. 1709–1713|location=Copenhagen|year=2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F3bNWrVRMb8C|page=80|isbn=9788763507707}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Engström|first=Nils Göran|title=Pesten i Finland 1710|trans-title=The plague in Finland in 1710|journal=Hippokrates. Suomen Lääketieteen Historian Seuran Vuosikirja|volume=11|year=1994|pages=38–46|pmid=11640321}}</ref> Returning to Sweden in 1715, Charles XII launched [[Great Northern War and Norway|two campaigns against Norway]] on 1716 and 1718, respectively. During the second attempt, he was shot to death during the [[Siege of Fredriksten|siege of]] [[Fredriksten]] fortress.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=295}} The Swedes were not militarily defeated at Fredriksten, but the whole structure and organisation of the campaign fell apart with the king's death, and the army withdrew.

Forced to cede large areas of land in the [[Treaty of Nystad]] in 1721, Sweden also lost its place as an empire and as the dominant state on the Baltic Sea.{{sfn|Frost|2000|p=296}} With Sweden's lost influence, Russia emerged as an empire and became one of [[European balance of power|Europe's dominant nations]]. As the war finally ended in 1721, Sweden had lost an estimated 200,000 men, 150,000 of those from the area of present-day Sweden and 50,000 from the [[Finland under Swedish rule|Finnish part of Sweden]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ericson|first=Lars|title=Svenska knektar|location=Lund|publisher=Historiska media|year=2004|language=sv|page=92}}</ref>

In the 18th century, Sweden did not have enough resources to maintain its territories outside Scandinavia, and most of them were lost, culminating with [[Finnish War|the loss in 1809]] of eastern Sweden to Russia, which became the highly autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Principality of Finland]] in [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russia]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Eino|last1=Jutikkala|first2=Kauko|last2=Pirinen|title=A History of Finland|location=Helsinki|year=2003|isbn=951-0-27911-0|page=287}}</ref>

In interest of re-establishing Swedish dominance in the Baltic Sea, Sweden allied itself against its traditional ally and benefactor, France, in the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. However, in 1810, a French Marshal, [[Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte]], was chosen as heir presumptive to the decrepit [[Charles XIII]]; in 1818, he established the [[House of Bernadotte]], taking the [[regnal name]] of Charles XIV. Sweden's role in the [[Battle of Leipzig]] gave it the authority to force Denmark–Norway, an ally of France, to cede Norway to the King of Sweden on 14 January 1814 in exchange for the northern German provinces, at the [[Treaty of Kiel]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Schäfer|first=Anton|title=Zeittafel der Rechtsgeschichte. Von den Anfängen über Rom bis 1919. Mit Schwerpunkt Österreich und zeitgenössischen Bezügen|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l_GeQfwJufAC|year=2002|publisher=Edition Europa Verlag|isbn=3-9500616-8-1|edition=3|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_l_GeQfwJufAC/page/n27 137]|language=de}}</ref> The Norwegian attempts to keep their status as a sovereign state were rejected by the Swedish king, [[Charles XIII]]. He launched a [[Swedish–Norwegian War (1814)|military campaign against Norway]] on 27 July 1814, ending in the [[Convention of Moss]], which forced Norway into a [[Union between Sweden and Norway|personal union]] with Sweden under the Swedish crown, which lasted until 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norgeshistorie.no/grunnlov-og-ny-union/artikler/1333-mossekonvensjonen.html |title=Mossekonvensjonen
|work=Norges historie |publisher=[[University of Oslo]] |last=Ottosen |first=Morten Nordhagen |date=25 November 2015|access-date=9 December 2019 |language=no}}</ref> The 1814 campaign was the last time Sweden was at war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20140814/sweden-and-norway-celebrate-200-years-of-peace|title=Sweden and Norway celebrate peace treaty|publisher=The Local Europe AB|date=14 August 2014|access-date=9 December 2019}}</ref>

===Modern history===
{{See also|Modernization of Sweden|Swedish emigration to the United States}}
[[File:Starvation image from Fäderneslandet 1867.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Illustration of starvation in northern Sweden, [[Swedish famine of 1867–1869|Famine of 1867–1869]]]]
The [[Swedish East India Company]], ''Ostindiska Kompaniet'', began in 1731. The obvious choice of home port was [[Gothenburg]] at Sweden's west coast, the mouth of [[Göta älv|Göta älv river]] is very wide and has the county's largest and best harbour for high-seas journeys. The trade continued into the 19th century, and caused the little town to become Sweden's second city.<ref>Tore Frängsmyr, "Ostindiska Kompaniet", Publisher- "Bokförlaget Bra Böcker", [[Höganäs]], 1976. (No ISBN to be found), backside overview and</ref>
There was a significant population increase during the 18th and 19th centuries, which the writer [[Esaias Tegnér]] in 1833 attributed to "the peace, the [[smallpox vaccine]], and the potatoes".<ref>{{cite book|year=1998|title=Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8020-2938-6|page=1220|editor-last=Magocsi |editor-first=Paul Robert}}</ref> Between 1750 and 1850, the population in Sweden doubled. According to some scholars, mass emigration to America became the only way to prevent famine and rebellion; over 1% of the population emigrated annually during the 1880s.<ref name="Einhorn">{{cite book |last1=Einhorn |first1=Eric |first2=John |last2=Logue |year=1989 |title=Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia |publisher=Praeger Publishers |page=[https://archive.org/details/modernwelfaresta00einh_0/page/9 9] |isbn=978-0275931889 |quote=Though Denmark, where industrialization had begun in the 1850s, was reasonably prosperous by the end of the nineteenth century, both Sweden and Norway were terribly poor. Only the safety valve of mass emigration to America prevented famine and rebellion. At the peak of emigration in the 1880s, over 1% of the total population of both countries emigrated annually. |url=https://archive.org/details/modernwelfaresta00einh_0/page/9 }}</ref> Nevertheless, Sweden remained poor, retaining a nearly entirely agricultural economy even as Denmark and Western European countries began to industrialise.<ref name=Einhorn /><ref>{{cite book |last=Koblik |first=Steven |year=1975 |title=Sweden's Development From Poverty to Affluence, 1750–1970 |url=https://archive.org/details/swedensdevelopme0000kobl |url-access=registration |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/swedensdevelopme0000kobl/page/8 8–9] |isbn=978-0816607662 |quote=In economic and social terms the eighteenth century was more a transitional than a revolutionary period. Sweden was, in light of contemporary Western European standards, a relatively poor but stable country. ...It has been estimated that 75–80% of the population was involved in agricultural pursuits during the late eighteenth century. One hundred years later, the corresponding figure was still 72%.}}</ref>
[[File:Farewell to home, Göteborg, 1905.jpg|thumb|Swedish emigrants boarding ship in [[Gothenburg]] in 1905]]
Many looked towards America for a better life during this time. It is thought that between 1850 and 1910 more than one million Swedes moved to the United States.<ref>Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989), p. 8.</ref> In the early 20th century, more Swedes lived in Chicago than in [[Gothenburg]] (Sweden's second largest city).<ref>Ulf Beijbom, [http://www.americanwest.com/swedemigr/pages/emigra.htm "European emigration", The House of Emigrants, Växjö, Sweden] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803004438/http://www.americanwest.com/swedemigr/pages/emigra.htm |date=3 August 2008}}</ref> Most Swedish [[immigrants]] moved to the [[Midwestern United States]], with a large population in [[Minnesota]], with a few others moving to other parts of the United States and Canada.

Despite the slow rate of industrialisation into the 19th century, many important changes were taking place in the agrarian economy due to constant innovations and a rapid population growth.<ref name="Koblik9-10">Koblik, pp. 9–10.</ref> These innovations included government-sponsored programmes of [[enclosure]], aggressive exploitation of agricultural lands, and the introduction of new crops such as the potato.<ref name="Koblik9-10" /> Because the Swedish peasantry had never been enserfed as elsewhere in Europe,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook |title=Sweden: Social and economic conditions (2007) |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530024645/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook |archive-date=30 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Citation needed|reason=Need a citation which explains why absence of historical serfdom had these political implications (Esping-Andersen may help?)|date=January 2021}} the Swedish farming culture began to take on a critical role in Swedish politics, which has continued through modern times with modern Agrarian party (now called the Centre Party).<ref>Koblik, p. 11: "The agrarian revolution in Sweden is of fundamental importance for Sweden's modern development. Throughout Swedish history the countryside has taken an unusually important role in comparison with other European states."</ref> Between 1870 and 1914, Sweden began developing the industrialised economy that exists today.<ref>Koblik, p. 90. "It is usually suggested that between 1870 and 1914 Sweden emerged from its primarily agrarian economic system into a modern industrial economy."</ref>

Strong grassroots movements sprang up in Sweden during the latter half of the 19th century (trade unions, [[temperance movement|temperance]] groups, and independent religious groups), creating a strong foundation of democratic principles. In 1889 The Swedish Social Democratic Party was founded. These movements precipitated Sweden's migration into a modern parliamentary democracy, achieved by the time of World War I. As the [[Industrial Revolution]] progressed during the 20th century, people gradually moved into cities to work in factories and became involved in socialist unions. A communist revolution was avoided in 1917, following the re-introduction of [[parliamentarism]], and the country was [[Democracy|democratised]].

===World War I and World War II===
{{Main|Sweden during World War I|Sweden during World War II}}

Sweden was officially neutral during [[World War I]], although, under German pressure, they did take steps which were detrimental to the [[Allies of World War I|Allied powers]] including mining the [[Øresund]] channel, thus closing it to Allied shipping, and allowing the Germans to use Swedish facilities and the Swedish cipher to transmit secret messages to their overseas embassies.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Siney|first=Marion C.|title=Swedish neutrality and economic warfare in World War I|journal=Conspectus of History|year=1975|volume=1|issue=2|url=http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/ConspectusH&CISOPTR=410&REC=1}}</ref> Sweden also allowed volunteers to fight for the [[White Guard (Finland)|White Guards]] alongside the Germans against the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red Guards]] and Russians in the [[Finnish Civil War]], and briefly occupied the [[Åland Islands]] in co-operation with Germany.

[[File:Swedish soldier during ww2.JPG|thumb|left|A Swedish soldier during World War II. Sweden remained neutral during the conflict.]]

As in the First World War, Sweden remained officially neutral during [[World War II]], although its neutrality during World War II has been disputed.<ref name="Koblik303-313">Koblik, pp. 303–313.</ref><ref>Nordstrom, p. 315: "Sweden's government attempted to maintain at least a semblance of neutrality while it bent to the demands of the prevailing side in the struggle. Although effective in preserving the country's sovereignty, this approach generated criticism at home from many who believed the threat to Sweden was less serious than the government claimed, problems with the warring powers, ill feelings among its neighbours, and frequent criticism in the postwar period."</ref> Sweden was under German influence for much of the war, as ties to the rest of the world were cut off through blockades.<ref name="Koblik303-313" /> The Swedish government felt that it was in no position to openly contest Germany,<ref name="NB313-319" /> and therefore made some concessions.<ref>{{cite book|last=Zubicky|first=Sioma|year=1997|title=Med förintelsen i bagaget|language=sv|publisher=Bonnier Carlsen|location=Stockholm|isbn=978-91-638-3436-3|page=122}}</ref> Sweden also supplied steel and machined parts to Germany throughout the war. The Swedish government unofficially supported Finland in the [[Winter War]] and the [[Continuation War]] by allowing volunteers and [[materiel]] to be shipped to Finland. However, Sweden supported Norwegian resistance against Germany, and in 1943 helped [[Rescue of the Danish Jews|rescue Danish Jews]] from deportation to [[Nazi concentration camps]].

During the last year of the war, Sweden began to play a role in humanitarian efforts, and many refugees, among them several thousand Jews from Nazi-occupied Europe, were rescued thanks to the [[White Buses|Swedish rescue missions to internment camps]] and partly because Sweden served as a haven for refugees, primarily from the [[Nordic countries]] and the Baltic states.<ref name="NB313-319" /> The Swedish diplomat [[Raoul Wallenberg]] and his colleagues ensured the safety of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/wallenberg.html |title=Raoul Wallenberg |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=28 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205181950/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/wallenberg.html |archive-date=5 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Nevertheless, both Swedes and others have argued that Sweden could have done more to oppose the Nazis' war efforts, even if it meant increasing the risk of occupation.<ref name="NB313-319">Nordstrom, pp. 313–319.</ref>

===Post-war era===
[[File:Olivecrona erlander 380.jpg|thumb|[[Tage Erlander]] (left), Prime Minister under the ruling [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] from 1946 to 1969.]]
Sweden was officially a neutral country and remained outside [[NATO]] and [[Warsaw Pact]] membership during the [[Cold War]], but privately Sweden's leadership had strong ties with the United States and other western governments. Following the war, Sweden took advantage of an intact industrial base, social stability and its natural resources to expand its industry to supply the rebuilding of Europe.<ref name="NB335-339">Nordstrom, pp. 335–339.</ref> Sweden received aid under the [[Marshall Plan]] and participated in the OECD. During most of the post-war era, the country was governed by the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] largely in co-operation with [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation|trade unions]] and industry. The government actively pursued an internationally competitive manufacturing sector of primarily large corporations.<ref name="svensteinmo" />

Sweden was one of the founding states of the [[European Free Trade Area]] (EFTA). During the 1960s the EFTA countries were often referred to as the '''Outer Seven''', as opposed to the [[Inner Six]] of the then-[[European Economic Community]] (EEC).<ref>{{cite news |title=Finland: Now, the Seven and a Half |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=7 April 1961 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |access-date=18 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104144427/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874317,00.htm |archive-date=4 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sweden, like many industrialised countries, entered a period of economic decline and upheaval following the oil embargoes of 1973–74 and 1978–79.<ref>Nordstrom, p. 344: "During the last 25 years of the century a host of problems plagued the economies of Norden and the West. Although many were present before, the 1973 and 1980 global oil crises acted as catalysts in bringing them to the fore."</ref> In the 1980s several key Swedish industries were significantly restructured. Shipbuilding was discontinued, wood pulp was integrated into modernised paper production, the steel industry was concentrated and specialised, and mechanical engineering was robotised.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Krantz |first1=Olle |first2=Lennart |last2=Schön |year=2007 |title=Swedish Historical National Accounts, 1800–2000 |location=Lund |publisher=Almqvist and Wiksell International}}{{Page needed|date=February 2016}}</ref>

Between 1970 and 1990, the overall tax burden rose by over 10%, and the growth was low compared with other countries in Western Europe. Eventually, the government began to spend over half of the country's gross domestic product. Swedish GDP per capita ranking declined during this time.<ref name="svensteinmo">''Globalization and Taxation: Challenges to the Swedish Welfare State''. By Sven Steinmo.</ref>

===Recent history===
{{See also|History of Sweden (1991–present)}}
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|right|Sweden joined the European Union in 1995 and signed the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in 2007.]]

A bursting real estate bubble caused by inadequate controls on lending combined with an international recession and a policy switch from anti-unemployment policies to anti-inflationary policies resulted in a [[Sweden financial crisis 1990-1994|fiscal crisis]] in the early 1990s.<ref>Englund, P. 1990. "Financial deregulation in Sweden." European Economic Review 34 (2–3): 385–393. Korpi TBD. Meidner, R. 1997. "The Swedish model in an era of mass unemployment." Economic and Industrial Democracy 18 (1): 87–97. Olsen, Gregg M. 1999. "Half empty or half full? The Swedish welfare state in transition." Canadian Review of Sociology & Anthropology, 36 (2): 241–268.</ref> Sweden's GDP declined by around 5%. In 1992, a run on the currency caused the central bank to briefly increase interest rates to 500%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1025624.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110215084954/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1025624.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 February 2011 |title=Sweden's 'Crazy' 500% Interest Rate; Fails to Faze Most Citizens, Businesses; Hike Seen as Short-Term Move to Protect Krona From Devaluation |publisher=Highbeam.com |date=18 September 1992 |access-date=3 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFh9qk0wBYC&pg=PA44 |title=The Great Financial Crisis in Finland and Sweden |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-84844-305-1 |last1=Jonung |first1=Lars |last2=Kiander |first2=Jaakko |last3=Vartia |first3=Pentti |year=2009 |access-date=1 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905193823/https://books.google.com/books?id=NxFh9qk0wBYC&pg=PA44 |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The response of the government was to cut spending and institute a multitude of reforms to improve Sweden's competitiveness, among them reducing the [[welfare state]] and [[Privatization|privatising]] public services and goods. Much of the political establishment promoted EU membership, and [[1994 Swedish European Union membership referendum|a referendum]] passed with 52.3% in favour of joining the EU on 13 November 1994. Sweden joined the [[European Union]] on 1 January 1995. In a 2003 referendum the Swedish electorate [[2003 Swedish euro referendum|voted against]] the country joining the [[European Monetary Union|Euro]] currency. In [[2006 Swedish general election|2006]] Sweden got its first majority government for decades as the centre-right [[The Alliance (Sweden)|Alliance]] defeated the incumbent Social Democrat government. Following the rapid growth of support for the anti-immigration [[Sweden Democrats]], and their entrance to the Riksdag in [[2010 Swedish general election|2010]], the Alliance became a minority cabinet.

Sweden remains non-aligned militarily, although it participates in some joint military exercises with NATO and some other countries, in addition to extensive co-operation with other European countries in the area of defence technology and defence industry. Among others, Swedish companies export weapons that were used by the American military in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207 |title=New Swedish weapon in Iraq |newspaper=[[The Local]] |date=7 February 2006 |access-date=10 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429052619/http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=3013&date=20060207 |archive-date=29 April 2013}}</ref> Sweden also has a long history of participating in international military operations, including [[Afghanistan]], where Swedish troops are under NATO command, and in EU-sponsored [[peacekeeping]] operations in [[Kosovo]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], and [[Cyprus]]. Sweden also participated in [[2011 military intervention in Libya|enforcing]] a [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973|UN mandated no-fly zone]] over Libya during the [[Arab Spring]]. Sweden held the chair of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2009.

[[File:Second day of Husby riots, three burning cars.jpg|thumb|Second day of the Stockholm Husby riots. The picture shows three cars on fire in the Stockholm suburb of Husby, 20 May 2013]]
In recent decades Sweden has become a more culturally diverse nation due to significant immigration; in 2013 it was estimated that 15 per cent of the population was foreign-born, and an additional 5 per cent of the population were born to two immigrant parents. The influx of immigrants has brought new social challenges. Violent incidents have [[Rosengård#Violence|periodically occurred]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Rioting breaks out in Malmö suburb |url=http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726145940/http://www.thelocal.se/16458/20081219/ |archive-date=26 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fires and rioting after Malmö suburb unrest |url=http://www.thelocal.se/26354/20100429/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |access-date=30 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205114737/http://www.thelocal.se/26354/20100429/ |archive-date=5 February 2013}}</ref> including the [[May 2013 Stockholm riots|2013 Stockholm riots]] which broke out following the police shooting of an elderly Portuguese immigrant.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden Riots Put Faces to Statistics as Stockholm Burns|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-26/sweden-riots-put-faces-to-statistics-as-stockholm-burns.html|publisher=[[Bloomberg News]]|access-date=30 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708032558/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-26/sweden-riots-put-faces-to-statistics-as-stockholm-burns.html|archive-date=8 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In response to these violent events, the [[Far-right politics|anti-immigration]] opposition party, the [[Sweden Democrats]], promoted their anti-immigration policies, while the [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] opposition blamed growing inequality caused by the [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] government's socioeconomic policies.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |last=Higgins |first=Andrew |date=26 May 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/swedens-riots-put-its-identity-in-question.html?pagewanted=all |title=In Sweden, Riots Put an Identity in Question |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=1 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531100256/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/world/europe/swedens-riots-put-its-identity-in-question.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=31 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, [[Stefan Löfven]] (Social Democrats) won the General Election and became the new Swedish Prime Minister. The Sweden Democrats held the balance of power and voted the government's budget down in the Riksdag, but due to agreements between the government and the Alliance, the government was able to hang onto power.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30610500|title=Sweden parties reach budget deal to avoid snap election|work=[[BBC News]]|date=27 December 2014|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106013135/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30610500|archive-date=6 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden was heavily affected by the [[2015 European migrant crisis]], eventually forcing the government to tighten regulations of entry to the country, as Sweden received thousands of asylum seekers and migrants predominantly from [[Africa]] and the [[Middle East]] per week in autumn, overwhelming existing structures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/world/europe/sweden-denmark-border-check-migrants.html?_r=0|title=Sweden and Denmark add border controls to stem flows of migrants|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Dan|last=Bilefsky|date=5 January 2016|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107062853/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/05/world/europe/sweden-denmark-border-check-migrants.html?_r=0|archive-date=7 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the asylum restrictions were relaxed again later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190619/sweden-rolls-back-strict-rules-on-family-reunification|title=Immigration: Sweden rolls back strict rules on family reunification|date=19 June 2019|access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref>

The [[2018 Swedish general election|2018 general election]] saw the [[Red-Greens (Sweden)|Red-greens]] lose seats to the right-wing [[Sweden Democrats]] and to the centre-right parties of the former [[Alliance (Sweden)|Alliance]]. Despite holding only 33% of the seats in the Riksdag, the Social Democrats and the Greens managed to [[2018–19 Swedish government formation|form]] a [[Löfven II Cabinet|minority government]] in January 2019, relying on supply and confidence from the [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]], [[Liberals (Sweden)|Liberals]] and the [[Left Party (Sweden)|Left Party]].

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Sweden}}
[[File:Vy mot Stora Sjöfallet från Saltoluokta.jpg|thumb|left|View of the [[Stora Sjöfallet National Park]]]]
Situated in Northern Europe, Sweden lies west of the [[Baltic Sea]] and [[Gulf of Bothnia]], providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]]. To the west is the [[Scandinavian mountain chain]] (Skanderna), a range that separates Sweden from [[Norway]]. Finland is located to its north-east. It has maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, [[Poland]], Russia, [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]] and [[Estonia]], and it is also linked to Denmark (south-west) by the [[Öresund Bridge]]. Its border with Norway ([[List of countries and territories by land borders|1,619 km]] long) is the longest uninterrupted border within Europe.

Sweden lies between latitudes [[55th parallel north|55°]] and [[70th parallel north|70° N]], and mostly between longitudes [[11th meridian east|11°]] and [[25th meridian east|25° E]] (part of [[Stora Drammen]] island is just west of 11°).
[[File:Odarslövsvägen–flygbild 06 september 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Scania]] in southern Sweden]]
[[File:Sandön - KMB - 16001000454384.jpg|thumb|[[Sandhamn]] island, [[Stockholm archipelago]]]]

At {{convert|449964|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}}, Sweden is the 55th-largest country in the world,<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Comparison: Area|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Sweden&countryCode=sw&regionCode=eu&rank=55#sw|work=Central Intelligence Agency|publisher=Cia.gov|access-date=19 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602150716/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2147rank.html?countryName=Sweden&countryCode=sw&regionCode=eu&rank=55#sw|archive-date=2 June 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Area and population of European countries|fifth-largest country]] in Europe, and the largest country in Northern Europe. The lowest elevation in Sweden is in the bay of Lake Hammarsjön, near [[Kristianstad]], at {{convert|-2.41|m|ft|2|abbr=on}} below sea level. The highest point is [[Kebnekaise]] at {{convert|2111|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].

Sweden has 25 [[Provinces of Sweden|provinces]] or ''landskap'', based on culture, geography and history. While these provinces serve no political or administrative purpose, they play an important role in people's [[self-concept|self-identity]]. The provinces are usually grouped together in three large ''[[lands of Sweden|lands]]'', parts, the northern Norrland, the central Svealand and southern Götaland. The sparsely populated Norrland encompasses almost 60% of the country. Sweden also has the [[Vindelfjällens Nature Reserve|Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve]], one of the largest protected areas in Europe, totaling 562,772 ha (approx. 5,628 km{{sup|2}}).

About 15% of Sweden lies north of the [[Arctic Circle]]. Southern Sweden is predominantly agricultural, with increasing forest coverage northward. Around 65% of Sweden's total land area is covered with forests. The highest population density is in the [[Øresund Region|Öresund Region]] in southern Sweden, along the western coast up to central Bohuslän, and in the valley of lake [[Mälaren]] and Stockholm. Gotland and [[Öland]] are Sweden's largest [[islands of Sweden|islands]]; [[Vänern]] and [[Vättern]] are its largest lakes. Vänern is the third largest in Europe, after [[Lake Ladoga]] and [[Lake Onega]] in Russia. Combined with the third- and fourth-largest lakes Mälaren and [[Hjälmaren]], these lakes take up a significant part of southern Sweden's area. Sweden's extensive waterway availability throughout the south was exploited with the building of the [[Göta Canal]] in the 19th century, shortening the potential distance between the Baltic Sea south of [[Norrköping]] and [[Gothenburg]] by using the lake and river network to facilitate the canal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gotakanal.se/en/|title=Göta kanal official website|publisher=[[Göta Canal]]|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112033839/http://www.gotakanal.se/en/|archive-date=12 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sweden also has [[List of rivers of Sweden|plenty of long rivers]] draining the lakes. Northern and Central Sweden have several wide rivers known as ''älvar'', commonly sourced within the Scandinavian Mountains. The longest river is [[Klarälven]]-[[Göta älv]], which originates in [[Trøndelag]] in central Norway, running 720 miles before it enters the sea at [[Gothenburg]]. [[Dalälven]] and the [[Torne (river)|Torne]] are the second and third longest rivers in the country. Torne marks a large part of the [[Finland-Sweden border|Finland border]]. In southern Sweden, narrower rivers known as ''åar'' are also common. The vast majority of municipal seats are set either on the sea, a river or a lake and the majority of the country's population live in coastal municipalities.

===Climate===

Most of Sweden has a [[temperate climate]], despite its northern [[latitude]], with largely four distinct seasons and mild temperatures throughout the year. The winter in the far south is usually weak and is manifested only through some shorter periods with snow and sub-zero temperatures, autumn may well turn into spring there, without a distinct period of winter. The northern parts of the country have a [[subarctic climate]] while the central parts have a [[humid continental climate]]. The coastal south can be defined as having either a [[humid continental climate]] using the 0°C isotherm, or an [[oceanic climate]] using the -3°C isotherm.

Due to the increased maritime moderation in the peninsular south, summer differences between the coastlines of the southernmost and northernmost regions are about {{convert|2|C-change}} in summer and {{convert|10|C-change}} in winter. This grows further when comparing areas in the northern interior where the winter difference in the far north is about {{convert|15|C-change}} throughout the country. The warmest summers usually happen in the [[Mälaren Valley]] around [[Stockholm]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smhi.se/data/meteorologi/dataserier-med-normalvarden-for-perioden-1991-2020-1.167775|title=Dataserier med normalvärden för perioden 1991-2020|publisher=[[SMHI]]|language=sv|accessdate=1 November 2021}}</ref> due to the vast landmass shielding the middle east coast from Atlantic low-pressure systems in July compared to the south and west. Daytime highs in Sweden's municipal seats vary from {{convert|19|C|F}} to {{convert|24|C|F}} in July and {{convert|-9|C|F}} to {{convert|3|C|F}} in January. The colder temperatures are influenced by the higher elevation in the northern interior. At sea level instead, the coldest average highs range from {{convert|21|C|F}} to {{convert|-6|C|F}}. As a result of the mild summers, the arctic region of [[Norrbotten County|Norrbotten]] has some of the northernmost [[agriculture]] in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slu.se/fakulteter/vh/samverkan/regional-jordbruksforskning-for-norra-sverige/rjn-det-norrlandska-klimatets-fordelar/|title=Det norrländska klimatets fördelar|publisher=Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet|language=sv|date=5 October 2021|accessdate=1 November 2021}}</ref>

Sweden is much warmer and drier than other places at a similar latitude, and even somewhat farther south, mainly because of the combination of the [[Gulf Stream]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml |publisher=BBC |title=BBC Climate and the Gulf Stream |access-date=29 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928040727/http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/gulf_stream.shtml |archive-date=28 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ |title=The Gulf Stream Myth |journal=Monthly Weather Review |volume=28 |issue=9 |pages=393–394 |access-date=29 October 2008 |bibcode=1900MWRv...28..393W |last1=Watts |first1=Harvey Maitland |year=1900 |doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1900)28[393:TGSM]2.0.CO;2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225021029/http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/gs/ |archive-date=25 February 2011 |url-status=live |doi-access=free }}</ref> and the general west wind drift, caused by the direction of planet Earth's rotation. Continental west-coasts (to which all of Scandinavia belongs, as the westernmost part of the [[Eurasia|Eurasian continent]]), are notably warmer than continental east-coasts; this can also be seen by comparing e.g. the Canadian cities of [[Vancouver]] and [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]] with each other, the winter in west coast Vancouver is much milder; also, for example, central and southern Sweden has much milder winters than many parts of Russia, Canada, and the northern United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/SUSTDEV/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm |publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]] |title=Global Climate Maps |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061117173015/http://www.fao.org/waicent/faoinfo/sustdev/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0002.htm |archive-date=17 November 2006}}</ref> Because of Sweden's high latitude, the length of daylight varies greatly. North of the Arctic Circle, the [[Midnight sun|sun never sets]] for part of each summer, and [[Polar night|it never rises]] for part of each winter. In the capital, [[Stockholm]], daylight lasts for more than 18 hours in late June but only around 6 hours in late December. Sweden receives between 1,100 and 1,900 hours of sunshine annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |title=Normal solskenstid för ett år |language=sv |publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]] |access-date=27 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826085626/http://www.smhi.se/klimatdata/meteorologi/stralning/1.3052 |archive-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map SWE present.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Sweden using the 0°C isotherm]]
[[File:Sweden Köppen.svg|thumb|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Sweden using the -3°C isotherm]]

The highest temperature ever recorded in Sweden was {{convert|38|°C|°F|abbr=on}} in [[Målilla]] in 1947,{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} while the coldest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|-52.6|°C|1|abbr=on}} in Vuoggatjålme on 2 February 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data.php?month=02&year=1966&id=SWE00140744&path=weather_stations/sw000000000_szz99999999/SWE00140744.dly&name=Vuoggatjalme&country=Sweden |title=Weather Data: Sweden, Vuoggatjalme, 1966, February |publisher=geographic.org |access-date=27 June 2020}}</ref> Temperatures expected in Sweden are heavily influenced by the large Fennoscandian landmass, as well as continental Europe and western Russia, which allows hot or cool inland air to be easily transported to Sweden. That, in turn, renders most of Sweden's southern areas having warmer summers than almost everywhere in the nearby [[British Isles]], even matching temperatures found along the continental Atlantic coast as far south as in northern [[Spain]]. In winter, however, the same high-pressure systems sometimes put the entire country far below freezing temperatures. There is some maritime moderation from the Atlantic which renders the Swedish continental climate less severe than that of nearby Russia. Even though temperature patterns differ between north and south, the summer climate is surprisingly similar all through the entire country in spite of the large latitudinal differences. This is due to the south's being surrounded by a greater mass of water, with the wider Baltic Sea and the Atlantic air passing over lowland areas from the south-west.

Apart from the ice-free Atlantic bringing marine air into Sweden tempering winters, the mildness is further explained by prevailing low-pressure systems postponing winter, with the long nights often staying above freezing in the south of the country due to the abundant cloud cover. By the time winter finally breaks through, daylight hours rise quickly, ensuring that daytime temperatures soar quickly in spring. With the greater number of clear nights, frosts remain commonplace quite far south as late as April. The cold winters occur when low-pressure systems are weaker. An example is that the coldest ever month (January 1987) in Stockholm was also the sunniest January month on record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_precipitation_sunshine_jan15.pdf?71642|title=Precipitation, Sunshine & Radiation for January 2015 (all-time records section)|language=sv|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_precipitation_sunshine_jan15.pdf?71642|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_temperature_wind_jan15.pdf?18701|title=Temperature & Wind – January 2015 (all-time records section)|language=sv|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115212312/http://data.smhi.se/met/climate/time_series/month/vov_pdf/SMHI_vov_temperature_wind_jan15.pdf?18701|archive-date=15 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The relative strength of low and high-pressure systems of marine and continental air also define the highly variable summers. When hot continental air hits the country, the long days and short nights frequently bring temperatures up to {{convert|30|C|F}} or above even in coastal areas. Nights normally remain cool, especially in inland areas. Coastal areas can see so-called ''tropical nights'' above {{convert|20|C|F}} occur due to the moderating sea influence during warmer summers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smhi.se/kunskapsbanken/meteorologi/tropiska-natter-1.1085|title=Tropiska nätter|trans-title=Tropical nights|publisher=[[Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]]|language=sv|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065821/http://www.smhi.se/kunskapsbanken/meteorologi/tropiska-natter-1.1085|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Summers can be cool, especially in the north of the country. Transitional seasons are normally quite extensive and the four-season climate applies to most of Sweden's territory, except in Scania where some years do not record a [[meteorological winter]] (see table below) or in the high Lapland mountains where polar microclimates exist.

On average, most of Sweden receives between {{convert|500|and|800|mm|0|abbr=on}} of precipitation each year, making it considerably drier than the [[Precipitation (meteorology)|global average]]. The south-western part of the country receives more precipitation, between {{convert|1000|and|1200|mm|0|abbr=on}}, and some mountain areas in the north are estimated to receive up to {{convert|2000|mm|0|abbr=on}}. Despite northerly locations, southern and central Sweden may have almost no snow in some winters. Most of Sweden is located in the [[rain shadow]] of the Scandinavian Mountains through Norway and north-west Sweden. The blocking of cool and wet air in summer, as well as the greater landmass, leads to warm and dry summers far north in the country, with quite warm summers at the Bothnia Bay coast at 65 degrees latitude, which is unheard of elsewhere in the world at such northerly coastlines.

It is predicted that as the [[Barents Sea]] gets less frozen in the coming winters, becoming thus "Atlantified", additional evaporation will increase future snowfalls in Sweden and much of continental Europe.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Arctic sea-ice loss fuels extreme European snowfall|journal=[[Nature Geoscience]]|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-021-00719-y|last1=Bailey|first1=Hannah|date=1 April 2021|last2=Hubbard|first2=Alun|last3=Klen|first3=Eric S.|last4=Mustonen|first4=Kaisa-Riikka|last5=Akers|first5=Pete D.|last6=Marttila|first6=Hannu|last7=Welker|first7=Jeffrey M.|volume=14|issue=5|pages=283–288|doi=10.1038/s41561-021-00719-y|bibcode=2021NatGe..14..283B|s2cid=232765992}}</ref>

=== Vegetation ===
{{See also|Wildlife of Sweden}}
[[File:Sweden Vegetation Zones.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Map of Sweden's five major vegetation zones]]
Sweden has a considerable south to north distance (stretching between the [[latitude]]s N 55:20:13 and N 69:03:36) which causes large climatic difference, especially during the winter. The related matter of the length and strength of the four seasons plays a role in which plants that ''naturally'' can grow at various places. Sweden is divided in five major vegetation zones. These are:

* The southern deciduous forest zone
* The southern coniferous forest zone
* The northern coniferous forest zone, or the [[Taiga]]
* The alpine-birch zone
* The bare mountain zone

Southern deciduous forest zone, also known as the nemoral region, the southern deciduous forest zone is a part of a larger vegetation zone which also includes Denmark and large parts of Central Europe. It has to a rather large degree become agricultural areas, but larger and smaller forests still exist. The region is characterised by a large wealth of trees and shrubs. The [[beech]] are the most dominant tree, but [[oak]] can also form smaller forests. [[elm]] at one time formed forests, but have been heavily reduced due to [[Dutch Elm disease]]. Other important trees and shrubs in this zone include [[hornbeam]], [[Sambucus nigra|elder]], [[Corylus avellana|hazel]], [[Lonicera xylosteum|fly honeysuckle]], [[Tilia|linden (lime)]], [[Euonymus europaeus|spindle]], [[Taxus baccata|yew]], [[alder buckthorn]], [[blackthorn]], [[Populus tremula|aspen]], [[European rowan]], [[Swedish whitebeam]], [[Juniperus communis|juniper]], [[European holly]], [[Hedera helix|ivy]], [[Cornus sanguinea|dogwood]], [[goat willow]], [[Larix decidua|larch]], [[Prunus padus|bird cherry]], [[Prunus avium|wild cherry]], [[maple]], [[Fraxinus excelsior|ash]], [[alder]] along creeks, and in sandy soil [[birch]] compete with [[pine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-lovskogsregionen/|title=Södra lövskogsregionen – Skogskunskap|website=www.skogskunskap.se|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044304/https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-lovskogsregionen/|archive-date=12 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Spruce]] is not native but between approximately 1870 and 1980, large areas were planted with it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Forest and Buildings |url=http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/historia-utveckling/skogens-landskap/skog-och-bebyggelse/Pages/index.aspx |website=lansstyrelsen.se |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012055002/http://www.lansstyrelsen.se/skane/Sv/samhallsplanering-och-kulturmiljo/landskapsvard/kulturmiljoprogram/historia-utveckling/skogens-landskap/skog-och-bebyggelse/Pages/index.aspx |archive-date=12 October 2017 |language=sv|quote="Granskogen, som spreds norrifrån, nådde inte Skåne förrän mot slutet av 1800-talet. Under 1900-talets första hälft planterades stora arealer granskog." or in English "The spruce forest, which spread from the north, did not reach Scania until the end of the 19th century. During the first half of the twentieth century, large areas of pine forest were planted."}}</ref> They tend to grow too quickly due to being outside of their native range<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27655197|title=Summary in English PDF, page 8 at}}</ref> and large distances between the tree rings cause poor board quality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/om-oss/var-tidning-skogseko/skogseko-2-2017/skogen-vaxer-battre--men-riskerna-blir-fler/|title=Skogen växer bättre – men riskerna blir fler|website=www.skogsstyrelsen.se|access-date=11 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012043833/https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/om-oss/var-tidning-skogseko/skogseko-2-2017/skogen-vaxer-battre--men-riskerna-blir-fler/|archive-date=12 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later some spruce trees began to die before reaching optimal height, and many more of the coniferous trees were uprooted during cyclones.<ref>Quote from [[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]], section "2" at [https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2015-01-04/en-kvarts-miljard-trad-foll-under-stormnatten] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044809/https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2015-01-04/en-kvarts-miljard-trad-foll-under-stormnatten |date=12 October 2017 }},"''Efter stormen kritiserades skogsägarna för att de dominerande granskogarna gjorde att stormen tog hårdare. Uppblandning med lövträd gör skog stryktåligare''" or in English "After the storm, the spruce and pine forest owners were criticized for the domination of the forests that made the storm tougher. Admixture with hardwood makes forest more stringent"</ref><ref>[[Dagens Nyheter]] about the same. [https://www.dn.se/nyheter/vetenskap/analys-dags-plantera-lovskog-i-soder/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044443/https://www.dn.se/nyheter/vetenskap/analys-dags-plantera-lovskog-i-soder/ |date=12 October 2017 }}</ref> During the last 40–50 years large areas of former spruce plantings have been replanted with deciduous forest.<ref>About the 1984 "Ädellövskogslagen" [http://www.naturait.se/adellovskogen/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044321/http://www.naturait.se/adellovskogen/ |date=12 October 2017 }} – "''I Sydsverige (Skåne, Halland och Blekinge) skall minst 70% av beståndet utgöras av ädellöv. Enligt ädellövskogslagen skall efter slutavverkning, alltid ny ädellövskog anläggas på sådana marker.''" or "In southern Sweden (Scania, Halland and Blekinge) at least 70% of the stock must be of [[edible leaves]]. According to the 'edible deciduous forests law', after ever harvesting, new deciduous forests must always be planted on such fields." (in these three provinces)</ref>

Southern coniferous forest zone, also known as the boreo-nemoral region, the southern coniferous forest zone is delimited by the [[oak]]'s northern natural limit (''limes norrlandicus'') and the [[Spruce]]'s southern natural limit,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-barrskogsregionen/|title=Södra barrskogsregionen – Skogskunskap|website=www.skogskunskap.se|access-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013120343/https://www.skogskunskap.se/planera-skogsbruk/naturhansyn/naturmiljoer-fran-norr-till-soder/sodra-barrskogsregionen/|archive-date=13 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> between the southern deciduous zone and the [[Taiga]] farther north. In the southern parts of this zone the coniferous species are found, mainly [[spruce]] and [[pine]], mixed with various deciduous trees. [[Birch]] grows largely everywhere. The [[beech]]'s northern boundary crosses this zone. This is however not the case with [[oak]] and [[Fraxinus excelsior|ash]]. Although in its natural area, also ''planted'' Spruce are common, and such woods are very dense, as the spruces can grow very tight, especially in this vegetation zone's southern areas.

The northern coniferous forest zone or the [[Taiga]] begins north of the natural boundary of the [[oak]]. Of deciduous species the [[birch]] is the only one of significance. [[Pine]] and [[spruce]] are dominant, but the forests are slowly but surely more sparsely grown the farther towards the north it gets. In the extreme north is it difficult to state the trees forms true forests at all, due to the large distances between the trees.<ref name="RydénMigula2003">{{cite book|author1=Lars Rydén|author2=Pawel Migula|author3=Magnus Andersson|title=Environmental science: understanding, protecting and managing the environment in the Baltic Sea region|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VIopLSQyI5MC&pg=PA82|year=2003|publisher=Baltic University Press|isbn=978-91-970017-0-0|page=82}}</ref>

The alpine-birch zone, in the Scandinavian mountains, depending on both latitude and altitude, is an area where only a smaller kind of [[birch]] (''Betula pubescens'' or ''B.tortuosa'') can grow. Where this vegetation zone ends, no trees grow at all: the bare mountain zone.<ref>Swedish Encyclopedia "Bonniers Lexikon", vol 13 of 15, article "Sverige", Sweden, columns 1046–1050</ref>

Sweden had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.35/10, ranking it 103th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057}}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
=== Constitutional framework ===
{{Main|Politics of Sweden}}
[[File:Nationaldagen EM1B2097 (48018075518).jpg|thumb|right|The current [[Monarchy of Sweden|King of Sweden]], [[Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|Carl XVI Gustaf]], and his consort, [[Queen Silvia of Sweden|Queen Silvia]]]]

Sweden has four fundamental laws ({{lang-sv|grundlagar}}) which together form the [[Constitution of Sweden|Constitution]]: the Instrument of Government ({{lang-sv|Regeringsformen}}), the [[Swedish Act of Succession|Act of Succession]] ({{lang-sv|Successionsordningen}}), the Freedom of the Press Act ({{lang-sv|Tryckfrihetsförordningen}}), and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression ({{lang-sv|Yttrandefrihetsgrundlagen}}).<ref name="The Constitution">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/| title = The Constitution| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141110215202/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/| archive-date = 10 November 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Petersson:38-40">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 38–40.</ref>

The public sector in Sweden is divided into two parts: the [[legal person]] known as the State ({{lang-sv|staten}}){{efn|The State ({{lang-sv|staten}}) is also descriptively translated into English as the "central government", not to be confused with the [[Government of Sweden|Government]], i.e. the cabinet which is but one organ of the State.}} and local authorities:{{efn|An alternate English translation is "local governments".}} the latter include regional [[County councils of Sweden|County Councils]] ({{lang-sv|landsting}}) and local [[Municipalities of Sweden|Municipalities]] ({{lang-sv|kommuner}}).<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:16-18">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: pp. 16–18.</ref><ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: pp. 212–215.</ref><ref name="Petersson:92">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 92.</ref><ref name="Petersson:174">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 174.</ref> The local authorities, rather than the State, make up the larger part of the public sector in Sweden.<ref name="Petersson:79">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: p. 79.</ref> County Councils and Municipalities are independent of one another, the former merely covers a larger geographical area than the latter.<ref name="Petersson:79" /><ref name="Larsson & Bäck:210">[[#Larsson & Bäck|Larsson & Bäck]]: p. 210.</ref> The local authorities have self-rule, as mandated by the Constitution, and their own tax base.<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215" /><ref name="Petersson:79-82">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 79–82.</ref> Notwithstanding their self-rule, local authorities are nevertheless in practice interdependent upon the State, as the parameters of their responsibilities and the extent of their jurisdiction are specified in the Local Government Act ({{lang-sv|Kommunallagen}}) passed by the [[Riksdag]].<ref name="Larsson & Bäck:212-215" /><ref name="Petersson:80-82">[[#Petersson|Petersson]]: pp. 80–82.</ref>

Sweden is a [[constitutional monarchy]], and [[Monarchy of Sweden|King]] [[Carl XVI Gustaf]] is the [[head of state]], but the role of the monarch is limited to ceremonial and representative functions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Monarchy/Facts/Monarchy/ |title=Monarchy: A modern royal family |publisher=Sweden.se |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425154216/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Monarchy/Facts/Monarchy/ |archive-date=25 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Under the provisions of the 1974 Instrument of Government, the King lacks any formal political power.<ref name="The Instrument of Government">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Instrument-of-Government/| title = The Instrument of Government| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141024155000/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Instrument-of-Government/| archive-date = 24 October 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="The Head of State">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/2853/nocache/true/a/21785/dictionary/true |title=The Head of State |publisher=[[Government of Sweden]] |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225235411/http://www.government.se/sb/d/2853/nocache/true/a/21785/dictionary/true |archive-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> The King opens the annual Riksdag session, chairs the Special Council held during a change of Government, holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Government, chairs the meetings of the ''Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs'' ({{lang-sv|Utrikesnämnden}}), and receives [[Letters of Credence]] of foreign ambassadors to Sweden and signs those of Swedish ambassadors sent abroad.<ref name="Duties of the Monarch">{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html | title = Duties of the Monarch | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150316041821/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/monarchy/themonarchyinsweden/dutiesofthemonarch.4.396160511584257f2180003302.html | archive-date = 16 March 2015 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="A new government is formed">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/A-new-government-is-formed/ | title = A new government is formed | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141109002503/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/A-new-government-is-formed/ | archive-date = 9 November 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> In addition, the King pays [[List of state visits made by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden|State Visits abroad]] and receives those incoming as host.<ref name="Duties of the Monarch" /> Apart from strictly official duties, the King and the other members of [[Swedish Royal Family|Royal Family]] undertake a variety of unofficial and other representative duties within Sweden and abroad.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/download/18.4ea495e313c19c119aa766c/1390581085970/Verksamhetsberattelse2012_eng.pdf | title = Annual Report 2012 | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140604080143/http://www.kungahuset.se/download/18.4ea495e313c19c119aa766c/1390581085970/Verksamhetsberattelse2012_eng.pdf | archive-date = 4 June 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

[[Legislative power]] is vested in the [[unicameral]] Riksdag with 349 members. [[Elections in Sweden|General elections]] are held every four years, on the second Sunday of September. Legislation may be initiated by the Government or by members of the Riksdag. Members are elected on the basis of [[proportional representation]] to a four-year term. The internal workings of the Riksdag are, in addition to the Instrument of Government, regulated by the Riksdag Act ({{lang-sv|Riksdagsordningen}}).<ref name="The Riksdag Act – almost a fundamental law">{{cite web|url=https://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Riksdag-Act---almost-a-fundamental-law/ |title=The Riksdag Act – almost a fundamental law |publisher=The [[Riksdag]] |access-date=9 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024155003/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-Constitution/The-Riksdag-Act---almost-a-fundamental-law/ |archive-date=24 October 2014}}</ref> The fundamental laws can be altered by the Riksdag alone; only an absolute majority with two separate votes, separated by a general election in between, is required.<ref name="The Constitution" />

[[File:Rosenbad 2006.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|left|[[Rosenbad]], in central [[Stockholm]], has been the seat of the Government since 1981.<ref name="The Swedish Government Offices – a historical perspective">{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/sb/d/4140/ |title=The Swedish Government Offices – a historical perspective |publisher=[[Government Offices of Sweden]] |access-date=8 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024144929/http://www.government.se/sb/d/4140/ |archive-date=24 October 2014}}</ref>]]
The [[Government of Sweden|Government]] ({{lang-sv|Regeringen}}) operates as a [[Cabinet collective responsibility|collegial body with collective responsibility]] and consists of the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] {{mdash}} appointed and dismissed by the [[Speaker of the Riksdag]] (following an actual vote in the Riksdag before an appointment can be made) {{mdash}} and other [[cabinet minister]]s ({{lang-sv|Statsråd}}), appointed and dismissed at the sole discretion of the Prime Minister.<ref name="Forming a government">{{cite web| url = http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/| title = Forming a government| publisher = The [[Riksdag]]| access-date = 8 November 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141009160056/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/Forming-a-government/| archive-date = 9 October 2014| url-status=live| df = dmy-all}}</ref> The Government is the supreme executive authority and is [[Parliamentary system|responsible for its actions to the Riksdag]].<ref name="IG">{{cite web | url = http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | title = The Instrument of Government (as of 2012) | publisher = The [[Riksdag]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141008133940/http://www.riksdagen.se/Global/dokument/dokument/laws/the-instrument-of-government-2012.pdf | archive-date = 8 October 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Most of the State administrative authorities ({{lang-sv|statliga förvaltningsmyndigheter}}) report to the Government, including (but not limited to) the [[Swedish Armed Forces|Armed Forces]], the [[Enforcement Authority]], the [[National Library of Sweden|National Library]], the [[Swedish police]] and the [[Swedish Tax Agency|Tax Agency]]. A unique feature of Swedish State administration is that individual cabinet ministers ''do not bear any'' [[individual ministerial responsibility]] for the performance of the agencies within their portfolio; as the [[Director-General#Sweden|director-generals]] and other heads of government agencies reports directly to the Government as a whole; and individual ministers are prohibited to interfere; thus the origin of the pejorative in Swedish political parlance term ''[[ministerstyre]]'' (English: "ministerial rule") in matters that are to be handled by the individual agencies, unless otherwise specifically provided for in law.

The [[Judiciary of Sweden|Judiciary]] is independent from the Riksdag, Government and other State administrative authorities.<ref name="The Swedish courts">{{cite web | url = http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/ | title = The Swedish courts | publisher = [[Swedish National Courts Administration]] | access-date = 9 November 2014 | date = 27 November 2005 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141019174305/http://www.domstol.se/Funktioner/English/The-Swedish-courts/ | archive-date = 19 October 2014 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The role of [[judicial review]] of legislation is not practised by the courts; instead, the [[Council on Legislation (Sweden)|Council on Legislation]] gives non-binding opinions on legality.{{sfn|Terrill|2009|p=243}} There is no [[stare decisis]] in that courts are not bound by [[precedent]], although it is influential.{{sfn|Terrill|2009|p=246}}

=== Political parties and elections ===
{{Main|List of political parties in Sweden|Elections in Sweden}}
[[File:Riksdag.ipred b9dn510 4451.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Riksdag]] chamber, at the time of a vote, in 2009]]
The Swedish Social Democratic Party has played a leading role in Swedish politics since 1917, after the [[Democratic socialism|Reformists]] had confirmed their strength and the [[Left Party (Sweden)|left-wing revolutionaries]] formed their own party. After 1932, most governments have been [[Dominant-party system#Europe|dominated]] by the Social Democrats. Only five general elections since World War II—[[1976 Swedish general election|1976]], [[1979 Swedish general election|1979]], [[1991 Swedish general election|1991]], [[2006 Swedish general election|2006]] and [[2010 Swedish general election|2010]]—have given the assembled bloc of centre-right parties enough seats in the Riksdag to form a government.

For over 50 years, Sweden had had five parties who continually received enough votes to gain seats in the Riksdag—the Social Democrats, the [[Moderate Party]], the [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]], the [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)|Liberal People's Party]] and the Left Party—before the [[Green Party (Sweden)|Green Party]] became the sixth party in the [[1988 Swedish general election|1988 election]]. In the 1991 election, while the Greens lost their seats, two new parties gained seats for the first time: the [[Christian Democrats (Sweden)|Christian Democrats]] and [[New Democracy (Sweden)|New Democracy]]. The [[1994 Swedish general election|1994 election]] saw the return of the Greens and the demise of New Democracy. It was not until elections in 2010 that an eighth party, the [[Sweden Democrats]], gained Riksdag seats. In the elections to the [[European Parliament]], parties who have failed to pass the Riksdag threshold have managed to gain representation at that venue: the [[June List]] ([[2004 European Parliament election in Sweden|2004–2009]]), the [[Pirate Party (Sweden)|Pirate Party]] ([[2009 European Parliament election in Sweden|2009–2014]]), and [[Feminist Initiative (Sweden)|Feminist Initiative]] ([[2014 European Parliament election in Sweden|2014–2019]]).

[[File:Inför slutdebatten i SVT.jpg|thumb|left|The party leaders lined up before the start of the [[Sveriges Television|televised]] live debate on 12 September 2014.]]
In the [[2006 Sweden general election|2006 general election]] the Moderate Party formed the centre-right [[Alliance for Sweden]] bloc and won a majority of the Riksdag seats. In the [[2010 Swedish general election|2010 general election]] the Alliance contended against a unified left block consisting of the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Left Party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Government-politics/Reading/Center-right-wins-Swedish-election--but-short-of-majority/ |title=Center–right wins Swedish election — but short of majority |publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]] International/Radio Sweden |date=20 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511050348/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Society/Government-politics/Reading/Center-right-wins-Swedish-election--but-short-of-majority/ |archive-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> The Alliance won a plurality of 173 seats, but remained two seats short of a 175-seat majority. Nevertheless, neither the Alliance, nor the left block, chose to form a coalition with the Sweden Democrats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html |publisher=[[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]] |title=Val till riksdagen |author=The Official Website of the Swedish Election Authority |access-date=18 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809101606/http://www.val.se/val/val2006/slutlig/R/rike/roster.html |archive-date=9 August 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The outcome of the [[2014 Sweden general election|2014 general election]] resulted in the attainment of more seats by the three centre-left parties in comparison to the centre-right Alliance for Sweden, with the two blocs receiving 159 and 141 seats respectively.<ref name="2014 Election Result">{{cite web | url = http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/protokoll/protokoll_00R.pdf | title = Beslut 2014-09-20 | language = sv | publisher = [[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140924075521/http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/protokoll/protokoll_00R.pdf | archive-date = 24 September 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref> The non-aligned Sweden Democrats more than doubled their support and won the remaining 49 seats.<ref name="2014 Election Result" /> On 3 October 2014, Stefan Löfven formed a [[minority government]] consisting of the [[Löfven I Cabinet|Social Democrats and the Greens]].<ref name="Sweden's new Government">{{cite web | url = http://www.government.se/sb/d/575/a/247235 | title = Sweden's new Government | publisher = [[Government Offices of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141006234923/http://www.government.se/sb/d/575/a/247235 | archive-date = 6 October 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Change of Government Council at the Royal Palace of Stockholm">{{cite web | url = http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/latestnews/changeofgovernmentcouncilattheroyalpalaceofstockholm.5.67e94750148caf4ad27127.html | title = Change of Government Council at the Royal Palace of Stockholm | publisher = [[Royal Court of Sweden]] | access-date = 8 November 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141108004043/http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/latestnews/changeofgovernmentcouncilattheroyalpalaceofstockholm.5.67e94750148caf4ad27127.html | archive-date = 8 November 2014 | url-status=live | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Election turnout in Sweden has always been high by international comparison. Although it declined in recent decades, the latest elections saw an increase in voter turnout (80.11% in [[2002 Sweden general election|2002]], 81.99% in 2006, 84.63% in 2010, 85.81 in [[2014 Swedish general election|2014]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster – Val 2014|publisher=[[Election Authority (Sweden)|Election Authority]]|language=sv|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503192853/http://www.val.se/val/val2014/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|archive-date=3 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and 87.18% in [[2018 Swedish general election|2018]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.val.se/val/val2018/slutresultat/R/rike/index.html|title=Röster - Val 2018|website=data.val.se|access-date=18 January 2019}}</ref> Swedish politicians enjoyed a high degree of confidence from the citizens in the 1960s, However, that level of confidence has since declined steadily, and is now at a markedly lower level than in its Scandinavian neighbours.<ref>{{cite book|editor=Norris, Pippa |author=Holmberg, Sören |title=Critical Citizens: Global Support for Democratic Government|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=1999|pages=103–123|isbn=978-0-19-829568-6}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Regions of Sweden|Municipalities of Sweden|County Administrative Boards of Sweden|Administrative divisions of Sweden}}
[[File:SWE-Map Kommuner2007.svg|thumb|upright|Municipal divisions of Sweden]]
Sweden is a [[unitary state]] divided into 21 regions (''regioner'') and 290 municipalities (''kommuner''). Every region corresponds to a [[counties of Sweden|county]] (''län'') with a number of municipalities per county. Regions and municipalities are both local government bur have different roles and separate responsibilities. Health care, public transport and certain cultural institutions are administered by county councils. Preschools, primary and secondary schooling, public water utilities, garbage disposal, elderly care and rescue services are administered by the municipalities. [[Gotland]] is a special case of being a region with only one municipality and the functions of region and municipality are performed by the same organisation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Municipalities and regions |url=https://skr.se/skr/tjanster/englishpages/municipalitiesandregions.1088.html |access-date=2021-11-21 |website=skr.se |language=en}}</ref>

Municipal and region government in Sweden is similar to [[city commission government|city commission]] and [[cabinet-style council]] government. Both levels have legislative assemblies ([[municipal council (Sweden)|municipal councils]] and region assemblies of between 31 and 101 members (always an uneven number) that are elected from [[party-list proportional representation]] at the general election which are held every four years in conjunction with the national parliamentary elections.

Municipalities are also divided into a total of 2,512 [[Parishes of Sweden|parishes]] (''församlingar''). These have no official political responsibilities but are traditional subdivisions of the [[Church of Sweden]] and still have some importance as census districts for census-taking and elections.

The Swedish central government has 21 [[County Administrative Boards of Sweden|County Administrative Boards]] ({{lang-sv|länsstyrelser}}), which are responsible for regional state administration not assigned to other government agencies or local government. Each county administrative board is led by a [[County governors of Sweden|County Governor]] ({{lang-sv|landshövding}}) appointed for a term of six years. The list of previous officeholders for the counties stretches back, in most cases, to 1634 when the counties were created by [[Lord High Chancellor of Sweden|Lord High Chancellor]] Count [[Axel Oxenstierna]]. The main responsibility of the County Administrative Board is to co-ordinate the development of the county in line with goals set by the Riksdag and Government.

There are older historical divisions, primarily the twenty-five [[Provinces of Sweden|provinces]] and three [[Lands of Sweden|lands]], which still retain cultural significance.

=== Political history ===
[[File:Scandinavia-12th century.png|thumb|left|Kingdoms of [[Swedes (Germanic tribe)|Svear]] (Sweonas) and [[Götar]] (Geats) in the 12th century, with modern borders in grey]]
The actual age of the kingdom of Sweden is unknown.<ref name="sh">{{cite book |last1=Hadenius |first1=Stig |last2=Nilsson |first2=Torbjörn |last3=Åselius |first3=Gunnar |title=Sveriges historia: vad varje svensk bör veta |trans-title=History of Sweden: what every Swede should know |year=1996 |publisher=Bonnier Alba |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=978-91-34-51784-4}}:
{|
|-
|  
|Hur och när det svenska riket uppstod vet vi inte. Först under 1100-talet börjar skriftliga dokument produceras i Sverige i någon större omfattning [...]
|  
|How and when the Swedish kingdom appeared is not known. It is not until the 12th century that written document begin to be produced in Sweden in any larger extent [...]
|}</ref> Establishing the age depends mostly on whether Sweden should be considered a nation when the ''Svear'' (Sweonas) ruled Svealand or if the emergence of the nation started with the ''Svear'' and the ''[[Götar]]'' (Geats) of Götaland being united under one ruler. In the first case, Svealand was first mentioned as having one single ruler in the year 98 by Tacitus, but it is almost impossible to know for how long it had been this way. However, historians usually start the line of [[Swedish monarchs]] from when Svealand and Götaland were ruled under the same king, namely Eric the Victorious (Geat) and his son [[Olof Skötkonung]] in the 10th century. These events are often described as the [[consolidation of Sweden]], although substantial areas were conquered and incorporated later.

Earlier kings, for which no reliable historical sources exist, can be read about in [[mythical kings of Sweden]] and [[semi-legendary kings of Sweden]]. Many of these kings are only mentioned in various [[Norse sagas|saga]] and blend with Norse mythology.

The title ''Sveriges och Götes Konung'' was last used for [[Gustaf I of Sweden]], after which the title became "[[Kings of Sweden|King of Sweden]], [[King of the Goths|of the Goths]] and [[King of the Wends|of the Wends]]" (''Sveriges, Götes och Vendes Konung'') in official documentation. Up until the beginning of the 1920s, all laws in Sweden were introduced with the words, "We, the king of Sweden, of the Goths and Wends". This title was used up until 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lagen.nu/1973:702|title=Kungl. Maj:ts kungörelse med anledning av konung Gustaf VI Adolfs frånfälle|publisher=Lagen.nu|access-date=17 September 2014|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712202406/https://lagen.nu/1973:702|archive-date=12 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The present King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, was the first monarch officially proclaimed "King of Sweden" (''Sveriges Konung'') with no additional peoples mentioned in his title.

The term ''riksdag'' was used for the first time in the 1540s, although the first meeting where representatives of different social groups were called to discuss and determine affairs affecting the country as a whole took place as early as 1435, in the town of [[Arboga]].<ref name=Riksdagen>{{cite web|title=The history of the Riksdag|url=http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-history-of-the-Riksdag/|publisher=[[Riksdag]]|access-date=9 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520020027/http://www.riksdagen.se/en/How-the-Riksdag-works/Democracy/The-history-of-the-Riksdag/|archive-date=20 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[Riksdag of the Estates|Riksdag assemblies]] of 1527 and 1544, under King [[Gustav Vasa]], representatives of all four [[estates of the realm]] (clergy, [[Swedish nobility|nobility]], [[Bourgeoisie|townsmen]] and [[peasant]]s) were called on to participate for the first time.<ref name="Riksdagen" /> The monarchy became hereditary in 1544.

Executive power was historically shared between the King and an aristocratic [[Privy council]] until 1680, followed by the King's [[autocracy|autocratic rule]] initiated by the commoner estates of the Riksdag. As a reaction to the failed Great Northern War, a parliamentary system was introduced in 1719, followed by three different flavours of constitutional monarchy in 1772, 1789 and 1809, [[Swedish constitution of 1809|the latter]] granting several civil liberties. Already during the first of those three periods, the 'Era of Liberty' (1719–72) the Swedish Rikstag had developed into a very active Parliament, and this tradition continued into the nineteenth century, laying the basis for the transition towards modern democracy at the end of that century.<ref>{{cite book|author=Baten, Jörg |title=A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present.|date=2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=22|isbn=9781107507180}}</ref>

In 1866 Sweden became a constitutional monarchy with a [[bicameral]] parliament, with the First Chamber indirectly elected by local governments, and the Second Chamber directly elected in national elections every four years. In 1971 the parliament became unicameral. Legislative power was (symbolically) shared between the King and the Riksdag until 1975. Swedish taxation is controlled by the Riksdag.
[[File:Riksdagen September 2014 02.jpg|thumb|The Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament in 2014]]
Sweden has a history of strong political involvement by ordinary people through its "popular movements" (''Folkrörelser''), the most notable being trade unions, the independent Christian movement, the temperance movement, the [[women's movement]], and the [[Pirate Party (Sweden)|intellectual property pirate]] movements. Sweden was the first country in the world to outlaw [[corporal punishment]] of children by their parents (parents' right to spank their own children was first removed in 1966, and it was explicitly prohibited by law from July 1979<ref name="Durrant 1996">{{cite book |last=Durrant |first=Joan E. |editor1=Frehsee, Detlev |display-editors=etal|title=Family Violence Against Children: A Challenge for Society |date=1996 |location=Berlin |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-3-11-014996-8 |page=20 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8IyJkWAAXjkC&q=%22swedish+ban+on+corporal+punishment%22 |chapter=The Swedish Ban on Corporal Punishment: Its History and Effects}}</ref>).

Sweden is currently leading the EU in statistics measuring [[equality of opportunity|equality]] in the political system and equality in the education system.<ref name=EUEqualityReport>{{cite web|publisher=[[European Commission]] |work=[[Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion]] |title=Report On The Equality Between Men And Women |url=http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf |date=February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817175053/http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/publications/2006/keaj06001_en.pdf |archive-date=17 August 2007}}</ref> The ''Global Gender Gap Report 2006'' ranked Sweden as the number one country in terms of [[gender equality]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?lang=6&id=6605 |title=Nordic countries rank highest in gender equality |publisher=Norden.org |access-date=6 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821110128/http://www.norden.org/webb/news/news.asp?id=6605&lang=6 |archive-date=21 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Some Swedish political figures have become known worldwide, among these are: Raoul Wallenberg, [[Folke Bernadotte]], the former [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary-General]] of the United Nations [[Dag Hammarskjöld]], the former Prime Minister [[Olof Palme]], the former Prime Minister and later [[Foreign minister]] [[Carl Bildt]], the former President of the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly of the United Nations]] [[Jan Eliasson]], and the former [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] Iraq inspector [[Hans Blix]].

=== Judicial system ===
{{Main|Judiciary of Sweden}}
The courts are divided into two parallel and separate systems: The general courts ({{lang|sv|allmänna domstolar}}) for criminal and civil cases, and general administrative courts ({{lang|sv|allmänna förvaltningsdomstolar}}) for cases relating to disputes between private persons and the authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dom.se/templates/DV_InfoPage____2317.aspx |publisher=[[Swedish National Courts Administration]] |title=The Swedish courts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209002918/http://www.dom.se/templates/DV_InfoPage____2317.aspx |archive-date=9 February 2009|date=10 March 2005 }}</ref> Each of these systems has three tiers, where the top tier court of the respective system typically only will hear cases that may become [[precedent]]. There are also a number of special courts, which will hear a narrower set of cases, as set down by legislation. While independent in their rulings, some of these courts are operated as divisions within courts of the general or general administrative courts.

[[File:Hogsta domstolen Stockholm.jpg|thumb|[[Bonde Palace]] in Stockholm, seat of the [[Supreme Court of Sweden]]]]
The [[Supreme Court of Sweden]] ({{lang-sv|Högsta domstolen}}) is the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Sweden. Before a case can be decided by the Supreme Court, leave to appeal must be obtained, and with few exceptions, leave to appeal can be granted only when the case is of interest as a precedent. The Supreme Court consists of 16 Justices ({{lang-sv|justitieråd}}), appointed by the Government, but the court as an institution is independent of the Riksdag, and the Government is not able to interfere with the decisions of the court.

According to a victimisation survey of 1,201 residents in 2005, Sweden has above-average [[crime rate]]s compared to other EU countries. Sweden has high or above-average levels of assaults, sexual assaults, hate crimes, and consumer fraud. Sweden has low levels of burglary, car theft and drug problems. Bribe seeking is rare.<ref name="burdenofcrime2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf |title=EUICS report, The Burden of Crime in the EU, A Comparative Analysis of the |last=van Dijk |first=Jan |author2=Robert Manchin |author3=John van Kesteren |author4=Sami Nevala |author5=Gergely Hideg |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080428050421/http://www.gallup-europe.be/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2008}}</ref>

A mid-November 2013 news report announced that four prisons in Sweden were closed during the year due to a significant drop in the number of inmates. The decrease in the number of Swedish prisoners was considered "out-of-the-ordinary" by the head of Sweden's prison and probation services, with prison numbers in Sweden falling by around 1% a year since 2004. Prisons were closed in the towns of Åby, Håja, Båtshagen, and Kristianstad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden closes four prisons as number of inmates plummets|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets|access-date=15 November 2013|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 November 2013|last=Orange|first=Richard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115000627/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-prisons-number-inmates-plummets|archive-date=15 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Sweden}}
[[File:European-parliament-brussels-inside.JPG|thumb|The EU parliament in Brussels. Sweden is a member state of the European Union.]]

Throughout the 20th century, [[Swedish foreign policy]] was based on the principle of non-alignment in peacetime and [[neutral country|neutrality]] in wartime. Sweden's government pursued an independent course of nonalignment in times of peace so that neutrality would be possible in the event of war.<ref name="NB335-339" />

Sweden's doctrine of neutrality is often traced back to the 19th century as the country has not been in a [[war|state of war]] since the end of the [[Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)|Swedish campaign against Norway]] in 1814. During World War II Sweden joined neither the [[Allies of World War II|allied]] nor [[Axis powers|axis]] powers. This has sometimes been disputed since in effect Sweden allowed in select cases the Nazi regime to use its railroad system to transport troops and goods,<ref name="Koblik303-313" /><ref name="NB313-319" /> especially iron ore from mines in northern Sweden, which was vital to the German war machine.<ref name="NB313-319" /><ref>Nordstrom p. 302: "In fact, the plans were mostly a ruse to establish control of the crucial Norwegian port of Narvik and the iron mines of northern Sweden, which were vitally important to the German war efforts."</ref> However, Sweden also indirectly contributed to the defence of Finland in the Winter War, and permitted the training of Norwegian and Danish troops in Sweden after 1943.

[[File:ODA percent of GNI 2009.png|thumb|left|[[Official development assistance|Development aid]] measured in [[Gross national income|GNI]] in 2009. Source: OECD. As a percentage Sweden is the largest donor.]]

During the early [[Cold War]] era, Sweden combined its policy of non-alignment and a low profile in international affairs with a [[security policy]] based on strong [[National security|national defence]].<ref>As context, according to [[Edwin Reischauer]], "To be neutral you must be ready to be highly militarized, like Switzerland or Sweden." – ''see'' {{cite news |last=Chapin |first=Emerson |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DC163AF931A3575AC0A966958260&scp=1&sq=edwin+o+reischauer&st=nyt |title=Edwin Reischauer, Diplomat and Scholar, Dies at 79 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 September 1990 |access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref> The function of the Swedish military was to deter attack.<ref>Nordstrom, p 336: "As a corollary, a security policy based on strong national defences designed to discourage, but not prevent, attack was pursued. For the next several decades, the Swedish poured an annual average of about 5% of GDP into making their defenses credible."</ref> At the same time, the country maintained relatively close informal connections with the Western bloc, especially in the realm of intelligence exchange. In 1952, a Swedish [[DC-3]] was [[Catalina affair|shot down]] over the Baltic Sea by a Soviet [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15]] [[jet aircraft|jet]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]]. Later investigations revealed that the plane was actually gathering information for NATO.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cold War Spy Plane Found in Baltic Sea|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1010_031010_swedishspyplane.html|publisher=[[National Geographic News]]|access-date=10 June 2013|date=10 October 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329214137/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1010_031010_swedishspyplane.html|archive-date=29 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Another plane, a [[PBY Catalina|Catalina]] [[search and rescue]] plane, was sent out a few days later and shot down by the Soviets as well. Prime Minister Olof Palme made an official visit to [[Cuba]] during the 1970s, during which he denounced [[Fulgencio Batista]]'s government and praised contemporary [[26 July Movement|Cuban]] and [[Khmer Rouge|Cambodian]] revolutionaries in a speech.

Beginning in the late 1960s, Sweden attempted to play a more significant and independent role in international relations. It involved itself significantly in international peace efforts, especially through the United Nations, and in support to the [[Third World]].

On 27 October 1981, a [[Whiskey-class submarine]] ([[Soviet submarine S-363|''U 137'']]) from the [[Soviet Union]] ran aground close to the [[Karlskrona naval base|naval base]] at [[Karlskrona]] in the southern part of the country. Research has never clearly established whether the submarine ended up on the shoals through a navigational mistake or if an enemy committed espionage against Swedish military potential. The incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Sweden and the Soviet Union. Following the [[Assassination of Olof Palme|1986 assassination of Olof Palme]] and with the end of the Cold War, Sweden has adopted a more traditional foreign policy approach. Nevertheless, the country remains active in peace keeping missions and maintains a considerable foreign aid budget.

Since 1995 Sweden has been a member of the European Union, and as a consequence of a new world security situation the country's foreign policy doctrine has been partly modified, with Sweden playing a more active role in European security co-operation.

=== Military ===
{{Main|Swedish Armed Forces|Law enforcement in Sweden}}
[[File:Swedish JAS-39 Gripen landing.jpg|thumb|The Saab [[JAS 39 Gripen]] is an advanced Swedish multi-role [[fighter aircraft]] of the [[Swedish Air Force]].]]
The [[Law enforcement in Sweden|law is enforced in Sweden]] by several government entities. The Swedish police is a [[Government agencies in Sweden|Government agency]] concerned with police matters. The [[National Task Force]] is a national [[SWAT]] unit within the police force. The [[Swedish Security Service]]'s responsibilities are [[counter-espionage]], anti-terrorist activities, protection of the constitution and protection of sensitive objects and people.

The ''Försvarsmakten'' (Swedish Armed Forces) are a government agency reporting to the Swedish [[Ministry of Defence (Sweden)|Ministry of Defence]] and responsible for the [[peacetime]] operation of the armed forces of Sweden. The primary task of the agency is to train and deploy peacekeeping forces abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to refocus on the defence of Sweden in the event of war. The armed forces are divided into [[Swedish Army|Army]], [[Swedish Air Force|Air Force]] and [[Swedish Navy|Navy]]. The head of the armed forces is the [[Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces|Supreme Commander]] (''Överbefälhavaren'', ÖB), the most senior commissioned officer in the country. Up to 1974, the King was ''pro forma'' [[Commander in chief#Sweden|Commander-in-Chief]], but in reality it was clearly understood through the 20th century that the monarch would have no ''active'' role as a military leader.

[[File:Stridsfordon 90 Revinge 2012-2.jpg|thumb|The Infantry fighting vehicle [[Combat Vehicle 90|CV90]], which is produced and used by Sweden]]
Until the end of the Cold War, nearly all males reaching the age of [[military service]] were [[conscription|conscripted]]. In recent years, the number of conscripted males has shrunk dramatically, while the number of female volunteers has increased slightly. Recruitment has generally shifted towards finding the most motivated recruits, rather than solely focusing on those otherwise most fit for service. By law, all soldiers serving abroad must be volunteers. In 1975, the total number of conscripts was 45,000. By 2003, it was down to 15,000.

On 1 July 2010, Sweden ended routine conscription, switching to an all-volunteer force unless otherwise required for defence readiness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/Rekrytering/Varnplikt/ |publisher=[[Swedish Armed Forces]] |title=Värnplikt |trans-title=Conscription |access-date=21 April 2010 |language=sv }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |title=Allmänna värnplikten skrotas |trans-title=General conscription scrapped |access-date=21 April 2010 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426203557/http://svt.se/2.22620/1.1595556/allmanna_varnplikten_skrotas?lid=puff_1597044&lpos=extra_0 |archive-date=26 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ |newspaper=[[The Local]] |title=Military conscription phase out under fire |access-date=21 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122021708/http://www.thelocal.se/21494/20090816/ |archive-date=22 January 2010}}</ref> Emphasis was to be placed on only recruiting those later prepared to volunteer for international service. The total forces gathered would consist of about 60,000 personnel. This in comparison with the 1980s, before the fall of the Soviet Union, when Sweden could gather up to 1,000,000 servicemembers.

However, on 11 December 2014, due to tensions in the Baltic area, the [[Swedish Government]] reintroduced one part of the [[Conscription in Sweden|Swedish conscription system]], [[Refresher training (military)|refresher training]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/repetitionsutbildning/fragor-och-svar-om-repetitionsutbildning/|title=Frågor och svar om repetitionsutbildning|last=Försvarsmakten|website=Försvarsmakten|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101191751/http://www.forsvarsmakten.se/sv/information-och-fakta/varnplikt/repetitionsutbildning/fragor-och-svar-om-repetitionsutbildning/|archive-date=1 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On 2 March 2017, the government decided to reintroduce the remaining part of the Swedish conscription system, basic military training. The first recruits began their training in 2018. As the law is now gender neutral, both men and women may have to serve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2017/03/regeringen-ateraktiverar-monstring-och-grundutbildning-med-varnplikt/|title=Regeringen återaktiverar mönstring och grundutbildning med värnplikt|first=Regeringen och|last=Regeringskansliet|date=2 March 2017|website=Regeringskansliet|access-date=13 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113222119/http://www.regeringen.se/artiklar/2017/03/regeringen-ateraktiverar-monstring-och-grundutbildning-med-varnplikt/|archive-date=13 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweden decided not to sign the UN treaty on the [[Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons|Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sweden declines to sign UN nuclear ban treaty |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20190712/sweden-declines-to-sign-un-nuclear-treaty |work=The Local |date=12 July 2019}}</ref>

Swedish units have taken part in peacekeeping operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Chad.

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Sweden}}
[[File:Sweden GRP per Capita (2014).png|thumb|upright|[[Gross regional product]] (GRP) per capita in thousands of kronor (2014)]]
[[File:Sweden Product Exports (2019).svg|thumb|right|A proportional representation of Sweden exports, 2019]]
Sweden is the sixteenth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita and a high standard of living is experienced by its citizens. Sweden is an export-oriented [[mixed economy]]. Timber, [[hydropower]] and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy with a heavy emphasis on [[foreign trade]]. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports, while telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. Sweden is the ninth-largest [[arms industry|arms exporter in the world]]. Agriculture accounts for 2% of GDP and employment. The country ranks among the highest for telephone and Internet access penetration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |work=[[The World Factbook]] |title=EUROPE :: SWEDEN |access-date=16 February 2016 }}</ref>

Trade unions, employers' associations and collective agreements cover a large share of the employees in Sweden.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2019) [https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/en/publications/kollektivavtalens-tackningsgrad-samt-organisationsgraden-hos-arbetsgivarfoerbund-och-fackfoerbund(384bb031-c144-442b-a02b-44099819d605).html ''Kollektivavtalens täckningsgrad samt organisationsgraden hos arbetsgivarförbund och fackförbund''], Department of Sociology, Lund University. Studies in Social Policy, Industrial Relations, Working Life and Mobility. Research Reports 2019:1, Appendix 3 (in English) Tables A-G (in English)</ref><ref>Anders Kjellberg (2019) [https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/sv/publications/sweden-collective-bargaining-under-the-industry-norm(11510a6d-057c-4a81-b69b-a82670685caa).html "Sweden: collective bargaining under the industry norm"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725151859/https://portal.research.lu.se/portal/sv/publications/sweden-collective-bargaining-under-the-industry-norm(11510a6d-057c-4a81-b69b-a82670685caa).html |date=25 July 2019 }}, in Torsten Müller & Kurt Vandaele & Jeremy Waddington (eds.) ''Collective bargaining in Europe: towards an endgame'', European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) Brussels 2019. Vol. III (pp. 583-604)</ref> The high coverage of collective agreements is achieved despite the absence of state mechanisms extending collective agreements to whole industries or sectors. Both the prominent role of collective bargaining and the way in which the high rate of coverage is achieved reflect the dominance of self-regulation (regulation by the labour market parties themselves) over state regulation in Swedish industrial relations.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2017) [https://web.archive.org/web/20170418083350/http://portal.research.lu.se/ws/files/23904978/Kjellberg_FSNumhauserHenning_Self_Regulation_State_Regulation.pdf "Self-regulation versus State Regulation in Swedish Industrial Relations"] In Mia Rönnmar and Jenny Julén Votinius (eds.) ''Festskrift till Ann Numhauser-Henning''. Lund: Juristförlaget i Lund 2017, pp. 357–383</ref> When the Swedish [[Ghent system]] was changed in 2007, resulting in considerably raised fees to unemployment funds, a substantial decline in union density and density of unemployment funds occurred.<ref>Anders Kjellberg (2011) [http://portal.research.lu.se/portal/files/3462138/2064087.pdf "The Decline in Swedish Union Density since 2007"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312071120/http://portal.research.lu.se/portal/files/3462138/2064087.pdf |date=12 March 2017 }} ''Nordic Journal of Working Life Studies'' (NJWLS) Vol. 1. No 1 (August 2011), pp. 67–93</ref><ref>Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen (2016) [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf "Attacks on union organizing: Reversible and irreversible changes to the Ghent-systems in Sweden and Denmark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf |date=9 March 2017 }} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp.279–302)</ref>

[[File:2018 Volvo XC90 Inscription D5 PowerPulse AWD 2.0.jpg|thumb|right|Sweden is home to [[Volvo Cars]], an automobile company with its headquarters in [[Gothenburg]]]]

In 2010 Sweden's income [[Gini coefficient]] was the third lowest among developed countries, at 0.25—slightly higher than Japan and Denmark—suggesting [[Income inequality in Sweden|Sweden had low income inequality]]. However, Sweden's wealth Gini coefficient at 0.853 was the second highest in developed countries, and above European and North American averages, suggesting high wealth inequality.<ref name=hdr2010>{{cite web|title=The Real Wealth of Nations: Pathways to Human Development (2010 Human Development Report – see Human Development Statistical Tables)|pages=152–156|publisher=[[United Nations Development Program]]|year=2011|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/|access-date=4 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716143706/http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=cs2010>{{cite web|title=Global Wealth Databook |publisher=[[Credit Suisse]] (using Statistics Sweden data) |year=2010 |pages=14–15, 83–86 |url=https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/doc/credit_suisse_global_wealth_databook.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023001729/https://www.credit-suisse.com/news/doc/credit_suisse_global_wealth_databook.pdf |archive-date=23 October 2012}}</ref> Even on a disposable income basis, the geographical distribution of Gini coefficient of income inequality varies within different regions and municipalities of Sweden. [[Danderyd Municipality|Danderyd]], outside Stockholm, has Sweden's highest Gini coefficient of income inequality, at 0.55, while [[Hofors Municipality|Hofors]] near Gävle has the lowest at 0.25. In and around Stockholm and Scania, two of the more densely populated regions of Sweden, the income Gini coefficient is between 0.35 and 0.55.<ref>{{cite book|title=Do unequal societies cause death and disease?|author1=Edvinsson, Sören |author2=Malmberg, Gunnar |author3=Häggström Lundevaller, Erling |name-list-style=amp |year=2011|publisher=[[Umeå University]] |url=http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-51702}}</ref>

In terms of structure, the Swedish economy is characterised by a large, knowledge-intensive and export-oriented manufacturing sector; an increasing, but comparatively small, business [[service sector]]; and by international standards, a large public service sector. Large organisations, both in manufacturing and services, dominate the [[Swedish economy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004050916/http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/science/nordics_sweden_report-en.htm |archive-date=4 October 2006 |title=Doing Business Abroad – Innovation, Science and Technology |publisher=Infoexport.gc.ca |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> High and medium-high technology manufacturing accounts for 9.9% of GDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/innovation/high-medium-high-technology-manufacturing.aspx |title=High- and medium-high-technology manufacturing |publisher=Conferenceboard.ca |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923032054/http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/details/innovation/high-medium-high-technology-manufacturing.aspx |archive-date=23 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The 20 largest (by turnover) registered Swedish companies in 2007 were [[Volvo]], [[Ericsson]], [[Vattenfall]], [[Skanska]], [[Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB]], [[Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget]], [[Electrolux]], [[Volvo Personvagnar]], [[TeliaSonera]], [[Sandvik]], [[Scania AB|Scania]], [[ICA AB|ICA]], [[Hennes & Mauritz]], [[IKEA]], [[Nordea]], [[Preem]], [[Atlas Copco]], [[Securitas AB|Securitas]], [[Nordstjernan]] and [[SKF]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.largestcompanies.com/default$/lev2-TopList/lev2Desc-The_largest_companies_in_the_Nordic_countries_by%A0turnover%A0%28excl._national_subsidiaries%29/AdPageId-102/list-2/cc-SE/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120628210238/http://www.largestcompanies.com/default$/lev2-TopList/lev2Desc-The_largest_companies_in_the_Nordic_countries_by%A0turnover%A0(excl._national_subsidiaries)/AdPageId-102/list-2/cc-SE/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2012 |title=20 largest companies in Sweden |publisher=Largestcompanies.com |date=6 October 2009 |access-date=25 August 2010 }}</ref> The vast majority of Sweden's industry is [[private sector|privately]] controlled, unlike many other industrialised Western countries, and, in accordance with a historical standard, publicly owned enterprises are of minor importance.

[[File:Sw real gdp growth.svg|thumb|left|Real GDP growth in Sweden, 1996–2006]]

An estimated 4.5 million Swedish residents are employed and around a third of the workforce completed tertiary education. In terms of GDP per-hour-worked, Sweden was the world's ninth highest in 2006 at US$31, compared to US$22 in Spain and US$35 in the United States.<ref name="oecd2007" /> GDP per-hour-worked is growing 2.5% per year for the economy as a whole and the trade-terms-balanced productivity growth is 2%.<ref name="oecd2007" /> According to the OECD, deregulation, globalisation, and technology sector growth have been key productivity drivers.<ref name="oecd2007" /> Sweden is a world leader in privatised pensions and pension funding problems are relatively small compared to many other Western European countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/Research/SocialSecurity/bg1381.cfm|title=Pension Reform in Sweden: Lessons for American Policymakers|work=The Heritage Foundation|access-date=17 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113085905/http://www.heritage.org/Research/SocialSecurity/bg1381.cfm|archive-date=13 January 2010}}</ref> A pilot program to test the feasibility of a six-hour workday, without loss of pay, will commence in 2014, involving the participation of Gothenburg municipal staff. The Swedish government is seeking to reduce its costs through decreased sick leave hours and increased efficiency.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swedes to give six-hour workday a go|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20140408/swedish-workers-to-test-six-hour-work-days|first=Oliver|last=Gee|access-date=9 April 2014|newspaper=[[The Local]]|date=8 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409200149/http://www.thelocal.se/20140408/swedish-workers-to-test-six-hour-work-days|archive-date=9 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Euro accession.svg|thumb|Sweden is part of the [[Schengen Area]] and the EU single market.]]
The typical worker receives 40% of his or her labour costs after the [[tax wedge]]. Total tax collected by Sweden as a percentage of its GDP peaked at 52.3% in 1990.<ref name=oecdtax11 /> The country faced a real estate and banking crisis in 1990–1991, and consequently passed tax reforms in 1991 to implement tax rate cuts and tax base broadening over time.<ref name="AgellEnglund">{{cite journal|title=Tax reform of the Century – the Swedish Experiment|author1=Agell, Jonas|author2=Englund, Peter|author3=Södersten, Jan|name-list-style=amp|journal=National Tax Journal|volume=49|date=December 1996|pages=643–664|url=http://ntj.tax.org/wwtax/ntjrec.nsf/0/c7b05cd84d78235e85256863004b1f50/$file/v49n4643.pdf|issue=4|doi=10.1086/NTJ41789232|s2cid=232211459|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127123312/http://ntj.tax.org/wwtax/ntjrec.nsf/0/c7b05cd84d78235e85256863004b1f50/$file/v49n4643.pdf|archive-date=27 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="RiksbankHeikensten">{{cite web |url=http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Press-och-publicerat/Tal/1998/Financial-Crisis----Experiences-from-Sweden/ |title=Financial Crisis – Experiences from Sweden, Lars Heikensten (1998) |publisher=[[Sveriges Riksbank]] |date=15 July 1998 |access-date=13 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202160149/http://www.riksbank.se/sv/Press-och-publicerat/Tal/1998/Financial-Crisis----Experiences-from-Sweden/ |archive-date=2 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Since 1990, taxes as a percentage of GDP collected by Sweden have been dropping, with total tax rates for the highest income earners dropping the most.<ref name="BengtssonHolmlund">{{cite journal|title=Lifetime Versus Annual Tax Progressivity: Sweden, 1968–2009|author1=Bengtsson, Niklas |author2=Holmlund, Bertil |author3=Waldenström, Daniel |name-list-style=amp |date=June 2012|publisher=[[Uppsala University]] |ssrn=2098702}}</ref> In 2010 45.8% of the country's GDP was collected as taxes, the second highest among OECD countries, and nearly double the percentage in the US or South Korea.<ref name=oecdtax11>{{cite web|title=Revenue Statistics – Comparative tables|publisher=OECD, Europe|year=2011|url=http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=21699|access-date=13 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918223747/http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?QueryId=21699|archive-date=18 September 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Tax income-financed employment represents a third of the Swedish workforce, a substantially higher proportion than in most other countries. Overall, GDP growth has been fast since reforms—especially those in manufacturing—were enacted in the early 1990s.<ref name="oecd2005">OECD Economic Surveys: Sweden – Volume 2005 Issue 9 by OECD Publishing</ref>
[[File:Nordstan Öst.JPG|thumb|left|[[Nordstan]] is one of the largest shopping malls in northern Europe]]
Sweden is the fourth-most competitive economy in the world, according to the [[World Economic Forum]] in its ''[[Global Competitiveness Report]] 2012–2013''.<ref name="wefcomp">{{cite web|url=http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |title=Global Competitiveness Report 2012–2013 |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=5 September 2012 |access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210040419/http://www.weforum.org/issues/global-competitiveness |archive-date=10 December 2014 }}</ref> Sweden is the top performing country in the 2014 ''Global Green Economy Index (GGEI)''.<ref name="ggei">{{cite web |url=http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |title=2014 Global Green Economy Index |publisher=Dual Citizen LLC |date=19 October 2014 |access-date=19 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028201432/http://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-Report2014.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden is ranked fourth in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013.<ref name="imd">{{cite web |url=http://www.imd.org/wcc/news-wcy-ranking/ |title=IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013 |publisher=Imd.ch |date=30 May 2013 |access-date=9 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609063421/http://www.imd.org/wcc/news-wcy-ranking/ |archive-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the book ''The Flight of the Creative Class'' by the US economist Professor [[Richard Florida]] of the [[University of Toronto]], Sweden is ranked as having the best creativity in Europe for business and is predicted to become a talent magnet for the world's most purposeful workers. The book compiled an index to measure the kind of creativity it claims is most useful to business—talent, technology and tolerance.<ref>"{{cite web|url=http://www.isa.se/templates/News____59355.aspx |url-status=dead|title=Sweden most creative country in Europe & top talent hotspot |access-date=11 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070521053538/http://www.isa.se/templates/News____59355.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2007 }}, [[Invest in Sweden Agency]], 25 June 2005. Retrieved from Internet Archive 13 January 2014.</ref>

Sweden maintains its own currency, the [[Swedish krona]] (SEK), a result of the Swedes having rejected the [[euro]] in a referendum. The Swedish [[Sveriges Riksbank|Riksbank]]—founded in 1668 and thus the oldest central bank in the world—is currently focusing on price stability with an inflation target of 2%. According to the ''Economic Survey of Sweden 2007'' by the OECD, the average inflation in Sweden has been one of the lowest among European countries since the mid-1990s, largely because of deregulation and quick utilisation of globalisation.<ref name="oecd2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0,3343,en_2649_34569_38048997_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=Economic survey of Sweden 2007 |publisher=Oecd.org |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426123744/http://www.oecd.org/document/37/0%2C3343%2Cen_2649_34569_38048997_1_1_1_1%2C00.html |archive-date=26 April 2011 }}</ref>

The largest trade flows are with Germany, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Finland.

Financial deregulation in the 1980s impacted adversely on the property market, leading to a bubble and eventually a crash in the early 1990s. Commercial property prices fell by up to two thirds, resulting in two Swedish banks having to be taken over by the government. In the following two decades the property sector strengthened. By 2014, legislators, economists and the IMF were again warning of a bubble with residential property prices soaring and the level of personal mortgage debt expanding. Household debt-to-income rose above 170% as the IMF was calling on legislators to consider zoning reform and other means of generating a greater supply of housing as demand was outstripping what was available, pushing prices higher. By August 2014, 40% of home borrowers had interest-only loans while those that didn't were repaying principal at a rate that would take 100 years to fully repay.<ref name="SwedenProperty">{{cite news|title=Sweden facing possible property bubble warns IMF|url=http://www.swedennews.net/index.php/sid/225058369|date=24 August 2014|access-date=26 August 2014|publisher=Sweden News.Net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827112345/http://www.swedennews.net/index.php/sid/225058369|archive-date=27 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Energy ===
{{See also|Energy in Sweden|Electricity in Sweden|Nordic energy market|Nuclear power in Sweden}}

[[File:Ringhals.JPG|thumb|[[Ringhals Nuclear Power Plant]], located south of [[Gothenburg]]]]
Sweden's energy market is largely privatised. The [[Nordic energy market]] is one of the first liberalised energy markets in Europe and it is traded in [[NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe]] and [[Nord Pool Spot]]. In 2006, out of a total electricity production of 139 [[TWh]], electricity from hydropower accounted for 61 TWh (44%), and [[nuclear power]] delivered 65 TWh (47%). At the same time, the use of [[biofuel]]s, [[peat]] etc. produced 13 TWh (9%) of electricity, while wind power produced 1 TWh (1%). Sweden was a net importer of electricity by a margin of 6 TWh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svenskenergi.se/upload/Statistik/Tidigare%20statistik/Kraftl%C3%A4get%20i%20%C3%A5r/ve_07-01.pdf |title=Kraftläget i Sverige, Vattensituationen |access-date=19 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080216021232/http://www.svenskenergi.se/upload/Statistik/Tidigare%20statistik/Kraftl%C3%A4get%20i%20%C3%A5r/ve_07-01.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2008 }}</ref> [[Biomass]] is mainly used to produce heat for [[district heating]] and [[central heating]] and industry processes.

The [[1973 oil crisis]] strengthened Sweden's commitment to decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels. Since then, electricity has been generated mostly from hydropower and nuclear power. The use of nuclear power has been limited, however. Among other things, the accident of [[Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station]] (United States) prompted the Riksdag to ban new nuclear plants. In March 2005, an opinion poll showed that 83% supported maintaining or increasing nuclear power.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |title=Nuclear Power in Sweden |publisher=[[World Nuclear Association]] |date=September 2009 |access-date=29 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213132916/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf42.html |archive-date=13 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Politicians have made announcements about oil phase-out in Sweden, decrease of nuclear power, and multibillion-dollar investments in [[renewable energy]] and energy efficiency.<ref name="Agenda21" /><ref name="Vidal">{{cite news|last=Vidal |first=John |url=https://www.theguardian.com/oil/story/0,,1704954,00.html |title=Sweden plans to be world's first oil-free economy |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=13 March 2013 |location=London}}</ref> The country has for many years pursued a strategy of indirect taxation as an instrument of [[environmental policy]], including [[energy tax]]es in general and [[carbon dioxide]] taxes in particular.<ref name="Agenda21">{{cite web |publisher=[[United Nations]] |url=https://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |work=[[Agenda 21]] |title=NATURAL RESOURCE ASPECTS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN SWEDEN |date=April 1997 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064226/http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden was in 2014 a net exporter of electricity by a margin of 16 TWh; the production from windpower mills had increased to 11.5 TWh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.svenskenergi.se/Global/Statistik/Aktuellt%20kraftl%C3%A4ge/Aktuellt-Kraftl%C3%A4ge-Sverige-veckorapport.pdf |publisher=Svenskenergi.se |title=Kraftläget i Sverige |trans-title=Power situation in Sweden |language=sv |access-date=2 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102043811/http://www.svenskenergi.se/Global/Statistik/Aktuellt%20kraftl%C3%A4ge/Aktuellt-Kraftl%C3%A4ge-Sverige-veckorapport.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Sweden}}
[[File:Öresundsbron i solnedgång 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Öresund Bridge]] between [[Malmö]] and [[Copenhagen]] in Denmark]]

Sweden has {{convert|162707|km|mi|abbr=on}} of paved road and {{convert|1428|km|mi|abbr=on}} of expressways. [[List of motorways in Sweden|Motorways]] run through Sweden and over the Øresund Bridge to Denmark. New motorways are still under construction and a new motorway from Uppsala to [[Gävle]] was finished on 17 October 2007. Sweden had left-hand traffic (Vänstertrafik in Swedish) from approximately 1736 and continued to do so well into the 20th century. Voters rejected right-hand traffic in 1955, but after the Riksdag passed legislation in 1963 changeover took place on 3 September 1967, known in Swedish as [[Dagen H]].

The [[Stockholm metro]] is the only underground system in Sweden and serves the city of Stockholm via 100 stations. The rail transport market is privatised, but while there are many privately owned enterprises, the largest operators are still owned by state. The counties have financing, ticket and marketing responsibility for local trains. For other trains the operators handle tickets and marketing themselves. Operators include [[SJ AB|SJ]], [[Veolia Transport]], [[DSB (railway company)|DSB]], [[Green Cargo]], [[Tågkompaniet]] and [[Inlandsbanan]]. Most of the railways are owned and operated by [[Trafikverket]].

[[File:Hall, Stockholm Central Station.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stockholm Central Station]]]]

Most tram nets were closed in 1967, as Sweden changed from left-side to right-side driving. But they survived in [[Norrköping]], Stockholm and Gothenburg, with [[Gothenburg tram network]] being the largest. [[Lund tramway|A new tram line opened]] in [[Lund]] on 13 December 2020.

The largest airports include [[Stockholm–Arlanda Airport]] (16.1 million passengers in 2009) {{convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Stockholm, [[Göteborg Landvetter Airport]] (4.3 million passengers in 2008), and [[Stockholm–Skavsta Airport]] (2.0 million passengers). Sweden hosts the two largest port companies in Scandinavia, [[Port of Gothenburg|Port of Göteborg AB]] (Gothenburg) and the transnational company [[Copenhagen Malmö Port|Copenhagen Malmö Port AB]]. The most used airport for a large part of Southern Sweden is [[Copenhagen Airport|Kastrup or Copenhagen Airport]] which is located only 12 minutes by train from the closest Swedish railway station, [[Hyllie railway station|Hyllie]]. Copenhagen Airport also is the largest ''international'' airport in Scandinavia and Finland.

Sweden also has a number of car ferry connections to several neighbouring countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/baltic-sea/|title=Ferry to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Baltic, Russia, Germany.|last=Kowalski|first=Oliver|website=www.ferrylines.com|access-date=28 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816025904/http://www.ferrylines.com/en/ferries/baltic-sea|archive-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> This includes a route from [[Umeå]] across [[Kvarken|the Gulf of Bothnia]] to [[Vaasa]] in Finland. There are several connections from the Stockholm area across the [[Sea of Åland]] to [[Mariehamn]] in the [[Åland Islands]] as well as [[Turku]] and [[Helsinki]] on the Finnish mainland and beyond to Estonia and [[Saint Petersburg|St Petersburg]] in Russia. Ferry routes from the Stockholm area also connect with [[Ventspils]] and [[Riga]] in Latvia as well as [[Gdańsk]] in Poland across the Baltic Sea. The ferry ports of [[Karlskrona]] and [[Karlshamn]] in southeastern Sweden serve [[Gdynia]], Poland, and [[Klaipėda|Klaipeda]], Lithuania. Ystad and Trelleborg near the southern tip of Sweden have ferry links with the Danish island of [[Bornholm]] and the German ports of [[Sassnitz]], [[Rostock]] and [[Travemünde]], respectively, and ferries run to [[Świnoujście]], Poland, from both of them. Trelleborg is the busiest ferry port in Sweden in terms of weight transported by lorry.<ref>John Bitton and Nils-Åke Svensson, "Øresund sett från himlen" (Oresund seen from the sky), 2005, {{ISBN|918530510-3}}, page 38</ref> Its route to Sassnitz started as a steam-operated railway ferry in the 19th century, and today's ferry still carries trains to [[Berlin]] during the summer months.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snalltaget.se/om-oss/destinationer/berlin|title=Tåg till Berlin – Berlin Night Express – Nattåg till Berlin InterRail – Snälltåget|publisher=Snälltåget.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081052/http://www.snalltaget.se/om-oss/destinationer/berlin|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another ferry route to Travemünde originates from [[Malmö]]. Despite the opening of the fixed link to Denmark, the [[Øresund Bridge]], the busiest ferry route remains the short link across the narrowest section of the [[Øresund]] between [[Helsingborg]] and the Danish port of [[Helsingør]], known as the [[HH Ferry route]]. There are over seventy departures a day each way; during peak times, a ferry departs every fifteen minutes.<ref>At {{cite web|url=http://www.scandlines.se/tider-och-priser/tidtabell.aspx |title=Tidtabell |access-date=12 May 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224165755/http://www.scandlines.se/tider-och-priser/tidtabell.aspx |archive-date=24 December 2016 }} please press "Tidtabell 2 jan – 31 maj 2015" (Time table 2. January to 31. May 2015) for PDF download</ref> Ports higher up the Swedish west coast include [[Varberg]], with a ferry connection across the [[Kattegat]] to [[Grenaa]] in Denmark, and Göteborg, serving [[Frederikshavn]] at the northern tip of Denmark and [[Kiel]] in Germany. Finally, there are ferries from [[Strömstad]] near the Norwegian border to destinations around the [[Oslofjord]] in Norway. There used to be ferry services to the [[United Kingdom]] from Göteborg to destinations such as Immingham, Harwich and Newcastle, but these have been discontinued.

Sweden has two domestic ferry lines with large vessels, both connecting Gotland with the mainland. The lines leave from Visby harbour on the island, and the ferries sail to either [[Oskarshamn]] or Nynäshamn.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.destinationgotland.se/Farja/|title=Boka båtbiljetter till och från Gotland|work=destinationgotland.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093055/http://www.destinationgotland.se/Farja/|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> A smaller car ferry connects the island of [[Ven (Sweden)|Ven]] in Øresund with [[Landskrona]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ventrafiken.se/index.php/en/|title=Ventrafiken -Upplev sundets pärla|work=ventrafiken.se|language=sv|access-date=12 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501190157/http://www.ventrafiken.se/index.php/en/|archive-date=1 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Public policy ===
{{See also|Nordic model|Social welfare in Sweden}}
Sweden has one of the most highly developed welfare states in the world. According to a 2012 OECD report, the country had the second-highest public social spending as a percentage of its GDP after France (27.3% and 28.4%, respectively), and the third-highest total (public and private) social spending at 30.2% of its GDP, after France and [[Belgium]] (31.3% and 31.0%, respectively).<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Public Finance -> Social Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden spent 6.3% of its GDP, the 9th-highest among 34 OECD countries, to provide equal access to education.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Education -> Education Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> On health care, the country spent 10.0% of its total GDP, the 12th highest.<ref>{{cite web |title=OECD Factbook 2011–2012 (see Health -> Health Expenditure) |year=2012 |publisher=OECD Publishing |url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |access-date=9 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823004743/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/economics/oecd-factbook_18147364 |archive-date=23 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Historically, Sweden provided solid support for [[free trade]] (except agriculture) and mostly relatively strong and stable property rights (both private and public), though some economists have pointed out that Sweden promoted industries with tariffs and used publicly subsidised R&D during the country's early critical years of industrialisation.<ref name="H-J.C-Sweden">{{cite book |title=Kicking Away The Ladder |pages=39–42 |first=Ha-Joon |last=Chang}}</ref> After World War II a succession of governments expanded the welfare state by raising the taxes. During this period Sweden's economic growth was also one of the highest in the industrial world. A series of successive social reforms transformed the country into one of the most equal and developed on earth. The consistent growth of the welfare state led to Swedes achieving unprecedented levels of social mobility and quality of life—to this day Sweden consistently ranks at the top of league tables for health, literacy and Human Development—far ahead of some wealthier countries (for example the United States).<ref name="Equal Societies">{{cite web |url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/135-interim/$FILE/135%20-%20Submission%20-%20Childrens%20Hospitals%20Australasia%20(Attachment%20C).pdf |publisher=[[Department of Health (Australia)|Department of Health]] |title=The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better |first1=Richard |last1=Wilkinson |first2=Kate |last2=Pickett |date=8 March 2009 |access-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205120331/http://www.health.gov.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/135-interim/$FILE/135%20-%20Submission%20-%20Childrens%20Hospitals%20Australasia%20(Attachment%20C).pdf |archive-date=5 February 2016 }}</ref>

However, from the 1970s and onwards Sweden's GDP growth fell behind other industrialised countries and the country's per capita ranking fell from 4th to 14th place in a few decades.<ref name="eu-usa">[http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf EU versus USA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115141716/http://www.timbro.se/bokhandel/pdf/9175665646.pdf |date=15 November 2016 }}, Fredrik Bergström & Robert Gidehag</ref> From the mid-1990s until today Sweden's economic growth has once again accelerated and has been higher than in most other industrialised countries (including the US) during the last 15 years.<ref name="growth-Swe">{{cite web|url=http://www.ekonomifakta.se/en/Facts-and-figures/Economy/Economic-growth/GDP-per-capita-/|title=Sweden's GDP per capita|date=16 September 2014|publisher=Ekonomifakta.se|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140721130115/http://www.ekonomifakta.se/en/Facts-and-figures/Economy/Economic-growth/GDP-per-capita-/|archive-date=21 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A report from the [[United Nations Development Program]] predicted that Sweden's rating on the [[Human Development Index]] will fall from 0.949 in 2010 to 0.906 in 2030.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Asher|first1=Jana|author1-link=Jana Asher|last2=Osborne Daponte|first2=Beth|title=A Hypothetical Cohort Model of Human Development|journal=Human Development Research Paper|page=41|url=http://ww.rrojasdatabank.info/HDRP_2010_40.pdf|access-date=30 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219010417/http://ww.rrojasdatabank.info/HDRP_2010_40.pdf|archive-date=19 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sweden began slowing the expansion of the welfare state in the 1980s, and even trimming it back. Sweden has been relatively quick to adopt [[neoliberal]] policies, such as [[privatization]], [[financialization]] and [[deregulation]],<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Pierre|editor-first=Jon|date=2016|title=The Oxford Handbook of Swedish Politics (Oxford Handbooks)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDcICwAAQBAJ&pg=PA573|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|page=573|isbn=978-0199665679|access-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009201639/https://books.google.com/books?id=hDcICwAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA573#v=onepage&q&f=false|archive-date=9 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Springer |editor1-first=Simon |editor2-last=Birch |editor2-first=Kean |editor3-last=MacLeavy |editor3-first=Julie |date=2016 |title=The Handbook of Neoliberalism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M5qkDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA569 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |page=569 |isbn=978-1138844001 |access-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009201645/https://books.google.com/books?id=M5qkDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA569#v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> compared to countries such as France.<ref name="oecd2007" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/mginews/businessweek/swedenbalance.asp|title=Sweden's balancing lessons for Europe|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031224326/http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/mginews/businessweek/swedenbalance.asp|archive-date=31 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The current Swedish government is continuing the trend of moderate rollbacks of previous social reforms.<ref name="oecd2007" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9803876|title=Moderate revolution|work=[[The Economist]]|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104025637/http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=9803876|archive-date=4 January 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Growth has been higher than in many other [[EU-15]] countries. Also since the mid-1980s, Sweden has had the fastest growth in inequality of any developed nation, according to the OECD. This has largely been attributed to the reduction in state benefits and a shift toward the privatisation of public services. According to Barbro Sorman, an activist of the opposition Left Party, "The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer. Sweden is starting to look like the USA." Nevertheless, it remains far more egalitarian than most nations.<ref name="nytimes" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm|title=Swedish riots rage for fourth night|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=23 May 2013|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817040239/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/23/swedish-riots-stockholm|archive-date=17 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Partly as a result of these privatisations and widening economic disparity, the Swedes in the 2014 elections put the Social Democrats back in power.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://time.com/3373946/sweden-parliament-election/ |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |title=Sweden Shifts to Left in Parliamentary Election |agency=Associated Press |date=14 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920215539/http://time.com/3373946/sweden-parliament-election/ |archive-date=20 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Igor |last=Bobic |date=13 September 2014 |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/13/sweden-austerity-election_n_5816010.html |title=Sweden's Turn Left Could Deal A Blow To European Austerity |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007050658/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/13/sweden-austerity-election_n_5816010.html |archive-date=7 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sweden adopted free market agricultural policies in 1990. Since the 1930s, the agricultural sector had been subject to price controls. In June 1990, the Riksdag voted for a new agricultural policy marking a significant shift away from price controls. As a result, [[food prices]] fell somewhat. However, the liberalisations soon became moot because EU agricultural controls supervened.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=[[Econ Journal Watch]] |last=Lindberg |first=Henrik |title=The Role of Economists in Liberalising Swedish Agriculture |date=May 2007 |url=http://econjwatch.org/issues/volume-4-number-1-may-2007 |volume=4 |issue=2 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193526/http://econjwatch.org/issues/volume-4-number-1-may-2007 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the late 1960s, Sweden has had the highest tax quota (as percentage of GDP) in the industrialised world, although today the gap has narrowed and Denmark has surpassed Sweden as the most heavily taxed country among developed countries. Sweden has a two-step [[progressive tax]] scale with a municipal income tax of about 30% and an additional high-income state tax of 20–25% when a salary exceeds roughly 320,000 SEK per year. [[Payroll tax]]es amount to 32%. In addition, a national [[Value added tax|VAT]] of 25% is added to many things bought by private citizens, with the exception of food (12% VAT), transportation, and books (6% VAT). Certain items are subject to additional taxes, e.g. electricity, petrol/diesel and alcoholic beverages.

{{As of|2007|alt=In 2007}}, total tax revenue was 47.8% of GDP, the second-highest tax burden among developed countries, down from 49.1% 2006.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kenneth |last=Westerlund |title=Danmark har högsta skattetrycket |trans-title=Denmark has the highest tax burden |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |newspaper=[[Dagens Nyheter]] |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=11 March 2008 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214084943/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=3130&a=750879 |archive-date=14 February 2009}}</ref> Sweden's inverted tax wedge – the amount going to the service worker's wallet – is approximately 15%, compared to 10% in Belgium, 30% in Ireland, and 50% in the United States.<ref name="eu-usa" /> Public sector spending amounts to 53% of the GDP. State and municipal employees total around a third of the workforce, much more than in most Western countries. Only Denmark has a larger public sector (38% of Danish workforce). Spending on transfers is also high.

In 2015 and 2016, 69 per cent of the employed workers is organised in trade unions. Union density in 2016 was 62% among blue-collar-workers (most of them in the [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation]], LO) and 75% among white-collar workers (most of them in the Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees, TCO, and the [[Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations]], SACO).<ref>Yearly averages excluding full-time students working part-time. See Anders Kjellberg [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21676527/Kollektivavtalst_ckning_samt_organisationsgrad_2017_LUP.pdf ''Kollektivavtalens täckningsgrad samt organisationsgraden hos arbetsgivarförbund och fackförbund''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312031300/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21676527/Kollektivavtalst_ckning_samt_organisationsgrad_2017_LUP.pdf |date=12 March 2017 }}, Department of Sociology, Lund University. Studies in Social Policy, Industrial Relations, Working Life and Mobility. Research Reports 2017:1, Appendix 3 (in English) Table A</ref> Sweden has state-supported union unemployment funds ([[Ghent system]]).<ref>Anders Kjellberg and Christian Lyhne Ibsen [https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf "Attacks on union organizing: Reversible and irreversible changes to the Ghent-systems in Sweden and Denmark"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062312/https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/ws/files/21682547/Kjellberg_og_Ibsen_2016_ur_Due_og_Madsen.pdf |date=9 March 2017 }} in Trine Pernille Larsen and Anna Ilsøe (eds.)(2016) ''Den Danske Model set udefra (The Danish Model Inside Out) – komparative perspektiver på dansk arbejdsmarkedsregulering'', Copenhagen: Jurist- og Økonomforbundets Forlag (pp.279–302)</ref> Trade unions have the right to elect two representatives to the board in all Swedish companies with more than 25 employees. Sweden has a relatively high amount of sick leave per worker in OECD: the average worker loses 24 days due to sickness.<ref name="oecd2005" />

The unemployment rate was 7.2% in May 2017 while the employment rate was 67.4%, with the workforce consisting of 4,983,000 people while 387,000 are unemployed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/labour-force-surveys/labour-force-surveys-lfs/pong/statistical-news/labour-force-surveys-lfs-may-2017/ |title=Continued increase in the number of employees in the municipal sector |work=Statistics Sweden |date=20 June 2017 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009190725/http://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/labour-market/labour-force-surveys/labour-force-surveys-lfs/pong/statistical-news/labour-force-surveys-lfs-may-2017/ |archive-date=9 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/scb-72-procent-ar-arbetslosa |title=SCB: Arbetslösheten minskar i landet |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |agency=Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå |date=20 June 2017 |language=sv |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623040007/https://www.svd.se/scb-72-procent-ar-arbetslosa |archive-date=23 June 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Unemployment among youth (aged 24 or younger) in 2012 was 24.2%, making Sweden the OECD country with the highest ratio of youth unemployment versus unemployment in general.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sweden: Highest ratio of youth unemployment|publisher=[[UNRIC|United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe]], Brussels|year=2012|url=http://www.unric.org/en/youth-unemployment/27411-sweden-highest-ratio-of-youth-unemployment|access-date=9 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202221352/http://www.unric.org/en/youth-unemployment/27411-sweden-highest-ratio-of-youth-unemployment|archive-date=2 February 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Science and technology ===
{{Main|Swedish inventions}}
[[File:AlfredNobel adjusted.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Alfred Nobel]], inventor of dynamite and institutor of the Nobel Prize]]

In the 18th century, Sweden's [[scientific revolution]] took off. Previously, technical progress had mainly come from mainland Europe.

In 1739, the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]] was founded, with people such as [[Carl Linnaeus]] and [[Anders Celsius]] as early members. Many of the companies founded by early pioneers still remain major international brands. [[Gustaf Dalén]] founded [[AGA AB|AGA]], and received the Nobel Prize for his [[sun valve]]. [[Alfred Nobel]] invented [[dynamite]] and instituted the Nobel Prizes. [[Lars Magnus Ericsson]] started the company bearing his name, Ericsson, still one of the largest telecom companies in the world. [[Jonas Wenström]] was an early pioneer in [[alternating current]] and is along with [[Serbia]]n-[[United States|American]] inventor [[Nikola Tesla]] credited as one of the inventors of the three-phase electrical system.<ref name="si91e" />

The traditional engineering industry is still a major source of Swedish inventions, but pharmaceuticals, electronics and other high-tech industries are gaining ground. [[Tetra Pak]] was an invention for storing liquid foods, invented by [[Erik Wallenberg]]. [[Losec]], an ulcer medicine, was the world's best-selling drug in the 1990s and was developed by [[AstraZeneca]]. More recently [[Håkan Lans]] invented the [[Automatic Identification System]], a worldwide standard for shipping and civil aviation navigation. A large portion of the Swedish economy is to this day based on the export of technical inventions, and many large multinational corporations from Sweden have their origins in the ingenuity of Swedish inventors.<ref name="si91e">{{cite web|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Education/Research/Facts/Innovation/|title=Innovation, Science/Research: Inventing tomorrow's world|publisher=Sweden.se|access-date=27 January 2011|date=February 2010|work=Fact Sheet FS 4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104021652/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Education/Research/Facts/Innovation/|archive-date=4 January 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Swedish inventors held 47,112 patents in the United States {{as of|2014|alt=in 2014}}, according to the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]. As a nation, only ten other countries hold more patents than Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm |publisher=[[United States Patent and Trademark Office]] |title=Patents By Country, State, and Year – All Patent Types (December 2014) |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226160611/http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_all.htm |archive-date=26 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Combined, the public and the private sector in Sweden allocate over 3.5% of GDP to [[research & development]] (R&D) per year, making Sweden's investment in R&D as a percentage of GDP the second-highest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_res_and_dev_exp_of_gdp-economy-research-development-expenditure-gdp |title=% Of GDP > Research And Development Expenditure statistics – countries compared |publisher=NationMaster |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008062145/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_res_and_dev_exp_of_gdp-economy-research-development-expenditure-gdp |archive-date=8 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> For several decades the [[Swedish government]] has prioritised scientific and R&D activities. As a percentage of GDP, the Swedish government spends the most of any nation on research and development.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gov_spe_in_res_and_dev-economy-government-spending-research-development |title=Government spending in research and development statistics – countries compared |publisher=NationMaster.com |date=1 April 2007 |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930043550/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gov_spe_in_res_and_dev-economy-government-spending-research-development |archive-date=30 September 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sweden tops other European countries in the number of published scientific works per capita.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |title=Embassy of Sweden New Delhi – Science & Technology |publisher=Swedenabroad.se |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916211008/http://www.swedenabroad.se/Page____50008.aspx |archive-date=16 September 2008 }}</ref>

In 2009, the decisions to construct Sweden's two largest scientific installations, the synchrotron radiation facility [[MAX IV|MAX IV Laboratory]] and the [[European Spallation Source]] (ESS), were taken.<ref>{{cite web|title=European Spallation Source|url=http://europeanspallationsource.se/|publisher=ESS AB|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517050510/http://europeanspallationsource.se/|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=MAX IV |url=https://www.maxlab.lu.se/maxiv |publisher=[[MAX-lab]] |access-date=16 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603131912/https://www.maxlab.lu.se/maxiv |archive-date=3 June 2013 }}</ref> Both installations will be built in [[Lund]]. The European Spallation Source, costing some SEK 14 billion to construct,<ref>{{cite web|title=MAX IV och ESS (in Swedish)|url=http://www.lu.se/forskning/starka-forskningsmiljoer/max-iv-och-ess|publisher=[[Lund University]]|access-date=16 October 2013|date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105020653/http://www.lu.se/forskning/starka-forskningsmiljoer/max-iv-och-ess|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> will begin initial operations in 2019 with construction completion scheduled for 2025. The ESS will give an approximately 30 times stronger neutron beam than any of today's existing neutron source installations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neutron scattering|url=http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2011/file_47455.pdf|publisher=[[Institute of Physics]]|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022104114/http://www.iop.org/publications/iop/2011/file_47455.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The MAX IV, costing some SEK 3 billion, was inaugurated on 21 June 2016. Both facilities have strong implications on material research. Sweden was ranked 2nd in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2019 and 2020. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Release of the Global Innovation Index 2020: Who Will Finance Innovation?|url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2020/index.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=www.wipo.int|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Innovation Index 2019|url=https://www.wipo.int/global_innovation_index/en/2019/index.html|access-date=2021-09-02|website=www.wipo.int|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=RTD - Item|url=https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/rtd/items/691898|access-date=2021-09-02|website=ec.europa.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-10-28|title=Global Innovation Index|url=https://knowledge.insead.edu/entrepreneurship-innovation/global-innovation-index-2930|access-date=2021-09-02|website=INSEAD Knowledge|language=en}}</ref>

=== Taxes ===
{{Main|Taxation in Sweden}}
On average, 27% of taxpayer's money in Sweden goes to education and healthcare, whereas 5% goes to the police and military, and 42% to social security.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 August 2017|title=Offentliga sektorns utgifter|url=https://www.ekonomifakta.se/Fakta/Offentlig-ekonomi/Offentlig-sektor/Offentliga-sektorns-utgifter/?graph=/10870/all/all/|access-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707010104/https://www.ekonomifakta.se/Fakta/Offentlig-ekonomi/Offentlig-sektor/Offentliga-sektorns-utgifter/?graph=%2F10870%2Fall%2Fall%2F|archive-date=7 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The typical worker receives 40% of his or her labour costs after the [[tax wedge]]. Total tax collected by Sweden as a percentage of its GDP peaked at 52.3% in 1990.<ref name=oecdtax11 /> The country faced a real estate and banking crisis in 1990–1991, and consequently passed tax reforms in 1991 to implement tax rate cuts and tax base broadening over time.<ref name="AgellEnglund"/><ref name="RiksbankHeikensten"/> Since 1990, taxes as a percentage of GDP collected by Sweden have been dropping, with total tax rates for the highest income earners dropping the most.<ref name="BengtssonHolmlund"/> In 2010, 45.8% of the country's GDP was collected as taxes, the second highest among OECD countries, and nearly double the percentage in the US or South Korea.<ref name=oecdtax11/>

=== Pensions ===
{{Main|Social security in Sweden}}
Every Swedish resident receives a state pension. Swedish Pensions Agency is responsible for pensions. People who have worked in Sweden, but relocated to another country, can also receive the Swedish pension. There are several types of pensions in Sweden: national retirement, occupational and private pensions. A person can receive a combination of the various types of pensions.

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Sweden|Swedes}}
[[File:Swedishpopdensity.svg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|Population density in the counties of Sweden. ''people/km²'' {{legend|#E1E1FF|0–9.9}}{{legend|#CDCDFF|10–24.9}}{{legend|#A5A5FF|25–49.9}}{{legend|#7373FF|50–99.9}}{{legend|#2D2DFF|100–199.9}}{{legend|#0000FA|200+}}]]
The total resident population of Sweden was 10,377,781 in October 2020.<ref name="population" /> The population exceeded 10 million for the first time on Friday 20 January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6610701|title=Swedish population hits 10-million mark - Radio Sweden|last=Radio|first=Sveriges|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=20 January 2017|language=en|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelocal.se/20170120/swedens-population-reaches-historic-ten-million-milestone|title=Sweden's population reaches historic ten million milestone|date=20 January 2017|website=www.thelocal.se|language=en-GB|access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref>

The average population density is just over 25 people per km2 (65 per square mile), with 1 437 persons per km2 in localities (continuous settlement with at least 200 inhabitants).<ref name="SCB2020">[https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-and-urban-areas-2018-population-2019/ Densification in half of Sweden’s urban areas]</ref>,<ref name="SCB2019">[https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/environment/land-use/localities-and-urban-areas/pong/statistical-news/localities-2018/ Roughly 87 percent of the population lives in localities and urban areas]</ref> 87% of the population live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area.<ref name="SCB2018">[https://www.scb.se/contentassets/745b357fd3b74ffd934fc4004ce5cf62/mi0810_2018a01_sm_mi38sm1901.pdf Statistiska tätorter 2018] page 33</ref> 63% of Swedes are in large urban areas.<ref name="SCB2018" /> It is substantially higher in the south than in the north. The capital city Stockholm has a municipal population of about 950,000 (with 1.5 million in the urban area and 2.3 million in the metropolitan area). The second- and third-largest cities are [[Gothenburg]] and [[Malmö]]. Greater Gothenburg counts just over a million inhabitants and the same goes for the western part of Scania, along the [[Öresund]]. The [[Öresund Region]], the Danish-Swedish cross-border region around the Öresund that Malmö is part of, has a population of 4 million. Outside of major cities, areas with notably higher population density include the agricultural part of Östergötland, the western coast, the area around Lake Mälaren and the agricultural area around Uppsala.

[[Norrland]], which covers approximately 60% of the Swedish territory, has a very low population density (below 5 people per square kilometre). The mountains and most of the remote coastal areas are almost unpopulated. Low population density exists also in large parts of western Svealand, as well as southern and central Småland. An area known as ''Finnveden'', which is located in the south-west of Småland, and mainly below the 57th parallel, can also be considered as almost empty of people.

Between 1820 and 1930, approximately 1.3 million Swedes, a third of the country's population at the time, [[Swedish emigration to North America|emigrated to North America]], and most of them to the United States. There are more than 4.4 million [[Swedish Americans]] according to a 2006 US Census Bureau estimate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_06_EST_DP2&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212411/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_06_EST_DP2&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2020 |title=United States – Selected Social Characteristics: 2006 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=21 March 2014 }}</ref> In [[Canada]], the community of [[Swedish Canadian|Swedish ancestry]] is 330,000 strong.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000 |publisher=[[Statistics Canada]] |title=Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census |access-date=30 June 2008 |date=2 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723224016/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/index-eng.cfm |archive-date=23 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are no official statistics on ethnicity, but according to Statistics Sweden, around 2,634,967 (25.5%) inhabitants of Sweden were of a [[Immigration to Sweden|foreign background]] in 2019, defined as being born abroad or born in Sweden with foreign born parents.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101Q/UtlSvBakgGrov/table/tableViewLayout1/ |title=Number of persons with foreign or Swedish background (rough division) by region, age and sex. Year 2002 - 2020 |work=[[Statistics Sweden]] |date=31 December 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021 }}</ref> Of these inhabitants, 2,019,733 persons were born abroad and 615,234 persons were born in Sweden to parents born abroad. In addition, 780,199 persons had one parent born abroad with the other parent born in Sweden.

Sweden has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the average age of 41.1 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : SWEDEN|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018}}</ref>
{{Largest cities of Sweden}}

=== Language ===
{{Main|Swedish language|Languages of Sweden}}
{{See also|Swedish dialects}}
[[File:Distribution-sv.png|thumb|left|Distribution of speakers of the Swedish language]]
The official language of Sweden is Swedish,<ref name="Swedish">{{cite web|url=http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Spraklag-2009600_sfs-2009-600/|title=Språklag (2009:600)|date=28 May 2009|publisher=[[Riksdag]]|language=sv|access-date=10 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110205547/http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/Dokument-Lagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Spraklag-2009600_sfs-2009-600/|archive-date=10 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Swedish2">{{cite news|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20090701/20404|title=Swedish becomes official 'main language'|last=Landes|first=David|date=1 July 2009|newspaper=[[The Local]]|access-date=15 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210004646/http://www.thelocal.se/20090701/20404|archive-date=10 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> a North Germanic language, related and very similar to [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], but differing in pronunciation and [[orthography]]. Norwegians have little difficulty understanding Swedish, and Danes can also understand it, with slightly more difficulty than Norwegians. The same goes for standard Swedish speakers, who find it far easier to understand Norwegian than Danish. The [[Scanian dialects|dialects spoken in Scania]], the southernmost part of the country, are influenced by Danish because [[Skåneland|the region traditionally was a part of Denmark]] and is nowadays situated closely to it. [[Sweden Finns]] are Sweden's largest linguistic minority, comprising about 5% of Sweden's population,<ref name="Finns">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____255905.aspx |title=På lördag kan 440 000 flagga blått och vitt |trans-title=On Saturday 440 000 can flag blue and white |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |language=sv |date=5 December 2008 |access-date=16 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820073639/http://www.scb.se/Pages/PressRelease____255905.aspx |archive-date=20 August 2010}}</ref> and Finnish is recognised as a minority language.<ref name="Swedish2" /> Owing to a 21st-century influx of native speakers of [[Arabic language|Arabic]], the use of Arabic is likely more widespread in the country than that of Finnish. However, no official statistics are kept on language use.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6003931|title=Hur många språk talas i Sverige?|trans-title=How many languages are spoken in Sweden?|newspaper=[[Sveriges Radio]]|language=sv|date=29 October 2014|access-date=10 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090814/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6003931|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live|last1=Forsberg|first1=Ingrid}}</ref>

Along with Finnish, [[Minority languages of Sweden|four other minority languages]] are also recognised: [[Meänkieli]], [[Sami languages|Sami]], [[Romani language|Romani]], and [[Yiddish language|Yiddish]]. Swedish became Sweden's official language on 1 July 2009, when a new language law was implemented.<ref name="Swedish2" /> The issue of whether Swedish should be declared the official language had been raised in the past, and the Riksdag voted on the matter in 2005, but the proposal narrowly failed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Svenskan blir inte officiellt språk|trans-title=Swedish will not become an official language|url=http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/svenskan-blir-inte-officiellt-sprak|publisher=[[Sveriges Television]]|language=sv|access-date=9 June 2013|date=7 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311014951/http://www.svt.se/nyheter/sverige/svenskan-blir-inte-officiellt-sprak|archive-date=11 March 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In varying degrees, depending largely on frequency of interaction with English, a majority of Swedes, especially those born after World War II, understand and speak English, owing to trade links, the popularity of overseas travel, a strong Anglo-American influence and the tradition of [[subtitle (captioning)|subtitling]] rather than dubbing foreign television shows and films, and the [[Germanic languages|relative similarity]] of the two languages which makes learning English easier. In a 2005 survey by [[Eurobarometer]], 89% of Swedes reported the ability to speak English.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/pdf/doc631_en.pdf |title=Europeans and their Languages|publisher=[[European Commission]] |date=12 March 2012 |access-date=17 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131116073533/http://ec.europa.eu/education/languages/pdf/doc631_en.pdf |archive-date=16 November 2013}}</ref>

English became a compulsory subject for secondary school students studying [[natural science]]s as early as 1849, and has been a compulsory subject for all Swedish students since the late 1940s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |title=English spoken – fast ibland hellre än bra |publisher=[[Lund University]] newsletter 7/1999 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060106110733/http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html |archive-date=6 January 2006 }}</ref> Depending on the local school authorities, English is currently a compulsory subject between [[first grade]] and [[ninth grade]], with all students continuing in secondary school studying English for at least another year. Most students also study one and sometimes two additional languages. These include (but are not limited to) German, French and Spanish. Some Danish and Norwegian is at times also taught as part of Swedish courses for native speakers. Because of the extensive [[mutual intelligibility]] between the three continental [[Scandinavian language]]s Swedish speakers often use their native language when visiting or living in Norway or Denmark.

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Sweden}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religions in Sweden (2018)<ref name="svenskakyrkan stats"/>
|label1 = [[Church of Sweden]]
|value1 = 57.7
|color1 = RoyalBlue
|label2 = Other Protestants
|value2 = 3.4
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = [[Eastern Orthodox Churches]]
|value3 = 1.7
|color3 = Orchid
|label4 = [[Catholic Church in Sweden|Catholic Church]]
|value4 = 1.2
|color4 = Indigo
|label5 = Other Christian denominations
|value5 = 0.3
|color5 = DeepSkyBlue
|label6 = [[Islam in Sweden|Islam]]
|value6 = 1.9
|color6 = Green
|label7 = Other religions
|value7 = 0.3
|color7 = Yellow
|label8 = [[Irreligion in Sweden|Unaffiliated]]
|value8 = 33.5
|color8 = Honeydew
}}

Before the 11th century, Swedes adhered to [[Norse paganism]], worshiping [[Æsir]] gods, with its centre at the [[temple at Uppsala|Temple in Uppsala]]. With [[Christianization of Scandinavia|Christianisation]] in the 11th century, the laws of the country changed, forbidding worship of other deities until the late 19th century. After the [[Protestant Reformation]] in the 1530s, a change led by [[Martin Luther]]'s Swedish associate [[Olaus Petri]], the authority of the [[Roman Catholic Church]] was abolished and [[Lutheranism]] became widespread. Adoption of Lutheranism was completed by the [[Uppsala Synod]] of 1593, and it became the official religion. During the era following the Reformation, usually known as the period of [[Lutheran orthodoxy]], small groups of non-Lutherans, especially [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] [[Dutch people|Dutchmen]], the [[Moravian Church]] and [[French Huguenots]] played a significant role in trade and industry, and were quietly tolerated as long as they kept a low religious profile.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gritsch|first1=Eric|title=A History of Lutheranism|date=2010|publisher=Fortress Press|location=Minneapolis|isbn=9781451407754|page=351|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ApWxByVqe-MC&q=lutheranism+history+in+sweden|access-date=20 March 2017}}</ref> The [[Sami people|Sami]] originally had their own [[Animism|shamanistic religion]], but they were converted to Lutheranism by Swedish missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries.

[[File:Katarina kyrka February 2015 02.jpg|thumb|The Protestant [[Katarina Church]] in Stockholm]]
[[File:Moske Malmo 2014Jun17 0002-3.jpg|thumb|The second oldest mosque in Sweden is the [[Malmö Mosque]], inaugurated in 1984]]

With religious liberalisations in the late 18th century believers of other faiths, including [[History of the Jews in Sweden|Judaism]] and [[Roman Catholicism]], were allowed to live and work freely in the country. However, until 1860 it remained illegal for Lutherans to convert to another religion. The 19th century saw the arrival of various [[Low church|evangelical]] [[free church]]es, and, towards the end of the century, [[secularism]], leading many to distance themselves from church rituals. Leaving the Church of Sweden became legal with the so-called dissenter law of 1860, but only under the provision of entering another [[Christian denomination]]. The right to stand outside any religious denomination was formally established in the law on [[freedom of religion]] in 1951.

In 2000, the [[Church of Sweden]] was disestablished. Sweden was the second [[Nordic country]] to [[Separation of church and state|disestablish]] its [[state church]] (after [[Finland]] did so in the Church Act of 1869).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Sweden.1.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110072754/http://www.iclrs.org/content/blurb/files/Sweden.1.pdf|url-status=dead|title=MAARIT JÄNTERÄ-JAREBORG: Religion and the Secular State in Sweden|archive-date=10 January 2016}}</ref>

At the end of 2018, 57.7% of Swedes belonged to the [[Church of Sweden]]; this number had been decreasing by about 1.5 percentage points a year for the previous 7 years and one percentage point a year on average for the previous two decades.<ref name="svenskakyrkan.se">{{cite web |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=978164 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220162746/https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?di=978164 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2020 |publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |title=Stift |trans-title=Diocese |format=PDF |language=sv }}</ref><ref name="thelocal1">{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/26878/20100527/ |title=Swedes depart church in droves |newspaper=[[The Local]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802045112/http://www.thelocal.se/26878/20100527/ |archive-date=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik/xls/medlem_diagram.xls |title=Medlemmar 1972–2006 |trans-title=Members 1972–2006 |format=xls |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930212556/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/statistik/xls/medlem_diagram.xls |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> Approximately 2% of the church's members regularly attend Sunday services.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |url=http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |title=Liturgy and Worship |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100422193814/http://www.svenskakyrkan.se/SVK/eng/liturgy.htm |archive-date=22 April 2010}}</ref> The reason for the large number of inactive members is partly that, until 1996, children automatically became members at birth if at least one of the parents was a member. Since 1996, only children and adults who are [[infant baptism|christened]] become members. Some 275,000 Swedes are today members of various [[Evangelical Protestant]] free churches (where congregation attendance is much higher), and due to recent immigration, there are now some 100,000 [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Christians]] and 92,000 Roman Catholics living in Sweden.<ref>[[:sv:Frikyrka|Statistics about free churches and immigration churches from Swedish Wikipedia – in Swedish]]</ref>

The first Muslim congregation was established in 1949, when a small contingent of [[Tatars]] migrated from Finland. Islam's presence in Sweden remained marginal until the 1960s, when Sweden started to receive migrants from [[the Balkans]] and [[Turkey]]. Further immigration from [[North Africa]] and the [[Middle East]] have brought the estimated [[Islam in Sweden|Muslim population]] to 600,000.<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/238650.pdf International Religious Freedom Report 2014 : Sweden], U.S. Department Of State.</ref> However, only about 110,000 were members of a congregation around 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article140868.ece |first1=Erik |last1=Magnusson |first2=Olle |last2=Lönnaeus |first3=Niklas |last3=Orrenius |title=Djup splittring bland Malmös muslimer |trans-title=Deep splits among Malmö's Muslims |newspaper=[[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]] |language=sv |date=8 February 2006 |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113112554/http://www.sydsvenskan.se/sverige/article140868.ece |archive-date=13 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sst.a.se/statistik.4.7501238311cc6f12fa580005236.html |title=Statistik |trans-title=Statistics |publisher=Swedish Commission for Government Support to Faith Communities |language=sv |year=2010 |access-date=4 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129111255/http://www.sst.a.se/statistik.4.7501238311cc6f12fa580005236.html |archive-date=29 November 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arvsfonden.se/upload/utvarderingar/Islam%20och%20muslimer%20i%20Sverige%20Mattias%20Gardell.pdf |first=Mattias |last=Gardell |title=Islam och muslimer i Sverige |trans-title=Islam and Muslims in Sweden |publisher=[[Inheritance Fund (Sweden)|Inheritance Fund]] |date=May 2010 |language=sv |access-date=4 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813171738/http://www.arvsfonden.se/upload/utvarderingar/Islam%20och%20muslimer%20i%20Sverige%20Mattias%20Gardell.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2010}}</ref>

According to the [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] 2010,<ref name="Special Eurobarometer 393">{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |publisher=[[Eurobarometer]] |title=Biotechnology report 2010 |date=2010 |page=381 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}{{better source needed|date=January 2014}}</ref>
* '''18%''' of Swedish citizens responded that "they believe there is a god".
* '''45%''' answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force".
* '''34%''' answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".

According to a Demoskop study in 2015 about the beliefs of the Swedish showed that
* '''21%''' believed in a god (down from 35 percent in 2008).
* '''16%''' believed in ghosts.
* '''14%''' believed in creationism or intelligent design.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thelocal.se/20151030/belief-in-ghosts-rises-in-secular-sweden |newspaper=[[The Local]] |title=Belief in ghosts rises across secular Sweden |first=August |last=Håkansson |date=30 October 2015 |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054008/http://www.thelocal.se/20151030/belief-in-ghosts-rises-in-secular-sweden |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vof.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/VoF-Undersökningen-2015.pdf |publisher=[[Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning]] |title=VoF-Undersökningen 2015 |trans-title=VoF survey of 2015 |date=2015 |access-date=17 February 2016 |language=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083406/http://www.vof.se/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/VoF-Unders%C3%B6kningen-2015.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sociology professor [[Phil Zuckerman]] claims that Swedes, despite a lack of belief in God, commonly question the term [[atheist]], preferring to call themselves Christians while being content with remaining in the Church of Sweden.<ref name="Peter Steinfels">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/28beliefs.html?pagewanted=1|last=Steinfels|first=Peter|title=Scandinavian Nonbelievers, Which Is Not to Say Atheists|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|quote=Mr. Zuckerman, a sociologist who teaches at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., has reported his findings on religion in Denmark and Sweden in "Society Without God" (New York University Press, 2008). Much that he found will surprise many people, as it did him. The many nonbelievers he interviewed, both informally and in structured, taped and transcribed sessions, were anything but antireligious, for example. They typically balked at the label "atheist." An overwhelming majority had in fact been baptized, and many had been confirmed or married in church. Though they denied most of the traditional teachings of Christianity, they called themselves Christians, and most were content to remain in the Danish National Church or the Church of Sweden, the traditional national branches of Lutheranism.|access-date=31 December 2007|year=2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111010613/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/28beliefs.html?pagewanted=1|archive-date=11 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Religion continues to play a role in Swedish cultural identity.<ref name="Herbert2003"/> This is evidenced by the fact that the majority of Swedish adults continue to remain members of the Lutheran Church despite having to pay a [[church tax]]; moreover, rates of [[baptism]] remain high and [[Christian views on marriage|church weddings]] are increasing in Sweden.<ref name="Herbert2003">{{cite book |last1=Herbert |first1=David |title=Religion and Civil Society: Rethinking Public Religion in the Contemporary World |date=2003 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-0-7546-1339-8 |page=13 |language=en|quote=More than 80 percent of adults continue to choose to belong to the Lutheran Church in spite of its recent disestablishment and the cost of having to pay the church tax. Rates of baptism remain high and church weddings are increasing. In Sweden, religion appears to play a continuing role in cultural identity, in locating the individual to tradition.}}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{See also|Healthcare in Sweden|Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare}}
Healthcare in Sweden is mainly [[Publicly funded health care|tax-funded]], universal for all citizens and decentralized,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/economics/getting-better-value-for-money-from-sweden-s-healthcare-system_082725005676#.WiiR07pFxPY |title=Getting Better Value for Money from Sweden's Healthcare System {{!}} OECD READ edition|website=OECD iLibrary |access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> although private health care also exists. The health care system in Sweden is financed primarily through taxes levied by county councils and municipalities. A total of 21 councils are in charge with primary and hospital care within the country.

Private healthcare is a rarity in Sweden, and even those private institutions work under the mandated city councils.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/economics/oecd-economic-surveys-sweden-2005/improving-quality-and-value-for-money-in-healthcare_eco_surveys-swe-2005-7-en#.WiiXqLpFxPY#page5|title=Improving Quality and Value for Money in Healthcare {{!}} OECD READ edition|website=OECD iLibrary|language=en|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> The city councils regulates the rules and the establishment of potential private practices. Although in most countries care for the elderly or those who need psychiatric help is conducted privately, in Sweden local, publicly funded authorities are in charge of this type of care.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/apr/28/swedish-council-limit-private-profit-healthcare-public|title=Swedish council becomes first to limit private profits in healthcare|last=Orange|first=Richard|date=28 April 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=7 December 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Healthcare in Sweden is similar in quality to other developed nations. Sweden ranks in the top five countries with respect to low [[infant mortality]]. It also ranks high in [[life expectancy]] and in safe [[drinking water]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/sweden/|title=OECD Better Life Index|website=www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org}}</ref> In 2018, health and medical care represented around 11 per cent of GDP.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sweden.se/society/health-care-in-sweden/|title=Healthcare in Sweden|date=5 May 2020|website=sweden.se}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Sweden}}
[[File:Entrance hall of Uppsala University main building.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Uppsala University]] (established 1477)]]
Children aged 1–5 years old are guaranteed a place in a public [[kindergarten]] ({{lang-sv|förskola}} or, colloquially, ''dagis''). Between the ages of 6 and 16, children attend compulsory comprehensive school. In the [[Programme for International Student Assessment]] (PISA), Swedish 15-year-old pupils score close to the OECD average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]] |title=PISA results for Sweden |access-date=25 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229020307/http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/42/8/39700724.pdf |archive-date=29 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> After completing the 9th grade, about 90% of the students continue with a three-year upper secondary school (''gymnasium''), which can lead to both a job qualification or entrance eligibility to university. The school system is largely financed by taxes.

The Swedish government treats public and independent schools equally<ref name="swedishmodeleconomist">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645 |title=The Swedish model |work=[[The Economist]] |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226014533/http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11535645 |archive-date=26 December 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> by introducing [[education voucher]]s in 1992 as one of the first countries in the world after the Netherlands. Anyone can establish a for-profit school and the municipality must pay new schools the same amount as municipal schools get. School lunch is free for all students in Sweden, and providing breakfast is also encouraged.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/school_food_in18countries.pdf |title=The provision of school food in 18 countries |publisher=[[Children's Food Trust]]|date=July 2008|access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301002902/http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/assets/research-reports/school_food_in18countries.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2013 }}</ref>

There are a number of different [[List of universities in Sweden|universities and colleges in Sweden]], the oldest and largest of which are situated in [[Uppsala University|Uppsala]], [[Lund University|Lund]], [[University of Gothenburg|Gothenburg]] and [[Stockholm University|Stockholm]]. In 2000, 32% of Swedish people held a [[tertiary education|tertiary degree]], making the country 5th in the OECD in that category.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_att_ter-education-educational-attainment-tertiary |title=Tertiary > Educational Attainment statistics – countries compared |website=NationMaster.com |access-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104153515/http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_edu_att_ter-education-educational-attainment-tertiary |archive-date=4 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Along with several other European countries, the government also subsidises tuition of international students pursuing a degree at Swedish institutions, although a recent bill passed in the Riksdag will limit this subsidy to students from EEA countries and [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studyinsweden.se/Home/News-archive/2010/Tuition-fees-from-2011/ |title=Sweden introduces tuition fees and offers scholarships for students from outside EU |date=21 April 2010 |website=Studyinsweden.se |access-date=3 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628053602/http://www.studyinsweden.se/Home/News-archive/2010/Tuition-fees-from-2011/ |archive-date=28 June 2010}}</ref>

The large influx of immigrants to Swedish schools has been cited as a significant part of the reason why Sweden has dropped more than any other European country in the international [[PISA]] rankings.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 March 2016 |title=Immigrant children in Sweden blamed for country's poor test scores |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/immigrant-children-in-sweden-blamed-for-countrys-poor-test-scores-a6934111.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=28 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127202352/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/immigrant-children-in-sweden-blamed-for-countrys-poor-test-scores-a6934111.html |archive-date=27 January 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=What's behind the rising inequality in Sweden's schools, and can it be fixed? |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20180822/sweden-in-focus-education-inequality-schools |work=[[The Local]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125061419/https://www.thelocal.se/20180822/sweden-in-focus-education-inequality-schools |archive-date=25 November 2018 |date=22 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=16 June 2016 |title=Why Sweden's free schools are failing |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2016/06/why-sweden-s-free-schools-are-failing |work=[[New Statesman]] |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115014822/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/education/2016/06/why-sweden-s-free-schools-are-failing|archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 February 2016 |title=Invandring säker faktor bakom Pisa-tappet |url=https://www.dagenssamhalle.se/kronika/invandring-saeker-faktor-bakom-pisa-tappet-22744 |access-date=17 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115082856/https://www.dagenssamhalle.se/kronika/invandring-saeker-faktor-bakom-pisa-tappet-22744 |work=Dagens Samhalle |archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
{{Main|Immigration to Sweden}}

Immigration has been a major source of [[population growth]] and cultural change throughout much of the [[history of Sweden]], and in recent centuries the country has been transformed from a nation of net emigration, ending after World War I, to a nation of net immigration, from World War II onwards. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants, settlement patterns, impact on upward [[social mobility]], crime, and voting behaviour.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21570836-immigration-and-growing-inequality-are-making-nordics-less-homogeneous-ins-and |title=Immigrants: The ins and the outs |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=2 February 2013 |access-date=10 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530054825/http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21570836-immigration-and-growing-inequality-are-making-nordics-less-homogeneous-ins-and |archive-date=30 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are no exact numbers on the [[ethnicity|ethnic]] background of migrants and their descendants in Sweden because the Swedish government does not base any statistics on ethnicity. This is, however, not to be confused with the migrants' [[Nationality|national backgrounds]], which are recorded.

Immigrants in Sweden are mostly concentrated in the urban areas of Svealand and Götaland.<ref name="scb%252Ese">{{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/PublishingCalendarViewInfo____259923.aspx?PublObjId=11400|title=Tabeller över Sveriges befolkning 2009|date=24 January 2009|publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]]|language=sv|trans-title=Tables of Sweden's population in 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812141807/http://www.scb.se/Pages/PublishingCalendarViewInfo____259923.aspx?PublObjId=11400|archive-date=12 August 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=1 September 2011}}</ref> Since the early 1970s, immigration to Sweden has been mostly due to refugee migration and family reunification from countries in the Middle East and Latin America.<ref name="MPI">{{cite web |url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/usfocus/display.cfm?ID=406 |title=Sweden: Restrictive Immigration Policy and Multiculturalism, Migration Policy Institute, 2006 |publisher=Migrationinformation.org |date=June 2006 |access-date=12 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805212457/http://www.migrationinformation.org//USfocus//display.cfm?ID=406 |archive-date=5 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, Sweden granted 21,958 people asylum, and 21,502 in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101P/Asylsokande/|title=Asylum-seekers during the year by country of citizenship and sex. Year 2002 - 2019|website=Statistikdatabasen|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref>

The ten largest groups of foreign-born persons in the Swedish [[civil registry]] in 2019 were from:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistikdatabasen.scb.se/pxweb/en/ssd/START__BE__BE0101__BE0101E/FodelselandArK/?rxid=86abd797-7854-4564-9150-c9b06ae3ab07c9b06ae3ab07|title=Population by country of birth, age and sex. Year 2000 – 2018|date=7 April 2019|publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]]|access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref>
# {{flag|Syria}} (191,530)
#{{flag|Iraq}} (146,048)
# {{flag|Finland}} (144,561)
# {{flag|Poland}} (93,722)
# {{flag|Iran}} (80,136)
# {{flag|Somalia}} (70,173)
# {{flagdeco|Yugoslavia}} Former [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] (64,349)
# {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} (60,012)
# {{flag|Afghanistan}} (58,780)
# {{flag|Turkey}} (51,689)

According to an official investigation by [[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)#Financial Institutions and Markets Department|The Swedish Pensions Agency]] on order from the government, the immigration to Sweden will double the state's expenses for pensions to the population. The total immigration to Sweden for 2017 will be roughly 180 000 people, and after that 110 000 individuals every year.<ref name="DI Pensions">{{cite news|date=17 October 2017|title=Migrationen kan fördubbla statens kostnader för pensionärer|url=https://www.di.se/nyheter/migrationen-kan-fordubbla-statens-kostnader-for-pensionarer/|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117160557/https://www.di.se/nyheter/migrationen-kan-fordubbla-statens-kostnader-for-pensionarer/|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pensions Agency Report">{{cite news|date=13 October 2017|title=Pensionsmyndigheten svarar på regeringsuppdrag om migration|url=https://www.pensionsmyndigheten.se/nyheter-och-press/pressrum/pensionsmyndigheten-svarar-pa-regeringsuppdrag-om-migration|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117160618/https://www.pensionsmyndigheten.se/nyheter-och-press/pressrum/pensionsmyndigheten-svarar-pa-regeringsuppdrag-om-migration|archive-date=17 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
{{Main|Crime in Sweden}}
{{See|Bombings in Sweden|Rape in Sweden}}
Figures from the 2013 Swedish Crime Survey (SCS) show that exposure to crime decreased from 2005 to 2013.<ref name=SCS2014>{{cite web|title=The Swedish Crime Survey 2013 – English summary of Brå report 2014:1|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.9eaaede145606cc86546f/1398774378897/2014_Swedish_Crime_Survey_2013.pdf|publisher=The [[Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention]]|access-date=15 July 2014|pages=5, 7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724052101/http://www.bra.se/download/18.9eaaede145606cc86546f/1398774378897/2014_Swedish_Crime_Survey_2013.pdf|archive-date=24 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2014 there has been an increase in exposure to some categories of crimes, including fraud, some property crime and especially sexual offences (with a 70% increase since 2013, which was partly caused by laws broadening the definition of rape<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bra.se/bra-in-english/home/crime-and-statistics/rape-and-sex-offences.html |title=Rape and sex offences |website=www.bra.se |language=en |access-date=19 October 2019}}</ref>) according to the 2016 SCS.<ref name=SCS2016>{{cite web|title=The Swedish Crime Survey 2016 – English summary of the Brå report 2016|url=https://www.bra.se/bra/bra-in-english/home/publications/archive/publications/2017-02-15-swedish-crime-survey-2016.html|publisher=[[Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention]]|access-date=2 March 2017|pages=5–7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303200845/https://www.bra.se/bra/bra-in-english/home/publications/archive/publications/2017-02-15-swedish-crime-survey-2016.html|archive-date=3 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Violence (both lethal and non-lethal) has been on a downward trend the last 25 years.<ref name=facts>{{cite web|url=http://www.government.se/articles/2017/02/facts-about-migration-and-crime-in-sweden/|title=Facts about migration, integration and crime in Sweden|first=Regeringen och|last=Regeringskansliet|date=23 February 2017|website=Regeringskansliet|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115044305/http://www.government.se/articles/2017/02/facts-about-migration-and-crime-in-sweden|archive-date=15 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The figures for fraud and property damage (excluding car theft) are in contrast with the numbers of reported crimes under such categories which have remained roughly constant over the period 2014–16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thelocal.se/20170112/swedens-2016-crime-stats-analyzed|title=Here are Sweden's crime stats for 2016|access-date=6 March 2017|date=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307045457/http://www.thelocal.se/20170112/swedens-2016-crime-stats-analyzed|archive-date=7 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The number of reported sexual offences clearly reflect the figures in the 2016 SCS, and car related damages/theft are also somewhat reflected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bra.se/bra/brott-och-statistik/valdtakt-och-sexualbrott.html|title=Rape & Sexual Offences|date=16 January 2017|website=bra.se|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170221212501/https://www.bra.se/bra/brott-och-statistik/valdtakt-och-sexualbrott.html|archive-date=21 February 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=17 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brottsrummet.se/sv/sexualbrott |title=Sexual Offences |website=Brottsrummet |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170317143743/http://www.brottsrummet.se/sv/sexualbrott |archive-date=17 March 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=17 March 2017 }}</ref> The number of convictions up to 2013 has remained between 110,000 and 130,000 in the 2000s — a decrease since the 1970s, when they numbered around 300,000 — despite the population growth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Personer lagförda för brott|page=5|language=sv|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.1ff479c3135e8540b29800013251/1338449406369/Sammanfattning_lagforda_2011.pdf|publisher=[[Brå]]|access-date=15 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708181451/http://bra.se/download/18.1ff479c3135e8540b29800013251/1338449406369/Sammanfattning_lagforda_2011.pdf|archive-date=8 July 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Consistent with other [[Western world|Western]] countries in the [[post-war|postwar era]], the number of reported crimes has increased when measured from the 1950s; which can be explained by a number of factors, such as immigration, statistical and legislative changes and increased public willingness to report crime.<ref name=crime-trend-stats-1>{{cite web|title=Rapport 2008:23 – Brottsutvecklingen i sverige fram till år 2007|url=http://www.bra.se/download/18.cba82f7130f475a2f180006972/2008_23_brottsuvecklingen.pdf|publisher=[[Brå]]|access-date=15 July 2014|pages=38, 41|language=sv|quote=I Sverige har den registrerade brottsligheten precis som i övriga västvärlden ökat kraftigt under efterkrigstiden. [...] Vid mitten av 1960-talet införde Polisen nya rutiner av statistikföring en vilket har framförts som en delförklaring till den kraftiga ökningen, i synnerhet i början av denna period (Brå 2004). [...] Detta beror sannolikt främst på att toleransen mot vålds- och sexualbrott har minskat i samhället. Att man i samhället tar våld på större allvar demonstreras inte minst genom att synen på olika våldshandlingar skärpts i lagstiftningen (ibid. samt kapitlet Sexualbrott)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112053148/http://www.bra.se/download/18.cba82f7130f475a2f180006972/2008_23_brottsuvecklingen.pdf|archive-date=12 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Sweden}}
[[File:Nationalmuseum Stockholm.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Nationalmuseum]] in Stockholm]]
Sweden has many authors of worldwide recognition including [[August Strindberg]], [[Astrid Lindgren]], and Nobel Prize winners [[Selma Lagerlöf]] and [[Harry Martinson]]. In total seven [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prizes in Literature]] have been awarded to Swedes. The nation's most well-known artists are painters such as [[Carl Larsson]] and [[Anders Zorn]], and the sculptors [[Tobias Sergel]] and [[Carl Milles]].

Swedish 20th-century culture is noted by pioneering works in the early days of cinema, with [[Mauritz Stiller]] and [[Victor Sjöström]]. In the 1920s–1980s, the filmmaker [[Ingmar Bergman]] and actors [[Greta Garbo]] and [[Ingrid Bergman]] became internationally noted people within cinema. More recently, the films of [[Lukas Moodysson]], [[Lasse Hallström]], and [[Ruben Östlund]] have received international recognition.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Sweden was seen as an international leader in what is now referred to as the "[[sexual revolution]]", with gender equality having particularly been promoted.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Reading/The-Swedish-myths-True-false-or-somewhere-in-between/ |title=The Swedish Myths: True, False, or Somewhere In Between? |publisher=Sweden.se |access-date=27 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917004928/http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Lifestyle/Reading/The-Swedish-myths-True-false-or-somewhere-in-between/ |archive-date=17 September 2010}}</ref> The early Swedish film ''[[I Am Curious (Yellow)]]'' (1967) reflected a liberal view of sexuality, including scenes of love making that caught international attention, and introduced the concept of the "Swedish sin" that had been introduced earlier in the US with Ingmar Bergman's ''[[Summer with Monika]].''

The image of "hot love and cold people" emerged. Sexual liberalism was seen as part of modernisation process that by breaking down traditional borders would lead to the emancipation of natural forces and desires.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Carl |last1=Marklund |title=Hot Love and Cold People. Sexual Liberalism as Political Escapism in Radical Sweden |year=2009 |journal=NORDEUROPAforum |volume=19 |issue=1 |pages=83–101 |url=http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2009-1/marklund-carl-83/XML/ |access-date=5 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217062419/http://edoc.hu-berlin.de/nordeuropaforum/2009-1/marklund-carl-83/XML/ |archive-date=17 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Sweden has also become very liberal towards homosexuality, as is reflected in the popular acceptance of films such as ''[[Fucking Åmål|Show Me Love]]'', which is about two young lesbians in the small Swedish town of Åmål. Since 1 May 2009, Sweden repealed its "registered partnership" laws and fully replaced them with [[gender-neutral marriage]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Sweden passes new gay marriage law |newspaper=[[The Local]] |date=2 April 2009 |url=http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/ |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410151816/http://www.thelocal.se/18608/20090402/ |archive-date=10 April 2009}}</ref> Sweden also offers [[domestic partnership]]s for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Cohabitation (''sammanboende'') by couples of all ages, including teenagers as well as elderly couples, is widespread. As of 2009, Sweden is experiencing a baby boom.<ref>{{cite web|title=Babyboom i Sverige? |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____231102.aspx |language=sv |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |access-date=5 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090730195209/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____231102.aspx |archive-date=30 July 2009}}</ref>

===Music===

{{Main|Music of Sweden}}
[[File:ABBA - TopPop 1974 5.png|thumb|upright|right|The Swedish band [[ABBA]] in April 1974, a few days after they won the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1974|Eurovision Song Contest]]]]
Historical re-creations of Norse music have been attempted based on instruments found in Viking sites. The instruments used were the ''[[lur]]'' (a sort of trumpet), simple string instruments, wooden flutes and drums. Sweden has a significant [[Music of Sweden|folk-music]] scene. The ''[[joik]]'', a type of Sami music, is a chant that is part of the traditional Sami animistic spirituality. Notable composers include [[Carl Michael Bellman]] and [[Franz Berwald]].

Sweden also has a prominent choral music tradition. Out of a population of 9.5 million, it is estimated that five to six hundred thousand people sing in choirs.<ref>{{cite book |last=Durant |first=Colin |year=2003 |title=Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice |publisher=Routledge |pages=46–47 |isbn=978-0-415-94356-7 |quote=Sweden has a strong and enviable choral singing tradition. [..] All those interviewed placed great emphasis on the social identification through singing and also referred to the importance of Swedish folk song in the maintenance of the choral singing tradition and national identity.}}</ref>

In 2007, with over 800 million dollars in revenue, Sweden was the third-largest music exporter in the world and surpassed only by the US and the UK.<ref name="export music">{{cite web|url=http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615001724/http://www.swedenabroad.com/Page____59218.aspx |archive-date=15 June 2008 |title=Consulate General of Sweden Los Angeles – Export Music Sweden at MuseExpo |publisher=Swedenabroad.com |access-date=6 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120111124414/http://casgroup.fiu.edu/pages/docs/551/1264626358_Interesting_Facts_about_EU_Countries.pdf Interesting facts about EU countries]. casgroup.fiu.edu</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2013}} According to one source 2013, Sweden produces the most chart hits per capita in the world, followed by the UK and the USA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.svtplay.se/video/1628310/del-16-av-16 |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |work=[[Agenda (Swedish TV program)|Agenda]] |title=Del 16 av 16 |trans-title=Part 16 of 16 |date=15 December 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224031/http://www.svtplay.se/video/1628310/del-16-av-16 |archive-date=17 December 2013 }} at 19:45, citing the [[Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth]].</ref>
Sweden has a rather lively jazz scene. During the last sixty years or so it has attained a remarkably high artistic standard, stimulated by domestic as well as external influences and experiences. The Centre for Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research has published an overview of jazz in Sweden by Lars Westin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visarkiv.se/en/jazz/index.htm |title=Lars Westin: Jazz in Sweden – an overview |publisher=Visarkiv.se |access-date=25 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623003444/http://www.visarkiv.se/en/jazz/index.htm |archive-date=23 June 2008}}</ref>

===Architecture===
{{Main|Architecture of Sweden}}
[[File:Djurgardsbron 2008.jpg|left|thumb|[[Djurgårdsbron]]]]
Before the 13th century almost all buildings were made of timber, but a shift began towards stone. Early Swedish stone buildings are the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] churches on the country side. As so happens, many of them were built in Scania and are in effect Danish churches. This would include the [[Lund Cathedral]] from the 11th century and the somewhat younger church in [[Dalby, Lund|Dalby]], but also many early [[Gothic (architecture)|Gothic]] churches built through influences of the Hanseatic League, such as in Ystad, Malmö and Helsingborg.

Cathedrals in other parts of Sweden were also built as seats of Sweden's bishops. The [[Skara Cathedral]] is of bricks from the 14th century, and the [[Uppsala Cathedral]] in the 15th. In 1230 the foundations of the [[Linköping]] Cathedral were made, the material was there [[limestone]], but the building took some 250 years to finish.

Among older structures are also some significant fortresses and other historical buildings such as at [[Borgholm Castle]], [[Halltorps Manor]] and [[Eketorp]] fortress on the island Öland, the [[Nyköping]] fortress and the [[Visby city wall]].

[[File:Kalmar domkyrka 002.jpg|thumb|[[Kalmar Cathedral]]]]
Around 1520 Sweden was out of the [[Middle Ages]] and united under King Gustav Vasa, who immediately initiated grand mansions, castles and fortresses to be built. Some of the more magnificent include [[Kalmar Castle]], [[Gripsholm Castle]] and the one at [[Vadstena]].

In the next two centuries, Sweden was designated by [[Baroque architecture]] and later the [[rococo]]. Notable projects from that time include the city Karlskrona, which has now also been declared a World Heritage Site and the [[Drottningholm Palace]].

1930 was the year of the great Stockholm exhibition, which marked the breakthrough of [[Functionalism (architecture)|Functionalism]], or "funkis" as it became known. The style came to dominate in the following decades. Some notable projects of this kind were the [[Million Programme]], offering affordable living in large apartment complexes.

The [[Ericsson Globe]] is the largest hemispherical building on Earth, Shaped like a large white ball, and took two and a half years to build. It's located in Stockholm.

===Media===
{{Main|Media in Sweden}}
[[File:Sveriges Television, 2.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of [[Sveriges Television]] in Stockholm]]
Swedes are among the greatest consumers of newspapers in the world, and nearly every town is served by a local paper. The country's main quality morning papers are ''[[Dagens Nyheter]]'' (liberal), ''[[Göteborgs-Posten]]'' (liberal), ''[[Svenska Dagbladet]]'' (liberal conservative) and ''[[Sydsvenska Dagbladet]]'' (liberal). The two largest evening [[tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloids]] are ''[[Aftonbladet]]'' (social democratic) and ''[[Expressen]]'' (liberal). The ad-financed, free international morning paper, ''[[Metro International]]'', was founded in Stockholm, Sweden. The country's news is reported in English by, among others, ''[[The Local]]'' (liberal).<ref>{{cite book |first=Kenneth E. |last=Olson |title=The history makers;: The press of Europe from its beginnings through 1965 |publisher=LSU Press |year=1966 |pages=33–49}}</ref>

The public broadcasting companies held a monopoly on radio and television for a long time in Sweden. Licence funded radio broadcasts started in 1925. A second radio network was started in 1954 and a third opened 1962 in response to pirate radio stations. Non-profit [[Community radio#Sweden|community radio]] was allowed in 1979 and in 1993 commercial local radio started.

The licence-funded television service was officially launched in 1956. A second channel, [[SVT2|TV2]], was launched in 1969. These two channels (operated by [[Sveriges Television]] since the late 1970s) held a monopoly until the 1980s when cable and satellite television became available. The first Swedish language satellite service was [[TV3 (Sweden)|TV3]] which started broadcasting from London in 1987. It was followed by [[Kanal 5 (Sweden)|Kanal 5]] in 1989 (then known as Nordic Channel) and [[TV4 (Sweden)|TV4]] in 1990.

In 1991 the government announced it would begin taking applications from private television companies wishing to broadcast on the [[terrestrial television|terrestrial network]]. TV4, which had previously been broadcasting via satellite, was granted a permit and began its terrestrial broadcasts in 1992, becoming the first private channel to broadcast television content from within the country.

Around half the population are connected to cable television. [[Digital terrestrial television in Sweden]] started in 1999 and the last analogue terrestrial broadcasts were terminated in 2007.

===Literature===
{{Main|Swedish literature}}
[[File:Portrait of August Strindberg by Richard Bergh 1905.jpg|upright|thumb|The writer and playwright [[August Strindberg]]]]

The first literary text from Sweden is the [[Rök runestone]], carved during the Viking Age c. 800 AD. With the conversion of the land to Christianity around 1100 AD, Sweden entered the [[Middle Ages]], during which monastic writers preferred to use Latin. Therefore, there are only a few texts in the [[Old Swedish]] from that period. Swedish literature only flourished when the Swedish language was standardised in the 16th century, a standardisation largely due to the full translation of the Bible into Swedish in 1541. This translation is the so-called [[Gustav Vasa Bible]].

With improved education and the freedom brought by [[secularisation]], the 17th century saw several notable authors develop the Swedish language further. Some key figures include [[Georg Stiernhielm]] (17th century), who was the first to write classical poetry in Swedish; [[Johan Henric Kellgren]] (18th century), the first to write fluent Swedish prose; Carl Michael Bellman (late 18th century), the first writer of [[burlesque]] ballads; and August Strindberg (late 19th century), a socio-realistic writer and playwright who won worldwide fame. The early 20th century continued to produce notable authors, such as Selma Lagerlöf, (Nobel laureate 1909), [[Verner von Heidenstam]] (Nobel laureate 1916) and [[Pär Lagerkvist]] (Nobel laureate 1951).

In recent decades, a handful of Swedish writers have established themselves internationally, including the detective novelist [[Henning Mankell]] and the writer of spy fiction [[Jan Guillou]]. The Swedish writer to have made the most lasting impression on world literature is the children's book writer Astrid Lindgren, and her books about [[Pippi Longstocking]], [[Emil i Lönneberga|Emil]], and others. In 2008, the second best-selling fiction author in the world was [[Stieg Larsson]], whose ''Millennium'' series of crime novels is being published posthumously to critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/15/bestselling-fiction-authors-in-the-world-for-2008/ |title=Bestselling fiction authors in the world for 2008 |publisher=Abebooks.com |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529183203/http://www.abebooks.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/15/bestselling-fiction-authors-in-the-world-for-2008/ |archive-date=29 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Larsson drew heavily on the work of Lindgren by basing his central character, Lisbeth Salander, on Longstocking.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/26/stieg-larsson-thriller-novels-sweden|title=Poisoned Legacy Left By The King Of Thrillers|first=Vanessa|last=Thorpe|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=17 September 2014|date=25 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013155817/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jul/26/stieg-larsson-thriller-novels-sweden|archive-date=13 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Holidays===
{{Main|Public holidays in Sweden}}
[[File:Valborgsbrasa-1.jpg|thumb|left|[[Walpurgis Night]] bonfire in Sweden]]
Apart from traditional Protestant [[Liturgical year|Christian holidays]], Sweden also celebrates some unique holidays, some of a pre-Christian tradition. They include [[Midsummer]] celebrating the summer [[solstice]]; [[Walpurgis Night]] (''Valborgsmässoafton'') on 30 April lighting bonfires; and Labour Day or Mayday on 1 May is dedicated to socialist demonstrations. The day of giver-of-light [[Saint Lucy|Saint Lucia]], 13 December, is widely acknowledged in elaborate celebrations which betoken its Italian origin and commence the month-long Christmas season.

6 June is the [[National holiday of Sweden|National Day of Sweden]] and has since 2005 been a public holiday. Furthermore, there are [[Flag flying days in Sweden|official flag flying day]] observances and a [[Namesdays in Sweden]] calendar. In August many Swedes have ''kräftskivor'' (crayfish dinner parties). [[Martin of Tours]] Eve is celebrated in [[Scania]] in November with ''Mårten Gås'' parties, where roast goose and ''[[svartsoppa]]'' ('black soup', made of goose stock, fruit, spices, spirits and goose blood) are served. The [[Sami people|Sami]], one of Sweden's indigenous minorities, have their holiday on 6 February and Scania celebrate their Scanian Flag day on the third Sunday in July.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lokala Nyheter Skåne |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/skane/skanska-flaggans-dag |title=Så firas skånska flaggans dag | SVT Nyheter |newspaper=SVT Nyheter |date=21 July 2019 |publisher=Svt.se |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref>

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Swedish cuisine}}
[[File:Sveriges Nationaldag 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Cinnamon roll]]s originated in Sweden and Denmark.]]

Swedish cuisine, like that of the other [[Nordic countries]] ([[Cuisine of Denmark|Denmark]], [[Cuisine of Norway|Norway]] and [[Cuisine of Finland|Finland]]), was traditionally simple. Fish (particularly [[herring]]), meat, potatoes and [[dairy products]] played prominent roles. Spices were sparse. Preparations include Swedish meatballs, traditionally served with gravy, boiled potatoes and [[lingonberry jam]]; [[Pancake#Sweden, Norway|pancakes]]; ''[[pyttipanna]]'', a spiced fried hash of meat and potatoes originally meant to use up any left-overs of meat; ''[[lutefisk|lutfisk]]''; and the ''[[smörgåsbord]]'', or lavish buffet. ''[[Akvavit]]'' is a popular alcoholic [[distilled beverage]], and the drinking of ''[[snaps]]'' is of cultural importance. The traditional flat and dry [[crisp bread]] has developed into several contemporary variants. Regionally important foods are the ''[[surströmming]]'' (a fermented fish) in northern Sweden and [[eel]] in southern Sweden.

Swedish traditional dishes, some of which are many hundreds of years old, are still an important part of Swedish everyday meals, in spite of the fact that modern-day Swedish cuisine adopts many international dishes.

In August, at the traditional feast known as crayfish party, ''[[kräftskiva]]'', Swedes eat large amounts of [[crayfish]] boiled with dill.

===Cinema===
{{Main|Cinema of Sweden}}
Swedes have been fairly prominent in the film area through the years. A number of Swedish people have found success in Hollywood, including Ingrid Bergman, Greta Garbo and [[Max von Sydow]]. Amongst several directors who have made internationally successful films can be mentioned Ingmar Bergman, Lukas Moodysson and Lasse Hallström.

===Fashion===
Interest in fashion is big in Sweden and the country is headquartering famous brands like [[H&M|Hennes & Mauritz]] (operating as H&M), [[J. Lindeberg]] (operating as JL), [[Acne Jeans|Acne]], [[Lindex]], [[Odd Molly]], [[Cheap Monday]], [[Gant U.S.A.|Gant]], [[WESC]], [[Filippa K]], and [[Nakkna]] within its borders. These companies, however, are composed largely of buyers who import fashionable goods from throughout Europe and America, continuing the trend of Swedish business toward multinational economic dependency like many of its neighbours.

===Sports===
{{Main|Sport in Sweden}}
[[File:Björn Borg2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Former World No. 1 tennis player [[Björn Borg]]]]
Sport activities are a national movement with half of the population actively participating in organised sporting activities. The two main spectator sports are [[Association football|football]] and [[ice hockey]]. Second to football, [[horse sports]] (of which most of the participants are women) have the highest number of practitioners. Thereafter, [[golf]], [[orienteering]], [[gymnastics]], [[track and field]], and the [[team sport]]s of [[ice hockey]], [[handball]], [[floorball]], [[basketball]] and [[bandy]] are the most popular in terms of practitioners.<ref>{{cite web |title=Idrottsrörelsen i siffror |url=https://www.rf.se/globalassets/riksidrottsforbundet/nya-dokument/nya-dokumentbanken/idrottsrorelsen-i-siffror/2019-idrotten-i-siffror---sisu.pdf?w=900&h=900 |website=rf.se |publisher=Swedish Sports Confederation|language=sv}}</ref>

The [[Swedish national men's ice hockey team]], affectionately known as ''Tre Kronor'' (English: [[Three Crowns]]; the national symbol of Sweden), is regarded as one of the best in the world. The team has won the [[Ice Hockey World Championships|World Championships]] nine times, placing them third in the all-time medal count. Tre Kronor also won Olympic gold medals in [[Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics|1994]] and [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics|2006]]. In 2006, Tre Kronor became the first national hockey team to win both the Olympic and world championships in the same year. The [[Sweden national football team|Swedish national football team]] has seen some success at the World Cup in the past, finishing second when they hosted the tournament in 1958, and third twice, in [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]] and [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]].

Sweden hosted the [[1912 Summer Olympics]], [[Equestrian at the 1956 Summer Olympics]] and the [[FIFA World Cup]] in [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]. Other big sports events include the [[UEFA Euro 1992]], [[1995 FIFA Women's World Cup]], [[1995 World Championships in Athletics]], [[UEFA Women's Euro 2013]], and several championships of ice hockey, [[curling]], athletics, [[skiing]], [[Bandy World Championship|bandy]], [[figure skating]] and swimming.

In 2016, The Swedish Poker Federation (Svepof) has joined The [[International Federation of Poker]] (IFP).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pokerfed.org/2016/05/17/sweden-becomes-member-ifp-family/|title=Sweden Becomes a Member of the IFP Family|last=Goenka|first=Varun|date=17 May 2016|website=International Federation of Poker|access-date=4 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715082640/http://pokerfed.org/2016/05/17/sweden-becomes-member-ifp-family/|archive-date=15 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Sweden|Arctic}}
*[[List of Sweden-related topics]]
* [[Outline of Sweden]]
* [[329 Svea]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* Bagge, Sverre (2005). "The Scandinavian Kingdoms". In ''The New Cambridge Medieval History''. Eds. Rosamond McKitterick et al. Cambridge University Press, 2005. {{ISBN|0-521-36289-X}}.
* {{cite journal |title=Radical principles and the legal institution of marriage: domestic relations law and social democracy in Sweden—BRADLEY 4 (2): 154—International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |journal=International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=154–185 |doi=10.1093/lawfam/4.2.154 |year=1990 |last1=Bradley |first1=David }}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ Sweden]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* {{cite web|url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx |title=Sweden's population 2012 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |access-date=24 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105201119/http://www.scb.se/Pages/Product____25799.aspx |archive-date=5 November 2013 }}
* Durant, Colin (2003). ''Choral Conducting: philosophy and practice'', Routledge, pp. 46–47. {{ISBN|0-415-94356-6}}.
* Einhorn, Eric and John Logue (1989). ''Modern Welfare States: Politics and Policies in Social Democratic Scandinavia''. Praeger Publishers, 1989. {{ISBN|0-275-93188-9}}.
* {{Cite book|title=The Northern Wars. War, State and Society in Northeastern Europe 1558–1721|first=Robert I|last=Frost|publisher=Longman|year=2000|isbn=978-0-582-06429-4}}
* Koblik, Steven (1975). ''Sweden's Development from Poverty to Affluence 1750–1970''. University of Minnesota Press. {{ISBN|0-8166-0757-5}}.
* {{cite book | last1 = Larsson | first1 = Torbjörn | first2 = Henry | last2 = Bäck | title = Governing and Governance in Sweden | location = Lund | publisher = [[Studentlitteratur]] AB | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-91-44-03682-3 | ref = Larsson & Bäck }}
* Magocsi, Paul Robert (1998). ''Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples''. University of Minnesota Press, 1998. {{ISBN|0-8020-2938-8}}.
* [https://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/natur.htm Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden] Agenda 21 – Natural Resource Aspects – Sweden. 5th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, April 1997.
* Nordstrom, Byron J. (2000). ''Scandinavia since 1500''. [[University of Minnesota Press]], 2000. {{ISBN|0-8166-2098-9}}.
* {{cite book | last = Petersson | first = Olof | title = Den offentliga makten | location = Stockholm | publisher = SNS Förlag | year = 2010 | language = sv | isbn = 978-91-86203-66-5 | ref = Petersson }}
* {{cite book |last1=Sawyer |first1=Birgit |last2=Sawyer |first2=Peter H. |author2-link=Peter Hayes Sawyer |title=Medieval Scandinavia: from Conversion to Reformation, Circa 800–1500 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=1993 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jGJrXOjYvQgC|isbn=978-0-8166-1739-5}}
* Ståhl, Solveig. (1999). [https://web.archive.org/web/20060106110733/http://www3.lu.se/info/lum/LUM_07_99/01_engelska.html "English spoken – fast ibland hellre än bra"]. ''LUM, Lunds universitet med''delar, 7:1999, 3 September 1999. In Swedish.
* {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____193256.aspx |title=2006 census |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731025052/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____193256.aspx |archive-date=31 July 2009 }}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____25897.aspx |title=Preliminary Population Statistics, by month, 2004–2006 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]] |date=1 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714003037/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____25897.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2009 }}
* {{cite book |title=Yearbook of Housing and Building Statistics 2007 |publisher=[[Statistics Sweden]], Energy, Rents and Real Estate Statistics Unit |year=2007 |isbn=978-91-618-1361-2 |url=http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BO0801_2007A01_BR_BO01SA0701.pdf |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325013009/http://www.scb.se/statistik/_publikationer/BO0801_2007A01_BR_BO01SA0701.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Sweden |volume=26 |pages=188–221 |short=1}}
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-29865/Sweden#403810.hook Sweden: Social and economic conditions] (2007). In ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
* {{cite book |title=World Criminal Justice Systems: A Survey |first=Richard J. |last=Terrill |publisher=[[Elsevier]] |year=2009 |edition=7 |isbn=978-1-59345-612-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJaEzC1CBe8C&pg=PA248 }}
* Uddhammar, Emil (1993). ''Partierna och den stora staten: en analys av statsteorier och svensk politik under 1900-talet''. Stockholm, City University Press.
* [[United States Department of State]] – [https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2880.htm Sweden]
* Zuckerman, Phil (2007), Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns PDF i Cambridge Companion to Atheism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-60367-6}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Sweden}}
{{Wikivoyage}}

* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sweden/ Sweden]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/576478/Sweden Sweden] entry at ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090125101315/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/sweden.htm Sweden] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* {{curlie|Regional/Europe/Sweden}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17955808 Sweden profile] from the [[BBC News]]
* {{Wikiatlas|Sweden}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|52822}}
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=SE Key Development Forecasts for Sweden] from [[International Futures]]
* [http://www.studyinsweden.se/ Study in Sweden] – official guide to studying in Sweden
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141230162402/http://www.circle.lu.se/upload/CIRCLE/workingpapers/200906_Schoen.pdf Wayback Machine] Technological Waves and Economic Growth in Sweden 1850–2005
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150928122527/http://eh.net/encyclopedia/sweden-economic-growth-and-structural-change-1800-2000/ Sweden – Economic Growth and Structural Change, 1800–2000] — EH.Net Encyclopedia
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131207061449/http://www.vifanord.de/index.php?id=1&L=1&rd=243343734 vifanord] – a digital library that provides scientific information on the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as the Baltic region as a whole

'''Public sector'''
* [https://sweden.se/ Sweden.se] — Sweden’s official portal
* [http://www.riksdagen.se/en/ The Swedish Parliament] – official website
* [http://www.government.se/ The Government of Sweden] – official website
* [http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt.4.367010ad11497db6cba800054503.html The Royal Court] – official website of the Swedish Monarchy

'''News media'''
* [http://www.radiosweden.org/ Radio Sweden] – public service
* [http://www.svt.se/ Sveriges Television] {{in lang|sv}} – public service
* [http://www.dn.se/ Dagens Nyheter] {{in lang|sv}}
* [http://www.svd.se/ Svenska Dagbladet] {{in lang|sv}}
* [http://www.thelocal.se/ The Local – Sweden's news in English] – independent English language news site

'''Trade'''
* [http://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/Country/SWE/Year/2012/Summary World Bank Summary Trade Statistics Sweden]

'''Travel'''
* [http://www.visitsweden.com/ VisitSweden.com] – official travel and tourism website for Sweden
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Exeter Chiefs

2021-11-24T11:42:01Z

Lirae22: /* Branding issue */

{{About|the mens rugby team|the womens team|Exeter Chiefs Women}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}

{{Infobox rugby team
| teamname = Exeter Rugby
| image = Exeter Chiefs logo.svg
| imagesize = 210px
| union = [[Devon Rugby Football Union|Devon RFU]]
| fullname = Exeter Rugby Club
| nickname =
| location = [[Exeter]], [[Devon]], [[England]]
| region =
| countryflag = England
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1871}}
| ground = [[Sandy Park]]
| capacity = 13,593
| chairman = Tony Rowe OBE
| ceo = Tony Rowe OBE
| rugby director = [[Rob Baxter]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=80%|OBE}}
| captain = [[Jack Yeandle]] [[Joe Simmonds]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=80%|MBE}}
| appearances = [[Ben Moon (rugby union)|Ben Moon]] (197)
| top scorer = [[Gareth Steenson]] (1,651)
| most tries = [[Sam Simmonds (rugby union)|Sam Simmonds]] (52)
| league = [[Premiership Rugby]]
| season = [[2020–21 Premiership Rugby|2020–21]]
| position = 2nd (Runners-up)
| url = http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/
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'''Exeter Chiefs''' (officially '''Exeter Rugby Club''') is an [[England|English]] professional [[rugby union]] club based in [[Exeter]], [[Devon]].<ref name="location">{{cite web|title=Contact|publisher=Exeter Chiefs F.C.|access-date=7 May 2013|url=http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/club-info/contact/}}</ref> They play in [[Premiership Rugby]], England's top division of rugby.

The club was founded in 1871 and since 2006 has played its home matches at [[Sandy Park]], a purpose built facility on the outskirts of the city. They have been known by the name '''Chiefs''' since 1999. The club was promoted to the [[Premiership Rugby|Premiership]] for the first time in 2010. Since promotion, the Chiefs have become one of the leading clubs in the Premiership, winning the championship title twice, in [[2016–17 Premiership Rugby|2016–17]] and [[2019–20 Premiership Rugby|2019–20]] respectively, and reaching a further four finals. In October 2020, the Chiefs won the [[2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]], the top prize in European club rugby union, for the first time, defeating French club [[Racing 92]] in the final of a tournament that was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exeter are the only club to win the top four tiers of English rugby, winning the [[Premiership Rugby|Premiership]] in 2017 and 2020, [[RFU Championship]] in 2010, [[National League 1]] in 1997 and [[National League 2 South]] in 1996. They have won the [[Anglo-Welsh Cup]] twice, most recently in [[2017–18 Anglo-Welsh Cup|2018]], and the [[European Rugby Champions Cup]] once, in 2020.

The current director of rugby is [[Rob Baxter]], who was appointed in March 2009.

== History ==

===Early years===
Exeter Rugby Club was founded in 1871. The club played its first match in 1873 against St. Luke's College. In 1890, they won the Devon Cup.<ref name=pro /> In 1905, Exeter Rugby Club hosted the first match played by the [[New Zealand national rugby union team]] on English soil and in the Northern Hemisphere at the [[County Ground Stadium|County Ground]] between New Zealand and the Devon County XV.<ref>{{Cite book | last =Tobin |first=Christopher |year = 2005 | title = The Original All Blacks 1905–06 |location = Auckland, New Zealand |publisher = Hodder Moa Beckett |isbn=1-86958-995-5 |page=31}}</ref> It was from that game that New Zealand became known as the "[[All Blacks]]".<ref>{{cite web|author=Frank Keating |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2010/nov/03/all-blacks-new-zealand-1905 |title=How the original All Blacks went down in the annals of history |work=The Guardian|access-date=2014-05-06}}</ref>

When league rugby started, Exeter were initially placed in the Devon leagues.

===Early league and professional era===
In 1993 and 1995, Exeter reached the quarter finals of the [[Pilkington Cup]] before being knocked out by [[Premiership Rugby|top division]] opponents [[Leicester Tigers]] and [[Wasps RFC|London Wasps]] respectively.<ref name=pro>{{cite web |url=http://www.proteusmedia.co.uk/files/p_POArticleDisplay.asp?sectionID=PO&prID=314&clientID=16 |title=130 Years of Rugby History |publisher=Proteus Media |access-date=2014-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506112643/http://www.proteusmedia.co.uk/files/p_POArticleDisplay.asp?sectionID=PO&prID=314&clientID=16 |archive-date=6 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1997, Exeter were promoted into the [[1997–98 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two|Premiership Two]] for the first time from [[National League 1]]. They regularly finished in the top half of the table. In 2005, Exeter finished second in the league, missing out on promotion by four points behind [[Bristol Rugby]]. The next season, they moved from the County Ground to Sandy Park due to a need for modern facilities that included corporate hospitality.<ref name=sd>{{cite web|url=http://www.scrumdown.org.uk/exeter-chiefs/ |title=Exeter Chiefs |publisher=Scrumdown.org.uk |date=2014-04-29 |access-date=2014-05-06}}</ref> In 2008 they again finished in second place and again missed out on promotion by finishing behind [[Northampton Saints]]. The same situation happened the next season when Exeter finished behind [[Leeds Tykes|Leeds Carnegie]].

===Premiership===
In 2009, National Division One was reorganised into the [[RFU Championship]] with playoffs. During the regular league season, Exeter finished second behind Bristol. In the playoffs, they defeated [[Bedford Blues]] and [[Nottingham R.F.C.]] before facing Bristol in the two legged final.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibbins |first=Dave |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8702010.stm |title=Exeter Chiefs closing in on Premiership dream |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2010-05-25 |access-date=2014-05-06}}</ref> Exeter won 9–6 in the first leg at Sandy Park and then won 29–10 at Bristol's [[Memorial Stadium (Bristol)|Memorial Stadium]] in the second leg to win promotion to the Premiership for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tuckett |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/8705336.stm |title=Bristol 10-29 Exeter (Exeter win 38-16 on aggregate) |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2010-05-26 |access-date=2014-05-06}}</ref>

In their first season in the Premiership, they finished eighth<ref name=x /> despite a two-point deduction and a £5,000 fine for fielding too many overseas players during their match against Leeds Carnegie at [[Headingley Stadium]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/13209972 |title=Exeter Chiefs deducted two points and fined £5,000 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2011-04-27 |access-date=2014-05-06}}</ref> They also made their debut in the [[European Challenge Cup]], making their way to the quarter finals where they lost to [[Stade Français]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2012-04-06/exeters-hopes-of-european-silverware-are-dashed/ |title=Exeter's hopes of European silverware are dashed |publisher=ITV |access-date=2014-05-06}}</ref> In the next season, they finished fifth in the Premiership which permitted them to play in the [[Heineken Cup]] for the first time.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> In their first season in the Heineken Cup, they were drawn against French [[Clermont Auvergne]], Irish [[Leinster Rugby]] and Welsh [[Scarlets]] in the group stage. They finished the group third with nine points ahead of Scarlets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/heineken-cup-2012-13/rugby/series/167361.html?template=pointstable |title=Heineken Cup 2012/13 - Points table |publisher=ESPN |access-date=2014-05-07}}</ref> In 2014, Exeter Chiefs won their first major rugby trophy after they defeated Northampton Saints in the Anglo-Welsh Cup 15–8 at Sandy Park.<ref>{{cite web|last=Osborne |first=Chris |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26551754 |title=LV= Cup final: Exeter Chiefs 15-8 Northampton Saints |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2014-03-16 |access-date=2014-05-07}}

In 2014–15 Exeter Chiefs finished 6th in the Aviva Premiership, reached the semi-finals of the European Challenge cup, losing at Gloucester, and reached the final of the LV Cup again, losing 22–20 to Saracens at Franklins Gardens.</ref>

=== Recent seasons ===
In the [[2015–16 Premiership Rugby|2015–16 season]] the Chiefs finished in second place in [[Premiership Rugby]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/tables/9617786/Aviva-Premiership-Table-2015-16.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222062744/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/tables/9617786/Aviva-Premiership-Table-2015-16.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-02-22|title=Aviva Premiership Table: 2015-16|newspaper=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=2017-02-20|language=en}}</ref> entitling them to a home semi final in the Aviva Premiership which was played against Wasps. They won the match 34-23<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36317395|title=Premiership semi-final: Exeter Chiefs 34-23 Wasps|date=2016-05-21|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=2017-02-20|language=en-GB}}</ref> thanks to two penalty tries, a try from [[Ian Whitten]] and a try from [[Dave Ewers]] as well as two penalties and four conversions from [[Gareth Steenson]]. This meant the Chiefs qualified to their first Aviva Premiership final on 28 May. They lost 28–20 to champions [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] despite tries from England international [[Jack Nowell]] and club captain [[Jack Yeandle]] as well as 2 penalties and 2 conversions from [[Gareth Steenson]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36390531|title=Premiership final: Saracens 28-20 Exeter Chiefs|date=2016-05-28|newspaper=BBC Sport|access-date=2017-02-20|language=en-GB}}</ref>

The Chiefs also reached the quarter-final of the [[European Rugby Champions Cup|European Champions Cup]] in 2015–16. They were drawn away to [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]] in a tight game which they eventually lost 25–24 in the [[Ricoh Arena]] after Wasps' [[Jimmy Gopperth]] kicked a last-minute conversion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/club-rugby/wasps-vs-exeter-chiefs-match-report-jimmy-gopperth-kicks-for-european-champions-cup-semi-finals-in-a6976806.html|title=Match report: Wasps vs Exeter|date=2016-04-09|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=2017-02-20|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2016–17, the Chiefs won the [[2016–17 Premiership Rugby|Premiership]] for the first time in their history by beating Wasps in the final 23–20. The game finished 20–20 at full time with captain [[Gareth Steenson]] slotting a late penalty to take it to extra time. In extra time, Steenson added another penalty to secure the victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premiershiprugby.com/report/match-report-wasps-20-exeter-chiefs-23-aet/#report|title=Match Report: Wasps 20 Exeter Chiefs 23 (AET)|website=Premiership Rugby|date=27 May 2017|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>

The Chiefs finished the [[2017–18 Premiership Rugby|2017–18 season]] eight points clear at the top of the [[Premiership Rugby]] table, but ultimately lost to 27–10 to [[Saracens F.C.|Saracens]] in the final on 26 May 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/44212788|title=Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens|publisher=BBC|date=26 May 2018|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>

The Chiefs saw their most success to date during the 2019–20 season, winning an historic double of the [[2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup|European Rugby Champions Cup]], in their first appearance in the final, and the [[2019–20 Premiership Rugby|Premiership]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2020/10/24/mick-clearys-verdict-double-winners-exeter-chiefs-join-elite/|title=Mick Cleary's verdict: Double-winners Exeter Chiefs join elite club after show of heart, soul and muscle|website=The Telegraph|date=24 October 2020|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>

==Stadium==
Exeter play their home games at [[Sandy Park]], which is located on the outskirts of the city. The club moved from their previous home, the [[County Ground Stadium|County Ground]], in 2006 having played there regularly since 1905.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/club-info/history/|title=History - Exeter Chiefs}}</ref> In 2002, Exeter Chiefs started looking for a new stadium because they felt the County Ground provided insufficient opportunities for growth. Despite concerns and opposition from traditionalists within the club, the motion to move was passed by 99% of the attendees at Exeter's annual general meeting.<ref name=pro /> Sandy Park can accommodate 12,800 spectators, however, there are plans to increase this capacity to 20,600 with phase one having begun in early 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2013-12-05/phase-one-works-to-begin-at-sandy-park/|title=Phase One works to begin at Sandy Park}}</ref> These plans came about because of a requirement for later stages of European matches to be played at grounds with a capacity of at least 20,000.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pilnick |first=Brent |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20135551 |title=Exeter Chiefs granted permission for Sandy Park expansion |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2012-10-30 |access-date=2014-05-07}}</ref>

==Current kit==
The [[kit (rugby football)|kit]] is supplied by [[Samurai Sportswear|Samurai Rugby Gear]]. On the front of the shirt, SW Comms appear on the centre and the top left and Watson is on the top right. M.J Baker Foods is on the right sleeve. On the back of the shirt, Centrax is on the top while Sandy Park is on top of the squad number and Bradfords Building supplies at the bottom. On the shorts, SW Comms (which also appear on the centre and the top left on the front of the shirt) is on the bottom left of the front shorts while on the back shorts, Frobishers Juice is at the top while Otter Brewery is on the bottom left.

===Branding issue===
In 1999, Exeter Rugby Club turned semi-professional and changed their name to Exeter Chiefs,<ref name=x>{{cite web|author=Freshers' guide to: Exeter Chiefs |url=http://xmedia.ex.ac.uk/wp/wordpress/freshers-guide-to-exeter-chiefs/ |title=Freshers' guide to: Exeter Chiefs |publisher=University of Exeter |access-date=2014-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506112219/http://xmedia.ex.ac.uk/wp/wordpress/freshers-guide-to-exeter-chiefs/| archive-date=6 May 2014}}</ref> after previously being referred to as the Chiefs in the 1930s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chiefssupportersclub.co.uk/history/|title="An Interview with Bob Staddon"|date=3 September 2012}}</ref> In 2016, the club's fans were called upon to change their behaviour over concerns that it could be considered an offensive appropriation of [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imperialglobalexeter.com/2016/06/09/playing-indian-exeter-rugby-in-a-postcolonial-age/|title="Playing Indian": Exeter Rugby in a Postcolonial Age|first=Rachel |last=Herrmann|date=9 June 2016|publisher=Centre for Imperial and Global History, University of Exeter}}</ref> News outlets such as the [[BBC News|BBC]] reported that the club had been urged to change its name and to stop playing "Indian."{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}} Teams in the United States, like the [[Washington Redskins name controversy|Washington Redskins]] and [[Cleveland Indians]] have been urged to do the same, and cease use of stereotypes like the "[[tomahawk chop]]" chant and use of war paint.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-36965975|title=Exeter Chiefs urged to change 'offensive' name by Native American expert|work=BBC News|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref>

In July 2020, a group set up by Exeter Chiefs supporters called for the club's "racist use of Native American imagery and branding" to be dropped, comparing the use of the headdresses and chanting the [[Tomahawk Chop]] to [[blackface]]. A petition gained more than 550 signatures in a week, with Exeter's Labour MP, [[Ben Bradshaw]], also publicly backing the move.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2020/07/01/group-started-exeter-chiefs-supporters-petition-club-drop-racist/| work=The Daily Telegraph| date=1 July 2020| title= Group Started by Exeter Chiefs supporters petition club to drop racist imagery}}</ref> By Wednesday 8 July the petition had grown to 2,000 signatures and the debate about whether a re-brand was needed gained widespread attention.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-branding-debate-that-has-split-exeter-chiefs-fans/|publisher=RugbyPass|date=8 July 2020|title=The branding debate that has split Exeter Chiefs fans}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53334193|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 July 2020|title=Exeter Chiefs fans at odds over use of Native American branding}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/in-the-mag/is-exeter-chiefs-branding-appropriate-98975|publisher=Rugby World|date=5 July 2020|title=Face-Off: Is Exeter Chiefs' branding appropriate?}}</ref> By 29 July the petition had gained 3,700 signatures and the issue was considered by the Exeter Board of Directors, they decided their branding was "highly respectful" but nonetheless retired their mascot ''Big Chief'' which "could be regarded as disrespectful". This decision was called "tone deaf" by the petitioners and considered controversial in the wider press.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53587404|work=BBC Sport|date=29 July 2020|title=Exeter to keep Chiefs name & logo, but retire 'Big Chief' mascot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/19081/12038695/exeter-chiefs-retire-mascot-but-keep-logo-following-branding-review|work=Sky Sports|date=29 July 2020|title=Exeter Chiefs controversially keep logo following branding review but retire mascot}}</ref>

In October 2021, fellow Premiership club [[Wasps RFC|Wasps]] called on the [[Rugby Football Union|RFU]] and [[Premiership Rugby]] to rule on the acceptability of Exeter fans wearing ''Native American-style headdresses'' and discouraged the visiting Exeter fans from wearing them, though they stopped short of a ban.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58883202|work=BBC Sport|title=Premiership club Wasps ask rugby bosses for 'headdress' steer for Exeter Chiefs game|date=12 October 2021|access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> In November 2021 the [[National Congress of American Indians]] published an open letter calling for Exeter to drop their logo, the use of headdresses and venue names such as the 'Wigwam Bar', and that the continued use of such things perpetuated "dehumanising stereotypes".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59247839|title=Exeter Chiefs: National Congress of American Indians call on Premiership club to drop Native American branding|work=BBC Sport|date=11 November 2021|access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref>

==Season summaries==

{|class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;"
|-
! colspan="1" |
! colspan="4" | Premiership
! colspan="2" | Domestic Cup
! colspan="2" | European Cup
|-
! style="text-align:center; width:6%;"|Season
! style="text-align:center; width:18%;"|Competition
! style="text-align:center; width:5%;"|Final Position
! style="text-align:center; width:5%;"|Points
! style="text-align:center; width:8%;"| Play-Offs
! style="text-align:center; width:12%;"|Competition
! style="text-align:center; width:7%;"|Performance
! style="text-align:center; width:13%;"|Competition
! style="text-align:center; width:7%;"|Performance
|-
| 1987–88
| [[1987–88 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]
| 9th
| 8
| N/A
| [[1987–88 John Player Cup|John Player Cup]]
| N/A
| No competition
| N/A
|-
| 1988–89
| [[1988–89 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]
| 9th
| 8
| N/A
| [[1988–89 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| 3rd round
| No competition
| N/A
|-
| 1989–90
| [[1989–90 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]
| 6th
| 11
| N/A
| [[1989–90 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| 4th round
| No competition
| N/A
|-
| 1990–91
| [[1990–91 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]
| 4th
| 16
| N/A
| [[1990–91 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| 3rd round
| No competition
| N/A
|-
| 1991–92
| [[1991–92 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]
| 4th
| 18
| N/A
| [[1991–92 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| 2nd round
| No competition
| N/A
|-
| 1992–93
| [[1992–93 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]
| 3rd
| 17
| N/A
| [[1992–93 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| Quarter-final
| No competition
| N/A
|-
| 1993–94
| [[1993–94 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]
| 6th
| 19
| N/A
| [[1993–94 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| 2nd round
| No competition
| N/A
|-
| 1994–95
| style="background: pink"|[[1994–95 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]
| style="background: pink"|10th '''(R)'''
| style="background: pink"|7
| N/A
| [[1994–95 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| Quarter-final
| No competition
| N/A
|-
| 1995–96
| style="background: gold"|'''[[1995–96 Courage League Division 4|Courage League Division 4]]'''
| style="background: gold"|'''1st (P)'''
| style="background: gold"|'''28'''
| N/A
| [[1995–96 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| 4th round
| No English teams
| N/A
|-
| 1996–97
| style="background: gold"|'''[[1996–97 Courage League National Division Three|Courage League Division 3]]'''
| style="background: gold"|'''1st (P)'''
| style="background: gold"|'''50'''
| N/A
| [[1996–97 Pilkington Cup|Pilkington Cup]]
| 3rd round
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| rowspan=2| 1997–98
| rowspan=2|[[1997–98 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two|Allied Dunbar Premiership 2]]
| rowspan=2|11th
| rowspan=2|12
| rowspan=2|N/A
| [[1997–98 Tetley's Bitter Cup|Tetley's Bitter Cup]]
| 4th round
| rowspan=2| Not qualified
| rowspan=2| N/A
|-
| C&G Cup
| 4th in pool
|-
| rowspan=2| 1998–99
| rowspan=2| [[1998–99 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two|Allied Dunbar Premiership 2]]
| rowspan=2| 5th
| rowspan=2| 29
| rowspan=2| N/A
| [[1998–99 Tetley's Bitter Cup|Tetley's Bitter Cup]]
| 5th round
| rowspan=2| No English teams
| rowspan=2| N/A
|-
| C&G Cup
| 2nd round
|-
| 1999–00
| [[1999–2000 Allied Dunbar Premiership Two|Allied Dunbar Premiership 2]]
| 4th
| 38
| N/A
| [[1999–2000 Tetley's Bitter Cup|Tetley's Bitter Cup]]
| 4th round
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| 2000–01
| [[2000–01 National Division One|National Division 1]]
| 3rd
| 71
| N/A
| [[2000–2001 Tetley's Bitter Cup|Tetley's Bitter Cup]]
| 4th round
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| rowspan=2| 2001–02
| rowspan=2| [[2001–02 National Division One|National Division 1]]
| rowspan=2| 3rd
| rowspan=2| 92
| rowspan=2| N/A
| [[2001–02 Powergen Cup|Powergen Cup]]
| 6th round
| rowspan=2| Not qualified
| rowspan=2| N/A
|-
| style="background: silver"|''[[Powergen Shield]]''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
|-
| rowspan=2| 2002–03
| rowspan=2| [[2002–03 National Division One|National Division 1]]
| rowspan=2| 3rd
| rowspan=2| 104
| rowspan=2| N/A
| [[2002–03 Powergen Cup|Powergen Cup]]
| 6th round
| rowspan=2| Not qualified
| rowspan=2| N/A
|-
| style="background: silver"|''[[Powergen Shield]]''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
|-
| 2003–04
| [[2003–04 National Division One|National Division 1]]
| 6th
| 74
| N/A
| [[2003–04 Powergen Cup|Powergen Cup]]
| 4th round
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| 2004–05
| style="background: silver"|''[[2004–05 National Division One|National Division 1]]''
| style="background: silver"|''2nd''
| style="background: silver"|''101''
| N/A
| [[2004–05 Powergen Cup|Powergen Cup]]
| 5th round
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| 2005–06
| [[2005–06 National Division One|National Division 1]]
| 6th
| 71
| N/A
| [[EDF Energy Trophy]]
| Semi-final
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| 2006–07
| [[2006–07 National Division One|National Division 1]]
| 4th
| 101
| N/A
| style="background: silver"|''[[EDF Energy Trophy]]''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| 2007–08
| style="background: silver"|''[[2007–08 National Division One|National Division 1]]''
| style="background: silver"|''2nd''
| style="background: silver"|''116''
| N/A
| style="background: silver"|''[[EDF Energy Trophy]]''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| 2008–09
| style="background: silver"|''[[2008–09 National Division One|National Division 1]]''
| style="background: silver"|''2nd''
| style="background: silver"|''119''
| N/A
| [[EDF Energy Trophy]]
| Semi-final
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| 2009–10
| style="background: gold"|'''[[2009–10 RFU Championship|RFU Championship]]'''
| style="background: gold"|'''2nd (P)'''
| style="background: gold"|'''88'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
| [[2009–10 British and Irish Cup|British and Irish Cup]]
| 4th in pool
| Not qualified
| N/A
|-
| 2010–11
| [[2010–11 Premiership Rugby|Aviva Premiership]]
| 8th
| 43
| -
| [[2010–11 LV Cup|LV= Cup]]
| 4th in pool
| [[2010–11 European Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]]
| 2nd in pool
|-
| 2011–12
| [[2011–12 Premiership Rugby|Aviva Premiership]]
| 5th
| 59
| -
| [[2011–12 LV Cup|LV= Cup]]
| 2nd in pool
| [[2011–12 European Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]]
| Quarter-final
|-
| 2012–13
| [[2012–13 Premiership Rugby|Aviva Premiership]]
| 6th
| 59
| -
| [[2012–13 LV Cup|LV= Cup]]
| 2nd in pool
| [[2012–13 Heineken Cup|Heineken Cup]]
| 3rd in pool
|-
| 2013–14
| [[2013–14 Premiership Rugby|Aviva Premiership]]
| 8th
| 45
| -
| style="background: gold"|'''[[2013–14 LV Cup|LV= Cup]]'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
| [[2013–14 Heineken Cup|Heineken Cup]]
| 3rd in pool
|-
| 2014–15
| [[2014–15 Premiership Rugby|Aviva Premiership]]
| 5th
| 68
| -
| style="background: silver"|''[[2014–15 LV Cup|LV= Cup]]''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
| [[2014–15 European Rugby Challenge Cup|Challenge Cup]]
| Semi-final
|-
| 2015–16
| style="background: silver"|''[[2015–16 Premiership Rugby|Aviva Premiership]]''
| style="background: silver"|''2nd''
| style="background: silver"|''74''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
| No competition
| N/A
| [[2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]]
| Quarter-final
|-
| 2016–17
| style="background: gold"|'''[[2016–17 Premiership Rugby|Aviva Premiership]]'''
| style="background: gold"|'''2nd'''
| style="background: gold"|'''84'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
| style="background: silver"|''[[2016–17 Anglo-Welsh Cup|Anglo-Welsh Cup]]''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
| [[2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]]
| 3rd in pool
|-
| 2017–18
| style="background: silver"|''[[2017–18 Premiership Rugby|Aviva Premiership]]''
| style="background: silver"|''1st''
| style="background: silver"|''85''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
| style="background: gold"|'''[[2017–18 Anglo-Welsh Cup|Anglo-Welsh Cup]]'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
| [[2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]]
| 2nd in pool
|-
| 2018–19
| style="background: silver"|''[[2018–19 Premiership Rugby|Gallagher Premiership]]''
| style="background: silver"|''1st''
| style="background: silver"|''86''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
| [[2018–19 Premiership Rugby Cup|Premiership Cup]]
| 2nd in pool
| [[2018–19 European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]]
| 2nd in pool
|-
| 2019–20
| style="background: gold"|'''[[2019–20 Premiership Rugby|Gallagher Premiership]]'''
| style="background: gold"|'''1st'''
| style="background: gold"| '''74'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
| [[2019–20 Premiership Rugby Cup|Premiership Cup]]
| Semi-final
| style="background: gold"|'''[[2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]]'''
| style="background: gold"|'''Champions'''
|-
|2020–21
| style="background: silver"|''[[2020–21 Premiership Rugby|Gallagher Premiership]]''
| style="background: silver"|''2nd''
| style="background: silver"|''82''
| style="background: silver"|''Runners-up''
| Premiership Cup
| no competition
| [[2020-21 European Rugby Champions Cup|Champions Cup]]
| Quarter-finals
|}

Gold background denotes champions Silver background denotes runners-up Pink background denotes relegated

==Club honours==

===Exeter Chiefs===
*'''[[European Rugby Champions Cup]]'''
**'''Champions: (1) [[2019–20 European Rugby Champions Cup|2019–20]]'''
*'''[[Premiership Rugby]]'''
**'''Champions: (2) [[2016–17 Premiership Rugby|2016–17]], [[2019–20 Premiership Rugby|2019–20]]'''
**''Runners–Up: (4) [[2015–16 Premiership Rugby|2015–16]], [[2017–18 Premiership Rugby|2017–18]], [[2018–19 Premiership Rugby|2018–19]], [[2020-21 Premiership Rugby|2020-21]]''
*'''[[RFU Championship]]'''
**'''Champions: (1) [[2009–10 RFU Championship|2009–10]]'''
**''Runners–Up: (3) [[2004–05 National Division One|2004–05]], [[2007–08 National Division One|2007–08]], [[2008–09 National Division One|2008–09]]''
*'''[[National League 1]]'''
**'''Champions: (1) [[1996–97 Courage League National Division Three|1996–97]]'''
*'''[[National League 2 South]]'''
**'''Champions: (1) [[1995–96 Courage League Division 4|1995–96]]'''
*'''[[Anglo-Welsh Cup|Anglo–Welsh Cup]]'''
**'''Champions: (2) [[2013–14 LV Cup|2013–14]], [[2017–18 Anglo-Welsh Cup|2017–18]]'''
**''Runners–Up: (2) [[2014–15 LV Cup|2014–15]], [[2016–17 LV Cup|2016–17]]''
*'''[[EDF Energy Trophy]]'''
**''Runners–Up: (4) 2001–02, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08''
*'''[[Devon RFU Senior Cup]] (tier 5)'''
**'''Champions: (16) 1889–90, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96'''
**''Runners–Up: (5) 1888-89, 1904-05, 1976-77,1980–81, 1985–86''
*'''[[Devon RFU Junior Cup]]'''
**'''Champions: (1) 1905–06''' (reserve side)
**''Runners–Up: (4) 1903–04'' (reserve side)

===Exeter Braves===
*'''[[Premiership Rugby Shield]]'''
**'''Champions: (2) 2011–12, 2015–16'''

==Current squad==
{{For|player movements before or during the [[2021–22 Premiership Rugby|2021–22 season]]|List of 2021–22 Premiership Rugby transfers#Exeter Chiefs}}

The Exeter Chiefs squad for the [[2021–22 Premiership Rugby|2021–22 season]] is:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/club/players| title=Exeter Chiefs Player List|work=Exeter Chiefs|access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref>{{efn|Exeter Chiefs do not separate their academy squad from their main squad on their website, therefore this list includes both}}{{efn|group="Squads"|name=McCauley|Exeter Chiefs sign lock Ryan McCauley on a short-term deal before the [[2022 Super Rugby Pacific season]] starts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/58200278|work=BBC Sport|title=Ryan McCauley and Sam Nixon: Exeter Chiefs sign two new forwards|date=13 August 2021|access-date=13 August 2021}}</ref>}}

{{rugby squad start}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=HK | name=[[Ollie Burrows]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name='''[[Luke Cowan-Dickie]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Harry Hocking]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Jack Innard]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Max Norey]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Jordon Poole]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Jack Yeandle]] ([[Captain (sports)|cc]])}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name='''[[Alec Hepburn]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=PR | name=[[Josh Iosefa-Scott]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Matt Johnson (rugby union)|Matt Johnson]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Billy Keast]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[James Kenny (rugby union)|James Kenny]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name='''[[Ben Moon (rugby union)|Ben Moon]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Sam Nixon (rugby union)|Sam Nixon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Alfie Petch]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=NAM | pos=PR | name=[[Patrick Schickerling]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Danny Southworth]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Marcus Street]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name='''[[Harry Williams (rugby union)|Harry Williams]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=LK | name='''[[Jonny Gray]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name='''[[Jonny Hill (rugby union)|Jonny Hill]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=LK | name=[[Daffyd Jenkins]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=LK | name=[[Jannes Kirsten]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Sean Lonsdale]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | pos=LK | name=[[Ryan McCauley]] {{efn|group="Squads"|name=McCauley}}}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Lewis Pearson]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=LK | name='''[[Sam Skinner (rugby union)|Sam Skinner]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Cory Teague]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=LK | name='''[[Christ Tshiunza]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Will Witty]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name='''[[Don Armand]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Richard Capstick]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ZIM | pos=BR | name=[[Dave Ewers]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=BR | name='''[[Santiago Grondona]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Ben Grubb]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Aaron Hinkley]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name='''[[Sam Simmonds (rugby union)|Sam Simmonds]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=BR | name=[[Rus Tuima]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=BR | name=[[Jacques Vermeulen]]}}
{{rugby squad mid}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Tom Cairns (rugby union)|Tom Cairns]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=SH | name='''[[Sam Hidalgo-Clyne]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name='''[[Jack Maunder]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Sam Maunder]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Stu Townsend]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=FH | name=[[Iwan Jenkins]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=[[Joe Simmonds]] ([[Captain (sports)|cc]])}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=[[Harvey Skinner (rugby union)|Harvey Skinner]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | pos=FH | name=[[Jack Walsh (rugby union)|Jack Walsh]] }}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name='''[[Ollie Devoto]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Kian Gentry]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=CE | name=[[Tom Hendrickson]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Archie Hill (rugby union)|Archie Hill]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Charlie McCaig]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=IRE | pos=CE | name=[[Seán O'Brien (rugby union, born 1998)|Seán O'Brien]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name='''[[Henry Slade (rugby union)|Henry Slade]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=IRE | pos=CE | name='''[[Ian Whitten]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Tom Wyatt]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=WG | name='''[[Facundo Cordero]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Shea Cornish]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=WAL | pos=WG | name=[[Dan John]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Frankie Nowell]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name='''[[Jack Nowell]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Tom O'Flaherty (rugby union)|Tom O'Flaherty]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Arthur Relton]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Olly Woodburn]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FB | name=[[Ben Hammersley (rugby union)|Ben Hammersley]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FB | name=[[Josh Hodge]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=SCO | pos=FB | name='''[[Stuart Hogg]]'''}}
{{rugby squad end}}

==Club staff==

'''First Team Coaching'''<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/club/coaching-staff|title=Exeter Chiefs Coaching Staff| publisher=exetercheifs.co.uk|access-date=4 June 2019}}</ref>
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Role
! style="background:silver;"|Name
|-
|Director of Rugby||{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Rob Baxter]]
|-
|Team manager||{{Flagicon|NZ}} Tony Walker
|-
|Head coach||{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Ali Hepher]]
|-
|Forwards coach||{{Flagicon|ENG}} Rob Hunter
|-
|Defence coach||{{Flagicon|AUS}} [[Julian Salvi]]
|-
|Skills coach||{{Flagicon|ENG}} Ricky Pellow
|-
|}

'''Academy'''<ref name=":0" />
{| class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Role
! style="background:silver;"|Name
|-
|Academy manager||{{Flagicon|ENG}} Rob Gibson
|-
|Senior academy coach||{{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Haydn Thomas]]
|-
|}

==Notable former players==
{{See also|Category:Exeter Chiefs players}}

===Lions tourists===
The following players have toured with the [[British & Irish Lions|Lions]] while playing for Exeter:

* [[2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand|2017]]: [[Jack Nowell]], [[Tomas Francis]]
* [[2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa|2021]]: [[Stuart Hogg]], [[Sam Simmonds (rugby union)|Sam Simmonds]], [[Jonny Hill (rugby union)|Jonny Hill]], [[Luke Cowan-Dickie]]

===Rugby World Cup===
The following are players which have represented their countries at the [[Rugby World Cup]], whilst playing for Exeter:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Tournament
!Players selected
!{{nrut|England}} players
!Other national team players
|-
| [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]]
| 3
| -
| [[Richard Liddington]] {{flagicon|USA}}, [[Siaosi Vaili]], [[Opeta Palepoi]] {{flagicon|Samoa}}
|-
| [[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011]]
| 3
| -
| [[Gonzalo Camacho]] {{flagicon|Argentina}}, [[Junior Poluleuligaga]] {{flagicon|Samoa}}, [[Craig Mitchell (rugby union)|Craig Mitchell]] {{flagicon|Wales}}
|-
| [[2015 Rugby World Cup|2015]]
| 7
| [[Geoff Parling]], [[Jack Nowell]], [[Henry Slade (rugby union)|Henry Slade]]
| [[Tomas Francis]] {{flagicon|Wales}}, [[Chrysander Botha]] {{flagicon|Namibia}}, [[Elvis Taione]] {{flagicon|Tonga}}, [[Michele Campagnaro]] {{flagicon|Italy}}
|-
| [[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019]]
| 6
| [[Luke Cowan-Dickie]], [[Jack Nowell]], [[Henry Slade (rugby union)|Henry Slade]]
| [[Stuart Hogg]] {{flagicon|Scotland}}, [[Nic White]] {{flagicon|Australia}}, [[Tomas Francis]] {{flagicon|Wales}}
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist-lr}}
'''Academy squad'''
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last=Clark|first=Neil|title=It Was Never My Ambition To Become A Hooker|year=2012|publisher=Chequered Flag Publishing|isbn=978-0-9569460-2-7}}

==External links==
*[http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/ Official Website]

{{Premiership Rugby}}
{{European Rugby Champions Cup}}
{{Rugby union in England}}
{{Exeter Chiefs squad}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Exeter Chiefs| ]]
[[Category:Premiership Rugby teams]]
[[Category:English rugby union teams]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Devon]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1871]]
[[Category:Sport in Exeter]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in England]]

Karen (slang)

2021-11-24T05:58:41Z

Lirae22: /* Notable examples */ ce to lower case

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Pejorative term used in several English-speaking countries}}
{{About|the pejorative term|the name itself|Karen (name)|other uses|Karen (disambiguation){{!}}Karen}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}


'''Karen''' is a [[pejorative]] term for a white woman perceived as [[Entitlement|entitled]] or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. The term is a [[Internet meme|meme]] depicting white women who use their [[White privilege|privilege]] to demand their own way.<ref name="BBC Nagesh">{{cite web |last=Nagesh |first=Ashitha |date=July 30, 2020 |title=What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201 |website=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |title=How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |date=October 26, 2020 |website=Insider |publisher=Insider |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref> Depictions may include demanding to "speak to the manager", being [[racism|racist]] or sporting a particular [[bob cut]] hairstyle.<ref name=":10"/> A notable example was the 2020 [[Central Park birdwatching incident]].

The term has been criticized as being [[sexist]], [[ageist]] and [[misogynistic]] and seeking to control women's behavior.<ref name=":10" /> As of 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media as a general-purpose reference to [[middle class]] white women, especially during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> The term has also been applied to certain male behavior.<ref name=":10" /><ref name="ATL" /> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called 2020 "the year of Karen".<ref name="GuardianDec2020">{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=27 December 2020|title=The year of Karen: how a meme changed the way Americans talked about racism|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

== Origin ==
In [[African-American culture]], there is a long history of calling a meddlesome white woman by a certain name. In the [[Antebellum South|antebellum era]] (1815–1861), she was referred to as "[[Miss Ann]]".<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |title=What's In A 'Karen'? : Code Switch |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen |date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> In the early 1990s, "[[Becky (slang)|Becky]]" was used.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=May 6, 2020 |title=How 'Karen' Became a Coronavirus Villain |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-karen-memes-reddit-twitter-carolyn-goodman/611104/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref> As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Narizhnaya |first1=Khristina |last2=Lapin |first2=Tamar |last3=Brown |first3=Ruth |date=October 12, 2018 |title='Cornerstore Caroline' says she's not racist, apologizes to kids |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/cornerstore-caroline-says-shes-not-racist-apologizes-to-kids/ |access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |access-date=July 17, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]|quote=While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said.}}</ref> Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by [[Amanda Seyfried]]) from the 2004 film ''[[Mean Girls]]'', [[Dane Cook]]'s 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album ''[[Retaliation (Dane Cook album)|Retaliation]]'',<ref name="BI">{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5|access-date=May 29, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the [[Nintendo Switch]] console who exhibits antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".<ref name="Romano">{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Aja|date=February 5, 2020|title=Karen: The anti-vaxxer soccer mom with speak-to-the-manager hair, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21079162/karen-name-insult-meme-manager|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=October 25, 2016|title=Nintendo Switch's best, most revealing meme is antisocial 'Karen' |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/25/13403924/nintendo-switch-karen-meme-reveal-video |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Polygon |language=en}}</ref> In December 2017, Karen [[internet meme|memes]] regarding entitled women went viral on [[Reddit]], the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen. The posts led to the creation of the [[subreddit]] r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.<ref name="BI" /><ref name="Romano" />

A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originates among Black people to refer to unreasonable white women.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=A Brief History of 'Karen' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/style/karen-name-meme-history.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> The term was popularized on [[Black Twitter]] as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids' lemonade stands"<ref name=":0"/> or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".<ref name="Time meme history">{{cite magazine |last=Lang |first=Cady |date=June 25, 2020 |title=How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood |url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |access-date=April 13, 2021 |url-status=unfit |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111213845/https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |archive-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]'' magazine described ''Karen'' as a term that originated with Black women but was co-opted by white men.<ref name=":4" />

== Meaning and use ==
[[Kansas State University]] professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.<ref name=":0" /> According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends."<ref name=":0" /> Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for ''Bitch'', agrees, saying a Karen doesn't view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves."<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Rachel Charlene |date=April 10, 2020 |title='Karen' Isn't a Slur – It's A Critique of Entitled White Womanhood |url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/very-online/the-karen-meme-isnt-a-slur-its-a-social-critique |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]}}</ref>

The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="KYM">{{cite web |title=10+ Memes of Karen, the Infamous 'Speak to the Manager' Haircut |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/collections/10-memes-of-karen-the-infamous-speak-to-the-manager-haircut |access-date=May 30, 2020 |website=[[Know Your Meme]]}}</ref> Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Romano" /><ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Is calling someone 'Karen' a slur? An investigation. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/karen-memes-slur-kate-gosselin-hate-speech-women-20200513.html |access-date=June 2, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> racism,<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Asmelash |first=Leah |date=May 30, 2020 |title=How Karen became a meme, and what real-life Karens think about it |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/30/us/karen-meme-trnd/index.html |access-date=May 30, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> excessive use of [[Facebook]], and a particular [[Bob cut|bob haircut]] with blond [[Hair highlighting|highlights]]. Pictures of [[Kate Gosselin]] and [[Jenny McCarthy]]'s bob cut are often used to depict Karen,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|date=May 23, 2020|title=Column: Is the 'Karen' meme sexist? Maybe, but it's also apt|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-23/column-karen-meme-white-women-behaving-badly|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="BI" /><ref name="KYM" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dozier |first=Rob |date=August 21, 2018 |title=Why Memes Making Fun of White People Demanding to 'Speak to the Manager!' Are So Popular Right Now |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/bbq-becky-permit-patty-apple-store-lady-why-laughing-at-white-entitlement-feels-so-appropriate.html |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref>

=== Male context ===
{{See also|Kyle (slang)}}

The term is generally used to refer to women, but ''[[The Atlantic]]'' noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president [[Donald Trump]] the "Karen in chief".<ref name=ATL>{{Cite magazine |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=May 28, 2020 |title=The Karen in Chief |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/trump-social-media-scarborough/612193/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=How 'Karen' went from a popular baby name to a stand-in for White entitlement |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/how-karen-went-from-a-popular-baby-name-to-a-stand-in-for-white-entitlement/J4OBLU6KGZM5WIAEEOPYV4GFLA/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |date=June 16, 2020 |last=Queen |first=Robin |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling [[Elon Musk]] "Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of [[COVID-19 testing]] became [[Viral phenomenon|viral]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Khaleda |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Scientist's "Space Karen" response to Elon Musk goes viral |url=https://www.newsweek.com/space-karen-response-elon-musk-viral-1547695 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[Newsweek]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geske |first=Dawn |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Why Elon Musk Is Being Called 'Space Karen' After Latest Launch |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/why-elon-musk-being-called-space-karen-after-latest-launch-3083278 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[International Business Times]] |publisher=[[IBT Media]]}}</ref> Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowell|first=Erica|date=March 16, 2021|title=Male Version Of A Karen? Undeniable Evidence Of Them. Beware!|work=He, Him, His|publisher=|url=https://hehimhismedia.com/male-version-of-a-karen-evidence/|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=fatherly>{{cite web |url=https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/male-version-of-karen-meme/ |title=What Is the Male Version of a Karen? |last=Berical |first=Matt |date=December 11, 2020 |website=Fatherly |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> although 'Ken'<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=fatherly /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nextshark.com/davis-karen-ken-call-police-asian-man/|title=‘Karen’ and ‘Ken’ Call Police on Asian American Doctor Visiting Parents in Davis|author=Bryan Ke|date=2020-07-15|publisher=Nextshark}}</ref><ref name=forbescohen>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/06/28/who-is-karen--stop-using-the-nickname-and-call-it-what-it-really-is/?sh=640ba3e01c2f|title=Who Is Karen? Stop Using The Nickname And Call It What It Really Is|author=Seth Cohen|date=2020-06-08|publisher=Forbes}}</ref><ref name=mashable>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/karen-no-mask-videos-tantrums-coronavirus|title=8 Karens and Kens who threw huge tantrums instead of putting on masks|author=Nicole Gallucci|date=2020-06-29|publisher=Mashable}}</ref> and 'Kevin'<ref name=kqed>{{cite news|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13882681/we-all-know-a-karen-when-we-see-one-now-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin|title=We All Know a ‘Karen’ When We See One—Now We Need to Talk About ‘Kevin’|author=Rae Alexandra|date=2020-07-01|publisher=KQED}}</ref><ref name=insider>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/karen-compilation-timeline-white-women-racism-2020-6#while-women-have-largely-been-the-memes-focus-viral-videos-of-men-behaving-in-similar-ways-have-also-surfaced-social-media-users-have-dubbed-the-male-version-of-a-karen-as-a-kevin-or-ken-10|title=Videos of people labeled 'Karens' have flooded the internet, drawing curiosity, condemnation, and criticism. Here's how they took over our feeds during quarantine.|author=Margot Harris and Palmer Haasch|date=2020-07-03|publisher=Insider}}</ref> are among the most common names used. The [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow era]] male equivalent to Miss Ann was [[Mister Charlie]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jaynes |first=Gerald David |year=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of African American society, Volume 2 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage Publications]] |pages=551 |isbn=9780761927648}}</ref>

=== Sexism ===
The term has been called [[sexist]] and anti-woman. [[Hadley Freeman]], columnist and features writer for ''[[The Guardian]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hadley Freeman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hadleyfreeman |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref> argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |author-link=Hadley Freeman |date=April 13, 2020 |title=The 'Karen' meme is everywhere – and it has become mired in sexism |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/13/the-karen-meme-is-everywhere-and-it-has-become-mired-in-sexism |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> [[Jennifer Weiner]], writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'' during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.<ref name="weiner">{{Cite news |last=Weiner |first=Jennifer |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Opinion: The Seductive Appeal of Pandemic Shaming |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-shaming.html |access-date=June 13, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> In August 2020, [[Helen Lewis (journalist)|Helen Lewis]] wrote in ''The Atlantic'', "''Karen'' has become synonymous with ''woman'' among those who consider ''woman'' an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Helen |date=August 19, 2020 |title=The Mythology of Karen |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |issn=1072-7825}}</ref> Lewis also noted what she called the "[[finger trap]]" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."<ref name=":10" />

British journalist and feminist [[Julie Bindel]] asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on [[Class discrimination|class prejudice]]?"<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name="Parsons">{{Cite news |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/04/06/karen-slur-meme-coronavirus-pandemic-julie-bindel-twitter-feminism-white-privilege-class/ |title=In these trying times, lesbian radical feminist Julie Bindel is debating whether 'Karen' is a slur. Yes, really |last=Parsons |first=Vic |date=April 6, 2020 |newspaper=[[PinkNews]] |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in ''The Atlantic'', asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.<ref name=":0" /> [[Nina Burleigh]] wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=May 28, 2020 |title=How the Karen Meme Benefits the Right |url=https://gen.medium.com/how-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |language=en}}</ref> Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at [[Know Your Meme]], stated to ''[[Business Insider]]'' in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online", and that it had risen to popularity due to that demographic being seen as entitled.<ref name="BI" />

=== Racism ===

Multiple writers have discussed whether the term is a sexist and racist [[pejorative|slur]] for referring to white women.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-08|title=Opinion: Karen is not the equivalent of the N-word for white women. If you’re offended, you might be one|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/karen-n-word-racism-white-women-julie-bindel-coronavirus-a9453201.html|access-date=2021-04-30|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Attiah|first=Karen|title=Opinion {{!}} The ‘Karen’ memes and jokes aren’t sexist or racist. Let a Karen explain.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/28/karen-memes-jokes-arent-sexist-or-racist-let-karen-explain/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' called the meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood."<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=July 6, 2020|title=How the Karen Meme Confronts History of White Womanhood|url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence".<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Apryl Williams of the [[University of Michigan]] called it a Black activist meme, saying it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to Black people.<ref name=":8" /> On the other hand, [[Karen Attiah]], Global Opinions editor for ''[[The Washington Post]],'' argues that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=After racial violence in the U.S., writer Karen Attiah re-examines the 'Karen' meme |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/dysfunction-in-long-term-care-the-meaning-of-karen-zunzi-crispr-covid-19-tests-baroness-von-sketch-more-1.5588200/after-racial-violence-in-the-u-s-writer-karen-attiah-re-examines-the-karen-meme-1.5588208 |access-date=June 2, 2020 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

Scholars agree that ''Karen'' historically refers to racism.{{cn}} [[University of Virginia]] media researcher [[Meredith Clark]] has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom Black people feel a need to be careful because she won't hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".<ref name=":0" /> Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as Black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' played a Jeopardy sketch with [[Chadwick Boseman]] playing as his ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' character [[T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|T'Challa]].<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2020|title=What's in a Karen? (Transcript) |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/891177904 |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> Contemporary Karens have been compared to [[Carolyn Bryant]] (a white woman who accused [[Emmett Till]] of offending her, resulting in his lynching) and [[Mayella Ewell]] (a fictional character in the novel ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'').<ref name="GuardianDec2020" />

The meme became most popular in 2020.<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Andre Brock, a [[Georgia Tech]] professor of Black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]], the [[murder of George Floyd]], and the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.<ref name=":8" /> He said the virality of the two videos was the result of an "[[Interest Convergence|interest convergence]]" in which the pandemic "intersected with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear."<ref name=":8" />

== Notable examples ==
In December 2019, Australian media reported that in the town of [[Mildura]], a woman named Karen had been filmed trying to pull down an [[Australian Aboriginal Flag|Aboriginal flag]] being displayed by her neighbors. She was unable to pull it down, leading to a [[Twitter]] hashtag #TooStrongForYouKaren and other social media responses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/mildura-woman-attempts-to-tear-down-aboriginal-flag-in-viral-video |title=Mildura woman attempts to tear down Aboriginal flag in viral video |date=December 15, 2019 |work=[[SBS World News]] |location=Sydney |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/too-strong-for-you-karen-viral-video-prompts-mildura-rally/11823082 |title=#toostrongforyoukaren viral video prompts anti-racism rally in Mildura |last=Testa |first=Christopher |date=December 22, 2019 |publisher=[[ABC Mildura Swan Hill]] |location=Mildura, Victoria, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the term was used to describe women abusing [[Asian-American]] health workers due to the virus's origins in China,<ref>{{Cite web |title='Go to China!': 'Nurses' hailed for blocking anti-quarantine 'Karen' at coronavirus protest |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6841208/coronavirus-nurses-block-protest-denver/ |last=Elliott |first=Josh K. |date=April 20, 2020 |website=Global News |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> those [[hoarding]] essential supplies such as [[toilet paper]], and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce [[quarantine]]<ref name="weiner"/> and those who [[Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|protested the continuance of the restrictions]] because they prevented them visiting [[hair salon]]s,<ref name=":0" /> as well as over being forced to wear [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.<ref name=":0" /> Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.<ref name=":6" />

In May 2020, [[Christian Cooper]], writing about the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], said Amy Cooper's "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" when he started recording the encounter.<ref name=":3" /> He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Nir |first=Sarah Maslin |date=May 26, 2020 |title=White Woman Is Fired After Calling Police on Black Man in Central Park |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/nyregion/amy-cooper-dog-central-park.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perper |first=Rosie |url=https://www.insider.com/police-central-park-karen-video-dog-leash-2020-5 |title=A woman in a video appears to call the police claiming there's an 'African American man threatening my life' – he apparently had asked her to put her dog on a leash |website=Insider |date=May 25, 2020 |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

On December 16, 2020, Miya Ponsetto was dubbed "Soho Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter [[Keyon Harrold]], in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An [[Uber]] driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in [[Ventura County, California]] and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kenyon-harrold-jr-video-phone-steal-hotel-b1781033.html |title=NYPD releases new video of woman who falsely accused Black teenager of stealing her phone |first=Louise |last=Hall |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/soho-karen-racism-keyon-harrold-b1781370.html |title='Soho Karen' who attacked Black teenager identified |first=Josh |last=Marcus |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/soho-karen-arrested-after-viral-video-showed-her-tackling-boy-in-new-york |title='SoHo Karen' arrested after viral video showed her tackling 14-year-old boy at a NYC hotel |first=Christina |last=Gonzalez |website=[[KTTV]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-miya-ponsetto-soho-karen-nyc-charges-20210109-j4bzacu4gvh7bkgx2ndcefssde-story.html |title=Supervised release for ‘SoHo Karen’ Miya Ponsetto on attempted robbery, assault charges for attacking Black teen over missing iPhone |first1=Ellen |last1=Moynihan |first2=Thomas |last2=Tracy |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 9, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsone.com/4119577/soho-karen-interrupts-judge-during-court-hearing/ |title='SoHo Karen' Strikes Again: Miya Ponsetto Interrupts Judge To Say She Wants To Dodge Jail |first=Charise |last=Frazier |website=NewsOne |publisher=[[Urban One]] |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, a [[theme restaurant]] opened in [[Sydney, Australia]] called "Karen's Diner". The restaurant encourages both staff and customers to act rudely and complain. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/pop-up-restaurant-karens-diner-opens-in-sydney-with-rude-and-unprofessional-staff--c-4293428 |title=Pop-up restaurant Karen’s Diner opens in Sydney with rude and unprofessional staff|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref>

== Other uses ==
The mid-2019 formation of [[Tropical Storm Karen (2019)|Tropical Storm Karen]] in the [[Atlantic hurricane]] basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mansoor|first=Sanya|date=September 22, 2019|title=Tropical Storm Karen Has the Internet Saying the Storm 'Wants to Speak to a Manager'|url=https://time.com/5683398/tropical-storm-karen-memes/|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Time}}</ref>

In July 2020, [[Domino's Pizza Enterprises|Domino's Pizza]] ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|date=July 31, 2020|title=Domino's Pizza drops 'free pizza for Karen' offer|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53589897|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

In July 2020, an internet meme in the form of a [[parody advertisement]] for a fictional Girl of the Year character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a [[track suit]], bob haircut and [[Open carry in the United States|openly carrying]] a [[semi-automatic pistol]] while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from [[American Girl]], who took umbrage to the use of their name and [[trade dress]], stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."<ref name="mccarter">{{cite news|last=McCarter|first=Reid|title=American Girl calls manager over "Karen" doll parody|language=en-us|work=News|url=https://news.avclub.com/american-girl-calls-manager-over-karen-doll-parody-1844280459|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> [[Boing Boing]], however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the [[Streisand effect]], though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.<ref name="Beschizza">{{cite web|last=Beschizza|first=Rob|date=July 6, 2020|title=I found out about this amusing Karen parody of American Girl dolls because they want it taken down|url=https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html/|website=Boing Boing}}</ref>

The [[BBC]] called the [[Wall of Moms]] "a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly ''not'' being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."<ref name="BBC Nagesh" />

== Legislation ==

In July 2020, [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors|Supervisor]] [[Shamann Walton]] introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act. It would change the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauman |first=Anna |date=July 7, 2020 |title=SF supervisor's CAREN Act would make 'false racially biased' calls to police illegal |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> The Act passed unanimously in October of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Har |first=Janie |date=October 21, 2020 |title='CAREN Act': San Francisco officials let people sue over racist 911 calls |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Mercury News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/san-francisco-officials-let-people-sue-over-racist-911-calls |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> Noting this, Williams said "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".<ref name=":8" />

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Karen (film)]]
* [[Becky (slang)]]
* [[Bye, Felicia]]
* [[Bye Felipe]]
* [[Chad (slang)]]
* [[Cracker (term)]]
* [[Gammon (insult)]]
* [[Kyle (slang)]]
* [[OK boomer]]
* [[Trixie (slang)]]
* [[White defensiveness#White fragility|White fragility]], also known as ''white tears''
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{scholia}}
* {{Know Your Meme|karen|Karen}}

{{Black Lives Matter}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2017]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for white people]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of middle class women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white Americans]]
[[Category:Black Lives Matter]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of women]]

Karen (slang)

2021-11-24T05:56:12Z

Lirae22: no need for uppercase

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Pejorative term used in several English-speaking countries}}
{{About|the pejorative term|the name itself|Karen (name)|other uses|Karen (disambiguation){{!}}Karen}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}


'''Karen''' is a [[pejorative]] term for a white woman perceived as [[Entitlement|entitled]] or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. The term is a [[Internet meme|meme]] depicting white women who use their [[White privilege|privilege]] to demand their own way.<ref name="BBC Nagesh">{{cite web |last=Nagesh |first=Ashitha |date=July 30, 2020 |title=What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201 |website=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |title=How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |date=October 26, 2020 |website=Insider |publisher=Insider |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref> Depictions may include demanding to "speak to the manager", being [[racism|racist]] or sporting a particular [[bob cut]] hairstyle.<ref name=":10"/> A notable example was the 2020 [[Central Park birdwatching incident]].

The term has been criticized as being [[sexist]], [[ageist]] and [[misogynistic]] and seeking to control women's behavior.<ref name=":10" /> As of 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media as a general-purpose reference to [[middle class]] white women, especially during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> The term has also been applied to certain male behavior.<ref name=":10" /><ref name="ATL" /> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called 2020 "the year of Karen".<ref name="GuardianDec2020">{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=27 December 2020|title=The year of Karen: how a meme changed the way Americans talked about racism|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

== Origin ==
In [[African-American culture]], there is a long history of calling a meddlesome white woman by a certain name. In the [[Antebellum South|antebellum era]] (1815–1861), she was referred to as "[[Miss Ann]]".<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |title=What's In A 'Karen'? : Code Switch |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen |date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> In the early 1990s, "[[Becky (slang)|Becky]]" was used.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=May 6, 2020 |title=How 'Karen' Became a Coronavirus Villain |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-karen-memes-reddit-twitter-carolyn-goodman/611104/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref> As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Narizhnaya |first1=Khristina |last2=Lapin |first2=Tamar |last3=Brown |first3=Ruth |date=October 12, 2018 |title='Cornerstore Caroline' says she's not racist, apologizes to kids |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/cornerstore-caroline-says-shes-not-racist-apologizes-to-kids/ |access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |access-date=July 17, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]|quote=While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said.}}</ref> Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by [[Amanda Seyfried]]) from the 2004 film ''[[Mean Girls]]'', [[Dane Cook]]'s 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album ''[[Retaliation (Dane Cook album)|Retaliation]]'',<ref name="BI">{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5|access-date=May 29, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the [[Nintendo Switch]] console who exhibits antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".<ref name="Romano">{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Aja|date=February 5, 2020|title=Karen: The anti-vaxxer soccer mom with speak-to-the-manager hair, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21079162/karen-name-insult-meme-manager|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=October 25, 2016|title=Nintendo Switch's best, most revealing meme is antisocial 'Karen' |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/25/13403924/nintendo-switch-karen-meme-reveal-video |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Polygon |language=en}}</ref> In December 2017, Karen [[internet meme|memes]] regarding entitled women went viral on [[Reddit]], the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen. The posts led to the creation of the [[subreddit]] r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.<ref name="BI" /><ref name="Romano" />

A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originates among Black people to refer to unreasonable white women.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=A Brief History of 'Karen' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/style/karen-name-meme-history.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> The term was popularized on [[Black Twitter]] as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids' lemonade stands"<ref name=":0"/> or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".<ref name="Time meme history">{{cite magazine |last=Lang |first=Cady |date=June 25, 2020 |title=How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood |url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |access-date=April 13, 2021 |url-status=unfit |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111213845/https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |archive-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]'' magazine described ''Karen'' as a term that originated with Black women but was co-opted by white men.<ref name=":4" />

== Meaning and use ==
[[Kansas State University]] professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.<ref name=":0" /> According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends."<ref name=":0" /> Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for ''Bitch'', agrees, saying a Karen doesn't view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves."<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Rachel Charlene |date=April 10, 2020 |title='Karen' Isn't a Slur – It's A Critique of Entitled White Womanhood |url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/very-online/the-karen-meme-isnt-a-slur-its-a-social-critique |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]}}</ref>

The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="KYM">{{cite web |title=10+ Memes of Karen, the Infamous 'Speak to the Manager' Haircut |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/collections/10-memes-of-karen-the-infamous-speak-to-the-manager-haircut |access-date=May 30, 2020 |website=[[Know Your Meme]]}}</ref> Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Romano" /><ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Is calling someone 'Karen' a slur? An investigation. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/karen-memes-slur-kate-gosselin-hate-speech-women-20200513.html |access-date=June 2, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> racism,<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Asmelash |first=Leah |date=May 30, 2020 |title=How Karen became a meme, and what real-life Karens think about it |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/30/us/karen-meme-trnd/index.html |access-date=May 30, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> excessive use of [[Facebook]], and a particular [[Bob cut|bob haircut]] with blond [[Hair highlighting|highlights]]. Pictures of [[Kate Gosselin]] and [[Jenny McCarthy]]'s bob cut are often used to depict Karen,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|date=May 23, 2020|title=Column: Is the 'Karen' meme sexist? Maybe, but it's also apt|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-23/column-karen-meme-white-women-behaving-badly|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="BI" /><ref name="KYM" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dozier |first=Rob |date=August 21, 2018 |title=Why Memes Making Fun of White People Demanding to 'Speak to the Manager!' Are So Popular Right Now |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/bbq-becky-permit-patty-apple-store-lady-why-laughing-at-white-entitlement-feels-so-appropriate.html |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref>

=== Male context ===
{{See also|Kyle (slang)}}

The term is generally used to refer to women, but ''[[The Atlantic]]'' noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president [[Donald Trump]] the "Karen in chief".<ref name=ATL>{{Cite magazine |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=May 28, 2020 |title=The Karen in Chief |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/trump-social-media-scarborough/612193/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=How 'Karen' went from a popular baby name to a stand-in for White entitlement |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/how-karen-went-from-a-popular-baby-name-to-a-stand-in-for-white-entitlement/J4OBLU6KGZM5WIAEEOPYV4GFLA/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |date=June 16, 2020 |last=Queen |first=Robin |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling [[Elon Musk]] "Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of [[COVID-19 testing]] became [[Viral phenomenon|viral]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Khaleda |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Scientist's "Space Karen" response to Elon Musk goes viral |url=https://www.newsweek.com/space-karen-response-elon-musk-viral-1547695 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[Newsweek]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geske |first=Dawn |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Why Elon Musk Is Being Called 'Space Karen' After Latest Launch |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/why-elon-musk-being-called-space-karen-after-latest-launch-3083278 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[International Business Times]] |publisher=[[IBT Media]]}}</ref> Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowell|first=Erica|date=March 16, 2021|title=Male Version Of A Karen? Undeniable Evidence Of Them. Beware!|work=He, Him, His|publisher=|url=https://hehimhismedia.com/male-version-of-a-karen-evidence/|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=fatherly>{{cite web |url=https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/male-version-of-karen-meme/ |title=What Is the Male Version of a Karen? |last=Berical |first=Matt |date=December 11, 2020 |website=Fatherly |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> although 'Ken'<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=fatherly /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nextshark.com/davis-karen-ken-call-police-asian-man/|title=‘Karen’ and ‘Ken’ Call Police on Asian American Doctor Visiting Parents in Davis|author=Bryan Ke|date=2020-07-15|publisher=Nextshark}}</ref><ref name=forbescohen>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/06/28/who-is-karen--stop-using-the-nickname-and-call-it-what-it-really-is/?sh=640ba3e01c2f|title=Who Is Karen? Stop Using The Nickname And Call It What It Really Is|author=Seth Cohen|date=2020-06-08|publisher=Forbes}}</ref><ref name=mashable>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/karen-no-mask-videos-tantrums-coronavirus|title=8 Karens and Kens who threw huge tantrums instead of putting on masks|author=Nicole Gallucci|date=2020-06-29|publisher=Mashable}}</ref> and 'Kevin'<ref name=kqed>{{cite news|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13882681/we-all-know-a-karen-when-we-see-one-now-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin|title=We All Know a ‘Karen’ When We See One—Now We Need to Talk About ‘Kevin’|author=Rae Alexandra|date=2020-07-01|publisher=KQED}}</ref><ref name=insider>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/karen-compilation-timeline-white-women-racism-2020-6#while-women-have-largely-been-the-memes-focus-viral-videos-of-men-behaving-in-similar-ways-have-also-surfaced-social-media-users-have-dubbed-the-male-version-of-a-karen-as-a-kevin-or-ken-10|title=Videos of people labeled 'Karens' have flooded the internet, drawing curiosity, condemnation, and criticism. Here's how they took over our feeds during quarantine.|author=Margot Harris and Palmer Haasch|date=2020-07-03|publisher=Insider}}</ref> are among the most common names used. The [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow era]] male equivalent to Miss Ann was [[Mister Charlie]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jaynes |first=Gerald David |year=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of African American society, Volume 2 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage Publications]] |pages=551 |isbn=9780761927648}}</ref>

=== Sexism ===
The term has been called [[sexist]] and anti-woman. [[Hadley Freeman]], columnist and features writer for ''[[The Guardian]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hadley Freeman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hadleyfreeman |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref> argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |author-link=Hadley Freeman |date=April 13, 2020 |title=The 'Karen' meme is everywhere – and it has become mired in sexism |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/13/the-karen-meme-is-everywhere-and-it-has-become-mired-in-sexism |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> [[Jennifer Weiner]], writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'' during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.<ref name="weiner">{{Cite news |last=Weiner |first=Jennifer |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Opinion: The Seductive Appeal of Pandemic Shaming |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-shaming.html |access-date=June 13, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> In August 2020, [[Helen Lewis (journalist)|Helen Lewis]] wrote in ''The Atlantic'', "''Karen'' has become synonymous with ''woman'' among those who consider ''woman'' an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Helen |date=August 19, 2020 |title=The Mythology of Karen |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |issn=1072-7825}}</ref> Lewis also noted what she called the "[[finger trap]]" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."<ref name=":10" />

British journalist and feminist [[Julie Bindel]] asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on [[Class discrimination|class prejudice]]?"<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name="Parsons">{{Cite news |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/04/06/karen-slur-meme-coronavirus-pandemic-julie-bindel-twitter-feminism-white-privilege-class/ |title=In these trying times, lesbian radical feminist Julie Bindel is debating whether 'Karen' is a slur. Yes, really |last=Parsons |first=Vic |date=April 6, 2020 |newspaper=[[PinkNews]] |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in ''The Atlantic'', asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.<ref name=":0" /> [[Nina Burleigh]] wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=May 28, 2020 |title=How the Karen Meme Benefits the Right |url=https://gen.medium.com/how-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |language=en}}</ref> Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at [[Know Your Meme]], stated to ''[[Business Insider]]'' in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online", and that it had risen to popularity due to that demographic being seen as entitled.<ref name="BI" />

=== Racism ===

Multiple writers have discussed whether the term is a sexist and racist [[pejorative|slur]] for referring to white women.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-08|title=Opinion: Karen is not the equivalent of the N-word for white women. If you’re offended, you might be one|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/karen-n-word-racism-white-women-julie-bindel-coronavirus-a9453201.html|access-date=2021-04-30|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Attiah|first=Karen|title=Opinion {{!}} The ‘Karen’ memes and jokes aren’t sexist or racist. Let a Karen explain.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/28/karen-memes-jokes-arent-sexist-or-racist-let-karen-explain/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' called the meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood."<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=July 6, 2020|title=How the Karen Meme Confronts History of White Womanhood|url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence".<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Apryl Williams of the [[University of Michigan]] called it a Black activist meme, saying it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to Black people.<ref name=":8" /> On the other hand, [[Karen Attiah]], Global Opinions editor for ''[[The Washington Post]],'' argues that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=After racial violence in the U.S., writer Karen Attiah re-examines the 'Karen' meme |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/dysfunction-in-long-term-care-the-meaning-of-karen-zunzi-crispr-covid-19-tests-baroness-von-sketch-more-1.5588200/after-racial-violence-in-the-u-s-writer-karen-attiah-re-examines-the-karen-meme-1.5588208 |access-date=June 2, 2020 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

Scholars agree that ''Karen'' historically refers to racism.{{cn}} [[University of Virginia]] media researcher [[Meredith Clark]] has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom Black people feel a need to be careful because she won't hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".<ref name=":0" /> Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as Black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' played a Jeopardy sketch with [[Chadwick Boseman]] playing as his ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' character [[T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|T'Challa]].<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2020|title=What's in a Karen? (Transcript) |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/891177904 |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> Contemporary Karens have been compared to [[Carolyn Bryant]] (a white woman who accused [[Emmett Till]] of offending her, resulting in his lynching) and [[Mayella Ewell]] (a fictional character in the novel ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'').<ref name="GuardianDec2020" />

The meme became most popular in 2020.<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Andre Brock, a [[Georgia Tech]] professor of Black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]], the [[murder of George Floyd]], and the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.<ref name=":8" /> He said the virality of the two videos was the result of an "[[Interest Convergence|interest convergence]]" in which the pandemic "intersected with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear."<ref name=":8" />

== Notable examples ==
In December 2019, Australian media reported that in the town of [[Mildura]], a woman named Karen had been filmed trying to pull down an [[Australian Aboriginal Flag|Aboriginal flag]] being displayed by her neighbors. She was unable to pull it down, leading to a [[Twitter]] hashtag #TooStrongForYouKaren and other social media responses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/mildura-woman-attempts-to-tear-down-aboriginal-flag-in-viral-video |title=Mildura woman attempts to tear down Aboriginal flag in viral video |date=December 15, 2019 |work=[[SBS World News]] |location=Sydney |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/too-strong-for-you-karen-viral-video-prompts-mildura-rally/11823082 |title=#toostrongforyoukaren viral video prompts anti-racism rally in Mildura |last=Testa |first=Christopher |date=December 22, 2019 |publisher=[[ABC Mildura Swan Hill]] |location=Mildura, Victoria, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the term was used to describe women abusing [[Asian-American]] health workers due to the virus's origins in China,<ref>{{Cite web |title='Go to China!': 'Nurses' hailed for blocking anti-quarantine 'Karen' at coronavirus protest |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6841208/coronavirus-nurses-block-protest-denver/ |last=Elliott |first=Josh K. |date=April 20, 2020 |website=Global News |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> those [[hoarding]] essential supplies such as [[toilet paper]], and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce [[quarantine]]<ref name="weiner"/> and those who [[Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|protested the continuance of the restrictions]] because they prevented them visiting [[hair salon]]s,<ref name=":0" /> as well as over being forced to wear [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.<ref name=":0" /> Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.<ref name=":6" />

In May 2020, [[Christian Cooper]], writing about the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], said Amy Cooper's "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" when he started recording the encounter.<ref name=":3" /> He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Nir |first=Sarah Maslin |date=May 26, 2020 |title=White Woman Is Fired After Calling Police on Black Man in Central Park |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/nyregion/amy-cooper-dog-central-park.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perper |first=Rosie |url=https://www.insider.com/police-central-park-karen-video-dog-leash-2020-5 |title=A woman in a video appears to call the police claiming there's an 'African American man threatening my life' – he apparently had asked her to put her dog on a leash |website=Insider |date=May 25, 2020 |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

On December 16, 2020, Miya Ponsetto was dubbed "Soho Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter [[Keyon Harrold]], in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An [[Uber]] driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in [[Ventura County, California]] and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kenyon-harrold-jr-video-phone-steal-hotel-b1781033.html |title=NYPD releases new video of woman who falsely accused Black teenager of stealing her phone |first=Louise |last=Hall |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/soho-karen-racism-keyon-harrold-b1781370.html |title='Soho Karen' who attacked Black teenager identified |first=Josh |last=Marcus |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/soho-karen-arrested-after-viral-video-showed-her-tackling-boy-in-new-york |title='SoHo Karen' arrested after viral video showed her tackling 14-year-old boy at a NYC hotel |first=Christina |last=Gonzalez |website=[[KTTV]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-miya-ponsetto-soho-karen-nyc-charges-20210109-j4bzacu4gvh7bkgx2ndcefssde-story.html |title=Supervised release for ‘SoHo Karen’ Miya Ponsetto on attempted robbery, assault charges for attacking Black teen over missing iPhone |first1=Ellen |last1=Moynihan |first2=Thomas |last2=Tracy |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 9, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsone.com/4119577/soho-karen-interrupts-judge-during-court-hearing/ |title='SoHo Karen' Strikes Again: Miya Ponsetto Interrupts Judge To Say She Wants To Dodge Jail |first=Charise |last=Frazier |website=NewsOne |publisher=[[Urban One]] |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, a [[Theme restaurant]] opened in [[Sydney, Australia]] called "Karen's Diner". The restaurant encourages both staff and customers to act rudely and complain. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/pop-up-restaurant-karens-diner-opens-in-sydney-with-rude-and-unprofessional-staff--c-4293428 |title=Pop-up restaurant Karen’s Diner opens in Sydney with rude and unprofessional staff|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref>

== Other uses ==
The mid-2019 formation of [[Tropical Storm Karen (2019)|Tropical Storm Karen]] in the [[Atlantic hurricane]] basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mansoor|first=Sanya|date=September 22, 2019|title=Tropical Storm Karen Has the Internet Saying the Storm 'Wants to Speak to a Manager'|url=https://time.com/5683398/tropical-storm-karen-memes/|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Time}}</ref>

In July 2020, [[Domino's Pizza Enterprises|Domino's Pizza]] ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|date=July 31, 2020|title=Domino's Pizza drops 'free pizza for Karen' offer|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53589897|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

In July 2020, an internet meme in the form of a [[parody advertisement]] for a fictional Girl of the Year character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a [[track suit]], bob haircut and [[Open carry in the United States|openly carrying]] a [[semi-automatic pistol]] while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from [[American Girl]], who took umbrage to the use of their name and [[trade dress]], stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."<ref name="mccarter">{{cite news|last=McCarter|first=Reid|title=American Girl calls manager over "Karen" doll parody|language=en-us|work=News|url=https://news.avclub.com/american-girl-calls-manager-over-karen-doll-parody-1844280459|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> [[Boing Boing]], however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the [[Streisand effect]], though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.<ref name="Beschizza">{{cite web|last=Beschizza|first=Rob|date=July 6, 2020|title=I found out about this amusing Karen parody of American Girl dolls because they want it taken down|url=https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html/|website=Boing Boing}}</ref>

The [[BBC]] called the [[Wall of Moms]] "a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly ''not'' being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."<ref name="BBC Nagesh" />

== Legislation ==

In July 2020, [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors|Supervisor]] [[Shamann Walton]] introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act. It would change the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauman |first=Anna |date=July 7, 2020 |title=SF supervisor's CAREN Act would make 'false racially biased' calls to police illegal |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> The Act passed unanimously in October of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Har |first=Janie |date=October 21, 2020 |title='CAREN Act': San Francisco officials let people sue over racist 911 calls |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Mercury News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/san-francisco-officials-let-people-sue-over-racist-911-calls |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> Noting this, Williams said "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".<ref name=":8" />

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Karen (film)]]
* [[Becky (slang)]]
* [[Bye, Felicia]]
* [[Bye Felipe]]
* [[Chad (slang)]]
* [[Cracker (term)]]
* [[Gammon (insult)]]
* [[Kyle (slang)]]
* [[OK boomer]]
* [[Trixie (slang)]]
* [[White defensiveness#White fragility|White fragility]], also known as ''white tears''
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{scholia}}
* {{Know Your Meme|karen|Karen}}

{{Black Lives Matter}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2017]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for white people]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of middle class women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white Americans]]
[[Category:Black Lives Matter]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of women]]

Karen (slang)

2021-11-24T05:54:21Z

Lirae22: statement seems like synth

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Pejorative term used in several English-speaking countries}}
{{About|the pejorative term|the name itself|Karen (name)|other uses|Karen (disambiguation){{!}}Karen}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}


'''Karen''' is a [[pejorative]] term for a white woman perceived as [[Entitlement|entitled]] or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. The term is a [[Internet meme|meme]] depicting white women who use their [[White privilege|privilege]] to demand their own way.<ref name="BBC Nagesh">{{cite web |last=Nagesh |first=Ashitha |date=July 30, 2020 |title=What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53588201 |website=BBC News |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |title=How the name 'Karen' became a stand-in for problematic White women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |date=October 26, 2020 |website=Insider |publisher=Insider |access-date=November 22, 2020}}</ref> Depictions may include demanding to "speak to the manager", being [[racism|racist]] or sporting a particular [[bob cut]] hairstyle.<ref name=":10"/> A notable example was the 2020 [[Central Park birdwatching incident]].

The term has been criticized as being [[sexist]], [[ageist]] and [[misogynistic]] and seeking to control women's behavior.<ref name=":10" /> As of 2020, the term increasingly appeared in media and social media as a general-purpose reference to [[middle class]] white women, especially during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> The term has also been applied to certain male behavior.<ref name=":10" /><ref name="ATL" /> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called 2020 "the year of Karen".<ref name="GuardianDec2020">{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=27 December 2020|title=The year of Karen: how a meme changed the way Americans talked about racism|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/27/karen-race-white-women-black-americans-racism|access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>

== Origin ==
In [[African-American culture]], there is a long history of calling a meddlesome white woman by a certain name. In the [[Antebellum South|antebellum era]] (1815–1861), she was referred to as "[[Miss Ann]]".<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |title=What's In A 'Karen'? : Code Switch |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891177904/whats-in-a-karen |date=July 14, 2020 |access-date=February 1, 2021 |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> In the early 1990s, "[[Becky (slang)|Becky]]" was used.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlyn |date=May 6, 2020 |title=How 'Karen' Became a Coronavirus Villain |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2020/05/coronavirus-karen-memes-reddit-twitter-carolyn-goodman/611104/ |access-date=May 20, 2020 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref> As late as 2018, before the use of "Karen" caught on, alliterative names matching particular incidents were used, such as "Barbecue Becky", "Cornerstore Caroline", and "Permit Patty".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Narizhnaya |first1=Khristina |last2=Lapin |first2=Tamar |last3=Brown |first3=Ruth |date=October 12, 2018 |title='Cornerstore Caroline' says she's not racist, apologizes to kids |newspaper=[[New York Post]] |url=https://nypost.com/2018/10/12/cornerstore-caroline-says-shes-not-racist-apologizes-to-kids/ |access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

For the term "Karen", several possible origins have been proposed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5 |access-date=July 17, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]|quote=While there are many origin stories for the Karen meme, it's not completely clear where it came from — as is the case with many popular memes. 'The origins of Karen are kind of really hard to pin down,' Schimkowitz said.}}</ref> Early uses of Karen as a joke punchline include the airheaded character Karen (played by [[Amanda Seyfried]]) from the 2004 film ''[[Mean Girls]]'', [[Dane Cook]]'s 2005 sketch "The Friend Nobody Likes" on his album ''[[Retaliation (Dane Cook album)|Retaliation]]'',<ref name="BI">{{cite web |last=Greenspan |first=Rachel |date=May 27, 2020 |title=How the name Karen became a stand-in for problematic white women and a hugely popular meme |url=https://www.insider.com/karen-meme-origin-the-history-of-calling-women-karen-white-2020-5|access-date=May 29, 2020 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref> and a 2016 Internet meme regarding a woman in an ad for the [[Nintendo Switch]] console who exhibits antisocial behavior and is given the nickname "antisocial Karen".<ref name="Romano">{{Cite web|last=Romano|first=Aja|date=February 5, 2020|title=Karen: The anti-vaxxer soccer mom with speak-to-the-manager hair, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/2/5/21079162/karen-name-insult-meme-manager|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank |first=Allegra |date=October 25, 2016|title=Nintendo Switch's best, most revealing meme is antisocial 'Karen' |url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/10/25/13403924/nintendo-switch-karen-meme-reveal-video |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=Polygon |language=en}}</ref> In December 2017, Karen [[internet meme|memes]] regarding entitled women went viral on [[Reddit]], the earliest being from user karmacop9, who ranted about his ex-wife Karen. The posts led to the creation of the [[subreddit]] r/FuckYouKaren, containing memes about the posts, and inspiring spinoffs including r/karen and r/EntitledKarens dedicated to criticizing Karens.<ref name="BI" /><ref name="Romano" />

A more pointed explanation, which involves race, is the expression originates among Black people to refer to unreasonable white women.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=A Brief History of 'Karen' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/31/style/karen-name-meme-history.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |access-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> The term was popularized on [[Black Twitter]] as a meme used to describe white women who "tattle on Black kids' lemonade stands"<ref name=":0"/> or who unleash the "violent history of white womanhood".<ref name="Time meme history">{{cite magazine |last=Lang |first=Cady |date=June 25, 2020 |title=How the 'Karen Meme' Confronts the Violent History of White Womanhood |url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |access-date=April 13, 2021 |url-status=unfit |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111213845/https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/ |archive-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref> ''[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]'' magazine described ''Karen'' as a term that originated with Black women but was co-opted by white men.<ref name=":4" />

== Meaning and use ==
[[Kansas State University]] professor Heather Suzanne Woods, whose research interests include memes, said a Karen's defining characteristics are a sense of entitlement, a willingness and desire to complain, and a self-centered approach to interacting with others.<ref name=":0" /> According to Woods, a Karen "demands the world exist according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends."<ref name=":0" /> Rachel Charlene Lewis, writing for ''Bitch'', agrees, saying a Karen doesn't view others as individuals and instead moves "through the world prepared to fight faceless conglomerate of lesser-than people who won't give her what she wants and feels she deserves."<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Rachel Charlene |date=April 10, 2020 |title='Karen' Isn't a Slur – It's A Critique of Entitled White Womanhood |url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/very-online/the-karen-meme-isnt-a-slur-its-a-social-critique |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Bitch (magazine)|Bitch]]}}</ref>

The meme carries several stereotypes, the most notable being that a Karen will demand to "speak to the manager" of a hypothetical service provider.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="KYM">{{cite web |title=10+ Memes of Karen, the Infamous 'Speak to the Manager' Haircut |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/editorials/collections/10-memes-of-karen-the-infamous-speak-to-the-manager-haircut |access-date=May 30, 2020 |website=[[Know Your Meme]]}}</ref> Other stereotypes include anti-vaccination beliefs,<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Romano" /><ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=Is calling someone 'Karen' a slur? An investigation. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/karen-memes-slur-kate-gosselin-hate-speech-women-20200513.html |access-date=June 2, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref> racism,<ref name=":5">{{cite web |last=Asmelash |first=Leah |date=May 30, 2020 |title=How Karen became a meme, and what real-life Karens think about it |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/30/us/karen-meme-trnd/index.html |access-date=May 30, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref> excessive use of [[Facebook]], and a particular [[Bob cut|bob haircut]] with blond [[Hair highlighting|highlights]]. Pictures of [[Kate Gosselin]] and [[Jenny McCarthy]]'s bob cut are often used to depict Karen,<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Abcarian|first=Robin|date=May 23, 2020|title=Column: Is the 'Karen' meme sexist? Maybe, but it's also apt|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-05-23/column-karen-meme-white-women-behaving-badly|access-date=June 13, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref> and their bobs are sometimes called the "can-I-speak-to-your-manager?" haircut.<ref name="Romano" /><ref name="BI" /><ref name="KYM" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Dozier |first=Rob |date=August 21, 2018 |title=Why Memes Making Fun of White People Demanding to 'Speak to the Manager!' Are So Popular Right Now |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/08/bbq-becky-permit-patty-apple-store-lady-why-laughing-at-white-entitlement-feels-so-appropriate.html |access-date=April 21, 2020 |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref>

=== Male context ===
{{See also|Kyle (slang)}}

The term is generally used to refer to women, but ''[[The Atlantic]]'' noted that "a man can easily be called a Karen", with staff writer David A. Graham calling then-president [[Donald Trump]] the "Karen in chief".<ref name=ATL>{{Cite magazine |last=Graham |first=David A. |date=May 28, 2020 |title=The Karen in Chief |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/trump-social-media-scarborough/612193/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=How 'Karen' went from a popular baby name to a stand-in for White entitlement |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/how-karen-went-from-a-popular-baby-name-to-a-stand-in-for-white-entitlement/J4OBLU6KGZM5WIAEEOPYV4GFLA/ |access-date=October 12, 2020 |date=June 16, 2020 |last=Queen |first=Robin |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Similarly, in November 2020, a tweet calling [[Elon Musk]] "Space Karen" over comments he made regarding the effectiveness of [[COVID-19 testing]] became [[Viral phenomenon|viral]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rahman |first=Khaleda |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Scientist's "Space Karen" response to Elon Musk goes viral |url=https://www.newsweek.com/space-karen-response-elon-musk-viral-1547695 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[Newsweek]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Geske |first=Dawn |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Why Elon Musk Is Being Called 'Space Karen' After Latest Launch |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/why-elon-musk-being-called-space-karen-after-latest-launch-3083278 |access-date=November 16, 2020 |website=[[International Business Times]] |publisher=[[IBT Media]]}}</ref> Numerous names for a male equivalent of Karen have been floated, with little agreement on a single name,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lowell|first=Erica|date=March 16, 2021|title=Male Version Of A Karen? Undeniable Evidence Of Them. Beware!|work=He, Him, His|publisher=|url=https://hehimhismedia.com/male-version-of-a-karen-evidence/|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref><ref name=fatherly>{{cite web |url=https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/male-version-of-karen-meme/ |title=What Is the Male Version of a Karen? |last=Berical |first=Matt |date=December 11, 2020 |website=Fatherly |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> although 'Ken'<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=fatherly /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nextshark.com/davis-karen-ken-call-police-asian-man/|title=‘Karen’ and ‘Ken’ Call Police on Asian American Doctor Visiting Parents in Davis|author=Bryan Ke|date=2020-07-15|publisher=Nextshark}}</ref><ref name=forbescohen>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sethcohen/2020/06/28/who-is-karen--stop-using-the-nickname-and-call-it-what-it-really-is/?sh=640ba3e01c2f|title=Who Is Karen? Stop Using The Nickname And Call It What It Really Is|author=Seth Cohen|date=2020-06-08|publisher=Forbes}}</ref><ref name=mashable>{{cite web|url=https://mashable.com/article/karen-no-mask-videos-tantrums-coronavirus|title=8 Karens and Kens who threw huge tantrums instead of putting on masks|author=Nicole Gallucci|date=2020-06-29|publisher=Mashable}}</ref> and 'Kevin'<ref name=kqed>{{cite news|url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13882681/we-all-know-a-karen-when-we-see-one-now-we-need-to-talk-about-kevin|title=We All Know a ‘Karen’ When We See One—Now We Need to Talk About ‘Kevin’|author=Rae Alexandra|date=2020-07-01|publisher=KQED}}</ref><ref name=insider>{{cite news|url=https://www.insider.com/karen-compilation-timeline-white-women-racism-2020-6#while-women-have-largely-been-the-memes-focus-viral-videos-of-men-behaving-in-similar-ways-have-also-surfaced-social-media-users-have-dubbed-the-male-version-of-a-karen-as-a-kevin-or-ken-10|title=Videos of people labeled 'Karens' have flooded the internet, drawing curiosity, condemnation, and criticism. Here's how they took over our feeds during quarantine.|author=Margot Harris and Palmer Haasch|date=2020-07-03|publisher=Insider}}</ref> are among the most common names used. The [[Jim Crow laws|Jim Crow era]] male equivalent to Miss Ann was [[Mister Charlie]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jaynes |first=Gerald David |year=2005 |title=Encyclopedia of African American society, Volume 2 |publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage Publications]] |pages=551 |isbn=9780761927648}}</ref>

=== Sexism ===
The term has been called [[sexist]] and anti-woman. [[Hadley Freeman]], columnist and features writer for ''[[The Guardian]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hadley Freeman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/hadleyfreeman |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 14, 2021}}</ref> argues that use of the meme has become less about describing behavior than controlling it and "telling women to shut up".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |author-link=Hadley Freeman |date=April 13, 2020 |title=The 'Karen' meme is everywhere – and it has become mired in sexism |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/13/the-karen-meme-is-everywhere-and-it-has-become-mired-in-sexism |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> [[Jennifer Weiner]], writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'' during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], said the meme had succeeded in silencing her, saying she had had to balance her desire to complain about a nearby man coughing into the open air, hawking and spitting on the sidewalk, with her fear of being called a Karen.<ref name="weiner">{{Cite news |last=Weiner |first=Jennifer |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Opinion: The Seductive Appeal of Pandemic Shaming |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/opinion/coronavirus-shaming.html |access-date=June 13, 2020 |issn=0362-4331 }}</ref> In August 2020, [[Helen Lewis (journalist)|Helen Lewis]] wrote in ''The Atlantic'', "''Karen'' has become synonymous with ''woman'' among those who consider ''woman'' an insult. There is now a market, measured in attention and approbation, for anyone who can sniff out a Karen."<ref name=":10">{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Helen |date=August 19, 2020 |title=The Mythology of Karen |magazine=[[The Atlantic]] |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/08/karen-meme-coronavirus/615355/ |access-date=August 22, 2020 |issn=1072-7825}}</ref> Lewis also noted what she called the "[[finger trap]]" of the term, saying "What is more Karen than complaining about being called 'Karen'? There is a strong incentive to be cool about other women being Karened, lest you be Karened yourself."<ref name=":10" />

British journalist and feminist [[Julie Bindel]] asked, "Does anyone else think the 'Karen' slur is woman-hating and based on [[Class discrimination|class prejudice]]?"<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name="Parsons">{{Cite news |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/04/06/karen-slur-meme-coronavirus-pandemic-julie-bindel-twitter-feminism-white-privilege-class/ |title=In these trying times, lesbian radical feminist Julie Bindel is debating whether 'Karen' is a slur. Yes, really |last=Parsons |first=Vic |date=April 6, 2020 |newspaper=[[PinkNews]] |access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> Freeman replied, saying it was "sexist, ageist, and classist, in that order". Kaitlyn Tiffany, writing in ''The Atlantic'', asked, "Is a Karen just a woman who does anything at all that annoys people? If so, what is the male equivalent?", saying the meme was being called misogynistic.<ref name=":0" /> [[Nina Burleigh]] wrote that the memes "are merely excuses to heap scorn on random middle-aged white women".<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Nina |date=May 28, 2020 |title=How the Karen Meme Benefits the Right |url=https://gen.medium.com/how-the-karen-meme-benefits-the-right-4cff760d6e90 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |website=[[Medium (website)|Medium]] |language=en}}</ref> Matt Schimkowitz, a senior editor at [[Know Your Meme]], stated to ''[[Business Insider]]'' in 2019 that the term "just kind of took over all forms of criticism towards white women online", and that it had risen to popularity due to that demographic being seen as entitled.<ref name="BI" />

=== Racism ===

Multiple writers have discussed whether the term is a sexist and racist [[pejorative|slur]] for referring to white women.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-08|title=Opinion: Karen is not the equivalent of the N-word for white women. If you’re offended, you might be one|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/karen-n-word-racism-white-women-julie-bindel-coronavirus-a9453201.html|access-date=2021-04-30|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Attiah|first=Karen|title=Opinion {{!}} The ‘Karen’ memes and jokes aren’t sexist or racist. Let a Karen explain.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/28/karen-memes-jokes-arent-sexist-or-racist-let-karen-explain/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' called the meme "Internet shorthand ... for a particular kind of racial violence white women have instigated for centuries—following a long and troubling legacy of white women in the country weaponizing their victimhood."<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine|last=Lang|first=Cady|date=July 6, 2020|title=How the Karen Meme Confronts History of White Womanhood|url=https://time.com/5857023/karen-meme-history-meaning/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' notes that "the image of a white woman calling police on Black people put the lie to the myth of racial innocence".<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Apryl Williams of the [[University of Michigan]] called it a Black activist meme, saying it was ultimately beneficial in helping people recognize problematic behaviors, but warning that jokes downplayed the threat posed to Black people.<ref name=":8" /> On the other hand, [[Karen Attiah]], Global Opinions editor for ''[[The Washington Post]],'' argues that it lacks the historical context to be a slur and that calling it one trivializes actual discrimination.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 27, 2020 |title=After racial violence in the U.S., writer Karen Attiah re-examines the 'Karen' meme |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/dysfunction-in-long-term-care-the-meaning-of-karen-zunzi-crispr-covid-19-tests-baroness-von-sketch-more-1.5588200/after-racial-violence-in-the-u-s-writer-karen-attiah-re-examines-the-karen-meme-1.5588208 |access-date=June 2, 2020 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref>

Scholars agree that ''Karen'' historically refers to racism.{{cn}} [[University of Virginia]] media researcher [[Meredith Clark]] has said that the idea of a white woman in the vicinity of whom Black people feel a need to be careful because she won't hesitate to use her "privilege" at the expense of others "has always been there; it just hasn't always been so specific to one person's name".<ref name=":0" /> Karen Grigsby Bates agrees that Karen is part of a succession of characters like Miss Ann and Becky, adding that the concept of Karen, as Black people had been using the term, became clear to white people when ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' played a Jeopardy sketch with [[Chadwick Boseman]] playing as his ''[[Black Panther (film)|Black Panther]]'' character [[T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|T'Challa]].<ref name=":13" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2020|title=What's in a Karen? (Transcript) |url=https://www.npr.org/transcripts/891177904 |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> Contemporary Karens have been compared to [[Carolyn Bryant]] (a white woman who accused [[Emmett Till]] of offending her, resulting in his lynching) and [[Mayella Ewell]] (a fictional character in the novel ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'').<ref name="GuardianDec2020" />

The meme became most popular in 2020.<ref name="GuardianDec2020" /> Andre Brock, a [[Georgia Tech]] professor of Black digital culture, connected the virality of the meme in the summer of 2020 with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]], the [[murder of George Floyd]], and the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], noting that both incidents had occurred the same weekend during a period when much of the world had been forced to stay home and had plenty of free time to watch the videos.<ref name=":8" /> He said the virality of the two videos was the result of an "[[Interest Convergence|interest convergence]]" in which the pandemic "intersected with collective outrage over police brutality" and "highlighted the extreme violence—and potentially fatal consequences—of a white woman selfishly calling the cops out of spite and professed fear."<ref name=":8" />

== Notable examples ==
In December 2019, Australian media reported that in the town of [[Mildura]], a woman named Karen had been filmed trying to pull down an [[Australian Aboriginal Flag|Aboriginal flag]] being displayed by her neighbors. She was unable to pull it down, leading to a [[Twitter]] hashtag #TooStrongForYouKaren and other social media responses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/mildura-woman-attempts-to-tear-down-aboriginal-flag-in-viral-video |title=Mildura woman attempts to tear down Aboriginal flag in viral video |date=December 15, 2019 |work=[[SBS World News]] |location=Sydney |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-23/too-strong-for-you-karen-viral-video-prompts-mildura-rally/11823082 |title=#toostrongforyoukaren viral video prompts anti-racism rally in Mildura |last=Testa |first=Christopher |date=December 22, 2019 |publisher=[[ABC Mildura Swan Hill]] |location=Mildura, Victoria, Australia |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the term was used to describe women abusing [[Asian-American]] health workers due to the virus's origins in China,<ref>{{Cite web |title='Go to China!': 'Nurses' hailed for blocking anti-quarantine 'Karen' at coronavirus protest |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6841208/coronavirus-nurses-block-protest-denver/ |last=Elliott |first=Josh K. |date=April 20, 2020 |website=Global News |access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> those [[hoarding]] essential supplies such as [[toilet paper]], and both those who policed others' behavior to enforce [[quarantine]]<ref name="weiner"/> and those who [[Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|protested the continuance of the restrictions]] because they prevented them visiting [[hair salon]]s,<ref name=":0" /> as well as over being forced to wear [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic|face masks]] inside of stores, prompting one critic to ask whether the term had devolved into an all-purpose term of disapproval or criticism for middle-aged white women.<ref name=":0" /> Use of the term increased from 100,000 mentions on social media in January 2020 to 2.7 million in May 2020.<ref name=":6" />

In May 2020, [[Christian Cooper]], writing about the [[Central Park birdwatching incident]], said Amy Cooper's "inner Karen fully emerged and took a dark turn" when he started recording the encounter.<ref name=":3" /> He recorded her calling the police and telling them that an "African-American man" was threatening her and her dog.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Nir |first=Sarah Maslin |date=May 26, 2020 |title=White Woman Is Fired After Calling Police on Black Man in Central Park |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/26/nyregion/amy-cooper-dog-central-park.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perper |first=Rosie |url=https://www.insider.com/police-central-park-karen-video-dog-leash-2020-5 |title=A woman in a video appears to call the police claiming there's an 'African American man threatening my life' – he apparently had asked her to put her dog on a leash |website=Insider |date=May 25, 2020 |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

On December 16, 2020, Miya Ponsetto was dubbed "Soho Karen" after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr., son of jazz trumpeter [[Keyon Harrold]], in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel in New York City and accusing him of stealing her phone. Ponsetto alleged that she was assaulted during the altercation, though she could not provide evidence to her claim. An [[Uber]] driver returned her phone after the incident. In early January 2021, Ponsetto was arrested in [[Ventura County, California]] and extradited to New York, where she was charged with grand larceny, attempted robbery, child endangerment, and two counts of assault, as she also attacked Harrold Sr. during the altercation. It was also revealed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in 2020 for public intoxication and drunk driving.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kenyon-harrold-jr-video-phone-steal-hotel-b1781033.html |title=NYPD releases new video of woman who falsely accused Black teenager of stealing her phone |first=Louise |last=Hall |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/soho-karen-racism-keyon-harrold-b1781370.html |title='Soho Karen' who attacked Black teenager identified |first=Josh |last=Marcus |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxla.com/news/soho-karen-arrested-after-viral-video-showed-her-tackling-boy-in-new-york |title='SoHo Karen' arrested after viral video showed her tackling 14-year-old boy at a NYC hotel |first=Christina |last=Gonzalez |website=[[KTTV]] |date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-miya-ponsetto-soho-karen-nyc-charges-20210109-j4bzacu4gvh7bkgx2ndcefssde-story.html |title=Supervised release for ‘SoHo Karen’ Miya Ponsetto on attempted robbery, assault charges for attacking Black teen over missing iPhone |first1=Ellen |last1=Moynihan |first2=Thomas |last2=Tracy |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=January 9, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref> During the initial court hearing in March 2021, Ponsetto interrupted the judge by requesting to avoid jail time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsone.com/4119577/soho-karen-interrupts-judge-during-court-hearing/ |title='SoHo Karen' Strikes Again: Miya Ponsetto Interrupts Judge To Say She Wants To Dodge Jail |first=Charise |last=Frazier |website=NewsOne |publisher=[[Urban One]] |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, a [[Theme restaurant]] opened in [[Sydney, Australia]] called "Karen's Diner". The restaurant encourages both staff and customers to act rudely and complain. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/pop-up-restaurant-karens-diner-opens-in-sydney-with-rude-and-unprofessional-staff--c-4293428 |title=Pop-up restaurant Karen’s Diner opens in Sydney with rude and unprofessional staff|access-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref>

== Other uses ==
The mid-2019 formation of [[Tropical Storm Karen (2019)|Tropical Storm Karen]] in the [[Atlantic hurricane]] basin led to memes likening the storm to the stereotype; several users made jokes about the storm wanting to "speak with the manager", with images photoshopped to include the "Karen haircut" on either the hurricane or its forecast path.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mansoor|first=Sanya|date=September 22, 2019|title=Tropical Storm Karen Has the Internet Saying the Storm 'Wants to Speak to a Manager'|url=https://time.com/5683398/tropical-storm-karen-memes/|access-date=April 21, 2020|website=Time}}</ref>

In July 2020, [[Domino's Pizza Enterprises|Domino's Pizza]] ran an advertisement in Australia and New Zealand offering free pizzas to "nice Karens";<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /> the company later apologized and dropped the ad amidst criticism.<ref name="BBC Nagesh" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|date=July 31, 2020|title=Domino's Pizza drops 'free pizza for Karen' offer|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53589897|access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

In July 2020, an Internet meme in the form of a [[parody advertisement]] for a fictional Girl of the Year character depicted as a personification of the "Karen" stereotype, wearing a [[track suit]], bob haircut and [[Open carry in the United States|openly carrying]] a [[semi-automatic pistol]] while defiantly violating face mask guidelines mandated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provoked criticism from [[American Girl]], who took umbrage to the use of their name and [[trade dress]], stating that they were "disgusted" by a post from brand strategist Adam Padilla under the online persona "Adam the Creator", and "are working with the appropriate teams at American Girl to ensure this copyright violation is handled appropriately."<ref name="mccarter">{{cite news|last=McCarter|first=Reid|title=American Girl calls manager over "Karen" doll parody|language=en-us|work=News|url=https://news.avclub.com/american-girl-calls-manager-over-karen-doll-parody-1844280459|access-date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> [[Boing Boing]], however, expressed doubts over the merits of American Girl's proposed legal action against the "Karen" parodies citing the [[Streisand effect]], though it has also noted the debate on whether the satirical intent of the parody advertisement is protected by law.<ref name="Beschizza">{{cite web|last=Beschizza|first=Rob|date=July 6, 2020|title=I found out about this amusing Karen parody of American Girl dolls because they want it taken down|url=https://boingboing.net/2020/07/06/i-found-out-about-this-amusing.html/|website=Boing Boing}}</ref>

The [[BBC]] called the [[Wall of Moms]] "a good example of mainly middle-class, middle-aged white women explicitly ''not'' being Karens. Instead, the Wall of Moms is seen by activists as using their privilege to protest against the very same systemic racism and classism that Karens actively seek to exploit."<ref name="BBC Nagesh" />

== Legislation ==

In July 2020, [[San Francisco Board of Supervisors|Supervisor]] [[Shamann Walton]] introduced the Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act. It would change the San Francisco Police Code to prohibit the fabrication of racially biased emergency reports.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bauman |first=Anna |date=July 7, 2020 |title=SF supervisor's CAREN Act would make 'false racially biased' calls to police illegal |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-supe-proposes-CAREN-Act-to-prohibit-false-15392969.php |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> The Act passed unanimously in October of that year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Har |first=Janie |date=October 21, 2020 |title='CAREN Act': San Francisco officials let people sue over racist 911 calls |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Mercury News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/san-francisco-officials-let-people-sue-over-racist-911-calls |access-date=April 19, 2021}}</ref> Noting this, Williams said "these memes are actually doing logical and political work of helping us get to legal changes".<ref name=":8" />

== See also ==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Karen (film)]]
* [[Becky (slang)]]
* [[Bye, Felicia]]
* [[Bye Felipe]]
* [[Chad (slang)]]
* [[Cracker (term)]]
* [[Gammon (insult)]]
* [[Kyle (slang)]]
* [[OK boomer]]
* [[Trixie (slang)]]
* [[White defensiveness#White fragility|White fragility]], also known as ''white tears''
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{scholia}}
* {{Know Your Meme|karen|Karen}}

{{Black Lives Matter}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Internet memes introduced in 2017]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for white people]]
[[Category:Pejorative terms for women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of middle class women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white Americans]]
[[Category:Black Lives Matter]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of white women]]
[[Category:Stereotypes of women]]

London Welsh F.C.

2021-11-23T14:26:41Z

Lirae22: /* Present day club */ cut unsourced puffery and more about the league not the club

{{for|the rugby union team|London Welsh R.F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{no footnotes|date=October 2017}}
'''London Welsh Football Club''' is one of the oldest in London having played its first competitive match on 18 October 1891, although it had been founded around a year earlier by officers of the Welsh regiments, with the aim to "honourably uphold the reputation of Wales in the Metropolis".

Their first season was a difficult one, including an emphatic 0–12 loss to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall Athletic]]. They played in the [[London League (football)|London League]] in the [[1896–97 in English football|1896–97]] season, in which they finished bottom. They were suspended towards the end of the season, and the points from their two remaining games went to their opponents, [[Thames Ironworks F.C.|Thames Ironworks]] (who later changed their name to West Ham), who as a result finished second. At this time the club had 90 members who were all, exclusively, Welsh.

The team was soon to be nicknamed "Preston North End" because "they were never beaten". This was due in part to having 6 Welsh internationals playing for the team, including [[Price White]], [[Jeffrey Jones (footballer)|Jeffrey Jones]], [[Sam Gillam]] (1890–93), [[Robert Lee Roberts]] (1891-1902) and the charismatic [[Leigh Richmond Roose]] (1900–01), who was capped three times while playing for 'Welsh'. Whilst a number of its rivals developed into professional clubs London Welsh retained its amateur status and when the [[Amateur Football Alliance]] reconstituted the [[Southern Olympian League]] in 1921, following the First World War, 'Welsh' were one of 15 clubs admitted to membership.

==Honours==
London Welsh won the following league honours during their long period in the South Olympian leagues:

> Senior Division 1 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1922-23

> Minor Division 3 - London Welsh 3rd XI in 1951-52

> Senior Division 3 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1953-54

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1968-69

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1973-74

> Minor Division E was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1979-80

> Senior Division 4 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1993-94

> Minor Division C was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1993-94

London Welsh also won the Middlesex Cup in 1921–22.

In 2002 the SOL and the Old Boys' Football League merged to form the Amateur Football Combination, one of Europe's biggest leagues. Of the original SOL clubs only London Welsh and Witan remain as members of the AFC. Up until the early 1990s Gunnersbury Park was Welsh's home until it they decided to seek better facilities and move to the Ibis ground nearby. London Welsh suffered from the selling off of sports pitches and for the next few years the club went through a nomadic period that included two seasons in south east London at Charlton. London have now come back to our West London roots and use the facilities of The Polytechnic Football Club from the Southern Amateur League.

==Present day club==
London Welsh currently operate two football teams, who play home games at the Quentin Hogg Memorial Ground in [[Chiswick]] and compete in the Amateur Football Combination. In the 2016–17 season London Welsh's two teams competed in the South 1 and South 5 divisions. After a lean period the 'Welsh' picked up silverware in 2015–16, with the first XI winning the South Division 3 (and being promoted two divisions in a league re-organisation) and the second XI won the A.F.A. Cup.

==References==
*{{cite book |author1=Blows, Kirk |author2=Hogg, Tony |name-list-style=amp | title=The Essential History of West Ham United | publisher=Headline | year=2000| isbn=0-7472-7036-8}}
* Newspaper reports on the formation of London Welsh http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3766371/3766377/67/ http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4321836/4321839/7/

==External links==
*[http://fchd.info/LONDONW.HTM London Welsh on the Football Club History Database]
*[http://www.londonwelshafc.co.uk/ Present day club website]
*{{cite web|url=http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|title=SOL & OBFL Past Winners| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217111848/http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|archive-date=17 December 2016|url-status=dead}}
*[[:Category:London Welsh F.C. players]]

[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1891]]
[[Category:Football clubs in London]]
[[Category:London League (football)]]

London Welsh F.C.

2021-11-23T14:23:42Z

Lirae22: potted histroy of Southern league with no mention of article subject

{{for|the rugby union team|London Welsh R.F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{no footnotes|date=October 2017}}
'''London Welsh Football Club''' is one of the oldest in London having played its first competitive match on 18 October 1891, although it had been founded around a year earlier by officers of the Welsh regiments, with the aim to "honourably uphold the reputation of Wales in the Metropolis".

Their first season was a difficult one, including an emphatic 0–12 loss to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall Athletic]]. They played in the [[London League (football)|London League]] in the [[1896–97 in English football|1896–97]] season, in which they finished bottom. They were suspended towards the end of the season, and the points from their two remaining games went to their opponents, [[Thames Ironworks F.C.|Thames Ironworks]] (who later changed their name to West Ham), who as a result finished second. At this time the club had 90 members who were all, exclusively, Welsh.

The team was soon to be nicknamed "Preston North End" because "they were never beaten". This was due in part to having 6 Welsh internationals playing for the team, including [[Price White]], [[Jeffrey Jones (footballer)|Jeffrey Jones]], [[Sam Gillam]] (1890–93), [[Robert Lee Roberts]] (1891-1902) and the charismatic [[Leigh Richmond Roose]] (1900–01), who was capped three times while playing for 'Welsh'. Whilst a number of its rivals developed into professional clubs London Welsh retained its amateur status and when the [[Amateur Football Alliance]] reconstituted the [[Southern Olympian League]] in 1921, following the First World War, 'Welsh' were one of 15 clubs admitted to membership.

==Honours==
London Welsh won the following league honours during their long period in the South Olympian leagues:

> Senior Division 1 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1922-23

> Minor Division 3 - London Welsh 3rd XI in 1951-52

> Senior Division 3 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1953-54

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1968-69

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1973-74

> Minor Division E was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1979-80

> Senior Division 4 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1993-94

> Minor Division C was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1993-94

London Welsh also won the Middlesex Cup in 1921–22.

In 2002 the SOL and the Old Boys' Football League merged to form the Amateur Football Combination, one of Europe's biggest leagues. Of the original SOL clubs only London Welsh and Witan remain as members of the AFC. Up until the early 1990s Gunnersbury Park was Welsh's home until it they decided to seek better facilities and move to the Ibis ground nearby. London Welsh suffered from the selling off of sports pitches and for the next few years the club went through a nomadic period that included two seasons in south east London at Charlton. London have now come back to our West London roots and use the facilities of The Polytechnic Football Club from the Southern Amateur League.

==Present day club==
London Welsh currently operate two football teams, who play home games at the Quentin Hogg Memorial Ground in [[Chiswick]] and compete in the Amateur Football Combination. The Amateur Football Combination (AFC) is based in and around London and the Home Counties, and is believed to be the biggest adult football league in Europe. It has around 100 clubs and 350 sides playing Saturday afternoons, and comprises more than 1% of adult male 11-a-side football teams in England. In the 2016–17 season London Welsh's two teams competed in the South 1 and South 5 divisions. After a lean period the 'Welsh' picked up silverware in 2015–16, with the first XI winning the South Division 3 (and being promoted two divisions in a league re-organisation) and the second XI won the A.F.A. Cup.

As well as competing for league honours teams are awarded marks for their sportsmanship, hospitality and facilities, and Welsh have been named the top club for hospitality three time since 2005. The club are a mixture of Londoners, Welshmen and International players, with the first X1 including several Ex-semi pro players. The club hold regular social events and have toured Cyprus, Cornwall, Bournemouth, Barcelona and Nice (for Euro'16) in recent years.

==References==
*{{cite book |author1=Blows, Kirk |author2=Hogg, Tony |name-list-style=amp | title=The Essential History of West Ham United | publisher=Headline | year=2000| isbn=0-7472-7036-8}}
* Newspaper reports on the formation of London Welsh http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3766371/3766377/67/ http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4321836/4321839/7/

==External links==
*[http://fchd.info/LONDONW.HTM London Welsh on the Football Club History Database]
*[http://www.londonwelshafc.co.uk/ Present day club website]
*{{cite web|url=http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|title=SOL & OBFL Past Winners| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217111848/http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|archive-date=17 December 2016|url-status=dead}}
*[[:Category:London Welsh F.C. players]]

[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1891]]
[[Category:Football clubs in London]]
[[Category:London League (football)]]

London Welsh F.C.

2021-11-23T14:22:45Z

Lirae22: no evidence of notability

{{for|the rugby union team|London Welsh R.F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{no footnotes|date=October 2017}}
'''London Welsh Football Club''' is one of the oldest in London having played its first competitive match on 18 October 1891, although it had been founded around a year earlier by officers of the Welsh regiments, with the aim to "honourably uphold the reputation of Wales in the Metropolis".

Their first season was a difficult one, including an emphatic 0–12 loss to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall Athletic]]. They played in the [[London League (football)|London League]] in the [[1896–97 in English football|1896–97]] season, in which they finished bottom. They were suspended towards the end of the season, and the points from their two remaining games went to their opponents, [[Thames Ironworks F.C.|Thames Ironworks]] (who later changed their name to West Ham), who as a result finished second. At this time the club had 90 members who were all, exclusively, Welsh.

The team was soon to be nicknamed "Preston North End" because "they were never beaten". This was due in part to having 6 Welsh internationals playing for the team, including [[Price White]], [[Jeffrey Jones (footballer)|Jeffrey Jones]], [[Sam Gillam]] (1890–93), [[Robert Lee Roberts]] (1891-1902) and the charismatic [[Leigh Richmond Roose]] (1900–01), who was capped three times while playing for 'Welsh'. Whilst a number of its rivals developed into professional clubs London Welsh retained its amateur status and when the [[Amateur Football Alliance]] reconstituted the [[Southern Olympian League]] in 1921, following the First World War, 'Welsh' were one of 15 clubs admitted to membership.

The Southern Olympian League gradually extended its membership and Reserve XIs were admitted for the first time in 1923-24 and a Minor Section in 1927–28. The status and reputation of the League was greatly enhanced in the seasons between the wars, but in 1939 the Second World War broke out and the League was again disbanded. Immediately hostilities ceased the League was restarted with 8 clubs. The number rapidly increased in succeeding seasons and in 1948-49 it was possible to form three Senior Divisions, Senior and Junior Challenge Cup competitions were introduced in 1948–49, Minor Cup in 1950-51 and a competition for 4th, 5th and 6th XIs in 1953–54.

==Honours==
London Welsh won the following league honours during their long period in the South Olympian leagues:

> Senior Division 1 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1922-23

> Minor Division 3 - London Welsh 3rd XI in 1951-52

> Senior Division 3 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1953-54

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1968-69

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1973-74

> Minor Division E was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1979-80

> Senior Division 4 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1993-94

> Minor Division C was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1993-94

London Welsh also won the Middlesex Cup in 1921–22.

In 2002 the SOL and the Old Boys' Football League merged to form the Amateur Football Combination, one of Europe's biggest leagues. Of the original SOL clubs only London Welsh and Witan remain as members of the AFC. Up until the early 1990s Gunnersbury Park was Welsh's home until it they decided to seek better facilities and move to the Ibis ground nearby. London Welsh suffered from the selling off of sports pitches and for the next few years the club went through a nomadic period that included two seasons in south east London at Charlton. London have now come back to our West London roots and use the facilities of The Polytechnic Football Club from the Southern Amateur League.

==Present day club==
London Welsh currently operate two football teams, who play home games at the Quentin Hogg Memorial Ground in [[Chiswick]] and compete in the Amateur Football Combination. The Amateur Football Combination (AFC) is based in and around London and the Home Counties, and is believed to be the biggest adult football league in Europe. It has around 100 clubs and 350 sides playing Saturday afternoons, and comprises more than 1% of adult male 11-a-side football teams in England. In the 2016–17 season London Welsh's two teams competed in the South 1 and South 5 divisions. After a lean period the 'Welsh' picked up silverware in 2015–16, with the first XI winning the South Division 3 (and being promoted two divisions in a league re-organisation) and the second XI won the A.F.A. Cup.

As well as competing for league honours teams are awarded marks for their sportsmanship, hospitality and facilities, and Welsh have been named the top club for hospitality three time since 2005. The club are a mixture of Londoners, Welshmen and International players, with the first X1 including several Ex-semi pro players. The club hold regular social events and have toured Cyprus, Cornwall, Bournemouth, Barcelona and Nice (for Euro'16) in recent years.

==References==
*{{cite book |author1=Blows, Kirk |author2=Hogg, Tony |name-list-style=amp | title=The Essential History of West Ham United | publisher=Headline | year=2000| isbn=0-7472-7036-8}}
* Newspaper reports on the formation of London Welsh http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3766371/3766377/67/ http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4321836/4321839/7/

==External links==
*[http://fchd.info/LONDONW.HTM London Welsh on the Football Club History Database]
*[http://www.londonwelshafc.co.uk/ Present day club website]
*{{cite web|url=http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|title=SOL & OBFL Past Winners| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217111848/http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|archive-date=17 December 2016|url-status=dead}}
*[[:Category:London Welsh F.C. players]]

[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1891]]
[[Category:Football clubs in London]]
[[Category:London League (football)]]

London Welsh F.C.

2021-11-23T14:20:55Z

Lirae22:

{{for|the rugby union team|London Welsh R.F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{no footnotes|date=October 2017}}
'''London Welsh Football Club''' is one of the oldest in London having played its first competitive match on 18 October 1891, although it had been founded around a year earlier by officers of the Welsh regiments, with the aim to "honourably uphold the reputation of Wales in the Metropolis".

Their first season was a difficult one, including an emphatic 0–12 loss to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall Athletic]]. They played in the [[London League (football)|London League]] in the [[1896–97 in English football|1896–97]] season, in which they finished bottom. They were suspended towards the end of the season, and the points from their two remaining games went to their opponents, [[Thames Ironworks F.C.|Thames Ironworks]] (Who later changed their name to West Ham), who as a result finished second. Another noteworthy fixtures in the early days were a 1:0 defeat and 1:1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in 1894. At this time the club had 90 members who were all, exclusively, Welsh.

The team was soon to be nicknamed "Preston North End" because "they were never beaten". This was due in part to having 6 Welsh internationals playing for the team, including [[Price White]], [[Jeffrey Jones (footballer)|Jeffrey Jones]], [[Sam Gillam]] (1890–93), [[Robert Lee Roberts]] (1891-1902) and the charismatic [[Leigh Richmond Roose]] (1900–01), who was capped three times while playing for 'Welsh'. Whilst a number of its rivals developed into professional clubs London Welsh retained its amateur status and when the [[Amateur Football Alliance]] reconstituted the [[Southern Olympian League]] in 1921, following the First World War, 'Welsh' were one of 15 clubs admitted to membership.

The Southern Olympian League gradually extended its Membership and Reserve XIs were admitted for the first time in 1923-24 and a Minor Section in 1927–28. The status and reputation of the League was greatly enhanced in the seasons between the wars, but in 1939 the Second World War broke out and the League was again disbanded. Immediately hostilities ceased the League was restarted with 8 clubs. The number rapidly increased in succeeding seasons and in 1948-49 it was possible to form three Senior Divisions, Senior and Junior Challenge Cup competitions were introduced in 1948–49, Minor Cup in 1950-51 and a competition for 4th, 5th and 6th XIs in 1953–54.

==Honours==
London Welsh won the following league honours during their long period in the South Olympian leagues:

> Senior Division 1 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1922-23

> Minor Division 3 - London Welsh 3rd XI in 1951-52

> Senior Division 3 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1953-54

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1968-69

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1973-74

> Minor Division E was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1979-80

> Senior Division 4 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1993-94

> Minor Division C was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1993-94

London Welsh also won the Middlesex Cup in 1921–22.

In 2002 the SOL and the Old Boys' Football League merged to form the Amateur Football Combination, one of Europe's biggest leagues. Of the original SOL clubs only London Welsh and Witan remain as members of the AFC. Up until the early 1990s Gunnersbury Park was Welsh's home until it they decided to seek better facilities and move to the Ibis ground nearby. London Welsh suffered from the selling off of sports pitches and for the next few years the club went through a nomadic period that included two seasons in south east London at Charlton. London have now come back to our West London roots and use the facilities of The Polytechnic Football Club from the Southern Amateur League.

==Present day club==
London Welsh currently operate two football teams, who play home games at the Quentin Hogg Memorial Ground in [[Chiswick]] and compete in the Amateur Football Combination. The Amateur Football Combination (AFC) is based in and around London and the Home Counties, and is believed to be the biggest adult football league in Europe. It has around 100 clubs and 350 sides playing Saturday afternoons, and comprises more than 1% of adult male 11-a-side football teams in England. In the 2016–17 season London Welsh's two teams competed in the South 1 and South 5 divisions. After a lean period the 'Welsh' picked up silverware in 2015–16, with the first XI winning the South Division 3 (and being promoted two divisions in a league re-organisation) and the second XI won the A.F.A. Cup.

As well as competing for league honours teams are awarded marks for their sportsmanship, hospitality and facilities, and Welsh have been named the top club for hospitality three time since 2005. The club are a mixture of Londoners, Welshmen and International players, with the first X1 including several Ex-semi pro players. The club hold regular social events and have toured Cyprus, Cornwall, Bournemouth, Barcelona and Nice (for Euro'16) in recent years.

==References==
*{{cite book |author1=Blows, Kirk |author2=Hogg, Tony |name-list-style=amp | title=The Essential History of West Ham United | publisher=Headline | year=2000| isbn=0-7472-7036-8}}
* Newspaper reports on the formation of London Welsh http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3766371/3766377/67/ http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4321836/4321839/7/

==External links==
*[http://fchd.info/LONDONW.HTM London Welsh on the Football Club History Database]
*[http://www.londonwelshafc.co.uk/ Present day club website]
*{{cite web|url=http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|title=SOL & OBFL Past Winners| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217111848/http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|archive-date=17 December 2016|url-status=dead}}
*[[:Category:London Welsh F.C. players]]

[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1891]]
[[Category:Football clubs in London]]
[[Category:London League (football)]]

London Welsh F.C.

2021-11-23T14:20:13Z

Lirae22:

{{for|the rugby union team|London Welsh R.F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{no footnotes|date=October 2017}}
'''London Welsh Football Club''' is one of the oldest in London having played its first competitive match on 18 October 1891, although it had been founded around a year earlier by officers of the Welsh regiments, with the aim to "honourably uphold the reputation of Wales in the Metropolis".

Their first season was a difficult one, including an emphatic 0–12 loss to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall Athletic]] in the [[1891–92 in English football|1891–92]] season. They played in the [[London League (football)|London League]] in the [[1896–97 in English football|1896–97]] season, in which they finished 7th of seven. They were suspended towards the end of the season, and the points from their two remaining games went to their opponents, [[Thames Ironworks F.C.|Thames Ironworks]] (Who later changed their name to West Ham), who as a result finished second. Another noteworthy fixtures in the early days were a 1:0 defeat and 1:1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in 1894. At this time the club had 90 members who were all, exclusively, Welsh.

The team was soon to be nicknamed "Preston North End" because "they were never beaten". This was due in part to having 6 Welsh internationals playing for the team, including [[Price White]], [[Jeffrey Jones (footballer)|Jeffrey Jones]], [[Sam Gillam]] (1890–93), [[Robert Lee Roberts]] (1891-1902) and the charismatic [[Leigh Richmond Roose]] (1900–01), who was capped three times while playing for 'Welsh'. Whilst a number of its rivals developed into professional clubs London Welsh retained its amateur status and when the [[Amateur Football Alliance]] reconstituted the [[Southern Olympian League]] in 1921, following the First World War, 'Welsh' were one of 15 clubs admitted to membership.

The Southern Olympian League gradually extended its Membership and Reserve XIs were admitted for the first time in 1923-24 and a Minor Section in 1927–28. The status and reputation of the League was greatly enhanced in the seasons between the wars, but in 1939 the Second World War broke out and the League was again disbanded. Immediately hostilities ceased the League was restarted with 8 clubs. The number rapidly increased in succeeding seasons and in 1948-49 it was possible to form three Senior Divisions, Senior and Junior Challenge Cup competitions were introduced in 1948–49, Minor Cup in 1950-51 and a competition for 4th, 5th and 6th XIs in 1953–54.

==Honours==
London Welsh won the following league honours during their long period in the South Olympian leagues:

> Senior Division 1 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1922-23

> Minor Division 3 - London Welsh 3rd XI in 1951-52

> Senior Division 3 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1953-54

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1968-69

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1973-74

> Minor Division E was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1979-80

> Senior Division 4 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1993-94

> Minor Division C was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1993-94

London Welsh also won the Middlesex Cup in 1921–22.

In 2002 the SOL and the Old Boys' Football League merged to form the Amateur Football Combination, one of Europe's biggest leagues. Of the original SOL clubs only London Welsh and Witan remain as members of the AFC. Up until the early 1990s Gunnersbury Park was Welsh's home until it they decided to seek better facilities and move to the Ibis ground nearby. London Welsh suffered from the selling off of sports pitches and for the next few years the club went through a nomadic period that included two seasons in south east London at Charlton. London have now come back to our West London roots and use the facilities of The Polytechnic Football Club from the Southern Amateur League.

==Present day club==
London Welsh currently operate two football teams, who play home games at the Quentin Hogg Memorial Ground in [[Chiswick]] and compete in the Amateur Football Combination. The Amateur Football Combination (AFC) is based in and around London and the Home Counties, and is believed to be the biggest adult football league in Europe. It has around 100 clubs and 350 sides playing Saturday afternoons, and comprises more than 1% of adult male 11-a-side football teams in England. In the 2016–17 season London Welsh's two teams competed in the South 1 and South 5 divisions. After a lean period the 'Welsh' picked up silverware in 2015–16, with the first XI winning the South Division 3 (and being promoted two divisions in a league re-organisation) and the second XI won the A.F.A. Cup.

As well as competing for league honours teams are awarded marks for their sportsmanship, hospitality and facilities, and Welsh have been named the top club for hospitality three time since 2005. The club are a mixture of Londoners, Welshmen and International players, with the first X1 including several Ex-semi pro players. The club hold regular social events and have toured Cyprus, Cornwall, Bournemouth, Barcelona and Nice (for Euro'16) in recent years.

==References==
*{{cite book |author1=Blows, Kirk |author2=Hogg, Tony |name-list-style=amp | title=The Essential History of West Ham United | publisher=Headline | year=2000| isbn=0-7472-7036-8}}
* Newspaper reports on the formation of London Welsh http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3766371/3766377/67/ http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4321836/4321839/7/

==External links==
*[http://fchd.info/LONDONW.HTM London Welsh on the Football Club History Database]
*[http://www.londonwelshafc.co.uk/ Present day club website]
*{{cite web|url=http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|title=SOL & OBFL Past Winners| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217111848/http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|archive-date=17 December 2016|url-status=dead}}
*[[:Category:London Welsh F.C. players]]

[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1891]]
[[Category:Football clubs in London]]
[[Category:London League (football)]]

London Welsh F.C.

2021-11-23T14:18:20Z

Lirae22: /* Present day club */ no caps

{{for|the rugby union team|London Welsh R.F.C.}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{no footnotes|date=October 2017}}
'''London Welsh Football Club''' are one of the oldest in London having played its first competitive match on 18 October 1891, although it had been founded around a year earlier by officers of the Welsh regiments, with the aim to "honourably uphold the reputation of Wales in the Metropolis".

Their first season was a difficult one, including an emphatical 0–12 loss to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall Athletic]] in the [[1891–92 in English football|1891–92]] season. They played in the [[London League (football)|London League]] in the [[1896–97 in English football|1896–97]] season, in which they finished 7th of seven. They were suspended towards the end of the season, and the points from their two remaining games went to their opponents, [[Thames Ironworks F.C.|Thames Ironworks]] (Who later changed their name to West Ham), who as a result finished second. Another noteworthy fixtures in the early days were a 1:0 defeat and 1:1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur in 1894. At this time the club had 90 members who were all, exclusively, Welsh.

The team was soon to be nicknamed "Preston North End" because "they were never beaten". This was due in part to having 6 Welsh internationals playing for the team, including [[Price White]], [[Jeffrey Jones (footballer)|Jeffrey Jones]], [[Sam Gillam]] (1890–93), [[Robert Lee Roberts]] (1891-1902) and the charismatic [[Leigh Richmond Roose]] (1900–01), who was capped three times while playing for 'Welsh'. Whilst a number of its rivals developed into professional clubs London Welsh retained its amateur status and when the [[Amateur Football Alliance]] reconstituted the [[Southern Olympian League]] in 1921, following the First World War, 'Welsh' were one of 15 clubs admitted to membership.

The Southern Olympian League gradually extended its Membership and Reserve XIs were admitted for the first time in 1923-24 and a Minor Section in 1927–28. The status and reputation of the League was greatly enhanced in the seasons between the wars, but in 1939 the Second World War broke out and the League was again disbanded. Immediately hostilities ceased the League was restarted with 8 clubs. The number rapidly increased in succeeding seasons and in 1948-49 it was possible to form three Senior Divisions, Senior and Junior Challenge Cup competitions were introduced in 1948–49, Minor Cup in 1950-51 and a competition for 4th, 5th and 6th XIs in 1953–54.

==Honours==
London Welsh won the following league honours during their long period in the South Olympian leagues:

> Senior Division 1 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1922-23

> Minor Division 3 - London Welsh 3rd XI in 1951-52

> Senior Division 3 - London Welsh 1st XI in 1953-54

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1968-69

> Senior Division 3 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1973-74

> Minor Division E was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1979-80

> Senior Division 4 was won by London Welsh 1st XI in 1993-94

> Minor Division C was won by London Welsh 3rd XI in 1993-94

London Welsh also won the Middlesex Cup in 1921–22.

In 2002 the SOL and the Old Boys' Football League merged to form the Amateur Football Combination, one of Europe's biggest leagues. Of the original SOL clubs only London Welsh and Witan remain as members of the AFC. Up until the early 1990s Gunnersbury Park was Welsh's home until it they decided to seek better facilities and move to the Ibis ground nearby. London Welsh suffered from the selling off of sports pitches and for the next few years the club went through a nomadic period that included two seasons in south east London at Charlton. London have now come back to our West London roots and use the facilities of The Polytechnic Football Club from the Southern Amateur League.

==Present day club==
London Welsh currently operate two football teams, who play home games at the Quentin Hogg Memorial Ground in [[Chiswick]] and compete in the Amateur Football Combination. The Amateur Football Combination (AFC) is based in and around London and the Home Counties, and is believed to be the biggest adult football league in Europe. It has around 100 clubs and 350 sides playing Saturday afternoons, and comprises more than 1% of adult male 11-a-side football teams in England. In the 2016–17 season London Welsh's two teams competed in the South 1 and South 5 divisions. After a lean period the 'Welsh' picked up silverware in 2015–16, with the first XI winning the South Division 3 (and being promoted two divisions in a league re-organisation) and the second XI won the A.F.A. Cup.

As well as competing for league honours teams are awarded marks for their sportsmanship, hospitality and facilities, and Welsh have been named the top club for hospitality three time since 2005. The club are a mixture of Londoners, Welshmen and International players, with the first X1 including several Ex-semi pro players. The club hold regular social events and have toured Cyprus, Cornwall, Bournemouth, Barcelona and Nice (for Euro'16) in recent years.

==References==
*{{cite book |author1=Blows, Kirk |author2=Hogg, Tony |name-list-style=amp | title=The Essential History of West Ham United | publisher=Headline | year=2000| isbn=0-7472-7036-8}}
* Newspaper reports on the formation of London Welsh http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3766371/3766377/67/ http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4321836/4321839/7/

==External links==
*[http://fchd.info/LONDONW.HTM London Welsh on the Football Club History Database]
*[http://www.londonwelshafc.co.uk/ Present day club website]
*{{cite web|url=http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|title=SOL & OBFL Past Winners| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217111848/http://www.amateurfootballcombination.com/history/afc-past-winners/|archive-date=17 December 2016|url-status=dead}}
*[[:Category:London Welsh F.C. players]]

[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1891]]
[[Category:Football clubs in London]]
[[Category:London League (football)]]

Russian Knights

2021-11-23T09:57:39Z

Lirae22: /* Accident and incidents */ asdding requested citation.

{{Short description|Russian Air Force aerobatics team}}
{{About|the aerobatic team|historical Russian knights|bogatyr}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2019}}
{{Use American English|date = February 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= '''Russian Knights''' '''237 TsPAT''' (237-th Aviation Technology Demonstration Center of the [[Russian Federation|RF's]] [[Russian Air Force|AF]])
|image= Russian Knights.JPG
|image_size= 300px
|caption= 4 [[Sukhoi Su-27]]P's of the Knights in formation at [[Aero India]] 2013. The Su-27P has since been replaced with eight Su-30SM
|dates= 5 April 1991 – present
|country= [[Image:Flag of Russia.svg|20px]] Russia
|allegiance=
|branch= [[Image:Flag of the Air Force of the Russian Federation.svg|20px]] [[Russian Air Force]]
|type=
|role=
|size=
|command_structure=
|garrison=[[Kubinka (air base)]] [[Moscow Oblast]], Russia
|garrison_label=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=Red, White and Blue
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|disbanded=

|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol= [[Image:Russian Knights logo.png|100px]]
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
|identification_symbol_3=
|identification_symbol_3_label=
|identification_symbol_4=
|identification_symbol_4_label=

|aircraft_attack=
|aircraft_bomber=
|aircraft_electronic=
|aircraft_fighter=*8 [[Sukhoi Su-30#Variants|Su-30SM]]<ref name="Russian Knights Su-30SMs"/>
*8 [[Sukhoi Su-35#Variants|Su-35S]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3831680.html|title=Группа "Русские Витязи" получила четыре истребителя Су-35С|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=10 November 2019|access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref>
|aircraft_helicopter=
|aircraft_helicopter_attack=
|aircraft_helicopter_cargo=
|aircraft_helicopter_multirole=
|aircraft_helicopter_observation=
|aircraft_helicopter_transport=
|aircraft_helicopter_utility=
|aircraft_interceptor=
|aircraft_patrol=
|aircraft_recon=
|aircraft_trainer=
|aircraft_transport=
}}

The '''Russian Knights''' ({{lang-ru|Русские Витязи|Russkie Vityazi|}}) is an [[aerobatic]] demonstration team of the [[Russian Air Force]]. Originally formed on April 5, 1991 at the [[Kubinka (air base)|Kubinka Air Base]] as a team of six [[Sukhoi Su-27]]s, the team was the first to perform outside the [[Soviet Union]] in September 1991 when they toured the United Kingdom. On December 12, 1995, disaster struck as three team jets flew ''in-formation'' into a mountainside near [[Cam Ranh]], Vietnam during approach while en route to home from a Malaysian airshow during adverse weather conditions. The team now performs with eight Su-30SM.<ref name="Russian Knights Su-30SMs">{{cite web|url=https://bmpd.livejournal.com/2293427.html|title="Русские Витязи" полностью укомплектовали группу новыми самолетами Су-30СМ|website=bmpd.livejournal.com|date=30 November 2016|access-date=14 December 2016}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Russian Knights Tkachenko tribute flight Mishin.jpg|thumb|left|Russian Knights at [[Igor Tkachenko]] tribute flight]]
The team is based at Kubinka AFB. Kubinka is a major base of the Russian Air Force in the Moscow region.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

==Accident and incidents==
On 12 December 1995, when approaching the Cam Ranh airfield (Vietnam) in adverse weather for refueling, two Su-27s and an Su-27UB of the Russian Knights team flew into a nearby mountain while in-formation, killing four pilots. The cause of the crash is attributed to a misinterpretation of approach-pattern instructions, and in particular the leading [[Il-76]] that was acting as a reconnaissance aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sidorov|first=Pavel|url=http://airbase.ru/crashes/1995/12/kamran/|title=Катастрофа "Русских Витязей"|website=airbase.ru|access-date=24 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pronina|first=Lyuba|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-46291680.html|title=Knights and Swifts Aim to Conquer New Heights|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924181119/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-46291680.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|date=14 August 2001|newspaper=[[The Nation (Thailand)|The Nation]]|location=Thailand|access-date=27 May 2015|url-access=subscription|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref>

On 16 August 2009, two Su-27s rehearsing acrobatic maneuvers [[2009 Russia Sukhoi Su-27 mid-air collision|collided near Moscow]], killing one pilot and sending the jets crashing into nearby vacation homes. The dead pilot was identified as the Russian Knights' commander, Guards Colonel [[Igor Tkachenko]], a decorated air force officer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8204072.stm|title=Pilot dies as Russia jets collide|work=BBC News|date=17 August 2009}}</ref>

On 9 June 2016, a Su-27 pilot was killed near Moscow as he failed to eject when trying to avoid homes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cenciotti |first1=David |title=Russian Su-27 pilot killed after aerobatic team crashes |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-su-27-pilot-killed-after-aerobatic-team-crashes-2016-6 |website=Business Insider |access-date=23 November 2021}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
"Russian Knights" (8539159758).jpg
«Russian Knights» (3452782351).jpg
Russian Knights (16404956332).jpg
Su-27 Russian Knights 04.jpg
«Russian Knights» (9733421132).jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Soviet air shows]]
* [[MAKS Air Show]]
* [[Swifts (aerobatic team)|Swifts]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikinews|Fighter jets collide, crash into houses near Moscow}}
* [http://russianknights.ru/ Russian Knights official website (Russian language)]
* [http://russianknights.ru/en/ Russian Knights official website (English language)]
* [http://aerobaticteams.net/en/teams/i149/Russian-Knights.html Russian aerobatic team Russian Knights on Aerobaticteams.net]

{{Moscow Victory Parade|state=collapsed}}
{{Modern aerobatic teams|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Russian Air Force]]
[[Category:Units and formations of the Soviet Air Forces]]
[[Category:Aerobatic teams]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1991]]
[[Category:Kubinka]]

Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers

2021-11-23T08:34:25Z

Lirae22: /* Literary interests */ unsourced conjecture

{{short description|15th-century English noble, courtier, and writer}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox noble|type
| name = Anthony Woodville
| title = 2nd [[Earl Rivers]]
| image = Rivers & Caxton Presenting book to Edward IV.JPG
| image_size = 240px
| caption = Anthony Woodville (kneeling, second from left, wearing a [[tabard]] displaying his armorials) and [[William Caxton]] (dressed in black) presenting the first printed book in English (''[[Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers]]'') to King [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] and Woodville's sister Queen [[Elizabeth Woodville|Elizabeth]]. [[Lambeth Palace|Lambeth Palace Library]], London.]
| alt =
| CoA =
| more = no
| reign = 1469–1483
| reign-type = Tenure
| predecessor = [[Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers]]
| successor = [[Richard Woodville, 3rd Earl Rivers]]
| suc-type = Successor
| succession = Earl Rivers
| spouse = [[Elizabeth Woodville, Countess Rivers|Elizabeth de Scales, Baroness Scales]] Mary Fitz-Lewis
| spouse-type = Spouse
| issue = Margaret Woodville ([[Illegitimate]])<ref>[http://susandhigginbotham.blogspot.ch/2009/07/margaret-woodville-daughter-of-anthony.html Novelist Susan Higginbotham blog]</ref>
| issue-link =
| issue-pipe =
| full name =
| styles =
| titles =
| noble family =
| house-type =
| father = [[Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers]]
| mother = [[Jacquetta of Luxembourg]]
| birth_date = c. 1440
| birth_place = [[Grafton Regis]], [[Northamptonshire]], [[Kingdom of England]]
| christening_date =
| christening_place =
| death_date = 25 June 1483
| death_place = [[Pontefract Castle]]
| burial_date =
| burial_place =
| occupation =
}}

[[File:WoodvilleArms.png|thumb|200px|Arms of Woodville: ''Argent, a fesse and a canton conjoined gules'']]
[[File:Quartered arms of Sir Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, KG.png|thumb|200px|Quartered arms of Sir Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, KG]]
'''Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|KG}} (c. 1440{{snd}}25 June 1483), was an [[Kingdom of England|English]] nobleman, courtier, bibliophile and writer. He was the brother of Queen [[Elizabeth Woodville]] who married King [[Edward IV]]. He was one of the leading members of the Woodville family, which came to prominence during the reign of King Edward IV. After Edward's death, he was arrested and then executed by the Duke of Gloucester (the future King [[Richard III]]) as part of a power-struggle between Richard and the Woodvilles. His English translation of ''[[The Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers]]'' is one of the first books printed in England.<ref name="EB1911">{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Rivers, Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl|author=Gosse, Edmund|authorlink=Edmund Gosse|volume=23|page=385}} This presents a detailed biography.</ref>

== Origins ==
He was the eldest son to survive childhood of [[Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers]] by his wife [[Jacquetta of Luxembourg]]. His sister was [[Elizabeth Woodville]] who married King [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] and became queen.

== Career ==
Like his father, he was originally a [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]], fighting on that side at the [[Battle of Towton]], but later became a [[House of York|Yorkist]]. The Woodvilles became very influential at the royal court after his sister [[Elizabeth Woodville]] married [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] and became queen. Anthony was made a [[Knight of the Garter]]. He is known to have been a great tournament champion, and once fought a two-day "duel" with [[Anthony, bastard of Burgundy|Antoine, bastard of Burgundy]].<ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Geoffrey H.|editor-last=White|title=The Complete Peerage, Volume XI|year=1949|publisher=St Catherine's Press|page=22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~timeref/hpr2359.htm |title=TimeRef – Medieval |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108120323/http://www.btinternet.com/~timeref/hpr2359.htm |archive-date=8 November 2010 }}</ref>

The Yorkists, fighting for Edward IV, were defeated at the [[Battle of Edgecote Moor]], on 26 July 1469, and Richard Woodville and his second son [[John Woodville]] were taken prisoners at [[Chepstow]]. After a hasty and controversial trial, they were both beheaded at [[Kenilworth]] on 12 August 1469 and Anthony succeeded his father in the [[Earl Rivers|earldom]].

=== Career as Earl Rivers ===
He joined the king in his temporary exile in 1470, and returned with him the next year, where he was wounded at the [[Battle of Barnet]]. As a result of this battle, [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] regained the throne.

In 1472, [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] sent Rivers and his younger brother [[Edward Woodville, Lord Scales|Edward Woodville]] to Brittany at the head of 1000 archers to help the Bretons fend off a threatened French invasion of the duchy. The French withdrew when faced with determined resistance.<ref>Ross, Charles, ''Edward IV'', University of California Press, 1974, p.206</ref>

In 1473, King Edward IV appointed Rivers Governor of the [[Edward V of England|Prince of Wales]]' household, and Rivers went with the prince to [[Ludlow Castle]]. He was also appointed [[High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire]] for life. His duties included the administration of justice throughout [[Wales|the principality]].

== Death and succession ==
When the king died suddenly in 1483, Rivers was ordered by his sister to bring the Prince of Wales, now King [[Edward V of England|Edward V]], straight back to London under an armed guard. They were intercepted by Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King [[Richard III of England|Richard III]]), who arrested the Earl, along with his nephew [[Richard Grey|Sir Richard Grey]], the young king's half-brother.<ref>[http://words.fromoldbooks.org/Chalmers-Biography/w/wydeville-anthony-earl-rivers.html Chalmers' Biography, vol. 32, p 351]</ref> Rivers was imprisoned and then beheaded at [[Pontefract Castle]] on 25 June 1483 as part of the duke's path towards kingship (as Richard III).

Anthony was succeeded by his brother [[Richard Woodville, 3rd Earl Rivers]].<ref name="EB1911" /> The Scales lands inherited from his wife were bequeathed to his younger brother Edward Woodville, but King Richard III ignored Anthony's wishes as Edward had joined Henry Tudor.

== Marriages ==
He married twice, without legitimate progeny, as follows:
*Firstly to [[Elizabeth Woodville, Countess Rivers|Elizabeth de Scales]], ''[[suo jure]]'' Baroness Scales (d. 1473), daughter and heiress of [[Thomas de Scales, 7th Baron Scales]], and widow of Henry Bourchier, younger son of [[Henry Bourchier, 1st Earl of Essex]]. Before succeeding to his father's earldom, Anthony was summoned to Parliament, in right of his wife, as Baron Scales.
*Secondly he married Mary FitzLewis, daughter of Henry FitzLewis.

=== Mistresses and illegitimate progeny ===
[[File:PoyntzImpalingWoodville 1520 Gaunt'sChapel Bristol.PNG|thumb|Shield forming ceiling boss of the Poyntz Chapel within the [[Gaunt's Chapel]] in [[Bristol]], showing the arms of Poyntz (of 4 quarters) impaling the arms of Woodville (of 6 quarters, 3rd quarter Woodville)]]
[[File:ChestTomb SirRobertPoyntz Died1520 Gaunt'sChapel Bristol.png|thumb|Remnants of chest-tomb of Sir Robert Poyntz (d. 1520) in the Gaunt's Chapel, Bristol, showing heraldry of Poyntz and Woodville. The 5th quarter of the shield at right shows Woodville with a [[baton sinister]] for [[Illegitimate child|bastardy]]]]
By his mistress Gwenlina Stradling, a daughter of William Stradling<ref>[[John MacLean (historian)|Maclean, Sir John]] & Heane, W.C., (Eds.), ''The Visitation of the County of Gloucester Taken in the Year 1623 by Henry Chitty and John Phillipot as Deputies to William Camden Clarenceux King of Arms, etc, London, 1885, p.133</ref> of [[St Donat's Castle]] in [[Glamorgan]], Wales, he had one illegitimate daughter named Margaret, who married Sir [[Robert Poyntz (died 1520)|Robert Poyntz]] (d. 1520) [[Lord of the manor|lord]] of the [[manor of Iron Acton]] in [[Gloucestershire]], who built the ''Poyntz Chapel'' within the [[Gaunt's Chapel]] in [[Bristol]]. The stone ceiling boss of the ''Poyntz Chapel'' displays in relief sculpture the arms of Poyntz (of 4 quarters) impaling the arms of Woodville (of 6 quarters, 3rd quarter Woodville), and the two wooden end-panels of his monumental coffin, decorated with the heraldry of Poyntz and Woodville, survive in the [[Gaunt's Chapel]] in which he was buried. The [[Heraldic Visitation]] of Gloucestershire records that:<ref>Maclean, 1885, p.129</ref>
:''"A testimony of this match apereth by indenture of [[Marriage settlement|covenant of the mariag]] yett extant under the hand and seale of the said Erle, by letters written by the hand of the reverend ffather [[John Morton (cardinal)|Morton]], Cardinall, also by the armes of the Erle [[Impalement (heraldry)|impaled]] w(i)th Poyntz on the top of [[Gaunt's Chapel|a Chappell]] near [[Bristol|Bristowe]] where they lye buried"''.

== Literary interests ==
Rivers had met the earliest English printer [[William Caxton]] when in exile in [[Bruges]], and there in 1475–76 Caxton published ''Cordyale, or Four last thinges'', Rivers' English translation from the French of [[Jean Miélot]] of ''Les quattres choses derrenieres'', itself a translation of the ''Cordiale quattuor novissimorum''. After both of them had returned to England, one of the first, if not the first, books printed in England was Rivers' translation from French of the ''[[Dictes and Sayings of the Philosophers]]'', printed by Caxton at Westminster in 1477.<ref>[http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/april2008/william_caxton.html Caxton exhibition] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206104907/http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/april2008/william_caxton.html |date=6 February 2009 }}</ref> [[Lambeth Palace]] Library has a manuscript illustration showing Rivers presenting a copy of this book to Edward IV.

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
{{Commons category|Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers}}
{{DNB poster|Woodville, Anthony}}
*{{ODNBweb|id=29937|title=Woodville, Anthony|last=Hicks|first=Michael}}
* Ives, E. W. "Andrew Dymmock and the Papers of Anthony Earl Rivers," ''Bulletin of the Institute of Historical Research'' 41 (1968): 216–229.
* Lowe, D. E. "Patronage and Politics: Edward IV, the Wydevills, and the Council of the Prince of Wales, 1471-83," ''The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies'' 29 (1981): 545–573.
*Pidgeon, Lynda. [http://www.richardiii.net/downloads/Ricardian/2005_vol15_pidgeon_wydeville_1.pdf "Antony Wydevile, Lord Scales and Earl Rivers: Family, Friends and Affinity. Part 1,"] ''The Ricardian'' 15 (2005): 1–19. Richard III Society.
*Pidgeon, Lynda. [http://www.richardiii.net/downloads/Ricardian/2006_vol16_pidgeon_antony_wydevile_2.pdf "Antony Wydevile, Lord Scales and Earl Rivers: Family, Friends and Affinity. Part 2,"] ''The Ricardian'' 15 (2006): 1–14. Richard III Society.
*Scofield, Cora L. "The Capture of Lord Rivers and Sir Anthony Woodville, 19 January 1460," ''The English Historical Review'' 37:146 (April 1922): 253–255.

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box | before=[[John Stafford, 1st Earl of Wiltshire|The Earl of Wiltshire]] | title=[[Chief Butler of England]] | years=1473–1483 | after=[[Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell|The Viscount Lovell]]}}
{{s-reg|en}}
{{succession box
| before=[[Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers|Richard Woodville]]
| title=[[Earl Rivers]]
| years=1469–1483
| after=[[Richard Woodville, 3rd Earl Rivers|Richard Woodville]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rivers, Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl}}
[[Category:1440s births]]
[[Category:1483 deaths]]
[[Category:Woodville family|Anthony]]
[[Category:Knights of the Garter]]
[[Category:Earls Rivers]]
[[Category:Peers jure uxoris|Scales, Anthony Woodville, 8th Baron]]
[[Category:French–English translators]]
[[Category:High Sheriffs of Caernarvonshire]]
[[Category:People executed under the Yorkists]]
[[Category:Executed English people]]
[[Category:People executed under the Plantagenets by decapitation]]
[[Category:Barons Scales]]

Carisbrooke Castle

2021-11-23T08:33:29Z

Lirae22: /* Description */

{{Short description|Castle on the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Carisbrooke Castle
|partof=
|location=[[Carisbrooke]], Isle of Wight, England
|gridref ={{gbmapping|SZ486877}}
|image=Carisbrooke Castle - geograph.org.uk - 528953.jpg
|caption=The interior of Carisbrooke Castle
|image2=
|caption2=
|map_type=United Kingdom Isle of Wight
|coordinates = {{coord|50.6874|N|1.3133|W|type:landmark_region:GB-IOW|display=inline,title}}
|map_size=260
|type=Castle
|code=
|built=Begun in 12th century
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used=Until 1944
|demolished=
|condition=Complete
|ownership=Managed by [[English Heritage]]
|open_to_public=Yes
|controlledby=
|garrison=
|current_commander=
|past_commanders=Sir [[Nicholas Wadham]] (died 1542) Captain of the Isle of Wight, 1509–1520
|occupants=[[Isabella de Fortibus]], [[Charles I of England]] (imprisoned), [[Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom]]
|battles=
|events=
}}

'''Carisbrooke Castle''' is a historic motte-and-bailey castle located in the village of [[Carisbrooke]] (near [[Newport, Isle of Wight|Newport]]), [[Isle of Wight]], England. [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] was imprisoned at the castle in the months prior to his trial.<ref name="English castles">{{cite web|url=http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/carisbrooke%20castle.htm|title= English Castles – Carisbrooke Castle |website = theheritagetrail.co.uk| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090912102122/http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/carisbrooke%20castle.htm | archive-date= 12 September 2009| access-date= 8 March 2017}}</ref>

==Early history==
The site of Carisbrooke Castle may have been occupied in pre-[[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times. A ruined wall suggests that there was a building there in late Roman times. The ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' mentions that [[Wihtgar]], cousin of King [[Cynric of Wessex]], died in AD 544, and was buried there. The [[Jutes]] may have taken over the fort by the late 7th century. An [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] stronghold occupied the site during the 8th century. Around 1000, a wall was built around the hill as a defence against [[Viking]] raids.

==Later history==
[[File:Carisbrooke Castle 14th century.jpg|thumb|left|A reconstruction of Carisbrooke Castle during the 14th century]]

From 1100 the castle remained in the possession of [[Richard de Redvers]]' family, and over the next two centuries his descendants improved the castle with stone walls, towers and a keep. In 1293, [[Isabella de Fortibus|Countess Isabella de Fortibus]], the last Redvers resident, sold the castle to [[Edward I of England|Edward I]]. From then on, its governance was entrusted to wardens as representatives of the crown.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Carisbrooke|volume=5|page=337}}</ref><ref name="castle explorer">{{cite web|url=http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/carisbrooke/carisbrooke.php|title=CastleXplorer – Carisbrooke Castle|publisher=castlexplorer.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730012233/http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/carisbrooke/carisbrooke.php|archive-date=30 July 2012|access-date=2 January 2009}}</ref>

In 1377, in the reign of [[Richard II of England|Richard II]] the castle was unsuccessfully attacked by the French. It was reputedly saved by local hero [[Peter de Heyno]] who shot the French commander. [[Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers|Anthony Woodville, Lord Scales]], later Earl Rivers, obtained a grant of the castle and rights of Lordship in 1467. He was responsible for the addition of the Woodville Gate, now known as the Entrance Gate.<ref name="main gate"/> Woodville was killed by [[Richard III]] in 1483, but his brother [[Edward Woodville]] was given control of the castle on the accession of Henry VII in 1485.<ref>Wilkins, Christopher, The Last Knight Errant: Edward Woodville and the Age of Chivalry, IB Tauris, 2009, p. 133</ref>

The keep was added to the castle in the reign of [[Henry I of England|Henry I]], and in the reign of [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]], when the [[Spanish Armada]] was expected, it was surrounded by additional fortifications by [[Sir George Carey]], who had been appointed [[List of Governors of the Isle of Wight|Governor of the Isle of Wight]] in 1583.<ref name="EB1911"/> Carey later commissioned the Italian engineer [[Federigo Giambelli]] (or Genebelli) to make more substantial improvements to the defences. Starting in 1597, Giambelli constructed a modern ''[[trace Italienne]]'' fortification, a squat rampart and [[ditch (fortification)|ditch]] supported at intervals by powerful [[bastion]]s, which completely surrounded the old castle and bailey. The new fortification was mostly completed by 1600 at the cost of £4,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fortified-places.com/images2/carisbrooke.html |title=Carisbrooke Castle |last1=Goode |first1=Dominic |website=fortified-places.com |access-date=5 December 2014}}</ref>

[[File:The Bowling Green, Carisbrooke Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1505542.jpg|thumb|The [[bowling green]] used by Charles I during his imprisonment]]
[[Charles I of England|Charles I]] was imprisoned here for fourteen months before his execution in 1649.<ref name="English castles"/> Afterwards his two youngest children were confined in the castle, and [[Princess Elizabeth of England|Princess Elizabeth]] died there.<ref name="EB1911"/> From 1896 to 1944, it was the home of [[Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom|Princess Beatrice]], daughter of [[Queen Victoria]], as [[Governor of the Isle of Wight]].<ref name="Princess Beatrice">{{cite web|url=http://www.touruk.co.uk/castles/castle_carisbrooke.htm|title=Tour UK – A tourist guide to Carisbrooke Castle|publisher=touruk.co.uk|access-date=2 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210062756/http://www.touruk.co.uk/castles/castle_carisbrooke.htm|archive-date=10 December 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is now under the control of [[English Heritage]].<ref name="English heritage">{{cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.14466|title=English Heritage – Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight|publisher=englishheritage.org.uk|access-date=2 January 2009}}</ref>

The castle is located above, and to the south of, [[Carisbrooke]] village centre.

In 2007, [[English Heritage]] opened a holiday flat inside the castle, in converted former staff quarters.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/carisbrooke-castle-is-real-thing--and-now-you-can-be-part-of-its-history-457110.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307042154/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/carisbrooke-castle-is-real-thing--and-now-you-can-be-part-of-its-history-457110.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 March 2010|title=Carisbrooke Castle is real thing – and now you can be part of its history|last=Rix|first=Juliet|date=14 July 2007|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=13 June 2008}}</ref> The castle received 131,358 visitors during 2019.<ref name="ALVA 2019 visitor numbers">{{cite web |title=ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions |url=https://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=423 |website=www.alva.org.uk |access-date=12 November 2020}}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:Carisbrooke Castle gatehouse.jpg|thumb|The gatehouse entrance to the castle]]
[[File:Carisbrooke_Castle_from_south.jpg|thumb|View of the castle from the south]]
[[File:Carisbrooke_Castle_from_the_west.jpg|thumb|View of the castle from the west]]
Carisbrooke was the strongest castle on the Island; though it is visible from some distance, it does not dominate the countryside like many other castles.

There are traces of a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] fort underneath the later buildings. Seventy-one steps lead up to the keep. In the centre of the castle enclosure are the domestic buildings; these are mostly of the 13th century, with upper parts of the 16th century. Some are in ruins, but the main rooms were used as the official residence of the Governor of the Isle of Wight until the 1940s, and they remain in good repair.

The Great Hall, Great Chamber and several smaller rooms are open to the public, and an upper room houses the Isle of Wight Museum. Most rooms are partly furnished.

One of the main subjects of the museum is King Charles I. He tried to escape from the castle in 1648, but was unable to get through the bars of his window.

The name of the castle is echoed in a very different structure on the other side of the world. A visit to the castle by [[James Macandrew]], one of the founders of the [[New Zealand]] city of [[Dunedin]], led to him naming his estate "Carisbrook". The name of the estate was later used for [[Carisbrook (stadium)|Dunedin's main sporting venue]].

===The Main Gate===
The gateway tower was erected by [[Anthony Woodville, 8th Baron Scales|Lord Scales]] who was lord of the castle at the time in 1464.<ref name="main gate">{{cite web|url=http://www.fortified-places.com/images2/carisbrooke.html|title=Fortified Places – Fortresses – Carisbrooke Castle|publisher=fortified-places.com|access-date=2 January 2009}}</ref>

===The Chapel===
{{Main|Church of St Nicholas in Castro, Carisbrooke}}
The chapel is located next to the main gate. In 1904 the chapel of St Nicholas in the castle was reopened and re-[[consecrate]]d, having been rebuilt as a national memorial of Charles I. Within the walls is a well 200 feet deep and another in the centre of the keep is reputed to have been still deeper.<ref name="EB1911"/>

===The Well-House===
[[File:Carisbrooke Castle well house 3.jpg|thumb|upright|A donkey operating the well]]
Near the domestic buildings is the well-house with its working donkey wheel. As it is still operated by donkeys, the wheel is a great attraction and creates long queues. The well is also famous as the hiding place of the Mohune diamond, in the 1898 adventure novel ''[[Moonfleet (novel)|Moonfleet]]'', by [[J. Meade Falkner]].<ref name="Moon">{{cite book |last1=Falkner |first1=John |title=Moonfleet |date=2019 |publisher=Dilek Atik |isbn=9781099406003 |pages=144, 159 |url=https://www.tropikalkitap.com}}</ref> [[Wyndham Lewis]], who lived on the Isle of Wight as a child, cites the donkey wheel at Carisbrooke as an image for the way machines impose a way of life on human beings ('Inferior Religions', published 1917).

===The Constable's Chamber===
The Constable's Chamber is a large room located in the castle's medieval section. It was the bedroom of Charles I when he was imprisoned in the castle, and Princess Beatrice used it as a dining room. It is now home to Charles I bed as well as Princess Beatrice's large collection of [[stag]] and [[antelope]] heads. This room was used as the castle's education centre up until recently.

===Earthworks===
Surrounding the whole castle are large [[Earthworks (archaeology)|earthworks]], designed by the Italian [[Federigo Gianibelli]], and begun in the year before the [[Spanish Armada]]. They were finished in the 1590s. The outer gate has the date 1598 and the arms of [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]].

==List of constables of Carisbrooke Castle==
{{Expand list|date=January 2011}}
{| class="wikitable"
!Name !!Dates in office!!Source
|-
|William Briwere, Jnr||1217||<ref name=autogenerated1>Victoria County History, Hampshire, 1912, vol.5, [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42081 Parishes: Carisbrooke], pp. 4556 35</ref>
|-
|Waleran Tyes||1224||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|Savery de Mauleon||1227||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|[[Peter des Roches|Bishop of Winchester]]||1233||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|Benedict||1269||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|Hugh de Hanneby||1270||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|John Hardington||1277||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|Humphrey de Dunster||c.1294||<ref>Worsley, Sir Richard III, History of the Isle of Wight, London, 1781, p. 86; Victoria County History, Hampshire, 1912, vol.5, Parishes: Carisbrooke, pp. 221–235</ref>
|-
|[[William Russell (knight)|Sir William Russell]]||?–1307||<ref>Wiffen, ''Memorials of the House of Russell'', pp. 127–131</ref>
|-
|Nicholas de Bois||1307/1309?||<ref>Wiffen, ''Memorials of the House of Russell'', pp. 127–131; ''Victoria County History, Hampshire'', 1912, vol. 5, Parishes: Carisbrooke, pp. 221–235</ref>
|-
|John de Langford||1334||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|Sir Hugh Tyrrel||1377||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|[[William de Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury|William de Montagu, Earl of Salisbury]]||1382–1397||<ref>The dates appear in error, as quoted by Victoria County History, Hampshire, 1912, vol.5, Parishes: Carisbrooke, pp. 221–235</ref>
|-
|[[Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset]]||1457-?||<ref>{{cite DNB |wstitle=Beaufort, Henry (1436{{nat|-}}1464) |display=Beaufort, Henry (1436–1464) |supplement=1}}</ref>
|-
|[[Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers|Anthony Woodville]]||1467–1483||<ref name="main gate"/>
|-
|[[Edward Woodville|Sir Edward Woodville]]||1485–1488||<ref name="wil">Wilkins, Christopher, The Last Knight Errant: Edward Woodville and the Age of Chivalry, IB Tauris, 2009, pp. 162–3</ref>
|-
|[[Sir Reginald Bray]]||1495–1503||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|-
|[[Nicholas Wadham (1472–1542)|Sir Nicholas Wadham]] (d.1542)||1509–1520||<ref>History of Parliament</ref>
|-
|[[Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex]]||1520–1538||<ref name=autogenerated1 />
|}

==See also==
*[[Castles in Great Britain and Ireland]]
*[[List of castles in England]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carisbrooke-castle/ Carisbrooke Castle official English Heritage information]
* [http://www.carisbrookecastlemuseum.org.uk/ Carisbrooke Castle Museum official site]
* [https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/dwKCp1UmRlGXLg 'Carisbrooke Castle: island fortress and royal prison'] on Google Arts & Culture
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927070140/http://www.carisbrooke.shalfleet.net/carisbrooke%20text.htm ''Carisbrooke Church from Blacks Guide to the Isle of Wight, 1870'']
* [https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-01-02-0029#BNFN-01-01-02-pb-0075 Benjamin Franklin's description of Carisbrooke from ''Journal of a Voyage, 1726'']

{{Isle of Wight box}}
{{Governors and Constables in England and Wales}}
{{Royal palaces in the United Kingdom}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Castles on the Isle of Wight]]
[[Category:English Heritage sites in the Isle of Wight]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings on the Isle of Wight]]
[[Category:Museums on the Isle of Wight]]
[[Category:History museums on the Isle of Wight]]
[[Category:Historic house museums on the Isle of Wight]]
[[Category:Local museums on the Isle of Wight]]
[[Category:Motte-and-bailey castles]]

Dreadlocks

2021-11-04T12:15:57Z

Lirae22: /* History */ Fails verification. These sources make no mention of dreadlocks - closest is a reference to braids.

{{pp-pc}}
{{Short description|Rope-like braiding hairstyle}}
{{distinguish|Lock of hair|Lovelock (hair)}}
[[File:Poundmaker.png|thumb|Cree chief [[Pitikwahanapiwiyin]] with locked hair, 1885]]
[[File:Sadu Kathmandu Pashupatinath 2006 Luca Galuzzi.jpg|thumb|Two [[sadhu]]s (ascetic monks) with their hair in traditional ''jaṭā'' style<ref name="Bloomsbury Academic"/>]]
'''Dreadlocks''', also '''locs''', '''dreads''', or in [[Sanskrit]], '''Jaṭā''',<ref name="Bloomsbury Academic">{{cite book |title=Hair: Styling, Culture and Fashion |quote=His jata (dreadlocks) are elegantly styled, and the source of the Ganges issues from his topknot. In the background are the Himalayas where Shiva performs his austerities. |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |location=University of Michigan [Michigan] |year=2009 |isbn=9781845207922}}</ref> are rope-like strands of hair formed by [[wikt:lock|locking]] or [[Braid (hairstyle)|braiding]] hair.<ref name="Merriam-Webster">{{cite book |title=Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary |url=https://archive.org/details/merriamwebstersc00merr_6/page/380 |quote= dread-lock \'dred-,lak\ n (I960) 1 : a narrow ropelike strand of hair formed by locking or braiding 2 pi : a hairstyle consisting of dreadlocks — dread-locked \-,lakt\ adj |publisher=Merriam-Webster |location= [ ] |edition=11th |year=2004 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/merriamwebstersc00merr_6/page/380 380] |isbn=9780877798095}}</ref>

The style is visually similar to braids, but whereas braids can be prepared immediately and "finished", dreadlocks properly require a period of maturation which does not strictly end. Various methods are used to prepare and maintain dreadlocks, often including treatment at salons, but merely not brushing nor conditioning one's hair is usually sufficient. All hair types are suitable.

==Origins ==
[[File:NAMA Akrotiri 2.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Young boxers with long dreadlocks depicted on a fresco from [[Akrotiri (prehistoric city)|Akrotiri]] (modern [[Santorini]], Greece) 1600–1500 BCE<ref name="Poliakoff 19872">{{cite book |last=Poliakoff |first=Michael B. |title=Combat Sports in the Ancient World: Competition, Violence, and Culture |quote=The boxing boys on a fresco from Thera (now the Greek island of Santorini), also 1500 B.C.E., are less martial with their jewelry and long braids, and it is hard to imagine that they are engaged in a hazardous |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |year=1987 |page=172 |isbn=9780300063127}}</ref><ref name="Blencowe 20132">{{cite book |last=Blencowe |first=Chris |title=YRIA: The Guiding Shadow |quote=... Archaeologist Christos Doumas, discoverer of Akrotiri, wrote: “Even though the character of the wall-paintings from Thera is Minoan, ... the boxing children with dreadlocks, and ochre-coloured naked fishermen proudly displaying their abundant hauls of blue and yellow fish. |publisher=Sidewalk Editions |year=2013 |page=36 |isbn=9780992676100}}</ref><ref name="Bloomer 2015">{{cite book |title= A Companion to Ancient Education |last= Bloomer |first= W. Martin |year= 2015 |publisher= John Wiley & Sons |isbn= 9781119023890|quote= Figure 2.1b Two Minoan boys with distinctive hairstyles, boxing. Fresco from West House, Thera (Santorini), ca. 1600–1500 bce (now in the National Museum, Athens). |page=31 }}</ref>]]

Some of the earliest depictions of dreadlocks date back as far as 1600–1500 BCE in the [[Minoan Civilization]], one of Europe's earliest civilizations, centred in [[Crete]] (now part of [[Greece]]).<ref name="Blencowe 20132"/> [[Frescoes]] discovered on the [[Aegean island]] of [[Thera]] (modern [[Santorini]], Greece) depict individuals with long braided hair or long dreadlocks.<ref name="Poliakoff 19872"/><ref name="Blencowe 20132" />

In [[ancient Egypt]], examples of Egyptians wearing locked hairstyles and [[wig]]s have appeared on [[bas-relief]]s, statuary and other artifacts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freemaninstitute.com/Gallery/Egyp233_big_copy.jpg|title=Image of Egyptian with locks.|website=freemaninstitute.com|access-date=6 October 2017}}</ref> Mummified remains of Egyptians with locked wigs have also been recovered from archaeological sites.<ref>[http://www.egyptianmuseum.com/article16_torlife.html Egyptian Museum -"Return of the Mummy.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230235837/http://www.egyptianmuseum.com/article16_torlife.html |date=2005-12-30 }} ''Toronto Life - 2002''." Retrieved 01-26-2007.</ref>

During the [[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] many peoples in the Near East, Asia Minor, Caucasus, East Mediterranean and North Africa such as the Sumerians, Elamites and Ancient Egyptians were depicted in art with braided or plaited hair and beards. However, braids are not dreadlocks, and it is not always possible to tell from these images which are being depicted.<ref>http://www.ukhairdressers.com/history%20of%20hair.asp</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ebony.com/style/history-dreadlocks/|title=The History of Dreadlocks|last=Gabbara|first=Princess|date=2016-10-18|website=EBONY|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref>

===Etymology===
The history of the name "dreadlocks" is unclear. Some authors<ref name=HSW/> have speculated that the "dread" component could refer to the reaction of British soldiers upon encountering [[Mau Mau Uprising|Mau Mau]] fighters who had this hairstyle. Dreadlocks are also worn by some [[Rastafari|Rastafarians]], who believe they represent a biblical hair style worn as a symbol of devotion by the [[Nazirite]]s, as described in {{bibleverse||Numbers|6:1–21|HE}}.<ref name=HSW>{{cite web |title=Dreadlocks in History - How Dreadlocks Work |url=https://people.howstuffworks.com/dreadlock6.htm |website=HowStuffWorks |access-date=9 November 2019 |date=5 October 2010}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Delfimuseum 05.JPG|thumb|upright|Over half of surviving Ancient Greek [[kouroi]] sculptures (from c. 615–485 BC) are found wearing dreadlocks.<ref name="Athens 2014" />]]
[[File:Spartan officer.jpg|thumb|upright|right|A [[Sparta]]n officer depicted with locked hair]]

In [[Ancient Greece]], [[kouros]] sculptures from the [[Archaic Greece|archaic period]] depict men wearing dreadlocks<ref name="Athens 2014">{{cite book|last=Steves|first=Rick|title=Athens and the Peloponnese|year=2014|publisher=Avalon Travel|isbn=978-1-61238-060-5|page=165}}</ref><ref name="American Journal of Archaeology">{{cite journal|last1= Jenkins |first1= Ian |title= Archaic Kouroi in Naucratis: The Case for Cypriot Origin |journal= The American Journal of Cardiology |publisher= American Journal of Archaeology, v105 n2 (20010401) |location= [JSTOR Arts & Sciences II Collection]|pages=168–175 |issn=0002-9114 |quote= The hair in both is filleted into a series of fine dreadlocks, tucked behind the ears and falling on each shoulder and down the back. A narrow fillet passes around the forehead and disappears behind the ears. … Two are in the British Museum (fig. 17) and another in Boston (fig. 18). These three could have been carved by the same hand. Distinctive points of comparison include the dreadlocks; high, prominent chest without division; sloping shoulders; manner of showing the arms by the side…the torso of a kouros, again in Boston (fig. 19), should probably also be assigned to this group. }}</ref>.

The style was worn by Ancient [[Ascetical theology|Christian Ascetics]] in the Middle East and Mediterranean, and the [[Dervish]]es of [[Islam]], among others.<ref name="Thompson">{{cite book|last1=Thompson|first1=John|last2=Patrick|first2=Bethanne|title=An Uncommon History of Common Things|year=2015|publisher=National Geographic Books|isbn=978-1-4262-1227-7|page=165}}</ref> Some of the very earliest adherents of [[Christianity in the Middle East]] may have worn this hairstyle; there are descriptions of [[James, brother of Jesus|James the Just]], first [[Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem|Bishop of Jerusalem]], who is said to have worn them to his ankles.<ref>[[Stephen D. Glazier|Glazier, Stephen D.]], ''Encyclopedia of African and African-American Religions'', Taylor & Francis, 2001, {{ISBN|0-415-92245-3}}, {{ISBN|978-0-415-92245-6}}, p. 279.</ref>

[[Pre-Columbian]] [[Aztec]] priests were described in [[Aztec codices]] (including the [[Diego Durán#Literary works and influence|Durán Codex]], the [[Codex Tudela]] and the [[Codex Mendoza]]) as wearing their hair untouched, allowing it to grow long and curl around itself.<ref>Berdán, Frances F. and Rieff Anawalt, Patricia (1997). [http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/index.php?one=azt&two=lif&id=334&typ=reg ''The Essential Codex Mendoza'']. London, England: University of California Press. pp 149.</ref> Bernal Diaz del Castillo records:<blockquote>here were priests with long robes of black cloth ... The hair of these priests was very long and so knotted that it could not be separated or disentangled, and most of them had their ears scarified, and their hair was clotted with blood.</blockquote>
[[File:Sartori Plica polonica.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Polish plait]], 1734–1766]] In [[Senegal]], the Baye Fall, followers of the [[Mouride]] movement, a Sufi movement of [[Islam]] founded in 1887 AD by [[Shaykh Aamadu Bàmba Mbàkke]], are famous for growing dreadlocks and wearing multi-colored gowns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hairstylenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/cheikh_big_street.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727222656/http://www.hairstylenation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/cheikh_big_street.jpg |archive-date=2014-07-27 }}</ref> [[Cheikh Ibra Fall]], founder of the Baye Fall school of the Mouride Brotherhood, popularized the style by adding a mystic touch to it. Warriors among the [[Fula people|Fulani]], [[Wolof people|Wolof]] and [[Serer people|Serer]] in [[Mauritania]], and [[Mandinka people|Mandinka]] in [[Mali]] were known for centuries to have worn [[cornrows]] when young and dreadlocks when old.

Larry Wolff in his book ''Inventing Eastern Europe: The Map of Civilization on the Mind of Enlightenment''{{full citation needed|date=March 2019}} mentions that in [[Poland]], for about a thousand years, some people wore a knotted hairstyle similar to that of some [[Scythians]]. [[Zygmunt Gloger]] in his ''Encyklopedia staropolska'' mentions that the [[Polish plait]] (''plica polonica'') hairstyle was worn by some people in the Pinsk region and the Masovia region at the beginning of the 19th century. The Polish plait can vary between one large plait and multiple plaits that resemble dreadlocks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wienerzeitung.at/nachrichten/zeitreisen/508984-Vom-Einimpfen-und-Auskampeln.html|title = Zeitreisen - Vom Einimpfen und Auskampeln}}</ref> [[File:Varied Polish Plaits.jpg|thumb|A drawing of peasants with "Polish plaits"]]

== By culture ==
[[File:Dreadlocks of a person with Native American and European ancestry.jpg|thumb|Hippie dreadlocks decorated with beads]]
Locks have been worn for various reasons in each culture. Their use has also been raised in debates about [[cultural appropriation]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/dreadlocks-cultural-appropriation-row-intensifies-as-students-come-forward-to-provide-more-context-a6963251.html|title=Students are claiming the white man harassed over his dreadlocks isn't telling the full story|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-07-18|language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Africa ===
[[Maasai people|Maasai]] warriors are known for their long, thin, red dreadlocks, dyed with red root extracts or [[red ochre]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-21498878 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |title=South Africa's dreadlock thieves |first=Pumza |last=Fihlani |date=27 February 2013 |access-date=23 December 2020}}</ref>

=== Australia ===
Some [[Indigenous Australians]] of [[North West Australia|North West]] and North Central Australia have historically worn their hair in a locked style, sometimes also having long beards that are fully or partially locked. Traditionally, some wear the dreadlocks loose, while others wrap the dreadlocks around their heads, or bind them at the back of the head.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Customs And Traditions Of The Aboriginal Natives Of North Western Australia|last=Withnell|first=John G.|publisher=ROEBOURNE|year=1901|pages=14}}</ref> In North Central Australia, the tradition is for the dreadlocks to be greased with fat and coated with red ochre, which assists in their formation.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Native Tribes of North Central Australia|last=Baldwin Spencer and F. J. Gillen|publisher=Macmillan|year=1899|location=London}}</ref>

=== Buddhism ===
Within [[Tibetan Buddhism]] and other more esoteric forms of Buddhism, locks have occasionally been substituted for the more traditional shaved head. The most recognizable of these groups are known as the [[Ngagpa]]s of Tibet. For Buddhists of these particular sects and degrees of initiation, their locked hair is not only a symbol of their vows but an embodiment of the particular powers they are sworn to carry.<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/596567 The Dreadlocks Treatise: On Tantric Hairstyles in Tibetan Buddhism].</ref> 1.4.15 of the [[Hevajra#Hevajra Tantra|Hevajra Tantra]] states that the practitioner of particular ceremonies "should arrange his piled up hair" as part of the ceremonial protocol.<ref>Snellgrove, David. ''The Hevajra Tantra: A Critical Study''. vol 1. Oxford University Press. 1959.</ref>

=== Hinduism ===
The practice of ''Jaṭā'' (dreadlocks) is practiced in modern day Hinduism,<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Some Indian Women Are Terrified of Chopping off Their Dreadlocks, Even Though They Can't Move Their Necks|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/j5ynmp/why-some-indian-women-are-terrified-of-chopping-off-their-dreadlocks-even-though-cant-move-their-necks|access-date=2021-01-29|website=www.vice.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rattanpal|first=Divyani|date=2015-10-06|title=Hair and Shanti: What Hair Means to Indians|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/hair-and-shanti-what-hair-means-to-indians|access-date=2021-01-29|website=TheQuint}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|date=|title=What Sadhus and Sadhvis at Kumbh Told Me About Their Long and Important Dreadlocks|work=|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/what-sadhus-and-sadhvis-at-kumbh-told-me-about-their-long-and-important-dreadlocks-2023477.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-29}}</ref> most notably by [[Sadhu]]s who follow [[Shiva|Śiva]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/what-sadhus-and-sadhvis-at-kumbh-told-me-about-their-long-and-important-dreadlocks-2023477.html|title=What Sadhus and Sadhvis at Kumbh Told Me About Their Long and Important Dreadlocks|date=3 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hays|first=Jeffrey|title=SADHUS, HINDU HOLY MEN {{!}} Facts and Details|url=http://factsanddetails.com/world/cat55/sub388/item1345.html|access-date=2021-01-29|website=factsanddetails.com}}</ref> The [[Kapalika]]s, first commonly referenced in the [[6th century|6th century CE]], were known to wear ''Jaṭā''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lorenzen|first=David|url=https://archive.org/details/TheKapalikasAndKalamukhasTwoLostSaiviteSectsDLorenzenDelhi1991|title=The Kapalikas and kalamukhas: Two Lost Saivite Sects|publisher=University of California Press|year=1972|isbn=0-520-01842-7|location=Berkeley and Los Angeles, California|pages=4, 6, 14, 21-23, 41-42, 47}}</ref> as a form of deity imitation of the [[Deva (Hinduism)|deva]] [[Bhairava]]-[[Shiva|Śiva.]]<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lorenzen|first=David|url=https://archive.org/details/TheKapalikasAndKalamukhasTwoLostSaiviteSectsDLorenzenDelhi1991|title=The Kapalikas and kalamukhas: Two Lost Saivite Sects|publisher=University of California Press|year=1972|isbn=0-520-01842-7|location=Berkeley and Los Angeles, California|pages=4, 85}}</ref> [[Shiva]] is often depicted with dreadlocks''.''

=== Rastafari ===
[[Rastafari movement]] dreadlocks are symbolic of the [[Lion of Judah]] which is sometimes centered on the Ethiopian flag. Rastafari hold that [[Haile Selassie I|Haile Selassie]] is a direct descendant of [[King Solomon]] and the [[Queen of Sheba]], through their son [[Menelik I]]. Their dreadlocks were inspired by the [[Nazarite]]s of the Bible.<ref>Pool, H. (2003, August 22). Dare to dread. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2003/aug/23/features.weekend</ref> Haile Selassie was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930. Many Jamaican Rastafarians claimed that Selassie's coronation was evidence that he was the black messiah that they believed was prophesied in the Book of Revelation. Some street preachers such as Leonard Howell, Archibald Dunkley, Robert Hinds, and Joseph Hibbert began to claim that "Haile Selassie was the returned Jesus".<ref>Barrett, Leonard E. (1988). The Rastafarians. Beacon Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8070-1039-6}}.</ref> During the [[Great Depression]] in the 1930s, the Rastafari message spread from [[Kingston, Jamaica| Kingston]] to the rest of Jamaica, especially among poor communities.

The cultivation of dreadlocks in the later Rastafari movement established a closer connection between like-minded people. <ref>Charet, M. (2010). Root of David: The Symbolic Origins of Rastafari (No. 2). ISPCK.</ref>

When [[reggae music]], which espoused Rastafarian ideals, gained popularity and mainstream acceptance in the 1970s, thanks to [[Bob Marley]]'s music and cultural influence, dreadlocks (often called "dreads") became a notable fashion statement worldwide, and have been worn by prominent authors, actors, athletes and rappers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/hair/dreadlocks/celebrities-with-dreadlocks/|title=19 Celebs Slaying In Beautiful Locs|website=Essence|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kuumba|first1=M.|last2=Ajanaku|first2=Femi|date=1998|title=Dreadlocks: The Hair Aesthetics of Cultural Resistance and Collective Identity Formation|journal=Mobilization: An International Quarterly|volume=3|issue=2|pages=227–243|doi=10.17813/maiq.3.2.nn180v12hu74j318}}</ref>

=== In sports ===
Dreadlocks have become a popular hairstyle among professional athletes.

In professional [[American football]], the number of players with dreadlocks has increased ever since [[Al Harris (cornerback)|Al Harris]] and [[Ricky Williams]] first wore the style during the 1990s. In 2012, about 180 [[National Football League]] players wore dreadlocks. A significant number of these players are defensive backs, who are less likely to be tackled than offensive players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5967114|title=Matz: NFL players embracing long hair|date=29 December 2010|website=ESPN.com|access-date=6 October 2017}}</ref>

In the NBA there has been controversy over the Brooklyn Nets guard [[Jeremy Lin]], an Asian-American who garnered mild controversy over his choice of dreadlocks. Former NBA player [[Kenyon Martin]] accused Lin of appropriating African-American culture in a since-deleted social media post, after which Lin pointed out that Martin has multiple Chinese letters tattooed on his body.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/jeremy-lin-hair-dreadlocks-kenyon-martin-lil-b-curse-nets/|title=Jeremy Lin's dreadlocks have led to all kinds of comments — even Lil B's support}}</ref>

=== In Western fashion ===
On 3 July 2019, California became the first US state to prohibit discrimination over natural hair. Governor [[Gavin Newsom]] signed the [[CROWN Act (California)|CROWN Act]] into law, banning employers and schools from discriminating against hairstyles such as dreadlocks, braids, afros, and twists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jurist.org/news/2019/07/california-bans-racial-discrimination-based-on-hair-in-schools-and-workplaces/|title=California bans racial discrimination based on hair in schools and workplaces|access-date=2019-07-03|publisher=JURIST}}</ref> Likewise, later in 2019, Assembly Bill 07797 became law in New York state; it "prohibits race discrimination based on natural hair or hairstyles".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/452959-new-york-bans-discrimination-against-natural-hair |title=New York bans discrimination against natural hair |publisher=TheHill |date=2019-07-13 |access-date=2019-07-18}}</ref>

== Methods of making dreadlocks ==
{{refimprove section|date=December 2020}}
[[File:dreadlocks-naani.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Fully matured dreadlocks started from the comb twist method]][[File: Dreadlocks of an African-American person, after being unwound from Bantu knots.jpg|thumb|upright|Newly twisted dreadlocks immediately after being unwound from [[Afro-textured hair#Styling|<nowiki>Bantu knots</nowiki>]]; the dreadlocks later uncoil and may thicken as knotting progresses.]]

A variety of other starter methods have been developed to offer greater control over the general appearance of dreadlocks. They can be formed through a technique called "twist and rip", as well as [[backcombing]] interlocking and palm rolling.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|last=Lazy Dreads|title=TWIST & RIP DREADLOCKS INFORMATION!|date=2014-03-21|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4I-Yu6HZEs|access-date=2017-01-22}}</ref> Together, these alternative techniques are more commonly referred to as "salon" or "manicured" dreadlocks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fromgrandmaskitchen.com/Natural-Hair-Beauty/categories/Dreadlocks/Ways-to-Make-Dreadlocks/|title=Fromgrandmaskitchen.com|website=fromgrandmaskitchen.com|access-date=6 October 2017}}</ref>

Using beeswax to make dreads can cause problems because it does not wash out, due to the high melting point of natural wax. Because wax is a hydrocarbon, water alone, no matter how hot, will not be able to remove wax.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadlockssite.com/forum/topics/dread-wax-why-ya-dont-want-it |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-06-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530182844/http://www.dreadlockssite.com/forum/topics/dread-wax-why-ya-dont-want-it |archive-date=2013-05-30 }}</ref> This is often where problems like mold and dread rot come from, the wax clogs inside the length of the dread meaning water can't run out easily. Having wet dreads for long periods of time helps mildew set in, this combined with the wax and every dirt/dust/fluff particle that has stuck to the wax can result in moldy, slimy dreads.

As with the organic and freeform method, the salon methods rely on hair naturally knotting over a period of months to gradually form locs. The difference is in the initial technique by which loose hair is encouraged to form a rope-like shape. Whereas freeform locs can be created by simply refraining from combing or brushing hair and occasionally separating knotted sections, salon dreadlocks use tool techniques to form the basis of the starter, immature set of dreadlocks. A "matured" set of salon dreadlocks won't look the same as a set of dreadlocks that have been started with neglect or freeform.

For African hair types, salon dreadlocks can be formed by evenly sectioning and styling the loose hair into braids, coils, twists, or using a procedure called [[dread perming]] specifically used for straight hair. For European, Indigenous American, East Asian, and Indian hair types, backcombing and twist and rip<ref name=":0" /> are some of the more popular methods of achieving starter dreadlocks.

Regardless of hair type or texture and starter method used, dreadlocks require time before they are fully matured. The process hair goes through as it develops into matured dreadlocks is continuous.

There is also the ability to adopt different types of fake dreadlocks that may make the hair look as real as possible. This process is called synthetic dreadlocks. There are two different types of synthetic dreadlocks. The first is dread extensions, in which other hair can be infused with the wearer's own hair. The second is dreadfalls, in which one dread is tied into another with either elastic or lace. Both of these methods are used to make dreads look better and more appealing, and to achieve the desired effect of longer hair.

== ''Guinness Book of World Records'' ==
On 10 December 2010, the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' rested its "longest dreadlocks" category after investigation of its first and only female title holder, Asha Mandela, with this official statement:
<blockquote>
Following a review of our guidelines for the longest dreadlock, we have taken expert advice and made the decision to rest this category. The reason for this is that it is difficult, and in many cases impossible, to measure the authenticity of the locks due to expert methods employed in the attachment of hair extensions/re-attachment of broken off dreadlocks. Effectively the dreadlock can become an extension and therefore impossible to adjudicate accurately. It is for this reason Guinness World Records has decided to rest the category and will no longer be monitoring the category for longest dreadlock.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/_Longest-Dreadlock-Record-Rested/BLOG/3083932/7691.html |title=Longest Dreadlock Record – Rested |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005033245/http://community.guinnessworldrecords.com/_Longest-Dreadlock-Record-Rested/BLOG/3083932/7691.html |archive-date=2011-10-05 }}</ref>
</blockquote>

== See also ==
* [[Box braids]]
* [[Bob Marley]]
* [[Elflock]]
* [[Cornrows]]
* [[French braid]]
* [[Polish plait]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== References ==
* {{cite book | last = Kroemer | first = K. | year = 2001 | title = Ergonomics: How to Design for Ease and Efficiency |edition=2nd | location = Englewood Cliffs | publisher = Prentice Hall | isbn = 0137524781 }}
* {{cite book | first=Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius |last=Tacitus |author-link=Tacitus |year=A.D. 98 |title=De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae|title-link=De vita et moribus Iulii Agricolae }}

== External links ==
{{Wiktionary|dreadlocks|dreadlock}}
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160618174330/http://www.dreadlockstory.com/ Dreadlocks Story – Documentary by Linda Aïnouche]
* [https://www.theguardian.com/weekend/story/0,,1026426,00.html Guardian article]
* {{Wiktionary-inline}}

{{Human hair}}
{{Rastafari}}

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