Swedish Learning Community and Resources

Geography

Sweden is located in northern Europe and borders Norway to the west and Finland to the east. The country has a long coastline facing the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. Approximately 53% of the country is covered by forest, and there are over 100,000 lakes in Sweden.

Population

The population of Sweden is approximately 10 million people, with the majority living in cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

Language

Swedish is the official language in Sweden and is spoken by almost everyone. However, English is also widely spoken and understood, especially among younger generations.

Culture

Sweden's rich cultural heritage includes art, music, literature and design. Some Swedish brands are even famous worldwide. 

Government

Sweden is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. King Carl XVI Gustaf is the current monarch, and the Prime Minister is Ulf Kristersson.

Economy

Sweden has a highly developed economy with a strong welfare state. The country is a member of the European Union but does not use the euro as its currency. Important industries include engineering, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and automobile manufacturing.

Education

Sweden's highly regarded education system is free and open to all. It places great emphasis on creativity, innovation, and critical thinking.

Social norms

Swedes are known for their love of nature, equality, and justice. They are often described as reserved and introverted but also friendly and hospitable once you get to know them. Sweden is also a very liberal country with progressive views on social issues such as gender equality and LGBTQ rights.

Sports

Ice hockey and soccer are the most popular sports in Sweden, with several professional leagues and a strong tradition of international success in both sports. Other popular sports are skiing, athletics, and bandy.

Holidays and traditions

Sweden has several traditional holidays and celebrations, including Midsummer Eve, Lucia, and Christmas. Swedish food is also known for meatballs, herring, and crispbread dishes.

10 Fun Facts About Sweden

Now for some fun facts about the country.

1. Swedes have many special days for different things: Cinnamon Bun Day, Waffle Day, Chocolate Ball Day, Semmel Day, Valentine's Day, Lussebullsday, Women's Day, and more.

2. Sometimes, it's only night or only day in Kiruna: In Kiruna, which is Sweden's largest municipality and is located in Lapland at the very north, it is bright around the clock for two months in the summer, which is called the midnight sun. From about December 12 to December 31, there is no sun, which is called polar night. Half of Lapland lies above the Arctic Circle and, therefore, has polar nights.

3. Yes, some Swedes eat sour strömming: Strömming preserved by fermentation originated in the 16th century when Gustav Vasa was at war, and there was a salt shortage. You then had to devise a new method to not starve to death, hence the salty fish. Those who eat this specialty (mainly around the High Coast) usually do so by putting the fish between buttered pieces of flatbread filled with mashed almond potatoes.

4. Sweden has many different dialects. The most common division of dialects is into six significant areas: South Swedish dialect, Göta dialect, Svea dialect, Gotland dialect, Norrland dialect, and East Swedish dialect. Some people from other countries ask if we understand each other in Nordic countries. Still, we don't always understand ourselves in Sweden.

5. Sweden is the most moose-dense country in the world: Sweden has approximately 300,000–400,000 moose. Annually, 100,000 are shot, and the growth is around 100,000 per year. The moose lives alone almost its entire life.

6. Sweden has the only James Bond museum in the world: The Swede Gunnar Schäfer, who today also carries the name James Bond in his passport, started as an 8-year-old collecting James Bond things. Today, most things from the movies are in the museum, such as gondolas, hovercraft, motorcycles, airplanes, cars from the film, dresses from the peasant brides, swimming trunks, champagne, and hundreds of other things, in Nybro in Småland.

7. The ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi is the world's first and largest. Every year, ice is taken from the Torne River to create new designs and architecture for a new ice hotel. Each year, when the hotel is completed, you will find a church, rooms, and suites for over 100 guests. They store 10,000 tons of ice in blocks and 30,000 tons of snow in warehouses for construction. Over 100 couples are married here yearly, and children are baptized at the Ishotellet in the church.

8. Swedish citizens can easily travel: Right now, the Swedish passport is the sixth best in the world, which gives us entry permission in 188 countries without a visa. First on the list is Japan, which allows you to travel without a visa to 193 countries.

9. Sweden has the most patents per capita in Europe: Some of Sweden's most famous inventions are the refrigerator, dry milk, the temperature scale Celsius, the sfäriska kullagret, Pacemaker, Wrench and Pipe Pliers, and Safety Match.

1. Astrid Lindgren's books have sold 165 million copies: The beloved children's fiction author Astrid Lindgren's (1907-2002) books have been translated into 107 different languages ​​and sold 165 million copies. Therefore, they're among the most translated books in the world. Some of her most famous works are Pippi Longstocking, Emil in Lönneberga, Barnen I Bullerbyn, Karlsson på taket, Madicken, Saltkråkan, Bröderna Lejonhjärta, and Ronja Rövardotter.