Sweden

Capital of Sweden: Stockholm
Population of Sweden: 9,088,728
Total area of Sweden: 450,295 km2

Sweden is a large country located in Northern Europe. Its flag is medium blue with an off center cross that goes from top to bottom and from side to side. Its coat of arms is ornate with two lions, a banner in the middle, drapery and a large crown at the top.

Sweden population

The population of Sweden is approximately 9.3 million individuals. The population density remains low, however, due to its large size. Approximately 85 percent of the population is urban. Its capital city is Stockholm. Other large cities include Gothenburg and Malmo. Sweden has an official language, that of Swedish, which is a Northern Germanic language. It is a language understood by the Norwegians. There are several dialects of Swedish spoken. Finnish is considered a minority language. Many Swedish speaking people also speak English. English is compulsory in school. The religion of Sweden is the Church of Sweden and many of Sweden’s inhabitants belong to Lutheranism.  

History of Sweden

Sweden’s first inhabitants came around 12,000 BCE and were hunter, gatherers and fishermen. It was part of Germania in 98 CE. The Jordanes inhabited the area around the 6th Century AD. The Vikings controlled the area from the 8th and the 11th centuries CE. They raided other countries as well. The first Swedish monarchs survived the Vikings shortly thereafter. Christianity came to Sweden in 829 but paganism was more popular until the 12th century. Sweden was the subject of feudalism as it did in the rest of Europe. The plague hit Sweden in the 1300s and wiped out the population. Sweden took on new land and became a Swedish Empire in the 1500s to the 1800s. It conquered roughly half of the Holy Roman Empire. It was forced to give up a great many lands in the Treaty of Nystad. It remained a strong country through the 1800s. It was democratic since 1888. Sweden was officially neutral in WWI and WWII.

Sweden Tourism

One of the things that come to mind when you think of Sweden is Vikings, fierce warriors who are skilled in fighting and who have done their fair share of pillaging. These days, the country is known for its charming countryside where people can enjoy the simpler pleasures of life, including moments of tranquility. History is etched in the land as evidenced by ancient burial mounds, gravestones and rune stones that you can find scattered all over the country. In Gotland you will find ruined medieval churches and if you explore the forests in the midst of Malmo and Stockholm, you will discover the ‘Kingdom of Crystal’ featuring stunning glassworks. Sweden is also known as a skiing destination with the popular Åre and Riksgraensen ski resorts. Visitors hoping for the ultimate “chilling” experience can find one at the Ice Hotel Jukkasjärvi, Lapland. Every winter, this sculpted structure is rebuilt, making each ice hotel unique.

Many of the customs in Sweden depend on the changing seasons. Swedes welcome spring on the last day of the month of April with Walpurgis Eve, a time when songs about spring are sung and bonfires are lighted. They welcome summer on midsummer’s eve, this time with a maypole around which people dance. They also celebrate this day by eating herring and snaps. During a meal, guest should not drink not until after the host has made a toast.  'tack för maten' should then be said to the host to thank him for the food. ‘tack’ is like “thank you” and “please” which Swedes say all the time.