Northeast Europe, Scandinavia.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

449,964 sq km (173,732 sq miles).

8.9 million (UN, 2005).

19.7 per sq km.

Stockholm. Population: 765,044 (2005).

Sweden is bordered by Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, with a long Baltic coast to the east and south. Approximately half the country is forested and most of the many thousands of lakes are situated in the southern central area. The largest lake is Vänern, with an area of 5540 sq km (2140 sq miles). Swedish Lapland to the north is mountainous and extends into the Arctic Circle.

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with legislative power vested in the single-chamber 349-member Riksdag (Parliament), which is directly elected for a three-year term. A prime minister and cabinet are drawn from the largest party or coalition of parties.

Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from Denmark in 1523. Head of State: King Carl XVI Gustaf since 1973. Head of Government: Prime Minister Göran Persson since 1996. Recent history: Two tragic events overshadow Sweden’s recent past – the assassination of Prime Minister Olaf Palme (known on the world stage as a leading exponent of Scandinavian neutrality) in 1986, and the murder of Foreign Minister Anna Lindh in 2003, days before a national referendum rejected membership of the common European currency system. From the end of the Second World War, the nation has enjoyed increasing prosperity, and has developed an extremely supportive welfare state, funded by relatively high taxation. However, by the beginning of the 1990s, the economy was no longer performing as well as it had done and the centre-right coalition government of Carl Bildt, which took office in 1991, instituted an austerity programme. This was designed to reduce inflation, cut the budget deficit by reducing public expenditure and de-regulate and privatise much of Sweden’s extensive public sector. Relations with the (then) European Community had become the major issue in Swedish politics, although with all the major political parties favouring membership, the issue was less than contentious. Negotiations for full membership began in 1993. These were completed by the September 1994 election, which was won by the SAP; Sweden joined the EU at the beginning of 1995. Sweden chose not to join the European single currency at its inception in 1999; public support was lacking and the government felt that economic conditions were not right. By 2003, the Government was prepared to sign on, but a referendum that September rejected the Euro. Another general election will take place during 2006.

Swedish. Lapp is spoken by the Sámi population in the north; there are also Finnish-speaking minorities. English is taught as the first foreign language from the age of nine.

Around 86 per cent of the population belong to the Church of Sweden (Evangelical Lutheran), which separated from the state in January 2000; other Protestant minorities constitute the majority of the remainder.

Normal courtesies should be observed. It is customary for the guest to refrain from drinking until the host makes a toast. The guest should also thank the host for the meal with Tack för maten. Casual dress is acceptable for everyday occasions; smarter wear for social occasions, exclusive restaurants and clubs. Evening wear (black tie) will usually be specified when required. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in most public buildings.

220 volts, three-phase AC, 50Hz. Two-pin continental plugs are used.