Sweden - Government
Based on the etymolgy of Sweden, it was name ultimately derives from the North Germanic Svear tribe, which inhabited central Sweden and is first mentioned in the first centuries A.D.. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary constitutional monarchy type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland
National symbols
Three crowns, lion; national colors: blue, yellow.
The flag
The National flag of Sweden has blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors reflect those of the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field.
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The National Anthem
| Title | "Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free) |
|---|---|
| Lyric/music | Richard DYBECK/traditional |
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note: in use since 1844; also known as "Sang till Norden" (Song of the North), is based on a Swedish folk tune; it has never been officially adopted by the government; "Kungssangen" (The King's Song) serves as the royal anthem and is played in the presence of the royal family and during certain state ceremonies
More about the government of Sweden
| Date of Independence | 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) |
|---|---|
| National holiday | National Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day |
| Legal system | civil law system influenced by Roman-Germanic law and customary law |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| Constitution | |
| History | Sweden has four fundamental laws which together make up the Constitution: The Instrument of Government (several previous; latest 1974); The Act of Succession (enacted 1810; changed in 1937 and 1980); The Freedom of the Press Act (many previous; latest in 1949); The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression (adopted 1991) |
| Amendments | Proposed by Parliament; passage requires simple majority vote in two consecutive parliamentary terms with an intervening general election; passage also requires approval by simple majority vote in a referendum if Parliament approves a motion for a referendum by one third of its members; the results of such a referendum are only binding if a majority vote against the proposal; there has not been a referendum on constitutional matters; The Instrument of Government - amended several times, last in 2018; The Act of Succession - changed in 1937, 1980; The Freedom of the Press Act - amended several times, last in 2019; The Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression - amended several times, last in 2023 |
| Citizenship | |
| Citizenship by birth | no |
| Citizenship by descent only | the father must be a citizen of Sweden; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Sweden and the father unknown |
| Dual citizenship recognized | no, unless the other citizenship was acquired involuntarily |
| Residency requirement for naturalization | 5 years |
| Executive Branch | |
| Chief of state | King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 15 September 1973) |
| Head of government | Prime Minister Ulf KRISTERSSON (since 18 October 2022) |
| Cabinet | Cabinet appointed by the prime minister |
| Elections/appointments | the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister |
| Legislative branch | |
| Legislature name | Parliament (Riksdagen) |
| Legislative structure | Unicameral |
| Number of seats | 349 (all directly elected) |
| Electoral system | Proportional representation |
| Scope of elections | Full renewal |
| Term in office | 4 years |
| Most recent election date | 9/11/2022 |
| Parties elected and seats per party | Social Democratic Party (SAP) (107); Sweden Democrats (SD) (73); Moderate Party (M) (68); Left Party (VP) (24); Centre Party (CP) (24); Christian Democrats (KD) (19); Green Party (Mpg) (18); Other (16) |
| Percentage of women in chamber | 45% |
| Expected date of next election | September 2026 |
| Judicial branch | |
| Highest court(s) | Supreme Court of Sweden (consists of 16 justices, including the court chairman); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 18 justices, including the court president) |
| Judge selection and term of office | Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court justices nominated by the Judges Proposal Board, a 9-member nominating body consisting of high-level judges, prosecutors, and members of Parliament; justices appointed by the Government; following a probationary period, justices' appointments are permanent |
| Subordinate courts | First instance, appellate, general, and administrative courts; specialized courts that handle cases such as land and environment, immigration, labor, markets, and patents |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador Urban AHLIN (since 15 September 2023) |
| Chancery | 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 |
| Telephone | [1] (202) 467-2600 |
| FAX | [1] (202) 467-2699 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/usa-washington/ |
| Consulate(s) general | New York, San Francisco |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | |
| Chief of mission | Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Mark EVANS (since January 2025) |
| Embassy | Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-115 89 Stockholm |
| Mailing address | 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 |
| Telephone | [46] (08) 783-53-00 |
| FAX | [46] (08) 661-19-64 |
| Email address and website | [email protected] https://se.usembassy.gov/ |
| National heritage | |
| Total World Heritage Sites | 15 (13 cultural, 1 natural, 1 mixed) |
| Selected World Heritage Site locales | Royal Domain of Drottningholm (c); Laponian Area (m); High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago (n); Birka and Hovgården (c); Hanseatic Town of Visby (c); Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå (c); Naval Port of Karlskrona (c); Rock Carvings in Tanum (c); Engelsberg Ironworks (c); Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun (c) |
Key Political parties and their leaders in Sweden
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International organization participation
All Important Facts about Sweden
Want to know more about Sweden? Check all different factbooks for Sweden below.
