Part 192
In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain important foreign exchange earners. In 2007, the sugar industry increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in response to a 17% decline in EU sugar prices. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives more than nine-tenths of its imports and to which it sends 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand, subsuming Swaziland's monetary policy to South Africa. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) account for two-thirds of Swaziland's government revenues, and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. Customs revenues plummeted during the global economic crisis and Swaziland has appealed to SACU for assistance. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland's need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises and attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and more than one-quarter of the adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.055 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $5.937 billion (2009 est.)
$5.913 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.165 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 0.4% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $4,400 (2009 est.)
$4,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.6%
industry: 42%
services: 49.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
457,900 (2007) country comparison to the world: 156
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
40% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Population below poverty line:
69% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.7% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.4 (2001) country comparison to the world: 22
Investment (gross fixed):
12.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 7.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 39 11% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.38% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 14.83% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$335.7 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 163 $273.9 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.266 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $920.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$258.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $274.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 108 $203.1 million (31 December 2007)
$199.9 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Industries:
coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - production:
441 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - consumption:
1.266 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
770 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Oil - imports:
4,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Current account balance:
-$374 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 -$213 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.417 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $1.338 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Imports:
$1.643 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 $1.585 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$708 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $959 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$497 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $411 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.57 (2010), 8.4737 (2009), 7.75 (2008), 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006)
Communications ::Swaziland
Telephones - main lines in use:
44,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 165
Telephones - mobile cellular:
656,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 154
Telephone system:
general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system
domestic: single source for mobile-cellular service with a geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscribership base; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeded 60 telephones per 100 persons in 2009; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media:
state-owned TV station; satellite dishes are able to access South African providers; state-owned radio network with 3 channels; 1 private radio station (2007)
Internet country code:
.sz
Internet hosts:
2,335 (2010) country comparison to the world: 152
Internet users:
90,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 162
Transportation ::Swaziland
Airports:
15 (2010) country comparison to the world: 146
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 7 (2010)
Railways:
total: 301 km country comparison to the world: 121 narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 3,594 km country comparison to the world: 160 paved: 1,078 km
unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)
Military ::Swaziland
Military branches:
Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; only HIV-negative applicants accepted; compulsory HIV testing required (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 336,436 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 196,633
females age 16-49: 172,602 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 16,024
female: 15,630 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 18
Transnational Issues ::Swaziland
Disputes - international:
in 2006, Swazi king advocates resort to ICJ to claim parts of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal from South Africa
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Swaziland is a source, destination, and transit country for women and children trafficked internally and transnationally for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and forced labor in agriculture; Swazi girls, particularly orphans, are trafficked internally for commercial sexual exploitation and domestic servitude, as well as to South Africa and Mozambique; Swazi boys are trafficked for forced labor in commercial agriculture and market vending; some Swazi women are forced into prostitution in South Africa and Mozambique after voluntarily migrating to these countries in search of work
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the government of Swaziland does not comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government believes that trafficking probably does occur, but does not know the extent of the problem; the government does not judge trafficking to be an "important" problem and chooses to direct its limited resources towards other issues, a judgment which significantly limited the government's current efforts to eliminate human trafficking, or to plan anti-trafficking activities or initiatives for the future (2010)
page last updated on January 19, 2011
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@Sweden (Europe)
Introduction ::Sweden
Background:
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war for almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in 2000-02 and 2009 by the global economic downturns, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.
Geography ::Sweden
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 450,295 sq km country comparison to the world: 55 land: 410,335 sq km
water: 39,960 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,233 km
border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline:
3,218 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain:
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources:
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 5.93%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 94.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,150 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
179 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.68 cu km/yr (37%/54%/9%)
per capita: 296 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
People ::Sweden
Population:
9,074,055 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 733,597/female 692,194)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 3,003,358/female 2,927,038)
65 years and over: 18.8% (male 753,293/female 950,171) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.7 years
male: 40.6 years
female: 42.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.16% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Birth rate:
10.14 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 192
Death rate:
10.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Net migration rate:
1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Urbanization:
urban population: 85% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.061 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.74 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 220 male: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.97 years country comparison to the world: 14 male: 78.69 years
female: 83.4 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.67 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
6,200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Nationality:
noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups:
indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions:
Lutheran 87%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
Languages:
Swedish (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 16 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.7% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 28
Government ::Sweden
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Stockholm
geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National holiday:
Swedish Flag Day, 6 June (1916); National Day, 6 June (1983)
Constitution:
1 January 1975
Legal system:
civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5 October 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Jan BJORKLUND (since 5 October 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 19 September 2010 (next to be held in September 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 30.7%, Moderates 30.1%, Greens 7.3%, Liberal People's Party 7.1%, Center Party 6.6%, Sweden Democrats 5.7%, Christian Democrats 5.6%, Left Party 5.6%; seats by party - Social Democrats 112, Moderates 107, Greens 25, Liberal People's Party 24, Center Party 23, Sweden Democrats 20, Christian Democrats 19, Left Party 19
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Goran HAGGLUND]; Environment Party the Greens [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Jan BJORKLUND]; Moderate Party [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party [Mona SAHLIN]; Sweden Democrats [Jimmie AKESSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Children's Rights in Society; Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees or TCO; Swedish Federation of Trade Unions or LO
other: media
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jonas HAFSTROM
chancery: The House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew W. BARZUN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750
telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64
Flag description:
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
National anthem:
name: "Du Gamla, Du Fria" (Thou Ancient, Thou Free)
lyrics/music: Richard DYBECK/traditional
note: in use since 1844; the anthem, 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
Economy ::Sweden
Economy - overview:
Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole of the 20th century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. In September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system concerned about the impact on the economy and sovereignty. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for little more than 1% of GDP and of employment. Until 2008, Sweden was in the midst of a sustained economic upswing, boosted by increased domestic demand and strong exports. This and robust finances offered the center-right government considerable scope to implement its reform program aimed at increasing employment, reducing welfare dependence, and streamlining the state's role in the economy. Despite strong finances and underlying fundamentals, the Swedish economy slid into recession in the third quarter of 2008 and growth continued downward in 2009 as deteriorating global conditions reduced export demand and consumption. Strong exports of commodities and a return to profitability by Sweden's banking sector drove the strong rebound in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$354 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $340.1 billion (2009 est.)
$358.4 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$444.6 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 -5.1% (2009 est.)
-0.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$39,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $37,500 (2009 est.)
$39,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 26.1%
services: 72.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.93 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 28.2%
services: 70.7% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 8.3% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
23 (2005) country comparison to the world: 134 25 (1992)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Public debt:
40.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 41.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 -0.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 111 3.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$225 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 17 $205.2 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$293.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $260.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$640.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $583.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: