Today we will help you out to know about some awesome and interesting facts about Sweden, you will be amazed after reading these interesting facts about Sweden.
Interesting facts about Sweden
Country & History
- Sweden is the third largest country in the EU, after France and Spain.
- Sweden is one of the original lands of ethnic and Germanic culture. The Goths, Suevirs and Vikings all originate in Sweden (as well as in Norway and Denmark for the latter).
- In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Swedish Vikings settled in several Eastern European regions, as far as Constantinople trader and the Caspian Sea. They founded the first kingdom of Russia. All the Tsars of Russia until the last, Nicholas II, descended from the Swedish Vikings.
- Dating from 2006, Sweden won 588 Olympic medals (winter and summer), a feat surpassed only by 6 other more populous countries (the United States, USSR, Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom).
Society & Population
- In 2010, 2011 and 2012, Sweden was ranked third in the world for the United Nations Development Program-adjusted Human Development Index (HDI).
- In 2006, Swedes had the longest life expectancy in Europe (80.5 years). In 2010, they were fifth (80.8 years), exceeded by the Swiss, Italians, Icelanders and French.
- Swedes have the lowest income inequality in the world, with a Gini coefficient of 23 in 2005.
- Sweden has the smallest difference in employment rates between men and women in the developed world, with only 4% more men than women on the labor market.
- Swedes have their first child on average at 30, the highest average age in Europe, with Ireland and the Netherlands.
- Sweden has the highest percentage of working mothers in the developed world, not less than 76% of them.
- Swedes spend the most time in higher education with an average age of 25.5 per student.
- 40% of Swedish women and 32% of Swedish men aged 25 to 64 continue to study or receive training, most often in addition to their work. In comparison, the EU average is 10% for women and 9% for men.
- Sweden has the highest percentage of personal computers per capita in Europe, with 500 computers per 1000 people.
- A 2007 UNICEF report on the well-being of children in rich countries ranked Sweden as the best country for 3 of the 6 dimensions studied (material well-being of children, health and safety of children, and behaviors and risks). Sweden is second overall, behind the Netherlands.
- In 2006, Sweden was the most generous country in the world in providing assistance to poor countries. It is the only country where donations exceed 1% of GDP.
- Maternity and paternity leave in Sweden is among the longest and most generous in the world, allowing both the father and the mother to take a total of 480 days (16 months) of leave between them, receiving 77.6% of their salary.
Culture & Sciences
- Sweden has given the world some of the largest music groups and pop singers, including Abba, The Cardigans, Roxette, Ace of Base, Carola Häggkvist, Army of Lovers, Robyn, A * Teens, Europe and the Alcazar.
- The astronomical lens is a Swedish invention.
- By the end of 2012, Sweden had won 30 Nobel Prizes, including 5 Nobel Peace Prizes. It is the 5th highest number of laureates per country, and the highest per capita proportion for a country of more than 1 million inhabitants. Of course, the Nobel Prizes are awarded by Sweden (except the Peace Prize, awarded by Norway).
- Sweden has the largest number of McDonald’s restaurants per capita in Europe (although only about half of the United States).
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Political economics
- With 47% of women parliamentarians (in 2006), Sweden has the highest proportion of women parliamentarians in the world.
- In 1862, Sweden was the first country to grant suffrage to women (married), although only for municipal elections.
- Sweden is poised to become the first country in the world to phase out gasoline for biofuel.
- Sweden has the largest number of nuclear power plants per capita, with 10 reactors per 9 million inhabitants.
- Sweden has the highest number of patents granted per capita among European countries, with 271 patents per million inhabitants.
- Sweden ranks second in Europe (after Finland) in terms of technological achievements.
- Founded in Stockholm in 1995, the Metro newspaper quickly became the world leader in free commuter newspapers. As of late 2009, there were 56 daily editions in 19 countries in 15 languages across Europe, North and South America, and Asia.
- Sweden has the second highest VAT rate in the world (25%) after Hungary (27%).
- Tax revenues in Sweden amount to 54.2% of GDP, the highest level in the world.
- In 2012, the Swedish company Ericsson was the leading manufacturer of mobile telecommunications networks, with 38% of the global market.
- Sweden has an excellent reputation as a car manufacturer with Volvo and Saab. Scania trucks are also Swedish.
- IKEA, the famous furniture and decoration chain, was founded in Sweden in 1943.
- The Swedish company Electrolux holds 28% of the appliance market in the world. The company owns more than 40 brands, including AEG-Electrolux, Zanussi, Eureka and Frigidaire.
Construction
- The largest shopping center in Europe is Nordstan in Gothenburg, with around 180 stores and 150 offices spread over 320,000 m².
- The Stockholm Globe Arena is the largest hemispheric building on Earth, with a diameter of 110 meters, an interior height of 85 meters and a total volume of 600,000 m³. It is also the largest model of the solar system.
- The Royal Palace in Stockholm can be considered as the largest palace in the world still used for its original function. With a total area of 61,210 m², it is slightly larger than the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and only a little smaller than the Palace of Versailles. The construction of the Stockholm Palace began in 1697, before Versailles was completed.
