Sweden is a small nation in a big country - just over nine million inhabitants in an area larger than California and nearly as large as France or Spain.

Sweden is also a young civilization in an old country. In past centuries, the country was mainly known for its constant wars. In the 17th century, Sweden was a Great Power in Europe, with a territory that extended almost all the way around the Baltic Sea.

Since 1814, however, Sweden has lived in peace, which has been the most important prerequisite for the build-up of the modern Swedish welfare state.

During the 20th century, Sweden evolved quickly from a poor agrarian country to one of the world's strongest industrial nations. The point of departure for this "Swedish industrial miracle" was the country's natural wealth of forests and ore, as well as a long series of ingenious inventions and an entrepreneurial tradition.

In Sweden the fruits of this economic success have been distributed more evenly among the population than in perhaps any other country. Sweden has become known worldwide for its high general standard of living, with publicly financed systems of economic security for all people in all phases of life.

The transformation Sweden has undergone during the past century has been extremely radical. Sweden in the 21st century is a modern, sophisticated, internationalized society which is very much part of a globalized world. The simple origins of the Swedes are clearly apparent, however, in our proud but low-key disposition, close contact with our cultural heritage, popular customs and traditions and, not least, intensive love of our magnificent, challenging but lavishly rich Nordic nature.

Armed neutrality has kept Sweden out of war for nearly two centuries. Low unemployment, a low birthrate, and one of the world's highest life expectancies have characterized modern Sweden. Success has been credited to a blending of socialism and capitalism, including cooperation between the government and labor unions, which represent 90 percent of workers. High taxes finance advanced social programs, from education to health and child care and paid paternal leave.

In the 1980s a flood of immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Latin America sought the Swedish utopia but further taxed expensive social programs. Mounting economic problems led to cutbacks in 1991, when Sweden reassessed its social policies and elected a conservative government. The Social Democrats returned to power in 1994 with a commitment to stringent economic controls. By 1998 they were operating from a weakened power base—the lowest vote share in 78 years. Sweden joined the EU in 1995. Inflation is low and unemployment is down.

Radioactive fallout from Chernobyl underscored Sweden's resolve to dismantle its nuclear power plants, a process that was begun in 1997.

Text source: www.sweden.se & National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition, 2004