Sweden (Swedish: Sverige) is a country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula and one of the five Nordic countries. The capital is Stockholm. It borders Norway to the west, Finland to the northeast, Skagerrak Strait and Kattegat Strait to the southwest, and the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia to the east. Sweden faces Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia across the sea, with a coastline of 2181 kilometers and a total area of 450000 square kilometers, making it the largest country in Northern Europe. The country is divided into 21 provinces and 290 cities, with Stockholm as the capital. As of October 2023, the total population of Sweden is 10.56 million. At the beginning of the 11th century, a unified Kingdom of Sweden was formed. Since 1397, he has been a member of the Kalmar League led by Denmark. In 1523, independence was regained. The period from 1611 to 1721 was the peak of national strength and was known as the “Swedish Empire”. In 1805, he participated in the Napoleonic Wars, and in 1809, he was forced to cede Finland after being defeated by the Russian Empire. In 1814, the Kiel Treaty was signed, and Norway was acquired from Denmark, establishing the United Kingdom of Sweden and Norway. Sweden remained neutral in both World Wars. In 1995, Sweden joined the European Union. Sweden has a narrow and elongated terrain that slopes from northwest to southeast. The northern part is the Noerland Plateau, while the southern and coastal areas are mostly plains or hills. As of July 2021, Sweden has 21 provinces and 290 cities. The governor is appointed by the government, and the municipal leadership is elected. Both the province and the city have significant autonomy. Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Sweden is a developed capitalist country and also the site of the Nobel Prize. In 2022, Sweden’s gross domestic product was 5962.8 billion Swedish kroner (approximately 558.4 billion US dollars), with a per capita gross domestic product of 567000 Swedish kroner (approximately 53000 US dollars) and a GDP growth rate of 2.6%. On March 7, 2024 local time, Sweden officially joined NATO, becoming the 32nd member state of NATO.
