Sweden

Stockholm serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Sweden, positioned in Northern Europe. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Stockholm is built across 14 islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, and Gamla Stan — the Old Town on its own island — contains a medieval street grid and the Baroque Royal Palace, whose 1,430 rooms make it the world's largest palace still in use by a reigning monarch.

With a population of approximately 10.5M, Sweden is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Swedish, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Sweden is reached via the dialling code +46. Sweden's Law of Jante, articulated by Danish-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose in 1933 but recognised immediately as describing a real Scandinavian social code, discourages individual boastfulness and prizes collective modesty — an ethic that shapes corporate culture, political discourse and the social awkwardness of accepting a compliment.

Sweden spans 450,295 km², in the Northern Europe subregion of Europe. Geographically centred around 62.0°N, 15.0°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the right-hand rule, in line with surrounding Europe convention.

The official currency is the Swedish krona (kr), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Sweden's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+01:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

The emblematic dish of Sweden is Köttbullar. Food culture in Sweden is deeply tied to local identity — shared meals and markets are central to daily life and social gatherings across the country.

Football / Ice Hockey holds a special place in the heart of Sweden's national identity. Sweden produced Björn Borg, whose five consecutive Wimbledon titles between 1976 and 1980 and four French Opens in the same period made him the sport's first rock-star figure — and the ice hockey programme has been equally consistent, with the Tre Kronor winning seven World Championships since 1990.

The highest point in Sweden is Kebnekaise, rising to 2,096 metres above sea level. Allemansrätten — the right to roam — is enshrined in Swedish law, granting every person the right to walk, camp and pick berries across any land, including private property, a legal tradition that has shaped a national relationship with forests and lakes fundamentally different from most of the property-conscious world.