This report is an indispensable reference guide to Sweden, putting key facts and figures, political and economic information at your fingertips, without having to trawl through other books and websites. And it's not just dry data: the report combines key economic indicators with our expert analysis to bring you the most comprehensive overview of the Swedish market.
 

 
Through a unique combination of macroeconomic and market data, this country profile gives you quick access to country data points, trends and analysis including:
 

 
the country's political and government make-up
 

 
the country's economic performance and GDP
 

 
the potential for development
 

 
detailed market and industry analysis of the country's business environment
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
 
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 8
 
1.1 What is this report about? 8
 
1.2 Who is the target reader? 8
 
1.3 How to use this report 8
 
CHAPTER 2 Key Facts & Overview 10
 
2.1 Key Facts 10
 
2.2 Overview 12
 
CHAPTER 3 Politics & Government 14
 
3.1 Summary 14
 
3.2 Elections and Goverment Make-up 15
 
3.3 Policy and Business 17
 
3.4 External Relations 18
 
CHAPTER 4 Economy 19
 
4.1 Summary 19
 
4.2 Economic Performance 20
 
4.3 Major Trading Partners 23
 
4.4 Key Issues 24
 
4.5 Prospects 26
 
CHAPTER 5 Macroeconomic Data 27
 
5.1 GDP 27
 
5.2 Population by age and gender 33
 
5.3 Consumer Price Index 35
 
5.4 Exchange Rate 36
 
5.5 Employment 37
 
5.6 Unemployment 38
 
5.7 Part-time employment 40
 
5.8 Self-employment 42
 
5.9 Working women 44
 

 

 
LIST OF TABLES
 
Table 1: Sweden real GDP (SKr billion), 1998-2003 27
 
Table 2: Sweden real GDP (SKr billion), 2003-2008 28
 
Table 3: Sweden real GDP (US$ billion), 1998-2003 29
 
Table 4: Sweden real GDP (US$ billion), 2003-2008 30
 
Table 5: GDP per capita in Sweden compared to other Scandinavian countries, 2003 31
 
Table 6: GDP growth per capita in Scandinavia, 1998-2003 and forecast 2003-08 31
 
Table 7: Sweden population by age and gender (thousands), 2003 33
 
Table 8: Consumer Price Index inflation in Sweden compared to Scandinavian benchmark, 1998-2003 35
 
Table 9: Exchange rate, SKr-US$, 1990-2003 (annual average) 36
 
Table 10: Sweden employed population (thousands), 1990-2003 37
 
Table 11: Sweden unemployed population (thousands), 1990-2003 38
 
Table 12: Percentage of Swedish labor force that is unemployed, 1990-2003 39
 
Table 13: Part time employment in Sweden, 1990-2002 40
 
Table 14: Percentage of Sweden employed population in part time work, 1990-2002 41
 
Table 15: Number of self-employed in Sweden (thousands), 1990-2001 42
 
Table 16: Percentage of Sweden employed population that is self-employed, 1990-2001 43
 
Table 17: Number of working women in Sweden (thousands), 1990-2003 44
 
Table 18: Percentage of Sweden's employed population that is female, compared to Scandinavian benchmark, 1990-2003 45
 

 

 
LIST OF CHARTS
 
Figure 1: Sweden real GDP (SKr billion), 1998-2003 27
 
Figure 2: Sweden real GDP (SKr billion), 2003-2008 28
 
Figure 3: Sweden real GDP (US$ billion), 1998-2003 29
 
Figure 4: Sweden real GDP (US$ billion), 2003-2008 30
 
Figure 5: Per capita GDP and growth rates in Scandinavia 32
 
Figure 6: Sweden population by age and gender (thousands), 2003 34
 
Figure 7: Consumer Price Index inflation in Sweden compared to Scandinavian benchmark, 1998-2003 35
 
Figure 8: Exchange rate, SKr-US$, 1990-2003 (annual average) 36
 
Figure 9: Sweden employed population (millions), 1990-2003 37
 
Figure 10: Sweden unemployed population (thousands), 1990-2003 38
 
Figure 11: Percentage of Swedish labor force that is unemployed, 1990-2003 39
 
Figure 12: Part time employment in Sweden, 1990-2002 40
 
Figure 13: Percentage of Sweden employed population in part time work, 1990-2002 41
 
Figure 14: Number of self-employed in Sweden (thousands), 1990-2001 42
 
Figure 15: Percentage of Sweden employed population that is self-employed, 1990-2001 43
 
Figure 16: Number of working women in Sweden (millions), 1990-2003 44
 
Figure 17: Percentage of Sweden's employed population that is female, compared to Scandinavian benchmark, 1990-2003 45