Geography of Sweden

Sweden is a country in Northern Europe located on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It shares borders with Norway to the west, Finland to the northeast, and is surrounded by the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia to the south and east. With an area of 450,295 km², Sweden is the largest country in Northern Europe, the fifth largest in Europe, and the 55th largest in the world.

Sweden has a long coastline stretching 3,572 km along its eastern edge. To the west, the Scandinavian mountain chain separates it from Norway. The country also shares maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It is connected to Denmark by the Öresund bridge, and has an Exclusive Economic Zone covering 160,885 km².

Terrain

Sweden has lots of forests, covering about 69% of the land, while only 8% is used for farming. The country also has many lakes—around 95,700 of them! Some of these lakes help create power for the country.

In the north and west, Sweden has hilly and mountainous areas called the Norrland terrain. These areas have wide forests and special types of soil.

In the middle of Sweden, there is a flat area called the Central Swedish lowland. This is where many people live and where much of the country’s farming happens. It has rich soil that’s great for growing crops. This area also has some of Sweden’s biggest lakes, like Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren, and Hjälmaren.

Further south, the land becomes hilly again, similar to the north, but with poorer soil for farming. In the very south, there are both flat areas and hills. This part of Sweden is good for farming and has lots of different plants and animals.

Sweden’s two largest islands, Gotland and Öland, are made of special rocks and have unique landforms like cliffs and sea stacks.

Political divisions

Provinces

Sweden has 25 areas called provinces, based on culture, geography, and history. These provinces do not have any political role, but they help people feel connected to their heritage. The provinces are often grouped into three larger areas: the northern Norrland, the central Svealand, and the southern Götaland. Norrland covers almost 60% of the country.

Counties

Sweden is divided into 21 counties for administrative purposes. Each county has a County Administrative Board, which is appointed by the national government. There is also a County Council in each county, chosen by the local voters.

The counties are listed below with their vehicle registration letters used before 1973:

• K = Blekinge County
• W = Dalarna County
• I = Gotland County
• X = Gävleborg County
• N = Halland County
• Z = Jämtland County
• F = Jönköping County
• H = Kalmar County
• G = Kronoberg County
• BD = Norrbotten County
• M = Skåne County
• AB = Stockholm County
• D = Södermanland County
• C = Uppsala County
• S = Värmland County
• AC = Västerbotten County
• Y = Västernorrland County
• U = Västmanland County
• O = Västra Götaland County
• T = Örebro County
• E = Östergötland County

Municipalities

Each county is divided into smaller areas called municipalities. There are 290 municipalities in total. Some in the north cover large areas but have small populations. For example, the municipality of Kiruna is as big as three southern provinces put together, but it has only about 25,000 people and a very low population density.

Main articles: Provinces of Sweden and Lands of Sweden

Main article: Counties of Sweden

Main article: Municipalities of Sweden

Population

Sweden has about 10 million people. The northern part of the country, which is mountainous, has fewer people than the southern and central areas. This is because the south has longer summers and better farming conditions. Also, the south is closer to important trade routes in Europe, like to Germany.

All of Sweden’s big cities—with over 100,000 people—are in the southern half of the country. The biggest city is Stockholm, the capital, with around 1.25 million people. Next is Gothenburg in the southwest, with about 510,000 people. Then there is Malmö in the south, with around 258,000 people. The largest city in the north is Umeå, with about 76,000 people.

Main articles: Cities in Sweden and Urban areas in Sweden

Natural resources

Sweden has many useful materials called natural resources. Some of these include copper, gold, hydropower, iron ore, lead, silver, timber, uranium, and zinc. These resources are important for the country's economy and industries.

Environment

See also: Wildlife of Sweden and Agriculture in Sweden

Acid rain has become a concern because it harms soils and lakes, as well as polluting the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Scientists use special tools to study how water carries nutrients into the Baltic Sea.

Climate

Most of Sweden has a mild climate, even though it is far north. The country has four clear seasons, with temperatures that stay comfortable most of the year. The far south usually has gentle winters with just a little snow, while the north feels much colder. Central Sweden has mixed weather, and the southern coast can feel either a bit warmer or more like the coast because of the sea.

Sweden’s winters and summers are shaped by winds from the sea and land. The south, close to the sea, has smaller temperature changes than the north, where winters can get very cold. The warmest summers often happen near Stockholm, protected by land from strong winds. Daily temperatures in Sweden’s cities range from about 19°C to 24°C in summer and from -9°C to 3°C in winter. Higher places in the north are colder.

Because Sweden is far north, the amount of daylight changes a lot. In summer, the sun barely sets in the far north, while in winter, it barely rises. In Stockholm, there can be over 18 hours of daylight in June but only about 6 hours in December. Sweden gets between 1,100 and 1,900 hours of sunshine each year.

The warmest day ever recorded in Sweden was 38°C (100°F) in Målilla in 1947. The coldest was -52.6°C (-62.7°F) in 1966. Sweden’s weather is affected by large land areas nearby, which can send hot or cold air into the country. Even though it is far north, Sweden’s summers can feel warm, especially away from the coast. Winters can be very cold, but the sea helps keep things a little warmer than in places far to the east.

Sweden usually gets between 500 and 800 mm of rain each year, making it drier than many places. The southwest gets more rain, up to 1,200 mm, and some mountain areas may get even more. Because of the mountains, much of Sweden stays warmer and drier in summer than you might expect so far north.

Extremes

Extreme points

The extreme points of Sweden are the places that are farthest north, south, east, and west, as well as the highest and lowest points in the country. Sweden’s northernmost point is Treriksröset, where the borders of Sweden, Norway, and Finland meet. The southernmost point is in the harbor of Smygehuk, near Trelleborg, by the Baltic Sea.

Sweden’s westernmost point is on an islet called Stora Drammen, and the easternmost point is on another islet named Kataja. The highest point in Sweden is the northern peak of Kebnekaise, standing at 2,097 meters (6,880 feet). The lowest point is 2.41 meters (7.91 feet) below sea level, located in the Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve in Kristianstad.