What to Know Before Visiting Sweden?

Country Facts:
 Sweden has had seven Nobel Prize winners in Literature, including Selma
Lagerlöf, who was the first woman to win the prize in 1909. Her birthplace at
Mårbacka is a national shrine.
 Sweden legalized gay sex in 1944, and in 1972, it was the first country in the
world to allow for a legal change of gender identity.
 Wasps actually kill more people directly than any other animal in Sweden, about
one per year.
 Sweden has 95,700 lakes larger than 100 meters by 100 meters. That equals 9%
of Sweden’s total area.
 Sweden was the first country in the world to ban the smacking of children in
1979. Since then, 35 other countries have followed suit.
 Sweden has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, 74 years for men
and 80 years for women, and one of the lowest birthrates (1.7 children per
woman).
 The Swedish word gift can mean married or poison.
 From the 1850s to the 1930s, 1.5 million of Sweden’s population of 3.5 million
immigrated to North America.
 Famous people of Sámi descent include singer Joni Mitchell and actress Renée
Zellweger.
 The Sámi year traditionally has eight seasons, each tied to a period of reindeer
herding.
 Sweden has the highest standard V.A.T. rate in the world (25%).
 Total taxation in Sweden amount to 54.2 % of GDP, the highest level worldwide.
 Sweden ranks second in Europe (after Finland) in terms of technological
achievement.
 Sweden is set to become the first country in the world to phase out petroleum for
biofuel.
 Only one per cent of solid waste goes to landfill in Sweden – with the rest
recycled or used to produce heat, electricity or vehicle fuel in the form of biogas.
Source:
1. https://www.factretriever.com/sweden-facts
2. https://acei-global.blog/2015/05/21/50-interesting-facts-on-sweden/

Country Flag:
Capital: Stockholm is the capital of Sweden.
Government: The politics of Sweden take place in a framework of a parliamentary
representative democratic constitutional monarchy. Executive power is exercised by the
government, led by the Prime Minister of Sweden. Legislative power is vested in both
the government and parliament, elected within a multi-party system.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Sweden
Prime Minister: Stefan Löfven is Prime Minister of Sweden since 18 January 2019.
Economy: Sweden is an export-oriented mixed economy featuring a modern
distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor
force. Timber, hydropower and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy
heavily oriented toward foreign trade. For the 2019 estimate, GDP per capita in Sweden
will be $54628 in PPP per capita and $51242 per nominal.
Population: The population of Sweden was estimated to be 10.23 million in 2019.
Religion by Percentage:  In 2015 the Eurobarometer found that Christianity was the
religion for 47.6% of the respondents, with Protestantism being the main denomination
with 36.5%, followed by other Christians with 8.6%, Catholics with 1.6% and Eastern
Orthodox with 0.8%.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Sweden

Top Sweden Foods: Sweden is an amazing country, known for its clean streets,
successful welfare and high percentage of non-religious people. But none of those
things are as well known or as popular as PewDiePie, Roxette and Stieg Larsson.
Below are top “must try” dishes for visitors to Sweden:

 Tunnbrodsrulle: This classic Swedish street food item consists of a flatbread

(tunnbröd) that is wrapped around grilled or boiled sausages. Usual condiments
include mashed potatoes, shrimp-and-mayonnaise salad, onions, lettuce, and
ketchup or mustard. Tunnbrödsrulle is a large, nutritious snack, usually enjoyed
late at night. It is typically found at korvkiosks - Swedish street stands that mainly
specialize in hot dogs.
 Kottsoppa: Köttsoppa is a hearty meat and vegetable soup that is commonly
served in Sweden for lunch or dinner. The usual ingredients for its preparation
include boiled meat, typically beef, chopped carrots, onions, parsnip, celery, and
leeks, cooked in a pot and seasoned with thyme, white peppercorns, bay leaves,
parsley, and salt. Normally served with plain, boiled potatoes and horseradish
sauce, this flavorful soup is considered a variation of pot-au-feu. The dish is
commonly eaten in Finland and Iceland as well. In Iceland, the traditional meat
soup called kjötsúpa is a variation of this soup that calls for lamb instead of beef.
 Pizza Vulkanen: Invented by chef Halmat Givra of Nya Gul & Blå restaurant in
Piteå, volcano pizza is a visually impressive dish with extra everything – there
are pockets of cheese and ham, salami, bacon, and beef tenderloin in a wide
ring. Erupting from the center are french fries and a salad with Béarnaise sauce.
This recent Swedish invention is ideal for large parties – with a great number of
flavors, there is something for everyone involved.
 Polsa: Pölsa is a classic Swedish dish made with ground beef or pork that is
mixed with liver and hearts, combined with beef stock, chopped onions, barley
grains, white pepper, marjoram, and ground allspice. The dish is believed to have
its roots in the days when people had to use all parts of the animals and nothing
was wasted. It is typically accompanied by boiled potatoes, pickled beets, and
(sometimes) fried eggs on the side.
 Kavring: Kavring is a classic Swedish bread that started by traveling through the
Nordic countries. It originated as a crisp rye bread in Norway, and then, in the
late 1800s, it evolved into a slightly sweet, tender, and fragrant loaf in southern
Sweden. The bread is typically made with a combination of plain flour, rye flour,
salt, dark treacle syrup, baking powder, fennel, and caraway seeds. Traditionally,
it is consumed at Midsommar, Easter, or Christmas with gravlax, pickled herring,
Christmas ham, pickles, or hard-boiled eggs. On regular days, it is often
consumed for breakfast with butter, cheese, or fruit jams, but it is also used for a
variety of delicious sandwiches.
 Pucko: Pucko is a Swedish drink made with three basic ingredients: milk,
chocolate, and sugar. It comes in an iconic glass bottle that was created by Arla
Foods, a company which released it in 1954. Today, it is produced by a Danish
company named Cocio. Besides the glass bottle, Pucko is also sold in cartons. In
Sweden, the drink is most often associated with hot dog vendors, who typically
sell it as an accompaniment to hot dogs.
 Brunkal: Translated as brown cabbage, this simple Swedish dish consists of
white cabbage that is slowly braised with soy sauce, vinegar, and syrup. Usually
associated with the Skåne region, the dish is traditionally enjoyed for Christmas,
and it is typically served along pork, sausages, or Christmas ham (julskinka).
During cooking, the cabbage turns brown, hence the name.
 Nyponsoppa: Nyponsoppa is a simple dessert soup that employs rose hips as
its star ingredient. The dish is best prepared with fresh rose hip fruits that are
cooked and puréed along sugar and (optionally) spices such as cinnamon and
cloves. It can be enjoyed warm or chilled, as a lightly sweetened starter or a
creamy dessert, when it usually comes with a dollop of whipped cream or almond
macaroons (mandelbiskvier).
 Smulpaj: Smulpaj, from the Swedish words smula, meaning crumb, and paj,
meaning pie, is a delicious Swedish crumb pie. It consists of a crumbly mixture
poured evenly over diced fruits and berries (typically blueberries and
raspberries).It is flavored with sugar and cinnamon, then baked until crisp. This
scrumptious Swedish treat is usually topped with whipped cream, vanilla custard,
or ice cream. A crisp and crunchy crumb united with an irresistibly sweet and
moist filling make smulpaj a popular treat served in many cafés throughout
Sweden.
 Prinskorv: This Swedish sausage was invented in 1805 by a Viennese butcher,
Georg Lahner. Prinskorv is made with spiced pork and veal and it is mainly
enjoyed as a snack, fried and served with mustard on the side. It is also a
popular element of julbord, the traditional Swedish Christmas buffet-style table.
This Swedish sausage was invented in 1805 by a Viennese butcher, Georg
Lahner. Prinskorv is made with spiced pork and veal and it is mainly enjoyed as a
 snack, fried and served with mustard on the side. It is also a popular element of
julbord, the traditional Swedish Christmas buffet-style table.
 Blod Pudding: Blodpudding is one of traditional Swedish dishes made with
animal blood. It is typically prepared with pig blood that is mixed with flour, beer
or svagdricka, butter, and seasonings, then cooked in the oven. Once prepared,
it is thinly sliced and fried with a little butter or oil until slightly crispy on the
surface. 
 Toast Skagen: Toast Skagen is a classic and elegant Swedish open-faced
sandwich that's typically served as an appetizer. It's made with white bread,
shrimps, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, whitefish roe, dill, lemon, and butter. The
crusts are removed from the bread, which is then sautéed in butter until goden
brown. The shrimps are chopped and mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, and dill.
The mixture is then placed on the bread and the roe is placed on top of each
sandwich. It's recommended to garnish each toast Skagen with a sprig of dill and
serve it with a lemon slice on the side.

Language: Swedish is the official language of Sweden (which was declared for the first
time in 2009) and there are five recognized minority languages. There are diverse
dialects of Swedish, to the point that they may be considered different languages.

Dress for Men and Women: Swedes typically dress informally but fashionably. Men
need a jacket and tie for business meetings and fine dining. Dresses and trouser suits
are appropriate business and fine dining options for women. Swedes prefer clothing
made from natural fibers like wool, linen, cotton, and silk.

Holidays: There are several national holidays in Sweden such as:

 New Year's Day
 Epiphany
 Good Friday
 Easter Sunday
 Easter Monday
 Labour Day
 Ascension Day
 Whitsun
 National Day of Sweden
 Midsummer's Day
 All Saints' Day
 Christmas Eve
 Christmas Day
 St. Stephen's Day
 New Year's Eve
Travel Tips:
  In an effort to control alcohol consumption in the country, the government set up
Systembolaget stores in 1955.
 Learning Swedish should definitely be on their to-do list, for learning to
pronounce the names of Swedish locations, money, basic travel questions and
definitely, food-related terms would be extremely useful.
 Summer time witnesses Sweden at its bustling best with crazily long days. The
sun rises at 3:30am & sun sets at 10:30 pm.
 Very few places in Sweden that deals with cash. As a step to tighten security and
cease tax evasion, the country has decided to move cashless.
 A glimpse into any Sweden travel guide would let peopleknow how expensive the
country can be. Here, we can give peoplefurther Sweden travel tips to reduce
their expenditure.
 Accommodation in Sweden is generally known to be over priced, to the extent
that peopleare charged insane amounts for even bed linens.
 With the eco-friendly policy prominent in Sweden, bottled water is a strict no-no.
It is a known fact that tap water is crystal clear and deliciously cool.
 The Swedish loves their personal space, so don’t go touchy-feely with them.
 Do not disrespect the Swedish beer or anything native. They are extremely proud
of their own.
 No late night wanderings and keep wallets in front pocket.
 Don’t accept free rides from strangers.
 Carry a reusable plastic cover, bags and bottles because Sweden is an
environmentally-conscious country.
 May to September is the best time to visit Sweden. The weather is warm and
pleasant.

Top 10 Attractions and places to visit:

1. Gamla stan
2. Vasa Museum
3. Skansen
4. The Royal Palace
5. Stockholm City Hall
6. Drottningholm Palace
7. ABBA The Museum
8. Gröna Lund
9. Djurgården
10. Kiruna and ice hotel
Sweden Boys Name:
 William
 Oscar
 Liam
 Lucas
  Oliver
 Alexander
 Elias
 Hugo
Top Universities in Sweden:
1. Lund university
2. Uppsala Universitet
3. Stockholm University
4. Gothenburg university
5. Chalmers University of Technology
6. Malmo University
7. Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences.
8. Umea University
9. Kristianstad University
10. University of Skovde
Top 10 Websites:
1. Google.com
2. Youtube.com
3. Reddit.com
4. Google.se
5. Vklass.se
6. Twitch.tv
7. Facebook.com
8. Wikipedia.org
9. Netflix.com
10. Aftonbladet.se
Top 3 Search engines used:
1. Google
2. Bing
3. Yahoo
Top exports:
 Computer
 Electrical machinery
 Oil
 Pharmaceutical
 Paper
 Iron
 Steel
Top 5 Cars:
Top cars in Sweden includes:
1. Volvo S/V60
2. Volvo S/V90
3. VW Golf
4. VW Tiguan
5. Kia Niro
Natural Disasters:
Many types of natural disasters occur in Sweden such as:
 Gudrun
 Forest fire
 Hagfors
 Landslides

Home Designs / Architecture:
There are many types of properties to choose from in Sweden. Choices range from
condominiums, detached houses, link houses (similar to a townhouse), and even
countryside cottages. Some terminology may be confusing to expats, such as a “villa”
referring to a single-family home, rather than a large mansion-like estate.
Deaths and Mortality:
In 2019, death rate for Sweden was 9.1 per 1,000 people. Death rate of Sweden fell
gradually from 10.3 per 1,000 people in 1970 to 9.1 per 1,000 people in 2019.
Source: https://knoema.com/atlas/Sweden/Death-rate