Background: A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war
in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars.
Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded
with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high
unemployment and in 2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal
discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather
economic vagaries. Indecision over the country's role in the political and
economic integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EU until 1995,
and waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and
Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Population: 9,001,774 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.1% (male 791,215/female 747,621)
15-64 years:
65.5% (male 2,990,436/female 2,904,873)
65 years and over: 17.4%
(male 677,161/female 890,468) (2005 est.)
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Female Profiles 
Male Profiles
