Sweden

Konungariket Sverige

Political Status: Constitutional monarchy established on June 6, 1809; under revised constitution effective January 1, 1975.

Area: 173,731 sq. mi. (449,964 sq. km.).

Population: 8,587,353 (1990C); 9,246,000 (2008E).

Major Urban Centers (2007C): STOCKHOLM (788,000), Göteborg (490,000), Malmö (278,000), Uppsala (185,000).

Official Language: Swedish.

Monetary Unit: Krona (official rate December 1, 2009: 6.91 kronor = $1US).

Sovereign: King CARL XVI GUSTAF; succeeded to the throne September 19, 1973, following the death of his grandfather, King GUSTAF VI ADOLF.

Heir Apparent: Crown Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Désirée, daughter of the king.

Prime Minister: Fredrik REINFELDT (Moderate Coalition Party); elected by the Riksdag on October 5, 2006, to succeed Göran PERSSON (Swedish Social Democratic Party); formed new government on October 6, 2006.[Page 1399]