This country profile features selected environmental indicators from the OECD Core Set, building on harmonised datasets available on OECD Data Explorer. The indicators reflect major environmental issues, including climate, air quality, freshwater resources, waste and the circular economy, and biodiversity. Differences with national data sources can occur due to delays in data treatment and publication, or due to different national definitions and measurement methods. The OECD is working with countries and other international organisations to further improve the indicators and the underlying data.
Environment at a Glance Indicators
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Sweden
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Copy link to ContextSweden is a strong knowledge-based economy, well integrated in global value chains, which contributes to high standards of living, well-being, income and gender equality, as well as a high environmental quality to its inhabitants. Sweden has a sound, innovation-oriented economy built on rich reserves of timber, iron ore and hydropower, a strong industrial base and a highly skilled labour force.
As in all developed economies, services are the largest sector. The country’s industry is led by exports and has traditionally focused on processing the abundant local forest and mineral resources. Sweden’s energy supply is characterised by high shares of hydropower, nuclear power and bioenergy (mainly from domestic forest resources).
Sweden is geographically one of the largest countries in Western Europe with a total area of 450 000 km2. It occupies about two-thirds of the Scandinavian Peninsula; its coastline measures 11 000 km. With 10.4 million inhabitants, Sweden remains sparsely populated. Most Swedes live in the south, with roughly one-third in the metropolitan areas of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
More than two-thirds of Sweden’s territory is flat, covered by forests and with abundant water resources. The Swedish countryside is dotted with nearly 100 000 lakes, and thousands of islands are located off its jagged coast. Almost all forest land is used for forestry.