Map of Sweden
Sweden is a country in Europe with its capital at Stockholm, home to about 10.60 million people across 447,425 km². The interactive map below plots 34 cities and towns, 12 rivers, 18 lakes, 1 mountain summits and 79 ports recorded for Sweden in YearMaps.
- Population
- 10.60 million
- Area
- 447,425 km²
- Capital
- Stockholm
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Sweden
Centred on Stockholm at 59.3527° N, 18.0954° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, Finland to the east, and shares a maritime border with Denmark to the south. At 450,295 square kilometres (173,860 sq mi) and with a population of 10.6 million, Sweden is the largest and most populous Nordic country, and is the fifth-largest country in Europe. Its capital and largest city is Stockholm. The population density is 25.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (66/sq mi), and 88% of Swedes reside in urban areas, mostly in the southern and central portions of the country. Sweden's urban areas together cover 1.5% of its land area. Sweden has a diverse climate owing to the length of the country, which ranges from 55°N to 69°N.
Sweden has been inhabited since prehistoric times around 12,000 BC. The inhabitants emerged as the Geats (Swedish: Götar) and Swedes (Svear), who formed part of the sea-faring peoples known as the Norsemen. A unified Swedish state was established during the late 10th century. In 1397, Sweden joined Norway and Denmark to form the Scandinavian Kalmar Union, which Sweden left in 1523. When Sweden became involved in the Thirty Years' War on the Protestant side, an expansion of its territories began, forming the Swedish Empire, which remained one of the great powers of Europe until the early 18th century. During this era Sweden controlled much of the Baltic Sea. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden, present-day Finland, was lost to Imperial Russia in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union, a union which lasted until 1905.
Sweden is a highly developed country ranked fifth in the Human Development Index. It is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, with legislative power vested in the 349-member unicameral Riksdag. It is a unitary state, divided into 21 counties and 290 municipalities. Sweden maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens. It has the world's 14th highest GDP per capita and ranks very highly in quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, economic competitiveness, income equality, gender equality, and prosperity. Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, and in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO in 2024.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Sweden (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Sweden
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment until it applied to join NATO in 2022. Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. Stockholm preserved an armed neutrality in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2022.
- Location
- Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway.
- Climate
- Temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north.
- Terrain
- Mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west.
- Highest point
- Kebnekaise South 2,100 m.
- Lowest point
- Reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.4 m.
- Coastline
- 3,218 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 2,211 km; border countries: Finland 545 km; Norway 1,666 km.
- Major lakes
- Fresh water lake(s): Vanern - 5,580 sq km; Vattern - 1,910 sq km; Malaren - 1,140 sq km.
- Natural resources
- Iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 7.3% (2023 est.); arable land: 6.2% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 1.1% (2023 est.); forest: 68.6% (2023 est.); other: 23.8% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic.
- Geographic note
- Strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas; Sweden has almost 100,000 lakes, the largest of which, Vanern, is the third-largest in Europe.
- Languages
- Swedish (official)
- Religions
- Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 53.9%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 37.2% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Swedish 79.6%, Syrian 1.9%, Iraqi 1.4%, Finnish 1.3%, other 15.8% (2022 est.)
- Economy
- High-income, largest Nordic economy; EU member but does not use the euro; export-oriented, led by automotive, electronics, machinery, and pharmaceuticals; highly ranked for competitiveness, R&D investments and governance; recovery, with falling inflation and real wage growth balanced by risks from trade uncertainty.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Sweden in Numbers
- Population
- 10.60 million
- GDP
- US$669.0 billion
- GDP per person
- US$63,133
- Life expectancy
- 84.1 years
- Population growth
- 0.25% a year
- Population density
- 26 per km²
- Urban population
- 89.1%
- Surface area
- 528,860 km²
- Forest cover
- 68.6%
- Arable land
- 6.2%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 95.8%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Sweden in Depth
History
Sweden's prehistory begins in the Allerød oscillation, a warm period around 12,000 BC, with Late Palaeolithic reindeer-hunting camps of the Bromme culture at the edge of the ice in what is now the country's southernmost province, Scania. This period was characterised by small clans of hunter-gatherers who relied on flint technology.
Sweden and its people were first described by the Roman historian Publius Cornelius Tacitus in his Germania (98 AD). In Germania 44 and 45 he mentions the Swedes (Suiones) as a powerful tribe with ships that had a prow at each end (longships). Which kings (*kuningaz) ruled these Suiones is unknown, but Norse mythology presents a long line of legendary and semi-legendary kings going back to the last centuries BC.
Geography
Situated in Northern Europe, Sweden lies west of the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia, providing a long coastline, and forms the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. To the west is the Scandinavian mountain chain (Skanderna), a range that separates Sweden from Norway. Finland is located to its north-east. It has maritime borders with Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and it is also linked to Denmark (south-west) by the Öresund Bridge. Its border with Norway (1,619 km long) is the longest uninterrupted border within Europe.
Sweden lies between latitudes 55° and 70° N, and mostly between longitudes 11° and 25° E (part of Stora Drammen island is just west of 11°).
Economy
Sweden is the twelfth-richest country in the world in terms of GDP (gross domestic product) per capita and a high standard of living is experienced by its citizens. Sweden is an export-oriented mixed economy. Timber, hydropower and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy with a heavy emphasis on foreign trade. Sweden's engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports, while telecommunications, the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industries are also of great importance. Sweden is the ninth-largest arms exporter in the world. Agriculture accounts for 2% of GDP and employment. The country ranks among the highest for telephone and Internet access penetration.
Demographics
The total resident population of Sweden was 10,588,020 in January 2025. The population exceeded 10 million for the first time on Friday 20 January 2017.
The average population density is just over 25 people per km2 (65 per square mile), with 1 437 persons per km2 in localities (continuous settlement with at least 200 inhabitants). 88% of the population live in urban areas, which cover 1.5% of the entire land area. 63% of Swedes are in large urban areas. It is substantially higher in the south than in the north. There are more than 2000 localities.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sweden (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sweden: Key Facts
| Currency | Swedish krona |
|---|---|
| Official language | Swedish |
| Head of state | Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden |
| Head of government | Ulf Kristersson |
| Form of government | constitutional monarchy, representative democracy |
| Calling code | +46 |
| Internet domain | .se |
| Highest point | Kebnekaise |
| Lowest point | Kristianstad |
| Established | 900s CE |
Facts from Wikidata Q34 (CC0).
History of Sweden: Empires and States
The atlas records 13 polities whose mapped territory included part of Sweden, from Goths in 30 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Goths | 30–153 CE | A large part |
| Scandinavian minor kingdoms | 500–1002 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of Denmark | 960–1401 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Sweden | 980–2024 CE | Nearly all |
| North Sea Empire | 1018–1039 CE | A small part |
| Denmark-England | 1040–1045 CE | A small part |
| Norway-Denmark | 1046–1055 CE | A small part |
| Old Kingdom of Norway | 1333–1401 CE | A small part |
| Kalmar Union | 1402–1525 CE | Nearly all |
| House of Oldenburg | 1450–1458 CE | Most |
| Denmark-Norway | 1526–1658 CE | A small part |
| Swedish Empire | 1612–1814 CE | Nearly all |
| United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway | 1815–1904 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Sweden
Sweden on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Sweden
Sweden (Swedish: Sverige) is the largest of the Nordic countries by area and population. Visitors can experience deep forests and many lakes, the heritage from the Viking Age and the 17th-century Swedish Empire, the glamour of the Nobel Prize, and the country's successful pop music scene. Sweden has 270,000 islands with many open to visit through the right to roam.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Sweden (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Sweden
34 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockholm | 1.26 million | Stockholm | National capital |
| 2 | Göteborg | 537,797 | Västra Götaland | Admin-1 capital |
| 3 | Malmö | 269,349 | Skåne | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Uppsala | 133,117 | Uppsala | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Västerås | 107,194 | Västmanland | Admin-1 capital |
| 6 | Örebro | 98,573 | Orebro | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Linköping | 96,732 | Östergötland | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Helsingborg | 91,304 | Skåne | Populated place |
| 9 | Jönköping | 89,780 | Jönköping | Admin-1 capital |
| 10 | Norrköping | 88,639 | Östergötland | Populated place |
| 11 | Umeå | 78,197 | Västerbotten | Admin-1 capital |
| 12 | Karlstad | 74,141 | Värmland | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Sundsvall | 73,389 | Västernorrland | Populated place |
| 14 | Gävle | 68,635 | Gävleborg | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Borås | 65,008 | Västra Götaland | Populated place |
| 16 | Växjö | 59,600 | Kronoberg | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Halmstad | 55,657 | Halland | Admin-1 capital |
| 18 | Luleå | 48,638 | Norrbotten | Admin-1 capital |
| 19 | Östersund | 46,178 | Jämtland | Admin-1 capital |
| 20 | Trollhättan | 44,543 | Västra Götaland | Populated place |
| 21 | Borlänge | 39,422 | Dalarna | Populated place |
| 22 | Falun | 36,477 | Dalarna | Admin-1 capital |
| 23 | Karlskrona | 35,212 | Blekinge | Admin-1 capital |
| 24 | Kalmar | 35,024 | Kalmar | Admin-1 capital |
| 25 | Kristianstad | 32,188 | Skåne | Admin-1 capital |
The other 9 (population, region, role)
- Skellefteå · 31,311 · Västerbotten · Populated place
- Örnsköldsvik · 27,749 · Västernorrland · Populated place
- Nyköping · 27,582 · Södermanland · Admin-1 capital
- Visby · 22,593 · Gotland · Admin-1 capital
- Vannersborg · 21,835 · Västra Götaland · Admin-1 capital
- Kiruna · 18,154 · Norrbotten · Populated place
- Härnösand · 17,016 · Västernorrland · Admin-1 capital
- Mariestad · 14,891 · Västra Götaland · Admin-1 capital
- Bollnäs · 13,398 · Gävleborg · Populated place
Highest Mountains in Sweden
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kebnekaise | 2,111 m | 6,926 ft | Europe |
Kebnekaise
Mountain · 2,111 m
Kebnekaise is a mountain rising to 2,111 metres (6,926 ft) in Sweden, in the Europe region.
Kebnekaise (Swedish pronunciation: [kɛbnɛˈkâjsɛ]; from Sami Giebmegáisi or Giebnegáisi, "Cauldron Crest") is the highest mountain in Sweden. The Kebnekaise massif, which is part of the Scandinavian mountain range, has two main peaks. The glaciated southern peak used to be the highest at 2,120 metres (6,960 ft) above sea level, but has shrunk by 24 meters during the last 50 years, making the northern icefree peak at 2,096.8 metres (6,879 ft) the highest. Kebnekaise lies in Swedish Lapland, about 150 kilometres (93 mi) north of the Arctic Circle and west of Kiruna near the Kungsleden hiking trail between Abisko and Hemavan.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Kebnekaise (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 2,111 m (6,926 ft)
- Global rank
- #396 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#40)
- Country
- Sweden
- Coordinates
- 67.9060°, 18.5045°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Kebnekaise ranks #396 by elevation, below Phu Soai Dao (2,120 m) and above Hvannadalshnkur (2,110 m).
- Ranges:
- Grampian Mountains (Europe), Harz (Europe)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Haltiatunturi (1,328 m), Oksskolten (1,916 m), Beerenberg (2,277 m)
More about Kebnekaise
Geography
The Kebnekaise massif lies within a range of the Scandinavian mountains that is bordered by the glacial valleys Ladtjovagge (Sami spelling Láddjuvággi), Tjäktjavagge (Čeakčavággi) and Vistasvagge (Visttasvággi). The highest points of the massif lie along the ridge (called "Vargryggen" in Swedish) that runs from the southern and northern summits to Kebnepakte (Giebmebákti) at 1,981 metres (6,499 ft). Other subsidiary peaks are Kebnetjåkka (Giebmečohkka), Vierranvárri, Tolpagorni 1,662 metres (5,453 ft), Guobircohkka 1,506 metres (4,941 ft), and Siŋŋibákti 1,614 metres (5,295 ft).
Of the two highest points, the southern peak lies on a glacier situated on a rocky plateau. The glacier has shrunk in recent years, and therefore the summit is not as high as earlier.
Climbing history
The first recorded ascent to the summit was made on 22 August 1883 by an expedition led by Charles Rabot from France with the locals Jon Larsson, Hans Monsen and Peder Abrahamsson Lindgren. They started from the Skjomen fjord, Norway since the first railway in the region was built 1888. This was only published later. More media attention was given to the first Swedish expedition led by Johan Alfred Björling who summited on 9 July 1889.
The Kebnekaise mountain lodge was opened in 1908, starting more substantial tourism to the mountain.
The fastest ascent from the mountain lodge to the summit and back is 1:47:17 made on 9 July 2020 by Petter Engdahl. The fastest woman is Emelie Forsberg in 2:00:40 done on 7 July 2014.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kebnekaise (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kebnekaise: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,000 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Scandinavian Mountains |
Facts from Wikidata Q214011 (CC0).
Largest Lakes in Sweden
18 lakes recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
Rivers in Sweden
12 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
| Name | Type | Also Flows Through |
|---|---|---|
| Dalälven | River | — |
| Gta lv | River | — |
| Indalsälven | River | — |
| Kalix | River | — |
| Klarlven | Lake reach | Norway |
| Lule lv | River | — |
| Motala strm | Lake reach | — |
| Muonio | River | Finland |
| ngermanlven | Lake reach | — |
| Skelleftelven | River | — |
Ports in Sweden
79 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slite | 53 m | Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 2 | Vaja | 53 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | large vessels |
| 3 | Vastervik | 53 m | Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 4 | Grebbestad | 53 m | Very Small | Skagerrak & Kattegat | medium vessels |
| 5 | Hunnebostrand | 53 m | Very Small | Skagerrak & Kattegat | medium vessels |
| 6 | Marstrand | 53 m | Very Small | Skagerrak & Kattegat | medium vessels |
| 7 | Figeholm | 53 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 8 | Gustavsberg | 53 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 9 | Vallvik | 53 m | Small | Baltic Sea | point_of_interest |
| 10 | Nordmaling | 53 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
The other 69 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Sandvik · 53 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Oxelosund · 49.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Soderhamn · 49.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Uddevalla · 49.4 m · Minor · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Simrishamn · 49.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Bergkvara · 49.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Farosund · 49.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Klintehamn · 49.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Grisslehamn · 49.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Stocka · 49.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · point_of_interest
- Gumbodahamn · 49.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · point_of_interest
- Vasteras · 49.4 m · Minor · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Ronneby · 49.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Visby · 49.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Falkenberg · 45.7 m · Minor · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Hallstavik · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Oskarshamn · 45.7 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Sandarne · 45.7 m · Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Solvesborg · 45.7 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Trelleborg · 45.7 m · Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Ystad · 45.7 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Karlsborg · 45.7 m · Minor · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Skutskar · 45.7 m · Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Fjallbacka · 45.7 m · Very Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Stora Jatterson · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Degerhamn · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Verkeback · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Norrsundet · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Iggesund · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · point_of_interest
- Vivstavarv · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Kramfors · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Bollstabruk · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Brannfors · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Kalmar · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Kagehamn · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Ahus · 42.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Lysekil · 42.1 m · Very Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · large vessels
- Skelleftehamn · 42.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Sodertalje · 42.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Utansjo · 42.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Stromstad · 42.1 m · Very Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · point_of_interest
- Bovallstrand · 42.1 m · Very Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Hoganas · 42.1 m · Very Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Hargshamn · 42.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Kopmanholmen · 42.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Rundvik · 42.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Torehamn · 42.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Malmo · 42.1 m · Major · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Hudiksvall · 38.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Husum · 38.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Soraker · 38.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Obbola · 38.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Storugns · 38.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Gustavsvik · 38.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Lunde · 38.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Nykoping · 38.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Brofjorden · 34.7 m · Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Landskrona · 34.7 m · Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Pitea · 34.7 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Varberg · 34.7 m · Minor · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Sandhamn · 34.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Halmstad · 34.7 m · Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Karlshamn · 31.1 m · Minor · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Stenungsund · 31.1 m · Very Small · Skagerrak & Kattegat · medium vessels
- Umea Hamn · 31.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Ornskoldsvik · 31.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Nynashamn · 27.4 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Ronehamn · 9.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Stockvik · 5.5 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · point_of_interest
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sweden
15 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drottningholm Palace | 1991 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 2 | Birka and Hovgården | 1993 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
| 3 | Engelsberg Ironworks | 1993 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 4 | Rock Carvings in Tanum | 1994 | Cultural | (i) (iii) (iv) |
| 5 | Skogskyrkogården | 1994 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 6 | Hanseatic town of Visby | 1995 | Cultural | (iv) (v) |
| 7 | Gammelstad Church Town | 1996 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) (v) |
| 8 | Laponian National Park | 1996 | Mixed | (iii) (v) (vii) (viii) (ix) |
| 9 | Naval City of Karlskrona | 1998 | Cultural | (ii) (iv) |
| 10 | High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago | 2000 | Natural | (viii) |
Largest Islands of Sweden
1 island recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gotland | 2,942 km² | Island |
Gotland
Island · 2,942 km²
Gotland is an island in Europe, covering an estimated 2,942 km².
Gotland (; Swedish: [ˈɡɔ̌tːland] ; Gutland in Gutnish), also historically spelled Gottland or Gothland (), is Sweden's largest island. It is also a province/county (Swedish län), municipality, and diocese. The province includes the islands of Fårö and Gotska Sandön to the north, as well as the Karlsö Islands (Lilla and Stora) to the west. The population is 61,023 (2024) of which about 23,600 live in Visby, the main town.
Outside Visby, there are minor settlements and a mainly rural population. The island of Gotland and the other areas of the province of Gotland make up less than one percent of Sweden's total land area. The county formed by the archipelago is the second smallest by area and is the least populated in Sweden. In spite of the small size due to its narrow width, the driving distance between the furthermost points of the populated islands is about 170 kilometres (110 mi).
Gotland is a fully integrated part of Sweden with no particular autonomy, unlike several other offshore island groups in Europe. Historically, there was a linguistic difference between the archipelago and the mainland with Gutnish being the native language.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Gotland (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Island
- Mapped extent
- 2,942 km²
- Size rank
- #227 of 445 islands
- Region
- Europe
- Coordinates
- 57.4897°, 18.4438°
- Summits:
- Suur Munamagi (318 m), Dzyarzhynskaya (346 m), Sněžka (1,603 m)
- Ranges:
- Harz (Europe), Tatra Mountains (Europe)
More about Gotland
Geography
Gotland is Sweden's largest island, and it is the largest island fully encompassed by the Baltic Sea (with Denmark's Zealand at the Baltic's edge). With its total area of 3,183.7 km2 (1,229.2 sq mi) the island of Gotland and the other areas of the province of Gotland make up 0.8% of Sweden's total land area. The province includes the small islands of Fårö and Gotska Sandön to the north, as well as the Karlsö Islands, (Lilla and Stora) to the west, which are even smaller. The island of Gotland has an area of 2,994 km2 (1,156 sq mi), whereas the province has 3,183.7 km2 (1,229.2 sq mi) [3,151 km2 (1,217 sq mi) of land excluding the lakes and rivers]. The population is 61,001 as of December 2021.
History
The island has been occupied since prehistory, as evidenced by archaeological sites such as the Ajvide Settlement. A comprehensive 2026 DNA study analyzing 56 individuals from Gotland found that during the Middle Neolithic the island was inhabited by two genetically distinct populations that lived in close proximity while maintaining very limited genetic admixture. Seal hunters associated with the Pitted Ware culture showed strong genetic continuity with earlier Scandinavian hunter-gatherers and shared closer genetic affinity with present-day Baltic and Finnish populations.
Economy
The island's main sources of income are agriculture along with food processing, tourism, IT solutions, design and some heavy industry such as concrete production from locally mined limestone. Most of Gotland's economy is based on small scale production.
In 2012, there were over 7,500 registered companies on Gotland. 1,500 of these had more than one employee. Gotland has the world's northernmost established vineyard and winery, located in Hablingbo.
Tourism
The first modern day tourists came to Gotland during the 19th century and were known as "bathers". Gotland became very popular with socialites at the time through Princess Eugenie who lived in Västerhejde, in the west part of the island from the 1860s.
When a new law ensuring two weeks vacation for all employees in Sweden was passed in 1938, camping became a popular pastime among the Swedes, and in 1955, Gotland was visited by 80,000 people. In the 1970s mostly young people were attracted to Gotland. Since 2010 the island has become a more versatile vacation spot visited by people from all over the world, in all manner of ways.
In 2001, it was the fifth largest tourist destination in Sweden based on the total number of guest nights.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Gotland (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Gotland: Key Facts
| Area | 2,968 km² |
|---|---|
| Population | 60,124 (2020) |
| Highest point | Lojsta heath |
| Surrounded by | Baltic Sea |
Facts from Wikidata Q1027830 (CC0).
Visiting Gotland
Gotland is Sweden's largest island, in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Some 60,000 people live here all year. Together with some minor islands it forms the Gotland province, Gotland Municipality and Gotland County.
With a peculiar dialect, a glorious history and a scenery very different from mainland Sweden, the island has a spirit of independence.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Gotland (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Sweden
5 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Europe | 11.24M km² | Continent | Europe |
| 2 | KjøLen Mountains | 220,083 km² | Range/mtn | Europe |
| 3 | Scandinavia | 114,532 km² | Pen/cape | Europe |
| 4 | Rivgujiehkki | 54 km² | Glaciated areas | — |
| 5 | Hambergs Jokel | 20 km² | Glaciated areas | — |
States and Provinces of Sweden
1 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering Sweden
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Sweden: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Sweden?
- The capital of Sweden is Stockholm.
- What is the population of Sweden?
- Sweden has a population of about 10.60 million, the #93 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Sweden?
- Sweden covers 447,425 km², ranking #58 by area, with about 24 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Sweden in?
- Sweden is in Europe.
- Which countries border Sweden?
- Sweden shares a land or maritime border with Norway, Finland, Denmark.
- What is the largest city in Sweden?
- Stockholm is the largest city in Sweden, with a metropolitan population of about 1.26 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Sweden?
- The highest summit recorded for Sweden in YearMaps is Kebnekaise at 2,111 m (6,926 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Sweden?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Sweden is Vänern, at roughly 5,856 km².