Sweden is a country in northern Europe. It is one of Europe's largest countries in area. However, it is also one of Europe's most thinly populated countries. Forests cover more than half of Sweden's land. Only about a tenth of the country is farmland. The northernmost part of Sweden lies inside the Arctic Circle in a region of continuous cold called the Land of the Midnight Sun. The region has that name because for periods during the summer, the sun shines 24 hours a day. Sweden is also a land of beautiful lakes, snow-capped mountains, swift rivers, and rocky offshore islands. Part of its long coastline has sandy beaches, and other parts have rocky cliffs. Stockholm is Sweden's capital and largest city. It lies on the east coast of Sweden, on the Baltic Sea, and it includes small offshore islands.

Sweden and its neighbor Norway occupy the Scandinavian peninsula. Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are called the Scandinavian countries. The three nations have close cultural and economic ties. Their languages are similar, and Swedes, Norwegians, and Danes can usually understand each other.

The Swedish standard of living is one of the highest in the world. Sweden ranks among the leading European nations in the number of automobiles, telephones, and television sets it has in relation to its population. Many Swedish families have country homes where they enjoy spending weekends and vacations. Sweden's way of life has often been called the "middle way," because it combines private enterprise with some government ownership of industry. Also, the Swedish government offers extensive social security benefits. It provides free education and largely free medical service. It pays pensions to old people, widows, and orphans. After most Swedes retire, they receive annual pensions that amount to a large percentage of their average earnings. The government also provides health insurance and financial aid for housing.