Sweden: Flag and Facts
Sweden's flag is blue with a golden yellow cross that runs to every edge, set off toward the left in the same style as the Danish flag.
- Official name
- Kingdom of Sweden
- Capital
- Stockholm
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Population
- 11 million (2025)
- Languages
- Swedish
- Currency
- Swedish krona
- Area
- 450,295 km² (173,860 sq mi)
- People
- Swedish
- Calling code
- +46
- Highest point
- Kebnekaise South 2,100 m
- Independence
- 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking…)
- National symbols
- three crowns, lion
About Sweden
Sweden was a military power in the 17th century, yet it has not fought in a war for two centuries. It kept an armed neutrality through both World Wars and stayed out of military alliances until applying to NATO in 2022. The country joined the EU in 1995, but voters turned down the euro in a 2003 referendum, so the krona stayed.
Roughly 10.6 million people live here, about 1.7 million of them around Stockholm. The landscape is mostly flat or gently rolling, with mountains along the western border with Norway. The south has cold, cloudy winters and cool summers, while the far north is subarctic. The share of residents born abroad grew from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2022. Independence dates to 6 June 1523, when Gustav Vasa was elected king.
Did you know?
- Kebnekaise South, the tallest point, reaches 2,100 meters.
- Three crowns and a lion are Sweden's national symbols.
- The national anthem is Kungssangen, which means Royal Song.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Sweden
Why are the Swedish flag colors blue and yellow?
The colors were taken from the Swedish coat of arms.
Is Sweden bigger than California?
Slightly, yes. Sweden covers 450,295 square kilometers.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.