Sweden is a member of the European Union, but has its own currency, the krona, or Swedish crown.

Capital: Stockholm
Largest city: Stockholm
Currency: Swedish krona
Official languages: Swedish, Finnish, Yiddish, Romani

Did you know:

• Sweden has more than 50 bridges.
• Swedish capital, Stockholm, is built on 14 islands
• Swedish parents are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave—and of those, 60 days are reserved for the father.
• Sweden was the first country in the world to ban the smacking of children in 1979.
• Football, or soccer, is the most popular organized sport in Sweden
• The pacemaker, ultrasound, safety match, astronomical lens, marine propeller, refrigerator, and computer mouse are all famous items that were invented in Sweden or by Swedes who weren’t living in Sweden.
• Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded 567 times.
• Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union in area, yet it has the second lowest population density (23.5 people per square km).
• Swedish Doctor of Technology Martin Hedström and his team at Lund University are responsible for inventing the HIV tracker, a sensitive device used for mapping out and detecting the spread of HIV and other viruses.
• Sweden legalized gay sex in 1944, and in 1972, it was the first country in the world to allow for a legal change of gender identity.
• Sweden has 95,700 lakes larger than 100 meters by 100 meters. That equals 9% of Sweden’s total area.
• There are around 250 wolves (Canis lupus) in Sweden. They are protected and may not be killed unless they repeatedly attack humans or property.
• Swedish wolves mainly eat moose.