The country covers an area of 450,295 km² and has a population of 10,202,491 (2020). With a population density of 22.7/km² (2020), Sweden is the fifth least populated country in Europe (after Norway, Finland, Kazakhstan and Iceland). It is about eleven times larger in land area than the Netherlands (which has more than 7,000,000 inhabitants) and about fifteen times larger than Belgium (which has more than 1,500,000 more inhabitants). At 82%, the Swedes are the largest population group in the country.

After the decline of the Viking era, Sweden, along with Denmark and Norway, formed the Union of Kalmar. Sweden left the Union of Kalmar at the beginning of the 16th century, and for many years was almost permanently at war with its neighbors. The dominant Denmark could not accept Sweden's exit from the Union. However, Denmark lost power and Sweden conquered Skåne, Blekinge and Halland. King Erik XIV was

Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia; it is 11 times the size of the Netherlands and 15 times the size of Belgium. For the most part, the country is covered with extensive coniferous forests, especially in the northern part of the country. The southern and eastern parts are flat to sloping, with the interior bordering Norway showing increasing relief and turning into the Scandinavian Highlands. The highest point in Sweden is the Kebnekaise with 2114m