Sweden  

Swedish workers benefit from access to very high levels of physical capital, placing Sweden 20th in the Index on this variable. Unemployment and inflation rates are both low at 6% and 2%, respectively. Sweden’s domestic savings rate, at 27% of GDP, near the global average, as does household expenditure at 26%, while the proportion of loans in default is extremely low, pointing towards an efficient banking sector. Dominated by high value-added goods and services, Sweden’s raw material exports concentration is appropriately low; however, foreign direct investment as a percentage of GDP is only 3% and Sweden has a low ratio of export revenue relative to the cost of imports, reflecting weak terms of trade.

Sweden is ranked third, globally, for ease of setting up a new business, with only three formal procedures required to register a new business, a very low proportion, internationally, indicated by 24,000 new businesses registering in 2007. Value added in service industries is high at 70% of GDP, ranking Sweden 15th in the Index on this measure. Furthermore, Sweden has a well-developed internet infrastructure, ranking the country in the top 10 for both bandwidth and the number of secure internet servers. However, both information and communication technology exports and high-tech exports are ranked low, with values of only 11% and 16% of total manufactured goods, respectively. Swedes enjoy easy access to personal computers, with approximately 88 personal computers per 100 people, as well as the second highest R&D expenditure worldwide, at 3.8% of GDP. Sweden also benefits from a high level of royalty receipts, ranking the country 6th on this variable, indicating the country is able to capitalise on its intellectual property.

Swedes enjoy full political and civil rights, enabling them to participate freely in political processes and express their beliefs. Sweden is a completely democratic country, with high levels of political competition and sound regulation of political participation. Sweden is also characterised by significant political constraints, preventing rash or arbitrary policy changes, as well as a high level of competition among rival parties in the executive branch. Electoral processes are highly regulated, placing Sweden first in the Index on this variable. Sweden also benefits from competition among political parties in the legislative branch, as well as an independent judiciary. The country’s regime durability is near the global average, as the last regime change occurred more than 80 years ago.

Both primary and secondary school enrolment rates are high, at over 90% in both variables, and class sizes are comparatively small, with one teacher per 10 students, the third lowest ratio, worldwide. Equality of access is demonstrated by perfect gender parity of one girl for every boy enrolled in school. Educational benefits are projected to Sweden’s workforce, which can claim very high average secondary and tertiary education rates, ranking the country 10th in the Index on both variables. The enrolment rate in tertiary education is also high, placing Sweden ninth, internationally. according to this variable. Swedes place considerable importance on education, demonstrated in the very high level of expenditure, at $14,941 per primary and secondary school pupil.

Sweden provides a very high number of doctors and nurses and has the highest possible score in terms of access to sanitation facilities. However, it has only 36 available hospital beds per 10,000 people, which is a low number, globally. Swedes’ health-adjusted life expectancy is 73 years, the third highest, internationally, with very low rates of malnourishment and infant mortality. Overall, 84% of Swedish respondents are satisfied with their health, with 96% expressing satisfaction with country’s water quality, 65% stating they are well rested, and only one in five respondents reporting that they experienced pain the previous day.* Similarly, the number of those reporting health problems is less than one in four.

Sweden faces very few security challenges relating to refugees, social groups with a history of discrimination, or other grievance, and has experienced no human flight from dangerous conditions. The Swedish government does not engage in practices such as torture or political violence against its own citizens. Furthermore, Sweden did not suffer any casualties due to civil or ethnic war in 2008 and the homicide rate is low, with only 18 victims per one million people. In addition, only 14% of respondents have had property stolen and only 4% were assaulted or mugged in 2008.* These favourable conditions are reflected in the fact that 72% of respondents feel safe walking alone at night.*

Enforcement of the rule of law is robust and reliable, with Sweden ranking fifth in the Index on this variable. The quality of regulation of economic and commercial activity is also very high and the effectiveness of the civil service ranks fifth, globally. Confidence in the military among Swedes is moderate at 72%.* Only one in three respondents believe local business to be corrupt, and 27% think the government is corrupt, which are low levels, globally.* A high 92% of respondents believe in the honesty of elections, 68% have confidence in the judicial system, and Sweden is ranked first overall for freedom of political participation.

Freedom of speech, movement, and religious expression are extremely high in Sweden. Swedes are also extremely tolerant. Nine out of 10 of respondents agree that Sweden is a good place to live for ethnic minorities.* Tolerance for immigrants is similarly high, with 89% of respondents believing that Sweden is a good place for immigrants to live.* Swedish citizens also enjoy very high freedom of choice, with Sweden ranked sixth in the Index on this variable.*

In Sweden 93% of citizens believe they can rely on family or friends in times of need.* Rates of group membership among Swedes place the country in the top 15 as approximately 44% of respondents are members of sports groups and 54% are members of a religious institution, but membership of environmental and art clubs is comparatively low. Further, 53% report they have donated money to charity.* However, only 12% of respondents have volunteered, placing Sweden 81st in this measure.* Swedes place an extremely low degree of importance on religion, with only 24% reporting that they had recently attended religious services.* Measured in religiosity, Sweden ranks in the bottom 10, suggesting weak religious networks amongst citizens.

* Data taken from the Gallup World Poll

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