Geography & environment — Sweden
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Sweden: Europe
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Europe
- Geographic Coordinates
62 00 N, 15 00 E
- Total Area
173,859 Square Miles 450,295 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
158,430 Square Miles 410,335 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
15,429 Square Miles 39,960 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
1,388 Miles 2,233 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
- Coastline
2,000 Miles 3,218 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
- Highest Point
2,111 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Kebnekaise 2,111 m
- Lowest Point
-2 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m
- Natural Resources
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
- Irrigated Land
617 Square Miles 1,597 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate
- Climate
Despite its northern latitude, Sweden’s climate is not excessively cold due to the proximity of the Gulf Stream and the Baltic Sea. The mean annual temperature is 48 degrees F. Stockholm is situated at approximately the same latitude as Juneau, Alaska. During most of December and early January, the sun does not rise before 9 a.m. and sets as early as 2:30 p.m. Snow usually falls in January, February, and March. The average temperature range for January is 27° F to 30° F. Spring comes late, with snow possible even in May. By June, daylight is almost continuous, and the vegetation is luxuriant. In July, the average temperature range is 57° F to 72° F. Many firms close down for the month so that the entire staff can take vacation. The average annual rainfall in Stockholm is 22 inches. It rains an average of 164 days a year.
- Terrain
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
- Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
- Total Area
173,859 Square Miles 450,295 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
- Environment - International Agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements