Sweden
■ Population: 8,986,400
■ Capital: Stockholm
■ Mercer cost of living: 89.5
■ Life expectancy: 80 years
■ Literacy: 99%
■ Government: Constitutional monarchy
■ GDP per capita: US$26,800
■ Unemployment: 4.9%
■ Currency: Swedish krona (SEK)
■ Exchange rate: SEK1 = £0.076; £1 = SEK13.01
■ Languages: Swedish
■ Climate: The climate in Sweden is relatively mild in spite of its northern position. Summers can be very hot, while winters are extremely cold.
■ Expats: There is a large community of more than 11,000 British expats living in Sweden.
SWEDEN IS LOCATED IN Northern Europe between Finland and Norway, and is by far the largest of the Scandinavian countries. Due to its long, narrow shape, Sweden’s landscape varies enormously.There are lakes and waterways, mountainous regions and glaciers, open areas of countryside and sandy beaches. Most of Sweden is fairly flat.The mountainous regions are in the west of the country.
Jobs and economy: Sweden’s main centres of employment are Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Newspapers in Sweden are an important source of vacancies for jobseekers.The country’s main exports are machinery and transport equipment, along with chemicals, paper, ceramics, iron and steel. More
than 3.2 million people work in services, including 1.3 million in the public sector and 1.8 million in private companies.The economy is currently very strong, and unemployment is low.
Education: The English language is mandatory in all Swedish schools, and schooling is obligatory in Sweden from seven to 16 years of age. All children whose mother tongue
is not Swedish are entitled to be taught in their national language.There are numerous international schools throughout Sweden and all lessons are conducted in English. Swedish state education is free to all children whose parents are resident in Sweden, regardless of nationality.
Healthcare: All Swedes are covered by the National Health Insurance System, which provides medical care and hospitalisation free of charge or at a modest cost. UK nationals who are working in Sweden are entitled to healthcare on the same terms as Swedish nationals.
Rentals: About 40 per cent of Swedes live in rented accommodation, which is primarily ound in blocks of flats.The majority of rental accommodation is owned by municipal housing companies, most of which are non-profit corporations.The average annual rent for a
three-bedroom flat is SEK72,900 (£5,451).
Buying: There are no restrictions on UK buyers purchasing a property in Sweden. Property tax is payable at the annual rate of about 1.5 per cent of the property price, and will be charged on taxregistered foreign ownership. Surprisingly property is affordable compared with the cost of living in Sweden.A family home starts at around £85,000 (SEK1,130,483) and an apartment at around £25,000 (SEK332,464).
Visas and Permits:You need a valid passport to enter Sweden, but UK nationals do not require a visa if they are intending to stay in the country for fewer than three months.To secure residency, the Swedish Embassy can process a residency application for you before you leave, but you can also apply for residency whilst in Sweden. UK nationals have the right to live and work in Sweden without a work permit, and share the same rights as Swedish nationals with regard to pay, working conditions, access to housing, vocational
training, social security and trade union membership. If you are offered permanent employment in Sweden, a residence permit is granted for five years, but if a temporary, worker the permit is granted solely for the period of your employment.
Tax: Swedes pay notoriously high taxes, but public services are correspondingly good, and the government provides citizens with extensive welfare benefits. Income is taxed at 26 to 35 per cent, depending on municipality.There is also a national income tax of 20 per cent on annual taxable earnings starting at SEK252,000( £19,000), to 25 per cent for income above SEK390,400.