WITH an area of 174,000 sq. miles (450,000 km), Sweden is the fourth-largest country in Europe. Half its land surface is covered wifh forest. Less than 10% is farmland. Lakes dot the countryside,which is relatively flat. A long mountain chain In the northwest reaches heights of up to 6, 946ft(2,114m).

Sweden has a population of 8.5 million, with over 85% living in the southern half of the country. Swedish is a Germanic language. Around 95% of the population belongs to the Lutheran State Church.

Like other industrialized countries, Sweden has a low birth rate which rose somewhat in the 1980s. Life expectancy is high — about 74 years for men and 80 for women.

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. The King, since 1973 CarLXVl Gustaf, has only ceremonial functions as Head of State. Parliament consists of one chamber,whose members are directly elected by proportional representation for three-year terms. Sweden

has had universal suffrage since 1921 and the voting age is 18.

The social democratic party held power alone of in coalitions from 1932 until the 1976 election when the nonsocialist parties— Center, Liberal and Moderate (conservative) — won a majority and formed a coalition cabi-net.After six years of nonsocialist rule the Social Democrats returned to power again in 1982. They remained in office after the 1988 election, when they gained 156 of the 349 parliamentary seats.

The Parliamentary Ombudsmen investigate suspected abuses of authority by civil servants.Other Ombu dsmen protect the public by keeping a watchful eye on business practices, consumer righ-ts.ethnic and sex discrimination, and press ethfcs.Most government documents are open to inspection by the public and press at any time.

Sweden’s foreign policy 1* best described as "nonparticipation in alliances in peacetime aiming at neutrality in the event of war".The neutrality policy Is seen as necessitating a strong de-

fense system. This is based on general male conscription, with a defense budget totaling some 3% of GDP.

Sweden takes an active part in international negotiation efforts in . the disarmament field. Strong support for the work of the UN is one of the cornerstones of Swedish foreign policy.

Beside being a member of the UN and its specialized agencies, Sweden is a member of the OECD, EFTA and the Council of Europe.lt has a free-trade agreement with the EC covering industrial products. One of the most Important foreign policy issues of the 1990s is future cooperation with the EC and how far Sweden's alignment with the EC can go without compromising its neutrality.

Far-reaching practical cooperation exists between the Nordic countries in social welfare and cultural affair* and a joint labor market ha* been estab fished.There is a high degree of uniformity in the legislation of the five Nordic countries.

Sweden appropriate* 1% of its GNI on International development assistance.