, Singapore 20, UK 17, US 5)
(2008)

Ports and terminals:

Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Lulea, Malmo, Stenungsund,
Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby

Military
Sweden

Military branches:

Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish
Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation: 7-15 months (Navy), 8-12 months (Air Force); after
completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until
age 47 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,052,890
females age 16-49: 1,980,550 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,699,115
females age 16-49: 1,637,868 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 64,605
female: 61,110 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1.5% of GDP (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues
Sweden

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Switzerland

Introduction
Switzerland

Background:

The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance
among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined
the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence
from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848,
subsequently modified in 1874, replaced the confederation with a
centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and
neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and
the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The
political and economic integration of Europe over the past half
century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international
organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its
neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN
member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and
international organizations but retains a strong commitment to
neutrality.

Geography
Switzerland

Location:

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Geographic coordinates:

47 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 41,290 sq km
land: 39,770 sq km
water: 1,520 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than tw