Two million people are under 18 in Sweden. Most of them take for granted free schooling, an active social life, easy access to nature and the internet.

Of the nine million people who live in Sweden, almost two million are under 18. Swedish law makes sure children are well protected and defends their rights, with various organizations devoted to their well-being. In 1979, Sweden became the first country to forbid beating or spanking children, making it a criminal offence.

To protect the rights of children and look after their interests, the Swedish government has appointed an ombudsman. The ombudsman is obliged to follow the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and enforce it in Swedish society. The convention is a set of rules agreed upon by many countries to protect children. Sweden was one of the first countries to sign up.

Help and support
There are many organizations that young people in Sweden can turn to if they need help. Children’s Rights in Society (BRIS) offers support services such as telephone help lines and e-mail counseling. Friends is an organization dedicated to stamping out bullying, mainly in school but also outside school, for example in sports. Save the Children Sweden is another organization that defends the rights of children. It has more than 87,000 members.

Family life
Most children — 90 percent — start off living with their mother and father, who on average have one or two children. But it is not unusual for parents to separate. Sometimes they re-marry or move in with a new partner. On average, 72 percent of children under 18 live with their birth parents, while 27 percent have a stepfather or stepmother. About one in four children in Sweden has roots in another country. Among children who were born abroad, or whose parents were born abroad, many have ties with Iraq or the countries of former Yugoslavia. About 16,000 children now living in Sweden were adopted from another country.

Almost 60 percent of children live in detached houses, 29 percent live in apartment blocks and 13 percent live in row houses.

Working parents
Eighty percent of all children have a mother who goes out to work, and 90 percent have working fathers. In Sweden, parents receive money from the government so they can have more time at home with their children.
All parents get 480 days of paid leave per child, which must be claimed before the child turns eight. The bulk of parental leave is taken by mothers. But more fathers are spending time at home with their children. They now claim about 20 percent of all parental leave.

Nine years of school
Everyone has to attend school for at least nine years in Sweden. There are no school fees. Children start school at the age of seven (six-year-olds attend preschool classes) and finish at 15. Then they have a choice of staying on for senior high. The school year is divided into two terms, spring and fall. At present, children are graded in years 8 and 9. This might be the case for younger children in the future, too. Children aged between 6 and 12 are offered day care before and after school.

Hobbies and pastimes
Swedish children are just like anyone else. They enjoy listening to music and hanging out with friends. They are also encouraged to follow their interests, whether it’s learning a musical instrument, playing sports or surfing the internet.  

Internet and TV
Young Swedes surf the internet as much as they watch TV. More than one in four 12- to 15-year-olds watches TV at least three hours a day. Just as many spend as long surfing the internet. Half of all five-year-olds and one in five three-year-olds have browsed the internet. Children aged 12-15 prefer to chat online, while 9- to 11-year-olds are more interested in playing computer games. The most popular game is The Sims. The most popular chat rooms are:

www.facebook.com
www.lunarstorm.se
www.skunk.spray.se
www.hamsterpaj.se

Music
Music and singing are popular outside school. Eighteen percent of girls and
22 percent of boys aged 14 play an instrument, are part of a band or sing in choirs.

THIS IS SWEDEN
Population: 9.2 million — about 0.1 percent of the world’s population
Languages: Swedish, Sami, Finnish, Meänkieli (Tornedalen Finnish), Yiddish, Romany
Size: 175,000 sq mi (450,000 sq km), almost the same size as Spain or France, and bigger than California
Length: 980 mi (1,574 km), almost the same distance as Seattle to Los Angeles (960 mi/1,548 km) or Berlin to Madrid (1,160 mi/1,866 km)
Forests: 53 percent
Mountains: 11 percent
Lakes and rivers: 9 percent
Highest mountain: Kebnekaise (6,900 ft/2,103 m above sea level)
Biggest lake: Vänern (2,160 sq mi/5,585 sq km)
Religion: 80 percent of Swedish citizens belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden. Islam is the second biggest religion in Sweden
Most important exports: Electronic and telecom equipment, machinery, passenger cars, paper, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel
Most important imports: Electronic and telecom equipment, machinery, foodstuffs, crude oil, textiles, footwear and passenger cars

Sport
Everyone is encouraged to take up sport and 68 percent of 13- to 15-year-olds are members of a sports club. Soccer is the most popular sport among girls and boys. Then it’s horse-riding for girls. Boys prefer floorball, followed by swimming and ice hockey.

Nature
Sweden has a small population for its size; 53 people per square mile or just over 22 people per square kilometer. (In the EU, the average is more than 290 people per square mile or 100 people per square kilometer.) The right of public access gives everyone the right to explore the countryside. But you must show consideration for nature, wildlife and other people. Children spend part of every school day outdoors, whatever the weather, with fresh air just as important as learning how to look after nature. Many clubs and associations organize outdoor activities, for example Skogsmulle (a type of nature school) and the scouts.

The environment
Caring for the environment is a big deal in Sweden and most people sort their waste. Every spring, when the snow has melted, Keep Sweden Tidy organizes a special day for school children to pick up litter and clean up their surroundings. In Sweden, you get money back — a few cents — on most cans, glass and plastic bottles. The water in Sweden is clean and can be drunk straight from the tap — you can even swim outdoors right in the heart of the capital, Stockholm.