Introduction
There are seven continents on Earth and Europe is one of them. Currently, there are 45 countries in Europe and 27 nations in the European Union. Each one of them is bound by a different culture and lifestyle. Though in this article, we will talk about two such countries that are both part of the European continent. Those countries are Switzerland and Sweden.
Let's learn about the major difference between Switzerland and Sweden.
Sweden vs. Switzerland
Before talking any further about both countries, you must keep this in mind. The most crucial difference between the countries is generally missed by most people, thus creating confusion. Switzerland is not a part of the European Union and Sweden is one of the countries in the European Union.
Let's view the differences between Switzerland and Sweden in tabular format, to get more classified information about the countries.
Difference Between Sweden and Switzerland in Tabular Form
| Parameters of Comparison | Sweden | Switzerland |
| Definition | A Scandinaviancountry located in Northern Europe. | A landlocked country located in Western Europe. |
| Geography | Lies in the west of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea in Europe. | It lies in the heart of the continent. |
| Famous for | The country is famous for its welfare state, pop music, car manufacturing, design and, progressive ideals. | It is known for its banking industry, cheese, precision watches, mountain landscape, and chocolate. |
| Neighboring Countries | It is bordered by two countries, namely, Norway and Finland. | It is surrounded by Italy, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and France. |
| European Union | It is part of the European Union. | It is not a part of the European Union. |
| Currency | The Swedish Krona is the currency of Sweden. | The Swiss franc is the currency of Switzerland. |
| Official Languages | The official Language of Sweden is Swedish. | It has four official Languages, i.e., German, French, Italian, and Romanish. |
| Landscape | It consists of many agricultural lands and lakes. And the Northern part is covered with forests. | It is a mountainous Landscape. It is mostly hills and mountains. |
| Climate | It faces a colder climate in the north and a temperate climate towards the south. | It is a cold country. |
| Area | The fourth-largest county with an area of 449,964 square km. | Among the smallest countries with an area of 41,285 square km. |
| Population density | It has a density of 20.6 per square km. | It has a density of 186.5 per square km. |
| Government | A constitutional monarchy, which is led by Prime ministers with kings and queens as the heads. | A federal republic led by the president. |
| Capital | Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. | Bern is the capital of Switzerland. |
What is Sweden?
A fourth-largest Northern European Country also called the Kingdom of Sweden. Norway forms the boundary in the west and north, Finland in the east, and Denmark by a bridge-tunnel towards the South-west. The country has an area of 449,964 square km. And if you talk globally, it is the 55th largest country. Sweden has many coastal islands and lakes, with vast forests and glaciated mountains. The capital of Sweden is Stockholm. Stockholm is built on 14 islands and consists of nearly 50 bridges, royal palaces, and museums.
Natural Landscape
Sweden is a country of diverse scenic beauty captivating visitors from all over the world. The land is filled with beautiful mountains to stunning Archipelagos, totally a place of untouched wilderness. The country attracts visitors from all over the world, because of its beautiful nature preservation.
It is a complete land of nature. It attracts hikers and nature enthusiasts. The countryside of Sweden is covered by vast forests and heartwarming lakes to scenic villages. It also serves for other activities like mountain biking, fishing and wildlife.
The country has a beautiful coastline. Stretching for thousands of kilometres. On the coastline, travellers can enjoy the beauty of the wonderful Archipelagos, located just outside the capital city. Stockholm Archipelago, the largest Archipelago in the country.
Lapland, a land of the Sami people. It is located in the Northern part of the country, stretched across other European Countries. This place is famous for → dog sledging, reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.
The country also has national parks like Abisko National Park and Sarek National Park. The national parks are famous for their untouched wilderness, midnight sun, stunning mountains, and immense beauty.
Stockholm: The Capital City
The city offers a blend of tradition and a rich culture. The old town of Stockholm, known as the Gamla Stan preserves medieval architecture, with narrow cobblestone streets. Modern city centres are famous for good nightlife, shopping malls, restaurants, cafes, and beautiful landmarks.
Gothenburg: Hub Of The Culture Of Innovation
The second largest city in the country rich in culture, academic excellence, and innovation. The city is a blend of unique historical sites and modern innovation. Liseberg is the most famous amusement park in the city. And there is also Haga, the famous historical and scenic place. Avenyn, is a hub of various activities, with shopping places lined up, and good nightlife. And a place for all the cultural activities, from parades to festivals.
Malmo: Diverse in Culture
Another city in Sweden, famous for its diversified culture, simultaneously promotes other cultures. This city forms the border with Denmark, connected through the Oresund Bridge. Lying close to the Republic of Denmark, Malmo has also adopted many cultures of Denmark. Another famous museum is the Malmo Castle, portraying the rich Swedish culture and attracting visitors from all over the globe.
Uppsala: Center of Academia
It is located in the north of Stockholm, famous for academic tradition, and some historical landmarks. And in this city, lies the oldest University of Sweden named the Uppsala University. It serves the cultural traditions and made a special place in Swedish history. The university was founded back in 1477. It has led to many Nobel laureates, researchers and scholars. The university also has a museum of its own, showing artefacts of old Sweden. And finally comes the first river, flowing through the city, offering pleasant walks and sunsets.
Contributions and Influence globally
The Swedish government actively participates in global matters. It is also part of the European Union, an organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the United Nations. It forms part of many peacekeeping missions globally. Swedish armed forces have helped in the mission of Lebanon, Congo, Mali and Afghanistan. And the nation is also known for its professionalism, and commitment to human rights. And this contribution to the world portrays an important part of Europe.
There are many famous startups, which is originally from Sweden, like:
- Skype: It was founded by Swedish Entrepreneurs, and those are Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis.
- Spotify: One of the most famous music streaming platforms, was founded by Swedish Entrepreneurs. And they are Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon.
- IKEA: It has a good, gripping market in the furniture business. Founded by a Swedish named Ingvar Kampgrad.
And the most prestigious award known as the Nobel Prize, is also from Sweden.
Therefore, this country has made a good contribution to the world. It also has beautiful landmarks, a place to visit. And thus, forming an important part of Europe.
What is Switzerland?
A country located in the middle of Western, central and southern Europe, also known as the Swiss Confederation. Germany forms the border in the north, Italy to the South, France in the west, and Liechtenstein towards the east.
It is a small European country, covering a land of 41,285 square km. Despite being small in size, it has made major contributions to the world, in technology, finance, and Diplomacy.
Tourist Attraction
The capital of the country is Bern. It is a mountainous Landscape. Attracting a bunch of travellers, who prefer hiking, skiing, and climbing, enjoy mountain-range villages, plateaus and the high range of the mountain Alps. There are also some specialities of this country like Swiss cheese, chocolates, and a dish called Fondue.
One of the most famous landmarks of Switzerland is Matterhorn. It is a pyramidal peak, having a height of 4478 meters. It has become an attractive place for adventurers and mountain climbers, for people who wish to take chances, from all over the globe.
Countries like Switzerland, can take big decisions and build infrastructure in less time, with their focus on development. And thus helping them in building environmental sustainability.
Cultural Heritage
Swiss people talk in many languages like German, French, Italian, Rhaeto-Romanic, and some English. Due to this diversity in language, it provides a unique blend of cultural traditions all across the country. This leads to many religions in the country, with each of them having their own culture, rituals, cuisine, customs, and festivals. Together they all constitute the overall development of the country.
The Swiss people have prevented their cultural heritage—certain examples like chocolate production in Gruyeres, and watchmaking in the Jura region. And traditional festivals like Fashnact promote the Swiss culture and the dedication to their rich customs.
Economic Powerhouse
Apart from preserving their culture, they are also known for their banks. The economy of Switzerland is considered to be one of the most robust and resilient. The banks of Switzerland have been a global hub for finance and wealth management. And with certain strict rules and policies, Swiss banks have managed to be a safe place for finance.
They have also excelled in other sectors like pharmaceuticals, machinery, precision instruments, and luxury goods. Switzerland's work in technology has highly helped the research institutes like CERN and ETH Zurich.
Political Neutrality
Switzerland has engaged in an army conflict since 1815. They have not engaged in any fights. This made them serve as a diplomatic hub. Geneva, the headquarters of various UN agencies, is also known as the capital of peace.
This ingrained peace in the Swiss country, makes the citizens actively participate in decision-making through initiatives and referendums. And this direct democracy is the aspect of the Swiss Government.
Difference Between Switzerland and Sweden in Points
- Sweden is a country with a vast coastline, including forests, lakes, and islands. Whereas, Swiss does not have any coastline, as such.
- The size of Sweden and Switzerland varies a lot. The size of Sweden is times 10 times of Switzerland. This also implies the case of population. Sweden has more population than Switzerland.
- There is also another difference in Government in Swiss and Sweden. Sweden's government is formed by the Constitutional Monarchy, whereas the Swiss Government is formed by the Federal Republic.
- The countries also have different weather and climate. Switzerland is a cold country, and temperatures across the country vary from cold to moderate temperatures. Whereas, Sweden is a vast country, which makes it experience different climates in different regions, from temperate in the south to cold in the north.
- And lastly, the most crucial difference is the language. The people of Swiss speak German, French, Italian, and Rhaeto-Romantic. Whereas the Sweden people mostly speak Swedish, which is also the official language of the country.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Switzerland and Sweden are two countries geographically located in Europe. They have many differences despite being part of the same continent. Sweden is a Scandinavian country. It is known for its - welfare state, pop music, and progressive ideals. Switzerland is known for the - banking industry, precision watches, and chocolate.
If you talk about the location, Sweden has a diverse landscape with coastlines, forests, and lakes. While Switzerland is described by its mountainous terrain. Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, whereas Sweden is a member of the European Union.
Sweden and Switzerland also have distinct languages and climates. The simple explanation for this point is the location of the countries. They also have different currencies, as they are not run by the same government.
Though, both Switzerland and Sweden have contributed significantly to the world. Sweden has made famous contributions in technology and innovation with companies like Skype and Spotify originating from the country.
Moreover, Sweden actively participates in global affairs and peacekeeping missions. On the other hand, Switzerland is renowned for its economic strength, particularly in finance, and is known for its diplomatic neutrality. The country is home to international organizations like the United Nations and has a reputation for its high-quality products such as Swiss watches and chocolates.
Overall, the differences between Switzerland and Sweden extend beyond just geographical and cultural aspects. Each country has its unique characteristics, traditions, and contributions, making them distinct entities within the European continent.
References
- https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/344126
- http://diana-n.iue.it:8080/handle/1814/34905
- What’s The Difference Between Sweden and Switzerland? – Scandinavia Facts
- Sweden vs Switzerland: What’s Are The Main Differences? (scandification.com)
