- March
- General Motors of the USA buys complete control of the Saab Automobile AB company. [142.23]
- Year
- Unemployment in Sweden: 4.1%. [39.10]
- (month unknown)
- At the Adelphia Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the United States, Per Eklund wins the Open Class driving a 750-horsepower Saab Viggen. [40.7]
- The last wholly Swedish-owned arms manufacturer, Bofors, is sold to American arms manufacturer United Defence. [40.10]
- At Skatmossen in Veddige in Halland, fur scrapers, arrowheads and other flint tools dating 13,000 years old are excavated, the oldest traces so far of humans in Sweden. [196.28]
- June 8
- The Swedish government sells 30% ownership in the Telia telecommunications company. Over 1 million Swedes buy some shares. [39.9]
- (month unknown)
- In Erfurt, Germany, the Swedish chef team wins the food olympics. [128.6]
- July 28
- In Norstead, Newfoundland, Canada, near L'Anse aux Meadows, thirteen replica Viking longships from Sweden, Norway, and elsewhere arrive as part of a Grand Encampment Ceremony, in celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of Vikings in North America, and their establishment of a settlement. [43.42] [46.42]
- (month unknown)
- The American investment firm Merrill Lynch rates Sweden as the best country in the world to invest in during the next few years. [43.29]
- September 15
- (to October 1) The 27th Olympic Games are held in Sydney, Australia. Sweden wins 4 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals. [255.58]
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- (month unknown)
- In Erfurt, Germany, the Swedish national culinary team wins the world championship, winning four gold medals. [42.15]
- October
- Unemployment in Sweden: 4.0%. [45.10]
- December 22
- Three armed men overpower the guards at the National Museum in Stockholm. They steal three paintings: a self-portrait by Rembrandt from 1630, and two paintings by Auguste Renoir. (The paintings are recovered in 2001 and 2005.) [45.9] [140.11] [305.9]
- December 23
- The Russian government officially admits to the unjustifiable arrest and murder of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg in 1945. [114.7]
2001
- January 1
- Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson begins Sweden's six month role as president of the European Union. [46.13] [52.34]
- February 21
- Legislation passes in the parliament allowing Swedish citizens to hold dual citizenship, as of July 1. [53.3,10]
- March 22
- The United States issues a 34-cent postage stamp marking the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize, depicting Alfred Nobel and medals. [241.98]
- March 25
- Sweden joins Schengen, eliminating border controls between Sweden and other Schengen countries, and giving police access to the Schengen Information System. Schengen originated in 1985 between France, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, and Holland. [52.10]
- (month unknown)
- Parliament votes 260 to 48 against abolishment of the monarchy. [52.10]
- The Swedish Women's Educational Association (SWEA) names Queen Silvia the Swedish Woman of the Year. [52.14]
- April 8
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A character says "Don't kill me yet! I'm starting to come down with Stockholm syndrome!". [320]
- May 14
- In Stockholm, King Carl Gustaf presents the Polar Music Prize to Burt Bacharach, Robert Moog, and Karlheinz Stockhausen. The Polar Music Prize is an award of the Swedish Academy of Music. [52.14]
- June 15
- A European Union Summit meeting is held in Göteborg, over three days. Protesters from several nations ransack the city, causing damage of about 400 million kronor. 600 demonstrators are taken into custody, with over 50 charged with offences. [141.10] [196.9]
- June 30
- Sweden's six month term holding the presidency of the European Union ends. [52.34]
- (month unknown)
- At the 2001 Paris Motor Show, Koenigsegg presents the Koenigsegg CC 8S sports car. It has a semi-stressed supercharged and intercooled Quad Cam 4 valve 4.7-litre V8 engine, giving 655-horsepower. [138.23]
- July 1
- A new law takes effect, allowing Swedish citizens to hold citizenship of another country as well. [52.11]
- (month unknown)
- In Victoria, BC, Canada, the International Military Sports Council holds a sailing world championship. A Swedish team (one of four) places 5th, and wins the Fair Play Cup. [141.14]
- September 11
- Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp depicting a 1927 Volvo OV4 car. [250.670]
- September 18
- The United Nations issues a postage stamp in memory of Swede Dag Hammarskjöld UN Secretary General. [367.219]
- (month unknown)
- A 1618 painting by Swede Pieter Breughel the Younger of a wedding scene sells at auction for 15.7 million kronor. [142.6]
- October 2
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland issues six postage stamps marking the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prizes. [370.326]
- November 12
- Micronesia issues 14 postage stamps for the 100th anniversary of the awarding of Nobel prizes. [390.930]
- November 15
- Gambia issues a postage stamp depicting Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. [248.61] [370.63]
- November
- The seal of Karl Bengtsson, a 12th century Swedish knight, is sold at auction for 800,000 kronor. [143.6]
- November 29
- Antigua & Barbuda issues 15 postage stamps for the 100th anniversary of the first Nobel Prizes. [867.438]
- (month unknown)
- Ericsson announces a fiscal year end loss of 30 billion kronor, the worst ever reported by a Swedish company. [133.22]
2002
-
- The Stora Kopparberg copper mine in Falun in Dalarna province is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 12th such site in Sweden. [143.6]
- January 6
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the USA. A character attempts to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry. [321]
- January 28
- Astrid Lindgren dies peacefully in her apartment in Stockholm at age 94. About 130 million of her books are in circulation, translated into 86 languages. [120.17] [127.7]
- February 9
- (to February 24) The 19th Olympic Winter Games are held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Sweden wins 2 silver and 4 bronze medals. [255.60]
- February 20
- Guinea issues 28 postage stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prizes. [363.76] [370.580]
- February 25
- Guyana issues 15 postage stamps marking the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prizes. [370.639]
- March 15
- Trade Minister Björn Rosengren presents a new policy for the gradual phase-out of nuclear power plants in Sweden, over a period of 40 years. [133.9]
- March 31
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A hostage taker refers to the Stockholm Syndrome in explaining why his hostage created a scrapbook documenting their time together. [330]
- April 7
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A sports team is called the "Swedish Meatballs". [349]
- April 26
- Sweden hosts the 66th world championship of ice hockey, over 16 days. Games are played in Göteborg, Jönköping, and Karlstad. [120.7]
- (month unknown)
- In Luxemburg, the Swedish chef team wins an international chef competition. [128.6]
2003
- February 16
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. The side of a building is painted with an advertising mural, "ABSOLUT KRUSTY" with a bottle and green hair like the clown in the show. This is a reference to magazine advertisements for Absolut Vodka, by the V&S Absolut Spirits company of Sweden. [333]
- March 2
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. A parody of the Swedish IKEA stores is made, with a Swedish robot delivering a box with a yellow and blue "PI-KEA" logo. The robot says "Enjoy your affordable Swedish crap". [324]
- March 16
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A poster in a nuclear energy plant is titled "SWEDISH BIKINI TEAM". Another is titled "SWEDISH EFFICIENCY TEAM". [334]
- May 1
- A law takes effect banning the import of cars for personal use from countries outside the European Union. [193.11]
- May 18
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. An old man walks down the street shouting "The Swedish are coming!". [337]
- June 6
- The ship Götheborg III is launched, a re-creation of the ship that sank in 1745. [234.19]
- June
- A Swedish DC-3 plane shot down in 1952 is located in the Baltic Sea, east of Gotland. [234.11]
- July 20
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs the Futurama TV show in the US. At a year 3004 Olympics event, three spectators hold a "GO SWEDEN" banner. One of the regular characters, opposed to multi-culturalism, says "Sweden? I don't think so!" and tears up the banner. [319]
- September 10
- Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh is stabbed several times while shopping in Stockholm. She dies the following morning of heart and lung failure. (Mijailo Mijailovic is convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison.) [236.9,17] [283.9] [284.9]
- September 14
- A Nationwide referendum is held asking if Sweden should join the European Monetary Union, and abandon the Krona in favor of the Euro. The vote is 56.1 percent no, 41.8 percent yes. [193.12] [235.11] [331.44] [332.63]
- November 2
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. Part of the show takes place in Stockholm, Sweden, where the Nobel Prize in Science is given to a character. [338]
- November 16
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A character proposing school reforms says "In the Swedish schools, the students grade the teachers on their performance." [339]
2004
- January 1
- Inheritance tax between spouses is abolished. [280.10]
- January 11
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A Swedish Volvo car swerves to avoid a cat, hits a tree and bursts into flames, then explodes, twice, a reference to the safety aspect of the Volvo car. [340]
- January 26
- In Stockholm, the Stockholm Genocide Conference is held, over three days. 58 countries are represented; about 1000 delegates attend. [249.10]
- (month unknown)
- A Gallup poll of Swedes reveals that 55 percent want to maintain nuclear energy at the present level. This is the first poll giving a positive view of nuclear energy. [285.9]
- May 17
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. When two kids believe they will be sold to be used as crash test dummies, one says "Oh please let it be Volvo", a reference to Volvo's excellent safety record. [341]
- June 13
- Swedish elections are held for 19 seats in the European Parliament. Voter turnout is a very low 37 percent. Results by party percentage of votes: Social Democrats 24.7, Conservatives and Moderates 18.2, June List 14.4, Left 12.8, Liberals 9.8, Center 6.3, Green Party 5.9, Christian Democrats 5.7. [286.9]
- July
- An appeals court overturns the life sentence against Mijailo Mijailovic, ordering him committed to psychiatric care. [287.10] [288.11]
- August 12
- The population of Sweden reaches 9 million. [288.11]
- August 13
- (to August 29) The 28th Olympic Games are held in Athens, Greece. Sweden wins 4 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals. [255.61]
- (month unknown)
- Christer Pettersson dies in hospital from brain hemorrhaging and organ failure after falling during an epileptic seizure. (Pettersson was convicted then acquitted of the murder of Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986.) [277.9]
- The IDC / World Times Information Society Index ranks Sweden number one information technology nation in the world, for the fourth consecutive year. [289.30]
- December 12
- Laos issues a postage stamp marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Sweden. [352.85]
- December 17
- Inheritance tax is completely abolished. [280.10]
- December 26
- A tsunami in the Indian Ocean kills 428 Swedes in the area. [281.11] [292.9]
- Year
- The most watched film in Sweden during the year: As it is in Heaven. The best-selling fiction book in Sweden during the year: The Da Vinci Code, by Dan Brown. [281.30]
2005
- January 8
- Over night, violent storm Gudrun sweeps across the southern half of the country, the worst storm since 1969, and one of the worst natural catastrophes in recorded Swedish history. Storm gusts reached 150 km/hour, knocking down 250 million trees, the equivalent of a year's normal harvest of 80 million cubic metres throughout the country. Seven die in the storm, another nine die in clean-up work. 500,000 households are left with no electricity, and the Öresund bridge is closed to road traffic. [292.11] [312.10]
- May 1
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A Swedish Volvo car appears. [345]
- May
- In Göteborg, Sveriges Riksbank issues a 100 Kronor bank note commemorating the 250th anniversary of its Tumba Bruk banknote paper mill. 100,000 notes are made. [310.36]
- May 27
- Norway issues two postage stamps to mark the 100th anniversary of the dissolution of Union with Sweden. [353.84] [390.1488]
- June 6
- Sweden officially celebrates its Swedish Flag Day as a national holiday for the first time. On this day in 1523, Gustav Vasa ascended to the Swedish throne, ending Danish rule. [304.15] [307.13]
- (month unknown)
- The Mint of Poland issues two coins commemorating the 350th anniversary of the defence of the Jasna Gora monastery, depicting a Swedish cannon bombardment. [297.23]
- Loris Bicocchi drives the Swedish Koenigsegg CCR car to a speed of 245 MPH, a new world speed record for a production car. [343.8]
- September 1
- The Church of Sweden appoints Anders Wejryd its new archbishop. This is the first time ever for the Church, as prior to 2000 the Archbishop was appointed by the government. [322.10]
- September 19
- Television broadcasters in Sweden begin shutting down analog transmissions, beginning in Gotland. [281.11] [305.28] [384.28]
- (month unknown)
- Unesco adds four mountaintops in Sweden to its World Heritage List, the 14th for Sweden. The mountaintops are located in Tornedalen: Perävaara in Haparanda, Pullinki in Övertorneå, Jupukka in Pajala, and Tynnyirlaki in Kiruna. The locations, with 321 locations in ten countries, constitute the Geodetic Arc established by German-Russian astronomer Wilhelm von Struve in the 1800s to measure the flattening of the Earth between the equator and the poles. [306.6]
- September 23
- The United States Postal Service and Sweden Post jointly issue postage stamps (USA 37 cents, Sweden 10 kronor) marking the 100th anniversary (September 18) of the birth of actress Greta Garbo. [351.18] [353.68] [867.115]
- September 28
- The United States Postal Service issues postage stamps honoring Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets. One stamp depicts the Swedish Chef. [351.19] [353.68] [867.115]
- December 31
- Certain Swedish 50 öre coins and some bank notes in denominations 20, 100, and 500 kronor cease to be legal tender (but can be deposited in banks until April 28). [311.6]
- Year
- Total immigration into Sweden: 65,136. [374.10]
- Total emigration out of Sweden: 38,058. [374.10]
2006
- March 23
- In Stockholm, a totem pole begins a journey back to the Haisla community on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The pole was cut down and sold to the Stockholm Museum in 1929. [329.12]
- March 26
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A live-action opening is shown, using a Volvo car. [346]
- April 2
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A Swedish Volvo car appears. [347]
- June 7
- Denmark issues a postage stamp depicting the Swedish Volvo P1800 car. [360.80] [368.789]
- (month unknown)
- In the USA, Linn's Stamp News / Amos Hobby Publishing releases the Linn's U.S. Stamp Yearbook 2005, depicting the Greta Garbo 37-cent stamp on the cover. [363.98]
- July 25
- An electricity failure at the Forsmark nuclear power plant leads to a shutdown of the Forsmark I reactor, after two of four backup generators malfunction for 20 minutes. [374.10]
- (month unknown)
- The Paris Mint in France issues gold and silver coins to honor Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. The coins are 1/4 Euro silver, and 10 Euro gold. [344.52]
- September 1
- For the first time, the Church of Sweden appoints an archbishop. Previously, the Archbishop was appointed by the government. Anders Wejryd, bishop in Växjö, becomes the new Archbishop. [322.10]
- October 24
- Poland issues a postage stamp depicting the Royal Dramatic Theater in Stockholm, Sweden. [393.382]
- November 19
- The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A fellow shows a magazine advertisement for Swedish Absolut Vodka. [348]
- Year
- Total immigration into Sweden: 95,750, highest number since records started 131 years ago. [374.10]
- Total emigration out of Sweden: 44,908, highest number in 100 years. [374.10] [381.6]
2007
- March 10
- At the Melodi festivalen '07 grand finale, winner is The Ark, with song "The Worrying Kind". [375.12]
- June 6
- Povel Ramel, Swedish writer/singer/musician/songwriter/comedian, dies at age 85. [378.14]
- July 30
- Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman dies, at age 89, at home on Fårö island, off the Baltic coast of Sweden. [369] [379.9]
- November 27
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment releases the film Bender's Big Score on DVD in the USA. A scene takes place with the awarding of Nobel Prizes. [391]
- (month unknown)
- Reader's Digest in the USA publishes a study on the world's major cities, ranking Stockholm number one as "world's greenest, most livable city". In the ranking of most livable countries, Sweden is number four. [382.7]
2008
- March 31
- Pernod Ricard of France buys V&S Group from the government of Sweden for US$8.9 billion. [394.5]
- April 21
- 3000 nurses walk off jobs, seeking higher wages. [401.9]
2010
- June 18
- The Swedish parliament narrowly approves (174 to 172) the replacement of old nuclear reactors with new ones, reversing the 1980 decision to phase out nuclear reactors by 2010. [403]
- June 19
- Swedish Crown Princess Victoria (age 32) marries her former fitness trainer, 36-year-old commoner Daniel Westling in Stockholm Cathedral. As Crown Princess Victoria's husband, gym owner Westling assumes the title of Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland. [398.50] [403]
- September 30
- Last day of legal tender status for Sweden's 50-öre coin. [396.10] [399.124] [400.78]
2011
- March 17
- In Osnabrück, Germany, Fritz Rudolph Künker auctions a Swedish 1644 6-ducat gold coin of the city of Riga for 299,000 euros (US$417,135), a record for a Swedish coin. [402.50]
2014
- February 20
- Princess Madeleine of Sweden gives birth to daughter Leonore Lilian Maria, in New York; father is Christopher O'Neill. Title is Duchess of Gotland, 5th in line to throne. [404.8]
- March 2
- The Vasaloppet 90km cross-country ski race takes place, from Sälen to Mora in Dalarna. About 15,800 skiers participate in the 90th year of the race. Winner is Norwegian John Kristian Dahl, with time of 4 hours 14 minutes 33 seconds. [404.18]
2017
- August 31
- Birth of Prince Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna, to Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden. [405]
2020
- June 10
- Swedish police investigators announce conclusion that Prime Minister Olof Palme's 1986 assassin was Stig Engstrom. As Engstrom died in 2000, the case is now closed. [406.41]
2022
- May 18
- Sweden submits application to join NATO. [407.12]
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