Demographics and family policy
Sweden has one of the highest fertility rates in the European Union, with 1.67 children per woman, placing the country in fifth place. This rate can be explained in part by the existence of a very advanced parental leave system. In 1974, Sweden was the first country in Europe to introduce such leave. The conditions of this leave are flexible and generous, their aim being to favour the solidity of the family base by giving parents the opportunity to spend time with their newborn child.
Couples have the option of taking 480 days (16 months) of parental leave. These days can be taken by either member of the couple, but three months are reserved for the mother and three months for the father (the daddy months), to encourage men to spend time with their baby. Today, mothers take about 70% of parental leave and fathers 30%. For most of this time, the parent on leave continues to receive 80% of their salary. In the long run, these measures should encourage both parents to share parental leave fully, leading to a more equal society. The country is well on its way and it is very common to see dads walking around together with their strollers and babies.
In Sweden, the term "chicken parents" is not used to describe parents who, in the name of unconditional love, plan all their children's activities and shelter them from danger by doing everything for them. The Swedes refer to the syndrome of "curling parents" who, like sports, sweep the path ahead of their children with impressive energy so that they can go further, faster, easier.
Short names ending in "a" are in fashion, such as Eba, Luna, Ella or Sofia. For boys, many Niklas, Magnus and Anders, but also names less known to us such as Love (pronounced Louvé) or Hampus.
A high degree of parity and diversifying family models
Gender equality is a priority in Sweden, both in professional and personal life. Women have access to education, employment, and civic and political responsibilities. Today, half of all government ministers are women. This high level of parity is due to a set of laws guaranteeing equal opportunities, but also to the monitoring work done by the ombudsmen.
On the other hand, it is not always popular for men to show what a Frenchman might call gallantry, such as rushing to pay the bill. On the contrary, it is quite common to split the bill so that everyone pays their share, ending a gendered culture where men must demonstrate their economic power. It is also common to find couples in which women are the breadwinners.
Finally, family models are diversifying and since April1, 2009, same-sex marriage is recognized by law. Although Sweden was not the first country to recognize the right of homosexuals to legally unite, it is in any case the first to have, since November1, 2009, authorized religious marriage! Pastors are free to refuse to exchange vows, but the Lutheran Church (which is the country's official religion) is obliged to find a man of faith to make the couple's marriage official. In everyday life, homosexuality is generally very well accepted, and the Stockholm Gay Pride is one of the largest gay celebrations in the world!
A flexible and generous educational model
Schooling is compulsory from the age of 7 until the age of 16. For children aged 6 it is possible, but not compulsory, to attend the preparatory school for one year before starting classes at the communal school. Access to education for all children is guaranteed, and an equivalent education must be provided regardless of whether the school is private or public (97% of Swedish children attend public school, and only 3% attend private school).
It should be noted that English is a compulsory subject in Swedish schooling, regardless of the other modern languages chosen by the student. Similarly, religion and civic education courses are part of the compulsory curriculum for students. In the North, young Sami people can attend Sami schools, where their culture and language are taught. These schools can be found in cities such as Jokkmokk, Gällivare and Kiruna.
After the nine years of school, the student has the possibility (followed by 98% of the students) to go to high school(gymnasieskola) for three years. The particularity of Swedish high schools is that they offer, in addition to the traditional general programs, many programs preparing for professional life.
After high school, many young people go on to university. However, young Swedes often prefer to take one or two gap years before starting their studies. During these years, they work (often as waiters or sales clerks), travel (Australia, Thailand, London or Paris are their favorite destinations), and take the time to think about their future. Once they have decided, all they have to do is start, since Sweden is one of the few countries where university education is completely free (for its citizens, but also for students coming from European Union member states!) The country also has a system of grants and loans at very low rates that allow students to live during their studies.
Housing crisis and nature escapes
There is no shortage of space in this country, so it is strange to imagine that finding a place to live in Sweden could be an obstacle course. Like other major European cities, Stockholm, Malmö and Gothenburg are experiencing a housing shortage. As a result, Swedes wishing to live in the city center have to join a waiting list and wait, sometimes for ten or twenty years, before obtaining a lease. This situation also leads many Swedish couples to move in together quite quickly, as it represents an opportunity to share the rent or to live in the city center more easily!
Some Swedish families also have second homes, sometimes a small cottage in the archipelago or in the countryside. If today you have to be in a very good economic situation to afford this kind of property, many Swedes say that things were different a generation or two ago. It is not uncommon to hear a Swede tell you that his grandfather bought a small island for almost nothing and built a wooden cottage for his family with his own hands. These second homes are mostly used during the summer, allowing the Swedes to spend the summer away from the city.
A state-of-the-art health care system
The Swedish health service is generally financed by the government (i.e., by taxes), although its organization is decentralized. While most health care and medicines are free of charge, some health care costs must be paid by the patient. For example, dentist fees are only free up to the age of 23 and beyond that age, the patient must pay for them.
Access to health care in this very large country is sometimes difficult, and many Swedes go to the hospital rather than to their doctor to avoid waiting, which creates some problems. So, for the past decade, Sweden has been seriously looking at e-health and developing its online consultation system. In 2016, the Swedish government and county council announced that by 2026, Sweden should lead the world in eHealth.
There is a good chance that this bet will be kept, as already many apps developed in Sweden have proven their performance. For example, the iDoc24 PRO application makes it possible to take a photo of a mole and obtain a dermatologist's diagnosis of its dangerousness very quickly. This allows a very quick treatment of melanomas and reduces unnecessary visits to the hospital. In the same way, more and more telemedicine platforms are being developed, offering access to health professionals sometimes in less than 15 minutes. And the visits cost about the same as when you go to the doctor!
