Roughly the same size as California, Sweden is usually divided into three regions: to the north is Norrland, the vast mountain and forest region; in central Sweden is Svealand, an expanse of lowland in the east and highland in the west; and in the south is Götaland, which includes the Småland highlands and, at the southern extremity, the small but rich plains of Skåne.

The Swedish coastline is mostly rocky, with hundreds of small, sometimes wooded islands. Ground by glacial ice in the same direction, they share a common rounded shape. This type of coast, known as skärgård, is found in both the east and the west, especially around Stockholm and Gothenburg.

About 15 percent of the country lies within the Arctic Circle, so from about late May until mid-July, sunlight lasts around the clock north of the Arctic Circle, but, even as far south as Stockholm, the nights during this period have only a few hours of semidarkness.

In mid-December, on the other hand, Stockholm experiences only about 5.5 hours of daylight, and areas in the far north remain in nearly 20 hours of total darkness, relieved by a mere 4 hours of twilight.

The north-to-south extension of the country and the higher elevation of the northern part creates regional differences in winter climate.

The northern interior receives heavy snowfall for up to eight months of the year and has severe temperatures that drop as low as −22 to −40 °F (−30 to −40 °C).

The average January temperature in Haparanda, for example, at the head of the Gulf of Bothnia is 10 °F (−12 °C). Sea ice covers the Gulf of Bothnia from November to May. But in southern Sweden, snowfall is irregular and the average January temperatures range between 23 and 32 °F (−5 and 0 °C). Coastal waters seldom freeze.

Summer temperatures in the country vary far less, although summer is much shorter in the north.

Although different groups of immigrants have influenced Swedish culture through the centuries, the population has been quite homogeneous, both ethnically and religiously.

It's only since World War II that notable change has occurred. From 1970 to the early 1990s, net immigration accounted for about three-fourths of the country's population growth, and by far, most of the outsiders came from the neighboring Nordic countries, with which Sweden shares a common labor market.

In the 1980s, Sweden began to receive an increasing number of asylum seekers from Asia and Africa, including countries such as Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, Eritrea, and Somalia, as well as from Latin America that were suffering under repressive governments.

Then, from 2010 to 2014, the number of people seeking asylum in Sweden expanded dramatically, reaching more than 80,000 in 2014, and that number doubled to more than 160,000 in 2015. Thus, by 2016, one in six Swedish residents had been born outside the country, and Sweden, experiencing the mass influx of migrants, enacted new and more stringent immigration restrictions.

Whether we're talking about IKEA or even H&M, Swedish design is one of the country's main exports and has permeated the world consciousness in the last century.

It is known for its emphasis on sustainability and functionality; Swedes like things to look good, but they also like to keep it simple.

But if you're visiting Sweden and want to bring back a little local design with you, look out for more unique finds from local artists, interior designers, and smaller fashion labels. In Stockholm, you can visit the Design District located in the trendy Södermalm neighborhood.