STOCKHOLM - Geography and history
The region consists of only one county: the county of Stockholm, which also includes the capital of Sweden. The area is 1.6% of the national territory. Nearly 46% is forested and only 14% is arable land. The countryside is mostly flat with a great number of lakes. The coast is jagged, with an archipelago of thousands of islands offshore. More than one fifth of the population of Sweden lived in this region in 2002. It is the most densely populated region in the country - 285 inhabitants per km2 - and has a total population of 1.85 million. Most of the people live in urban areas in the southern and central parts of the region. There are 26 municipalities, of which 8 have a population density ranging from 1000 to 4000 per km2.
The region offers a pleasant natural environment for recreation, for example in the archipelago, and it has excellent infrastructure with well-developed communication systems.
The capital of Stockholm is the centre of the Swedish government administration.
An attractive area - high quality of life
Densely built-up areas in the south and central parts characterise the region. Nevertheless, there are excellent opportunities for outdoor life within easy reach. Also, the city of Stockholm is the most visited tourist destination in the country.
Although the processing industries have moved to more peripheral locations and more office buildings for the expanding service sector have been constructed in the central parts, the environment for housing has remained attractive in the whole area.
Proximity to nature is typical of all parts of the region. The municipalities in the archipelago have to provide services for the many holiday homes. Many people living in urban areas take advantage of the leisure opportunities in the archipelago.
The opportunities for housing in an attractive environment have expanded for many residents of the region, who have the largest income per capita in the country.
Many of the new places of work in the region are located in areas with extremely good communications, e.g. alongside the motorway to Stockholm's Arlanda airport.
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