View source for Counties of Sweden

{{For|the regional governments previously known as County Councils|Regions of Sweden||}}{{For|the historical-cultural regions|Provinces of Sweden||}}{{Short description|Administrative subdivisions of Sweden}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name = Counties of Sweden <br> {{small|{{native name|sv|Sveriges län}}}}
| map = SverigesLän2007mKod.svg
| category = [[Unitary state]]
| territory = [[Sweden]]
| upper_unit = 
| current_number = 21
| number_date = 
| population_range = Least: [[Gotland County|Gotland]], 61,001<br />Most: [[Stockholm County|Stockholm]], 2,415,139
| area_range = Smallest: [[Blekinge County|Blekinge]], {{val|2,946.4|u=km2}}<br>Largest: [[Norrbotten County|Norrbotten]], {{val|98,244.8|u=km2}}
| government = [[County administrative boards of Sweden|Administrative board]]
| government1 = Regional council
| subdivision = [[Municipalities of Sweden|Municipality]]
}}
{{Politics of Sweden|divisions}}
{{Subdivisions of Sweden}}
The '''counties of Sweden''' ({{langx|sv|Sveriges [[län]]}}) are the first-level administrative [[subdivisions of Sweden]]. There are twenty-one counties; however, the number of counties has varied over time, due to territorial changes and to divisions or mergers of existing counties.

They are ''not'' regarded as geographical areas by Swedes as they are not connected to dialects or identity, which is a role fulfilled by the historical [[provinces of Sweden]] ({{langx|sv|landskap}}).  This level of administrative unit was first established in the [[Instrument of Government (1634)|1634 Instrument of Government]] on [[Lord High Chancellor of Sweden|Lord Chancellor]] Count [[Axel Oxenstierna]]'s initiative, and superseded the landskap, in order to introduce a more efficient administration of the realm. At that time, they were what the translation of ''län'' into English literally means: [[fiefdom]]s. The county borders often follow the provincial borders, but [[Monarchy of Sweden|the Crown]] often chose to make slight relocations to suit its purposes.

In every county there is a [[County administrative boards of Sweden|county administrative board]] (''länsstyrelse'') headed by a governor (''[[landshövding]]''), appointed by the [[Government of Sweden|government]], as well as a separate [[Regional councils of Sweden|regional council]] (''region''). In the county of [[Gotland]] however, the county's only municipality has adopted regional responsibilities. The aims of the county administrative board are to supervise local state administration (that is not otherwise assigned to other government agencies), and to coordinate political goals with the central government. The regional council is the elected regional political assembly that oversees the municipal affairs of the county, primarily in regard to [[public healthcare]], [[public transport]], and culture.

Beginning in the 2000s, many major government agencies have reorganised from a county-based subdivisional structure into larger geographical or functional areas. This include the [[Swedish Tax Agency]] (1 January 2004), the [[Swedish Social Insurance Agency]] (1 January 2005), the [[Swedish Public Employment Service]] (1 January 2008), and the [[Swedish Police Authority]] (1 January 2015).

== List of counties ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[ISO 3166-2|ISO]]
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[NUTS code|NUTS]]
! scope="col" rowspan=2 class=unsortable| [[Coat of arms|CoA]]
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | County (''Län'')
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Administrative centre
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | Governor
! scope="col" colspan=2 | Area
! scope="col" rowspan=2 | [[Population]]<br/>(2021-12-31)<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-02-22 |title=Folkmängd i riket, län och kommuner 31 december 2021 och befolkningsförändringar 2021 |url=https://www.scb.se/hitta-statistik/statistik-efter-amne/befolkning/befolkningens-sammansattning/befolkningsstatistik/pong/tabell-och-diagram/folkmangd-och-befolkningsforandringar---helarsstatistik/folkmangd-i-riket-lan-och-kommuner-31-december-2021-och-befolkningsforandringar-2021/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Statistics Sweden |language=sv}}</ref>
! scope="col" colspan=2 | [[Population density|Density]]
|-
! km<sup>2</sup>
! sq mi
! per km<sup>2</sup>
! per sq mi
|-
| SE-AB || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE110|SE110}} || [[File:Stockholm län vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Stockholms län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Stockholm County|Stockholm]] || [[Stockholm]] || [[Claes Lindgren]] (acting) || {{convert|6,519.3|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 2,415,139 || {{convert|370|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-C || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE121|SE121}} || [[File:Uppland vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Uppsala län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Uppsala County|Uppsala]] || [[Uppsala]] || [[Stefan Attefall]] || {{convert|8,207.2|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 395,026 || {{convert|48.1|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-D || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE122|SE122}} || [[File:Södermanland vapen.svg|20px]] ||data-sort-value="SZZOdermanland"| {{flagicon image|Södermanlands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Södermanland County|Södermanland]] || [[Nyköping]] ||[[Johanna Sandwall]] (acting) || {{convert|6,102.3|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 301,801 || {{convert|49.5|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-E || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE123|SE123}} || [[File:Östergötland vapen.svg|20px]] ||data-sort-value="ZZOstergötland"| {{flagicon image|Östergötlands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Östergötland County|Östergötland]] || [[Linköping]] || {{interlanguage link|Carl Fredrik Graf|sv}} || {{convert|10,602.0|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 469,704 || {{convert|44.3|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-F || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE211|SE211}} || [[File:Jönköping län vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Jönköpings län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Jönköping County|Jönköping]] || [[Jönköping]] || [[Brittis Benzler|Brittis Benzler]]|| {{convert|10,495.1|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 367,064 || {{convert|35.0|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-G || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE212|SE212}} || [[File:Kronoberg vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Kronobergs län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Kronoberg County|Kronoberg]] || [[Växjö]] || [[Maria Arnholm]] || {{convert|8,466.0|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 203,340 || {{convert|24.0|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-H || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE213|SE213}} || [[File:Kalmar län vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Kalmar län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Kalmar County|Kalmar]] || [[Kalmar]] || [[Allan Widman]] || {{convert|11,217.8|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 247,175 || {{convert|22.0|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-I || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE214|SE214}} || [[File:Gotland vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Gotlands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Gotland County|Gotland]] || [[Visby]] || [[Charlotte Petri Gornitzka]] || {{convert|3,151.4|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 61,001 ||{{convert|19.4|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-K || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE221|SE221}} || [[File:Blekinge vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Blekinge län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Blekinge County|Blekinge]] || [[Karlskrona]] || [[Ulrica Messing]] || {{convert|2,946.4|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 158,937 || {{convert|53.9|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-M || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE224|SE224}} || [[File:Skåne län vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Skåne län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Skåne County|Skåne]] || [[Malmö]], ''[[Kristianstad]]'' || [[Anneli Hulthén]] || {{convert|11,034.5|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 1,402,425 || {{convert|127|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-N || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE231|SE231}} || [[File:Halland vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Hallands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Halland County|Halland]] || [[Halmstad]] || [[Anders Thornberg]] || {{convert|5,460.7|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 340,243 || {{convert|62.3|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-O || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE232|SE232}} || [[File:Västra Götaland vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Västra Götalands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Västra Götaland County|Västra Götaland]] || [[Gothenburg]], ''[[Vänersborg]]'' || [[Sten Tolgfors]] || {{convert|23,948.8|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 1,744,859 || {{convert|72.9|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-S || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE311|SE311}} || [[File:Värmland vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Värmlands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Värmland County|Värmland]] || [[Karlstad]] || {{ill|Georg Andrén|sv|Georg Andrén (född 1960)}} || {{convert|17,591.0|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 283,196 || {{convert|16.1|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-T || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE124|SE124}} || [[File:Örebro län vapen.svg|20px]] ||data-sort-value="ZZOrebro"| {{flagicon image|Örebro län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Örebro County|Örebro]] || [[Örebro]] || [[Lena Rådström Baastad]]|| {{convert|8,545.6|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 306,792 || {{convert|35.9|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-U || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE125|SE125}} || [[File:Västmanland vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Västmanlands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Västmanland County|Västmanland]] || [[Västerås]] || {{interlanguage link|Johan Sterte|sv}} || {{convert|5,145.8|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 278,967 ||{{convert|54.2|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-W || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE312|SE312}} || [[File:Dalarna vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Dalarnas län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Dalarna County|Dalarna]] || [[Falun]] || [[Helena Höij]]|| {{convert|28,188.8|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 288,387 ||{{convert|10.2|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-X || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE313|SE313}} || [[File:Gävleborg län vapen.svg|20px]] ||data-sort-value="GZZEvleborg"| {{flagicon image|Gävleborgs län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Gävleborg County|Gävleborg]] || [[Gävle]] || [[Carina Ståhl Herrstedt]] || {{convert|18,198.9|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 287,767 || {{convert|15.8|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-Y || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE321|SE321}} || [[File:Västernorrland län vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Västernorrlands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Västernorrland County|Västernorrland]] || [[Härnösand]] || [[Carin Jämtin]]|| {{convert|21,683.8|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 244,193 ||{{convert|11.3|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-Z || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE322|SE322}} || [[File:Jämtland län vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Jämtlands län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Jämtland County|Jämtland]] || [[Östersund]] || {{interlanguage link|Marita Ljung|sv}} || {{convert|49,341.2|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 132,054 || {{convert|2.68|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-AC || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE331|SE331}} || [[File:Västerbotten län vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Västerbottens län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Västerbotten County|Västerbotten]] || [[Umeå]] || [[Helene Hellmark Knutsson]] || {{convert|55,186.2|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 274,563 || {{convert|4.98|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|-
| SE-BD || {{URL|http://dd.eionet.europa.eu/vocabularyconcept/common/nuts/SE332|SE332}} || [[File:Norrbotten län vapen.svg|20px]] || {{flagicon image|Norrbottens län vapenflagga.svg}} [[Norrbotten County|Norrbotten]] || [[Luleå]] || {{interlanguage link|Lotta Finstorp|sv}} || {{convert|98,244.8|km2|sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}|| 249,693 || {{convert|2.54|/km2|/sqmi|disp=table|sortable=on}}
|}

== Map ==
With county codes, which were official until 1974.
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
*AB: [[Stockholm County]]
*C: [[Uppsala County]]
*D: [[Södermanland County]]
*E: [[Östergötland County]]
*F: [[Jönköping County]]
*G: [[Kronoberg County]]
*H: [[Kalmar County]]
*I: [[Gotland County]]
*K: [[Blekinge County]]
*M: [[Skåne County]]
*N: [[Halland County]]
*O: [[Västra Götaland County]]
*S: [[Värmland County]]
*T: [[Örebro County]]
*U: [[Västmanland County]]
*W: [[Dalarna County]]
*X: [[Gävleborg County]]
*Y: [[Västernorrland County]]
*Z: [[Jämtland County]]
*AC: [[Västerbotten County]]
*BD: [[Norrbotten County]]
{{col-break|width=210px|gap=2em}}
[[File:SverigesLän2007mKod.svg|center|242px]]{{center|''Counties of Sweden''}}
{{col-break|width=210px|gap=2em}}
[[File:Sweden provinces and counties overlayed.svg|center|250px]]{{center|''Comparison with the provinces of Sweden''<br/>Bold lines represent county borders, colors represent provinces.}}
{{col-end}}

Each county region contains a number of [[Municipalities of Sweden|municipalities]] ({{lang|sv|kommuner}}), the existence of which is partly at the discretion of the central government. Since 2004 their number has been 290, thus an average of 13.8 municipalities per county.

Until 1968, the City of [[Stockholm]] had its own "county code" '''A''', which is still used interchangeably with '''AB''' in some contexts, and County of Stockholm had county code '''B'''. '''L''' was for [[Kristianstad County]] and '''M''' was for [[Malmöhus County]] but since they were merged to form [[Skåne County]], '''M''' is usually used. '''O''' used to stand for [[Gothenburg and Bohus County]] but has been used for [[Västra Götaland County]] since it was merged with [[Skaraborg County]] ('''R''') and [[Älvsborg County]] ('''P''').

== History ==
=== Older subdivisions ===
Sweden's [[provinces of Sweden|provinces]], or ''landskap'', and the [[lands of Sweden|"lands"]], or ''landsdelar'', lack political importance today but are common denominations culturally and historically. The provinces had their own laws and justice systems and could have large cultural and religious differences. The province of [[Småland]] (literally ''small land'') historically was several provinces with its own laws. Here burial tradition in the era before the [[Viking Age]] could differ significantly from province to province. The province of [[Norrbotten]] is a relatively recent creation; it was part of [[Västerbotten]] which extended all the way to [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Österbotten]] in today's [[Finland]] before 1809. Finnish and Swedish [[Laponia (historical province)|Lapland]] formed a single province until 1809.

Historically, the provinces were grouped in three lands: [[Götaland]], being southern and western Sweden; [[Svealand]] being eastern and south-eastern, and [[Norrland]] being the entire northern half. The names of the first two refer to ancient tribes, and the third is a geographical reference. They are still commonly used as geographical references. The boundaries have changed over time, with the most significant in 1658 (the cession of provinces from Denmark-Norway to Sweden) and 1812 (due to the loss of Finland to Russia in 1809). In 1812, some provinces were moved from [[Götaland]] to [[Svealand]].

=== Finland ===
After the [[Finnish War]], Sweden was forced to cede the counties in [[Finland]] to [[Russian Empire|Russia]] following the [[Treaty of Fredrikshamn]] in (1809). However, the counties were upheld in Finland until a [[Counties in Finland|reform]] in 1997. They are still in use in Sweden, 370 years later.

The counties in Finland established in 1634 were: [[Turku and Pori County]], [[Nyland and Tavastehus County]], [[Viborg and Nyslott County]], [[Ostrobothnia County]] and [[Kexholm County]]. Over time the number of subdivisions in Finland increased to twelve, until a reorganization in 1997 reduced their number to six [[Provinces of Finland|provinces]], while keeping the administrative model intact. The counties in Finland were abolished in 2010.

=== Abolished counties ===
Abolished counties in current-day [[Sweden proper]] were:

* [[Skaraborg County]] + [[Gothenburg and Bohus County]] + [[Älvsborg County]] (merged as [[Västra Götaland County]] in 1998)
* [[Kopparberg County]] (became [[Dalarna County]] in 1997)
* [[Malmöhus County]] + [[Kristianstad County]] (merged as [[Skåne County]] in 1997)
* [[Norrland County]] (in 1645 divided into [[Västerbotten County]], [[Hudiksvall County]] and [[Härnösand County]])
* [[Nyköping County]], [[Gripsholm County]] and [[Eskilstunahus County]] (united in 1683 to become [[Södermanland County]])
* [[Närke and Värmland County]] (became [[Örebro County]])
* [[Härnösand County]] (1645–1654, formed [[Västernorrland County]])
* [[Hudiksvall County]] (1645–1654, formed [[Gävleborg County]])
* [[Governor of Stockholm|Office of the Governor of Stockholm]] (1634–1967, united with [[Stockholm County]])
* [[Svartsjö County]] (1786–1809, united with [[Stockholm County]])
* [[Öland County]] (1819–1826, united with [[Kalmar County]])

Counties in Swedish-ruled [[Finland]] were:

* [[Turku and Pori Province|Turku and Pori County]] (1634–1809)
* [[Nyland and Tavastehus County]] (1634–1809)
* [[Ostrobothnia County]] (1634–1775)
* [[Viborg and Nyslott County]] (1634–1721)
* [[Kexholm County]] (1634–1721)
* [[Kymmenegård and Nyslott County]] (1721–1747)
* [[Savolax and Kymmenegård County]] (1747–1775)
* [[Vasa County]] (1775–1809)
* [[Oulu County]] (1775–1809)
* [[Kymmenegård County]] (1775–1809)
* [[Savolax and Karelia County]] (1775–1809)

== Proposed regions ==
[[File:SWE-Regioner.svg|thumb|190px|Six or nine new administrative regions.]]
Under the aegis of the [[Swedish government]], ''Ansvarskommittén'' has been investigating the possibilities of merging the current 21 counties into 6 to 9 larger regions. These proposals are from their final report, delivered in 2007:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.regeringen.se/rattsliga-dokument/statens-offentliga-utredningar/2007/03/sou-200713-/|title=Regional utveckling och regional samhällsorganisation|date=2007-03-23|website=Government Offices of Sweden|language=sv|id=SOU 2007:13}}</ref>
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
# ''Norra Sverige'': [[Norrbotten County]] + [[Västerbotten County]] + [[Jämtland County]] + [[Västernorrland County]] + [[Nordanstig Municipality|Nordanstig]] and [[Hudiksvall Municipality|Hudiksvall]]
# ''Bergslagen'': the rest of [[Gävleborg County]] + [[Dalarna County]] + [[Örebro County]] + [[Värmland County]]
# ''Mälardalen'': [[Stockholm County]] + [[Uppsala County]] + [[Södermanland County]] + [[Västmanland County]] + [[Gotland County]]
# ''Västra Götaland'': [[Västra Götaland County]] + [[Halland County]]
# ''Östra Götaland'': [[Östergötland County]] + [[Jönköping County]] + [[Kronoberg County]] + [[Kalmar County]]
# ''Södra Götaland'': [[Skåne County]] + [[Blekinge County]]
{{col-break|gap=2em}}
# ''Norra Sverige'': [[Norrbotten County]] + [[Västerbotten County]] + [[Örnsköldsvik Municipality|Örnsköldsvik]]
# ''Mellannorrland'': [[Jämtland County]] + [[Västernorrland County]] (except Örnsköldsvik) + [[Nordanstig Municipality|Nordanstig]] and [[Hudiksvall Municipality|Hudiksvall]]
# ''Dalarna-Gävleborg'': [[Dalarna County]] + [[Gävleborg County]] (except Nordanstig and Hudiksvall)
# ''Västra Svealand'': [[Värmland County]] + [[Örebro County]]
# ''Mälardalen'': [[Stockholm County]] + [[Uppsala County]] + [[Södermanland County]] + [[Västmanland County]] + [[Gotland County]]
# ''Västra Götaland'': [[Västra Götaland County]] + [[Halland County]]
# ''Östergötland'': [[Östergötland County]] + [[Västervik Municipality|Västervik]]
# ''Småland'': [[Jönköping County]] + [[Kronoberg County]] + [[Kalmar County]] (except Västervik)
# ''Södra Götaland'': [[Skåne County]] + [[Blekinge County]]
{{col-end}}

A model for this comes from the merger of some counties into [[Skåne County]] and [[Västra Götaland County]] in 1997 and 1998, respectively, which is now considered a success.

The counties are discussing the proposal. An obstacle is that [[Stockholm County]] does not want to merge with any other county, while its neighbours want to merge with Stockholm.
After this discussion the following proposal has in 2016 emerged:
# Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Västernorrland and Jämtland county
# Dalarna, Gävleborgs, Södermanlands, Uppsala, Västmanland and Örebro county
# Östergötland, Jönköping, Kalmar and Kronoberg county
# Gotland and Stockholm county
# Halland, Värmland and Västra Götaland county
# Blekinge and Skåne county
The main difference is that the proposed Bergslagen is divided to other counties, and Stockholm is on its own (plus the small Gotland which has air connections to Stockholm)

== Riksområden ==
{{main|National Areas of Sweden}}
[[File:Sweden nuts2.png|thumb|160px|Current [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|statistical regions]] (''riksområden'').]]
The counties in Sweden correspond to the third level of division in the [[European Union]]'s system of [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics]]. For the purpose of creating regions corresponding to the second level, counties have been grouped into eight [[NUTS:SE|Riksområden]], or ''National Areas'': [[Stockholm County|Stockholm]], [[East Middle Sweden]], [[North Middle Sweden]], [[Middle Norrland]], [[Upper Norrland]], [[Småland and the islands]], [[West Sweden]] and [[South Sweden]].

== See also ==
*[[Administrative divisions of Sweden]]
*[[Ranked list of Swedish counties]]
*[[ISO 3166-2 codes for Sweden]]
*[[Subdivisions of the Nordic countries]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Counties of Sweden}}
*[https://www.lansstyrelsen.se/ The Swedish County administrative boards]
*[https://www.government.se/ Official site of the Swedish government]

{{Counties of Sweden}}
{{Sweden topics}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of European countries}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Counties of Sweden}}
[[Category:Counties of Sweden| ]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions of Sweden]]
[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of Sweden|Counties]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Europe|Sweden 1]]
[[Category:First-level administrative divisions by country|Counties, Sweden]]