Lands of Sweden

The lands of Sweden (Swedish: Sveriges landsdelar) are three traditional parts, essentially three collectives of provinces, in Sweden. These "lands" have no administrative function, and there is no official designation for this subdivision level. Most commonly they are called "landsdelar", which simply translates to "parts of the country".

Although they have no administrative functions and no coats of arms these three subdivisions are used in weather reports. Their boundaries can therefore be seen on weather maps on television and in the press.

Areas and populations of the lands:

Sweden was historically divided into the four lands: Götaland (with exception of Scania, Blekinge, Halland and Bohuslän until the 17th Century), Svealand, Norrland and Österland. Large parts of Norrland was only habitated by the Sami people and the border towards Norway was unclear in the far north.

In the Second Treaty of Brömsebro (1645) Denmark-Norway ceded the Norwegian provinces of Jämtland and Härjedalen to Sweden. These provinces are counted as part of Norrland. In the Treaty of Roskilde (1658), Denmark-Norway ceded Scania, Blekinge and Halland (Skåneland) and Bohuslän to Sweden. These provinces are since then counted as parts of Götaland.

After the Finnish War (1808–1809) the eastern part of Sweden was ceded to Russia, thus becoming the Imperial Russian Grand Duchy of Finland, with Norrland divided between these two states. The Swedish portion of Norrland still represents more than half of Sweden's territory; it remains, however, sparsely populated compared to the south and middle. The town of , which earlier had been at the centre of the medieval provinces of Sweden (i.e. the lightest area on the map), now was situated on the eastern edge of the realm.

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