Sweden is a nation.
Sweden . Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country during the Middle Ages . It has the world 's eighth-highest per capita income and ranks highly in numerous metrics of national performance , including quality of life , health , education , protection of civil liberties , economic competitiveness , equality , prosperity and human development . The Swedish Empire ( stormaktstiden , `` the era of great power '' ) refers to the Kingdom of Sweden 's territorial control of much of the Baltic region during the 17th and early 18th centuries , a time when Sweden was one of the great European powers .