For a country-level article, Sweden is best understood through its major metropolitan areas and broad regions rather than neighborhoods.
## Major metropolitan areas
- **Stockholm metropolitan area** — The political, financial, cultural, and technological center of Sweden, built around the capital and its extensive archipelago. - **Gothenburg metropolitan area** — Sweden's principal west coast industrial and port region, known for logistics, manufacturing, universities, and maritime links. - **Malmö–Lund region** — A dynamic southern urban corridor connected to Copenhagen by the Öresund Bridge, with strengths in research, life sciences, and international commuting.
## Major historical and geographic regions
- **Norrland** — The vast northern part of Sweden, characterized by forests, rivers, mining, hydropower, Sami culture, and low population density. - **Svealand** — The central historical heartland including Stockholm, major inland lakes, industrial towns, and administrative centers. - **Götaland** — The southern region, containing fertile farmland, major cities, varied coasts, and much of the country's population and economic activity.
## Notable subregions and islands
- **Skåne** — Southernmost province, known for agriculture, Malmö, Lund, and close ties to Denmark. - **Lapland (Swedish Lapland)** — Northern inland and mountain region known for Arctic tourism, national parks, and Sami heritage. - **Gotland** — Large Baltic island with a distinct cultural identity, medieval Visby, and strong tourism. - **Öland** — Long island off the southeast coast, known for rural landscapes, biodiversity, and summer tourism. - **Bergslagen** — Historically important mining and ironworking district in central Sweden.
These regions help explain Sweden's internal diversity: dense and globalized southern cities, industrial lake districts, forest interiors, and Arctic northlands.