Army and Navy.— The army has hitherto consisted of enlisted troops, a militia maintained by landowners and Crown domains, and con scription troops, drawn by annual levies; but it is now undergoing reorganization, which will take some years to complete, the result being an increase in numbers. Military service is compulsory. The active military force in 1916 consisted of 2,657 officers, 537 non-commis sioned officers, 16,370 volunteers and a con tingent of recruits. The total (including con scnpts) was 83,000 men. The naval strength includes 15 armored coast defense vessels, four old torpedo gunboats, 10 torpedo-boat destroyers, 45 torpedo boats and submarines.
Ethnology.—Almost all the inhabitants of Sweden, with the exception of the Laplanders and Finns, found only in the north, are of Teu tonic origin, and preserve the original features of the race in great purity, particularly in the central and southern provinces, where they are characterized by a tall, robust stature, light hair, blue eyes and light complexion. They are active and enterprising, and manifest a marked predilection for scientific pursuits. The
state of morality is on the whole favorable. Heinous crimes are few, but a great number of minor delinquencies figure in the calendar and are evidently accounted for by the far too prev alent use of ardent spirits; but a considerable improvement in respect of the consumption of intoxicants seems to have taken place in recent times.
Religion and all the inhabitants belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which is the religion of the state, at the head of which is the archbishop of Upsala. Other religions' are tolerated; but appointments in the public service can be held by Lutherans only. Education is gratuitous and compul sory. Primary education is well diffused. In 1916 there were 704,000 pupils in the elementary schools. The proportion of illiterates among recruits is 0.16 per cent. The University of Upsala (2,344 students in 1916) has done much to foster the cultivation of the higher depart ments of science and scholarship. There is also a university at Lund (1,341 students in 1916).
Language and Literature.— See SWEDISH