THE ADMINISTRATIVE COUNTIES OF SWEDEN
Sweden is divided into 21 administrative counties (l�n). Each county has a county administrative board, a government authority that is primarily the right hand of the government and parliament and carries out its decisions. This has been the system since 1634, when Axel Oxenstierna reformed Sweden�s state administration and the county administrative boards were created. A county governor was appointed in each county to be in charge.

The latest administrative county in Sweden is V�stra G�taland, which was created on 1 January 1998 by the amalgamation of G�teborgs and Bohus l�n, �lvsborgs l�n and Skaraborgs l�n (with the exception of the municipalities of Habo and Mullsj�, which were transferred to J�nk�pings l�n. In 1997 Malm�hus and Kristianstad were amalgamated to form Sk�ne l�n.