The Administrative Counties (Län) of Sweden
Sweden is divided into 21 administrative counties (län). Each one 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 (landshövding) was appointed in each county to be in charge.

The latest administrative county in Sweden is Västra Götaland, which was created on 1 January 1998 by the amalgamation of Göteborgs and Bohus län, Älvsborgs län and Skaraborgs län (with the exception of the municipalities of Habo and Mullsjö, which were transferred to Jönköpings län). In 1997 Malmöhus and Kristianstad were amalgamated to form Skåne län.