Located in the very south of Sweden, Skåne county was created in 1997 when the former counties of Malmöhus and Kristianstad were merged. Its borders coincide with those of the historical Province of Scania. Its area is 11027 km<small><sup>2</sup></small> and its population in 2004 is 1 152700, making it the third largest in Sweden in terms of population.