Sweden introduces phone number so people can call and talk to a random Swede

A Swedish tourist association has introduced a phone number for people to call to speak with a random person in Sweden.

A screen grab from the promotional video. Source: YouTube

A hotline has been set up in Sweden for people to call and speak with a random person in Sweden.

The service was introduced by the Swedish Tourist Association, a not-for-profit organization based in Stockholm.

It allows callers to ring "the Swedish number" to get connected with a member of the public in Sweden.

In a video to promote the service, the association said the number was introduced to mark the 250^th anniversary of Sweden becoming the first country in the world to introduce a constitutional law to abolish censorship.

"To honour this anniversary, Sweden is now the first country in the world to introduce its own phone number," it said. "Call [phone] and get connected to a random Swede, anywhere in Sweden and talk about anything you want."

Callers are encouraged to discuss meatballs, gay rights, snow, suicide rates, parental leave and darkness, among other topics.

The system works by Swedes downloading an app on their phone that they can turn on to receive calls that come through to the number.

SBS attempted to call the number twice but was met with voicemail messages because it was the middle of the night in Europe.

However in an earlier call from the BBC, the man who answered the phone, Peter, reportedly told the radio hosts why he had offered to speak about Sweden.

"I thought it was a good thing you know, Sweden is a good country and if someone wanted to know something about Sweden, I can help them," he said.