Gävle, city and seaport in eastern Sweden, on an occasionally icebound inlet of the Gulf of Bothnia, in Gävleborg County. The port serves an extensive mining and lumbering area and is noted for the export of timber, wood pulp, and iron and steel. The principal imports of Gävle are coal, coke, oil, and grain. The leading industries in the city are brewing, shipbuilding, tobacco and wood processing, and the manufacture of chemicals and textiles. Gävle was chartered in the 1440s. It was rebuilt after being badly damaged by fire in 1869. Population (1998 estimate) 90,308.
