Average weekly hours usually worked per employee in Sweden
Sweden: Average weekly hours usually worked per employee was 39.28 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Average weekly hours usually worked per employee in Sweden, 1995–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, average weekly hours usually worked per employee in Sweden stood at 39.28. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average weekly hours usually worked per employee in Sweden peaked at 39.28 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 35.21, in 1995.
Sweden ranks 55th of 87 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Average weekly hours usually worked per employee in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 35.21 | — |
| 1996 | 35.5 | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 35.73 | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 35.89 | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 35.76 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 35.85 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 35.96 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 36.01 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 35.82 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 35.71 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 35.66 | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 35.66 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 35.67 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 35.65 | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 35.63 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 35.7 | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 35.74 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 35.78 | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 35.78 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 35.81 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 35.83 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 35.91 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 35.91 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 35.97 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 35.93 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 35.96 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 37.68 | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 37.69 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 37.65 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 37.62 | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 39.28 | +4.4% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 39.28 is above the median for high income countries, which is 39, 1.0× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 39.28 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 39.11, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 35.62 | 35.21 | 35.89 | 5 |
| 2000s | 35.76 | 35.63 | 36.01 | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.84 | 35.7 | 35.97 | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.65 | 35.96 | 39.28 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More work & labour data for Sweden
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.0422 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.0602 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.0243 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.5427 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 10,837 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 788.88 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 5,587 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 5,780 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 11,367 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average weekly hours usually worked per employee in Sweden?
- Average weekly hours usually worked per employee in Sweden was 39.28 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average weekly hours usually worked per employee recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 39.28 in 2025.
- What is the lowest average weekly hours usually worked per employee recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.21 in 1995.
- How does Sweden rank for average weekly hours usually worked per employee?
- Sweden ranks 55th out of 87 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average weekly hours usually worked per employee rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average weekly hours usually worked per employee. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The concept of hours usually worked relates to the typical value of hours actually worked in a job per a short reference period such as one week, over a long observation period of a month, quarter, season or year that comprises the short reference measurement period used. The typical value may be the modal value of the distribution of hours actually worked per short period over the long observation period, where meaningful. The short reference period for measuring hours usually worked should be the same as the reference period used to measure employment. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.