Employment rate in Sweden
Sweden: Employment rate was 59.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
59.0%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
82nd
of 186 countries
All-time high
64.1%
in 1991
All-time low
56.2%
in 1997
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Sweden, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 59.0% for employment rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Sweden peaked at 64.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 56.2%, in 1997.
Sweden ranks 82nd of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Employment rate in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 64.1% | — |
| 1992 | 61.2% | -4.6% |
| 1993 | 57.5% | -6.0% |
| 1994 | 56.7% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 57.6% | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 57.0% | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 56.2% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 56.5% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 57.8% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 58.6% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 59.7% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 59.5% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 59.2% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 58.2% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 58.3% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 58.9% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 59.8% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 59.9% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 58.1% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 57.8% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 58.6% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 58.5% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 58.7% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 58.8% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 59.2% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 59.6% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 60.1% | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 60.4% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 60.2% | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 58.8% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 58.5% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 59.8% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 60.0% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 59.3% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 59.0% | -0.5% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 59.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 58.9%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 59.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.6%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 58.3% | 56.2% | 64.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 59.0% | 58.1% | 59.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.2% | 57.8% | 60.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.2% | 58.5% | 60.0% | 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 employment rate in Sweden?
- Employment rate in Sweden was 59.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 64.1% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.2% in 1997.
- How does Sweden rank for employment rate?
- Sweden ranks 82nd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.