Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Sweden
Sweden: Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 was 58.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Sweden, 1975–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Sweden is 58.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Sweden peaked at 81.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 50.6%, in 1998.
That places Sweden 39th out of 172 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 53.1% | — |
| 1976 | 52.5% | -1.1% |
| 1982 | 64.0% | +21.9% |
| 1983 | 64.5% | +0.7% |
| 1984 | 65.2% | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 66.1% | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 78.8% | +19.2% |
| 1987 | 79.4% | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 81.0% | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 69.9% | -13.7% |
| 1991 | 68.6% | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 66.1% | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 62.5% | -5.4% |
| 1994 | 61.3% | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 61.0% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 52.4% | -14.0% |
| 1997 | 51.0% | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 50.6% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 52.5% | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 53.6% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 56.0% | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 56.0% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 56.0% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 54.9% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 54.6% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 54.9% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 55.8% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 55.9% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 54.6% | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 61.4% | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 62.6% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 63.0% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 63.3% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 63.8% | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 64.4% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 65.1% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 65.7% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 66.2% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 66.1% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 64.6% | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 57.3% | -11.2% |
| 2022 | 58.5% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 59.3% | +1.3% |
| 2024 | 59.0% | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 58.9% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52.8% | 52.5% | 53.1% | 2 |
| 1980s | 71.3% | 64.0% | 81.0% | 7 |
| 1990s | 59.6% | 50.6% | 69.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 55.2% | 53.6% | 56.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.2% | 61.4% | 66.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.6% | 57.3% | 64.6% | 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 female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Sweden?
- Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Sweden was 58.9% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 81.0% in 1989.
- What is the lowest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.6% in 1998.
- How does Sweden rank for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024?
- Sweden ranks 39th out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.