Female labor force participation rate in Sweden
Sweden: Female labor force participation rate was 64.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Sweden, 1965–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in Sweden stood at 64.6%.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Sweden peaked at 82.3% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 37.3%, in 1965.
That places Sweden 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 37.3% | 37.3% | 37.3% | 1 |
| 1970s | 53.3% | 53.1% | 53.6% | 2 |
| 1980s | 73.2% | 66.2% | 82.3% | 7 |
| 1990s | 63.7% | 55.0% | 71.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 58.9% | 56.5% | 59.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.2% | 67.1% | 71.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.1% | 63.1% | 70.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More work & labour data for Sweden
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 91.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 61.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 83.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 85.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 82.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Sweden?
- Female labor force participation rate in Sweden was 64.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 82.3% in 1989.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.3% in 1965.
- How does Sweden rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Sweden ranks 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.