Labor force participation rate by age in Sweden
Sweden: Labor force participation rate by age was 56.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Latest (2024)
56.8%
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
26th
of 188 countries
All-time high
69.1%
in 1990
All-time low
48.5%
in 2004
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in Sweden, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 56.8% for labor force participation rate by age in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Sweden peaked at 69.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 48.5%, in 2004.
That places Sweden 26th out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Labor force participation rate by age in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 69.1% | — |
| 1991 | 65.8% | -4.7% |
| 1992 | 60.4% | -8.3% |
| 1993 | 54.9% | -9.1% |
| 1994 | 53.6% | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 53.4% | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 53.2% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 53.0% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 52.9% | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 52.7% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 52.5% | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 52.4% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 50.5% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 50.6% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 48.5% | -4.1% |
| 2005 | 50.2% | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 51.3% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 52.2% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 52.8% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 51.0% | -3.4% |
| 2010 | 51.6% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 53.0% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 52.6% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 54.5% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 55.4% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 55.1% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 54.8% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 54.7% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 54.1% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 55.0% | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 52.1% | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 54.0% | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 56.8% | +5.2% |
| 2023 | 57.5% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 56.8% | -1.2% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 56.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 1.4× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 56.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.1%, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 56.9% | 52.7% | 69.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.2% | 48.5% | 52.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.1% | 51.6% | 55.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.4% | 52.1% | 57.5% | 5 |
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 labor force participation rate by age in Sweden?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Sweden was 56.8% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 69.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.5% in 2004.
- How does Sweden rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Sweden ranks 26th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).