Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sweden
Sweden: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 70.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sweden, 1965–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sweden recorded 70.4% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sweden peaked at 86.8% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 64.5%, in 2000.
Sweden ranks 104th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 46 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 75.0% | — |
| 1975 | 74.3% | -0.9% |
| 1976 | 73.8% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 77.0% | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 76.7% | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 76.2% | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 76.5% | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 85.7% | +12.0% |
| 1987 | 85.8% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 86.8% | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 77.5% | -10.7% |
| 1991 | 77.0% | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 75.4% | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 73.8% | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 73.3% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 72.0% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 65.4% | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 65.3% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 65.6% | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 65.5% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 64.5% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 67.0% | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 66.7% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 66.7% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 66.6% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 67.5% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 67.6% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 67.8% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 68.2% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 67.3% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 73.9% | +9.8% |
| 2011 | 73.9% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 73.9% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 74.3% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 74.7% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 74.4% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 74.4% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 75.1% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 75.2% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 75.6% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 76.1% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 70.0% | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 70.3% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 70.6% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 70.0% | -0.8% |
| 2025 | 70.4% | +0.5% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 70.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.5%, 1.0× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 70.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68.2%, 1.0× the median. (54 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 75.0% | 75.0% | 75.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 74.0% | 73.8% | 74.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 80.7% | 76.2% | 86.8% | 7 |
| 1990s | 71.1% | 65.3% | 77.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.0% | 64.5% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.6% | 73.9% | 75.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.2% | 70.0% | 76.1% | 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 labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sweden?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Sweden was 70.4% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 86.8% in 1989.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.5% in 2000.
- How does Sweden rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Sweden ranks 104th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.