Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Sweden
Sweden: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 67.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
67.5%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
52nd
of 199 countries
All-time high
84.5%
in 1989
All-time low
56.0%
in 1965
Years of data
46
1965–2025
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Sweden, 1965–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Sweden stood at 67.5%.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Sweden peaked at 84.5% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 56.0%, in 1965.
That places Sweden 52nd out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 56.0% | — |
| 1975 | 63.5% | +13.4% |
| 1976 | 63.5% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 71.7% | +12.8% |
| 1983 | 71.8% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 71.9% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 72.3% | +0.5% |
| 1986 | 83.2% | +15.2% |
| 1987 | 83.4% | +0.2% |
| 1989 | 84.5% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 74.4% | -12.0% |
| 1991 | 73.8% | -0.7% |
| 1992 | 72.3% | -2.0% |
| 1993 | 70.7% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 70.1% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 69.1% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 61.3% | -11.3% |
| 1997 | 60.8% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 60.2% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 60.9% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 60.4% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 62.7% | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 62.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 62.8% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 62.5% | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 63.2% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 63.4% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 63.7% | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 63.9% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 63.3% | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 70.5% | +11.4% |
| 2011 | 70.9% | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 71.1% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 71.5% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 72.0% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 72.0% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 72.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 72.7% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 73.0% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 73.4% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 73.3% | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 66.6% | -9.2% |
| 2022 | 66.9% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 67.5% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 67.3% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 67.5% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 56.0% | 56.0% | 56.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 63.5% | 63.5% | 63.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 77.0% | 71.7% | 84.5% | 7 |
| 1990s | 67.4% | 60.2% | 74.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.9% | 60.4% | 63.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.9% | 70.5% | 73.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.2% | 66.6% | 73.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 49 Burkina Faso 68.1% compare
- 50 Indonesia 67.9% compare
- 51 Singapore 67.9% compare
- 52 Malta 67.5% compare
- 54 Saudi Arabia 67.4% compare
- 55 Switzerland 67.3% compare
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, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Sweden?
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Sweden was 67.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 84.5% in 1989.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.0% in 1965.
- How does Sweden rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Sweden ranks 52nd out of 199 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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, total (% of total 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.