Labor force participation rate in Sweden
Sweden: Labor force participation rate was 64.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
64.6%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
67th
of 186 countries
All-time high
67.0%
in 1990
All-time low
62.0%
in 2000
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Sweden, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Sweden is 64.6%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Sweden peaked at 67.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 62.0%, in 2000.
That places Sweden 67th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 67.0% | — |
| 1991 | 66.3% | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 64.9% | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 63.4% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 62.7% | -1.2% |
| 1995 | 63.2% | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 63.0% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 62.7% | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 62.1% | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 62.6% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 62.0% | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 62.7% | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 62.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 62.6% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 62.4% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 63.2% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 63.3% | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 63.7% | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 63.9% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 63.4% | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 63.2% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 63.5% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 63.5% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 63.9% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 63.9% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 63.9% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 64.1% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 64.4% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 64.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 64.6% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 64.2% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 64.2% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 64.6% | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 64.9% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 64.7% | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 64.6% | -0.2% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 64.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 64.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.8% | 62.1% | 67.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.0% | 62.0% | 63.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 63.9% | 63.2% | 64.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 64.5% | 64.2% | 64.9% | 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 in Sweden?
- Labor force participation rate in Sweden was 64.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 67.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.0% in 2000.
- How does Sweden rank for labor force participation rate?
- Sweden ranks 67th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).