Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Sweden
Sweden: Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 was 57.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Sweden, 1965–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Sweden stood at 57.3%.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Sweden peaked at 69.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 38.3%, in 1998.
That places Sweden 19th out of 171 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 46 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 48.5% | — |
| 1975 | 63.0% | +29.9% |
| 1976 | 64.5% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 66.5% | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 65.0% | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 64.8% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 66.4% | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 67.5% | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 66.5% | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 69.0% | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 68.9% | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 65.8% | -4.4% |
| 1992 | 60.8% | -7.7% |
| 1993 | 54.7% | -10.0% |
| 1994 | 53.4% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 46.8% | -12.3% |
| 1996 | 42.6% | -9.0% |
| 1997 | 39.8% | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 38.3% | -3.7% |
| 1999 | 41.4% | +8.1% |
| 2000 | 40.4% | -2.4% |
| 2001 | 52.5% | +30.1% |
| 2002 | 50.6% | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 50.7% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 48.2% | -5.0% |
| 2005 | 51.3% | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 51.9% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 52.7% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 53.1% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 51.0% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 51.3% | +0.6% |
| 2011 | 52.8% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 53.4% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 55.2% | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 56.0% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 56.5% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 55.5% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 55.4% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 55.5% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 56.2% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 51.9% | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 56.6% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 57.1% | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 56.9% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 57.3% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 48.5% | 48.5% | 48.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 63.7% | 63.0% | 64.5% | 2 |
| 1980s | 66.6% | 64.8% | 69.0% | 7 |
| 1990s | 51.2% | 38.3% | 68.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 50.2% | 40.4% | 53.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.8% | 51.3% | 56.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 55.8% | 51.9% | 57.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 16 Cayman Islands 59.0% compare
- 17 Burundi 58.1% compare
- 18 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 58.0% compare
- 20 Madagascar 57.0% compare
- 21 Rwanda 54.9% compare
- 22 United States of America 54.9% 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 for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Sweden?
- Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 in Sweden was 57.3% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 69.0% in 1989.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.3% in 1998.
- How does Sweden rank for labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023?
- Sweden ranks 19th out of 171 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023 rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate for women ages 15-24, 1980 vs. 2023. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.