Labor force participation rate in Sweden
Sweden: Labor force participation rate was 64.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
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
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Sweden stood at 64.6%.
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.
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
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 91.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 61.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 83.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 85.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 82.3% (2025)
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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).