Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Sweden
Sweden: Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment was 510,400 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Sweden, 1999–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Sweden is 510,400 Persons, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 31.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Sweden peaked at 510,400 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 215,500 Persons, in 2001.
Sweden ranks 19th of 46 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 333,800 Persons | — |
| 2000 | 238,500 Persons | -28.6% |
| 2001 | 215,500 Persons | -9.6% |
| 2002 | 227,200 Persons | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 255,900 Persons | +12.6% |
| 2004 | 309,200 Persons | +20.8% |
| 2005 | 350,900 Persons | +13.5% |
| 2006 | 336,800 Persons | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 298,100 Persons | -11.5% |
| 2008 | 305,400 Persons | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 410,000 Persons | +34.3% |
| 2010 | 426,200 Persons | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 391,600 Persons | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 403,600 Persons | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 412,000 Persons | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 412,400 Persons | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 388,300 Persons | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 369,000 Persons | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 361,700 Persons | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 346,500 Persons | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 376,300 Persons | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 457,800 Persons | +21.7% |
| 2021 | 492,800 Persons | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 421,100 Persons | -14.5% |
| 2023 | 439,600 Persons | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 480,400 Persons | +9.3% |
| 2025 | 510,400 Persons | +6.2% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 510,400 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 273,650 Persons, 1.9× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 510,400 Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 269,500 Persons, 1.9× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 333,800 Persons | 333,800 Persons | 333,800 Persons | 1 |
| 2000s | 294,750 Persons | 215,500 Persons | 410,000 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 388,760 Persons | 346,500 Persons | 426,200 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 467,017 Persons | 421,100 Persons | 510,400 Persons | 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 labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Sweden?
- Labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment in Sweden was 510,400 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 510,400 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 215,500 Persons in 2001.
- How does Sweden rank for labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment?
- Sweden ranks 19th out of 46 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour indicators levels - regions — unemployment rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Labour indicators levels - Regions — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
This dataset presents indicators on the size of the labour force, employment, and unemployment in large regions (TL2) and, where available, in small regions (TL3). Data definition and source The labour force status is presented by sex, for 15-64 year-olds and 15+ year-olds age ranges, the latter having less country coverage. Data is based on a labour force survey using ILO guidelines and collected from Eurostat (reg_lmk) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites. Definition of regions Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xlsx). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats. Further information OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For questions and/or comments, please email RegionStat@oecd.org.