Monthly unemployment levels in Sweden
Sweden: Monthly unemployment levels was 511.33 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Monthly unemployment levels in Sweden, 1983–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for monthly unemployment levels in Sweden is 511.33 Persons, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and up 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment levels in Sweden peaked at 511.33 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 71.17 Persons, in 1989.
That places Sweden 14th out of 32 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Monthly unemployment levels in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 161.25 Persons | — |
| 1984 | 143.5 Persons | -11.0% |
| 1985 | 128 Persons | -10.8% |
| 1986 | 119.67 Persons | -6.5% |
| 1987 | 98.17 Persons | -18.0% |
| 1988 | 81.42 Persons | -17.1% |
| 1989 | 71.17 Persons | -12.6% |
| 1990 | 79.92 Persons | +12.3% |
| 1991 | 143 Persons | +78.9% |
| 1992 | 251.67 Persons | +76.0% |
| 1993 | 401 Persons | +59.3% |
| 1994 | 411.75 Persons | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 390.5 Persons | -5.2% |
| 1996 | 425.67 Persons | +9.0% |
| 1997 | 437.08 Persons | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 362.08 Persons | -17.2% |
| 1999 | 300.17 Persons | -17.1% |
| 2000 | 253.08 Persons | -15.7% |
| 2001 | 273.83 Persons | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 280.33 Persons | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 309.92 Persons | +10.6% |
| 2004 | 348.83 Persons | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 370.33 Persons | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 339.67 Persons | -8.3% |
| 2007 | 299.58 Persons | -11.8% |
| 2008 | 305.83 Persons | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 411 Persons | +34.4% |
| 2010 | 427.67 Persons | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 392.5 Persons | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 405.25 Persons | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 412.92 Persons | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 413.83 Persons | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 390.08 Persons | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 370.33 Persons | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 363 Persons | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 348.83 Persons | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 377.67 Persons | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 466.33 Persons | +23.5% |
| 2021 | 491.75 Persons | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 420.67 Persons | -14.5% |
| 2023 | 437.42 Persons | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 478.58 Persons | +9.4% |
| 2025 | 511.33 Persons | +6.8% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 511.33 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 336.92 Persons, 1.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 511.33 Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 277.58 Persons, 1.8× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Monthly unemployment levels in Sweden changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +78.9% | 79.92 Persons | 143 Persons |
| 1992 | +76.0% | 143 Persons | 251.67 Persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 114.74 Persons | 71.17 Persons | 161.25 Persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 320.28 Persons | 79.92 Persons | 437.08 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 319.24 Persons | 253.08 Persons | 411 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 390.21 Persons | 348.83 Persons | 427.67 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 467.68 Persons | 420.67 Persons | 511.33 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 monthly unemployment levels in Sweden?
- Monthly unemployment levels in Sweden was 511.33 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment levels recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 511.33 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment levels recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 71.17 Persons in 1989.
- How does Sweden rank for monthly unemployment levels?
- Sweden ranks 14th out of 32 countries with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment levels rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.1%. 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 Monthly unemployment levels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 43 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.