Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not in Sweden
Sweden: Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not was 1,587 Thousand persons in 2026. ▼ Falling
Latest (2026)
1,587 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 12.7%
World rank
22nd
of 47 countries
All-time high
2,091 Thousand persons
in 1998
All-time low
1,587 Thousand persons
in 2026
Years of data
29
1998–2026
Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Sweden, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 1,587 Thousand persons for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in 2026. That is the lowest value across all 29 years on record.
The figure is down 12.7% on the previous year and down 22.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Sweden peaked at 2,091 Thousand persons in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1,587 Thousand persons, in 2026.
Sweden ranks 22nd of 47 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 2,091 Thousand persons | — |
| 1999 | 2,038 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 2,024 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 1,974 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 2002 | 2,005 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 2,034 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 2,076 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 1,950 Thousand persons | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 1,972 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 1,972 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 2,012 Thousand persons | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 2,075 Thousand persons | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 2,084 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 2,067 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 2,050 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 2,037 Thousand persons | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 2,026 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 2,042 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 2,042 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2,007 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 2,006 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 1,987 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 1,987 Thousand persons | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 1,966 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 1,910 Thousand persons | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 1,880 Thousand persons | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 1,898 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 1,819 Thousand persons | -4.2% |
| 2026 | 1,587 Thousand persons | -12.7% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 1,587 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,579 Thousand persons, 1.0× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 1,587 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,587 Thousand persons, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2,064 Thousand persons | 2,038 Thousand persons | 2,091 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2000s | 2,009 Thousand persons | 1,950 Thousand persons | 2,076 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,035 Thousand persons | 1,987 Thousand persons | 2,084 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,864 Thousand persons | 1,587 Thousand persons | 1,987 Thousand persons | 7 |
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 persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Sweden?
- Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Sweden was 1,587 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 2,091 Thousand persons in 1998.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,587 Thousand persons in 2026.
- How does Sweden rank for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by?
- Sweden ranks 22nd out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
- Is persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by willingness to work - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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