Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Finland
Finland: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 27.8% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Finland, 2008–2020
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public sector employment as a share of total employment in Finland is 27.8%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Finland peaked at 28.8% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 26.1%, in 2008.
That places Finland 13th out of 79 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Finland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 26.1% | — |
| 2012 | 27.2% | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 28.1% | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 28.4% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 28.7% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 28.8% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 27.3% | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 26.9% | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 27.6% | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 27.8% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 26.1% | 26.1% | 26.1% | 1 |
| 2010s | 27.9% | 26.9% | 28.8% | 8 |
| 2020s | 27.8% | 27.8% | 27.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Finland
- 10 France 28.9% compare
- 11 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 28.9% compare
- 12 Malta 28.6% compare
- 14 Switzerland 27.5% compare
- 15 Bosnia and Herzegovina 27.4% compare
- 16 Mongolia 27.1% compare
More work & labour data for Finland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.3571 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.35 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.3641 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.59 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.2994 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 5,282 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 583.99 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,261 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,341 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 4,601 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is public sector employment as a share of total employment in Finland?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Finland was 27.8% in 2020, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Finland?
- The highest recorded value was 28.8% in 2016.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Finland?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.1% in 2008.
- How does Finland rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Finland ranks 13th out of 79 countries with data for 2020.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Finland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Finland data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.