Self-employed persons by occupation in Sweden
Sweden: Self-employed persons by occupation was 478.5 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
478.5 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
20th
of 45 countries
All-time high
504.1 Thousand persons
in 2023
All-time low
430.4 Thousand persons
in 1998
Years of data
31
1995–2025
Self-employed persons by occupation in Sweden, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-employed persons by occupation in Sweden is 478.5 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation in Sweden peaked at 504.1 Thousand persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 430.4 Thousand persons, in 1998.
That places Sweden 20th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 475.2 Thousand persons | — |
| 1996 | 465.1 Thousand persons | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 440.4 Thousand persons | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 430.4 Thousand persons | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 443.7 Thousand persons | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 437.8 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 444.3 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 444.7 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 433.7 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 433.8 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 453 Thousand persons | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 461.8 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 468.3 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 466.3 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 471.2 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 483.8 Thousand persons | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 472.4 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 475.7 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 488 Thousand persons | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 482.7 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 484.1 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 477.9 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 482.2 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 485.4 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 492.2 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 488.1 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 482.7 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 495.8 Thousand persons | +2.7% |
| 2023 | 504.1 Thousand persons | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 486.3 Thousand persons | -3.5% |
| 2025 | 478.5 Thousand persons | -1.6% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 478.5 Thousand persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95 Thousand persons, 1.1× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 478.5 Thousand persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 478.5 Thousand persons, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 450.96 Thousand persons | 430.4 Thousand persons | 475.2 Thousand persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 451.49 Thousand persons | 433.7 Thousand persons | 471.2 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 482.44 Thousand persons | 472.4 Thousand persons | 492.2 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 489.25 Thousand persons | 478.5 Thousand persons | 504.1 Thousand 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 self-employed persons by occupation in Sweden?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Sweden was 478.5 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 504.1 Thousand persons in 2023.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 430.4 Thousand persons in 1998.
- How does Sweden rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Sweden ranks 20th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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