Unemployed population — Unemployment in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployed population — Unemployment was 510.35 Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Sweden, 1963–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 510.35 Persons for unemployed population — unemployment in 2025. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 31.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed population — unemployment in Sweden peaked at 510.35 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 44 Persons, in 1965.
Sweden ranks 17th of 35 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 62 Persons | — |
| 1964 | 58 Persons | -6.5% |
| 1965 | 44 Persons | -24.1% |
| 1966 | 59 Persons | +34.1% |
| 1967 | 80 Persons | +35.6% |
| 1968 | 85 Persons | +6.2% |
| 1969 | 73 Persons | -14.1% |
| 1970 | 59 Persons | -19.2% |
| 1971 | 101 Persons | +71.2% |
| 1972 | 107 Persons | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 98 Persons | -8.4% |
| 1974 | 80 Persons | -18.4% |
| 1975 | 67 Persons | -16.2% |
| 1976 | 71 Persons | +6.0% |
| 1977 | 82 Persons | +15.5% |
| 1978 | 103.7 Persons | +26.5% |
| 1979 | 97.2 Persons | -6.3% |
| 1980 | 96.2 Persons | -1.0% |
| 1981 | 120.2 Persons | +24.9% |
| 1982 | 154.4 Persons | +28.5% |
| 1983 | 171.1 Persons | +10.8% |
| 1984 | 153.9 Persons | -10.1% |
| 1985 | 137.2 Persons | -10.9% |
| 1986 | 127.2 Persons | -7.3% |
| 1987 | 102 Persons | -19.8% |
| 1988 | 84 Persons | -17.6% |
| 1989 | 73 Persons | -13.1% |
| 1990 | 82.5 Persons | +13.0% |
| 1991 | 148 Persons | +79.4% |
| 1992 | 260.7 Persons | +76.1% |
| 1993 | 415.3 Persons | +59.3% |
| 1994 | 426 Persons | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 405 Persons | -4.9% |
| 1996 | 439.5 Persons | +8.5% |
| 1997 | 445.2 Persons | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 368 Persons | -17.3% |
| 1999 | 314 Persons | -14.7% |
| 2000 | 259 Persons | -17.5% |
| 2001 | 220.05 Persons | -15.0% |
| 2002 | 231 Persons | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 259.62 Persons | +12.4% |
| 2004 | 299.48 Persons | +15.3% |
| 2005 | 350.88 Persons | +17.2% |
| 2006 | 336.8 Persons | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 298.1 Persons | -11.5% |
| 2008 | 305.4 Persons | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 409.98 Persons | +34.2% |
| 2010 | 426.2 Persons | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 391.55 Persons | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 403.62 Persons | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 411.98 Persons | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 412.35 Persons | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 388.3 Persons | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 369 Persons | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 361.65 Persons | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 346.48 Persons | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 376.32 Persons | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 457.82 Persons | +21.7% |
| 2021 | 492.77 Persons | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 421.12 Persons | -14.5% |
| 2023 | 439.57 Persons | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 480.35 Persons | +9.3% |
| 2025 | 510.35 Persons | +6.2% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 510.35 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 338.16 Persons, 1.5× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 510.35 Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 307.41 Persons, 1.7× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 65.86 Persons | 44 Persons | 85 Persons | 7 |
| 1970s | 86.59 Persons | 59 Persons | 107 Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 121.92 Persons | 73 Persons | 171.1 Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 330.42 Persons | 82.5 Persons | 445.2 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 297.03 Persons | 220.05 Persons | 409.98 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 388.75 Persons | 346.48 Persons | 426.2 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 467 Persons | 421.12 Persons | 510.35 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 unemployed population — unemployment in Sweden?
- Unemployed population — unemployment in Sweden was 510.35 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 510.35 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 44 Persons in 1965.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployed population — unemployment?
- Sweden ranks 17th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployed population — 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 volatile.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployed population — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the 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.