Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) was 510.48 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Sweden, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in Sweden is 510.48, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.
The figure is up 6.3% on the previous year and up 31.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in Sweden peaked at 510.48 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 346.49, in 2018.
That places Sweden 22nd out of 72 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 412.35 | — |
| 2015 | 388.31 | -5.8% |
| 2016 | 368.99 | -5.0% |
| 2017 | 361.67 | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 346.49 | -4.2% |
| 2019 | 376.33 | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 457.83 | +21.7% |
| 2021 | 492.77 | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 421.15 | -14.5% |
| 2023 | 439.56 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | 480.36 | +9.3% |
| 2025 | 510.48 | +6.3% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 510.48 is above the median for high income countries, which is 169.05, 3.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 510.48 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 212.69, 2.4× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 375.69 | 346.49 | 412.35 | 6 |
| 2020s | 467.03 | 421.15 | 510.48 | 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 unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in Sweden?
- Unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) in Sweden was 510.48 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 510.48 in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 346.49 in 2018.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19)?
- Sweden ranks 22nd out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment (current ilo definition - icls19) rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.