Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 8.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
8.8%
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
57th
of 181 countries
All-time high
9.7%
in 1997
All-time low
1.5%
in 1989
Years of data
52
1969–2025
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden, 1969–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sweden recorded 8.8% for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in 2025.
The figure is up 3.9% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden peaked at 9.7% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1989.
Sweden ranks 57th of 181 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 2.0% | — |
| 1970 | 1.7% | -13.0% |
| 1971 | 2.8% | +58.5% |
| 1972 | 3.0% | +7.4% |
| 1973 | 2.8% | -5.0% |
| 1974 | 2.4% | -13.9% |
| 1975 | 2.1% | -13.8% |
| 1976 | 2.1% | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 2.3% | +12.2% |
| 1982 | 3.4% | +46.3% |
| 1983 | 3.5% | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 3.3% | -7.9% |
| 1985 | 2.9% | -11.4% |
| 1986 | 2.2% | -22.5% |
| 1987 | 2.2% | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 1.5% | -29.8% |
| 1990 | 1.8% | +20.0% |
| 1991 | 2.9% | +60.8% |
| 1992 | 4.6% | +58.4% |
| 1993 | 7.7% | +65.0% |
| 1994 | 8.2% | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 7.9% | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 8.6% | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 9.7% | +12.9% |
| 1998 | 8.0% | -17.1% |
| 1999 | 6.9% | -14.6% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | -27.1% |
| 2001 | 4.4% | -12.0% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 5.0% | +8.4% |
| 2004 | 6.2% | +23.4% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | +25.0% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | +22.0% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 7.7% | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 6.2% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 7.0% | +11.5% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | +19.1% |
| 2021 | 9.1% | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -13.6% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 8.5% | +7.7% |
| 2025 | 8.8% | +3.9% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 8.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.5%, 1.6× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 8.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.0%, 1.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 2.4% | 1.7% | 3.0% | 7 |
| 1980s | 2.7% | 1.5% | 3.5% | 8 |
| 1990s | 6.6% | 1.8% | 9.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.1% | 4.4% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.3% | 6.2% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 7.9% | 9.1% | 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, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden was 8.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1989.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Sweden ranks 57th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.