Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployment rate of men vs. women was 8.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Sweden, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 8.8% for unemployment rate of men vs. women in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Sweden peaked at 11.0% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 1991.
That places Sweden 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Sweden, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.5% | — |
| 1992 | 6.7% | +91.7% |
| 1993 | 10.9% | +61.4% |
| 1994 | 10.9% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 9.8% | -9.7% |
| 1996 | 10.4% | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 11.0% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 9.8% | -11.1% |
| 1999 | 8.3% | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 5.9% | -28.9% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -14.6% |
| 2002 | 5.3% | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | +14.7% |
| 2004 | 7.2% | +18.2% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 6.9% | -12.5% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -14.6% |
| 2008 | 5.9% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | +45.8% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -9.8% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 8.2% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.2% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 7.6% | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 7.0% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 6.5% | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | +23.4% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 7.0% | -17.8% |
| 2023 | 7.4% | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 8.3% | +12.5% |
| 2025 | 8.8% | +5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.0% | 3.5% | 11.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 5.0% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 6.5% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.0% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 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 rate of men vs. women in Sweden?
- Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Sweden was 8.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 11.0% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 1991.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployment rate of men vs. women?
- Sweden ranks 43rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate of men vs. women rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rate of men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the male labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.