Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 8.74 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Sweden, 1995–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Sweden stood at 8.74.
The figure is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Sweden peaked at 10.36 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 4.73, in 2001.
Sweden ranks 17th of 78 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 8.9 | — |
| 1996 | 9.55 | +7.3% |
| 1997 | 10.36 | +8.5% |
| 1998 | 8.94 | -13.7% |
| 1999 | 7.61 | -14.9% |
| 2000 | 5.47 | -28.1% |
| 2001 | 4.73 | -13.5% |
| 2002 | 4.96 | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 5.55 | +11.9% |
| 2004 | 6.69 | +20.5% |
| 2005 | 7.81 | +16.7% |
| 2006 | 7.07 | -9.5% |
| 2007 | 6.16 | -12.8% |
| 2008 | 6.24 | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 8.35 | +33.9% |
| 2010 | 8.61 | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 7.8 | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 7.98 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 8.05 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 7.95 | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 7.43 | -6.6% |
| 2016 | 6.99 | -5.9% |
| 2017 | 6.72 | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 6.37 | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 6.83 | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 8.29 | +21.3% |
| 2021 | 8.8 | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 7.42 | -15.7% |
| 2023 | 7.61 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 8.31 | +9.1% |
| 2025 | 8.74 | +5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.07 | 7.61 | 10.36 | 5 |
| 2000s | 6.3 | 4.73 | 8.35 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.47 | 6.37 | 8.61 | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2 | 7.42 | 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 (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Sweden?
- Unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Sweden was 8.74 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 10.36 in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.73 in 2001.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Sweden ranks 17th out of 78 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). 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 International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.