Unemployment rate in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployment rate was 8.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rate in Sweden, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Sweden is 8.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Sweden peaked at 10.4% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 3.2%, in 1991.
That places Sweden 48th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.1% | 3.2% | 10.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.3% | 4.7% | 8.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.5% | 6.4% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 7.4% | 8.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More work & labour data for Sweden
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 64.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 67.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 91.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 61.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 83.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 85.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 82.3% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rate in Sweden?
- Unemployment rate in Sweden was 8.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 10.4% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.2% in 1991.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployment rate?
- Sweden ranks 48th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.