Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 25.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
25.2%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
26th
of 187 countries
All-time high
26.2%
in 2009
All-time low
8.3%
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sweden, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sweden stood at 25.2%.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sweden peaked at 26.2% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 8.3%, in 1991.
Sweden ranks 26th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 8.3% | — |
| 1992 | 15.9% | +91.0% |
| 1993 | 25.6% | +61.2% |
| 1994 | 24.8% | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 20.3% | -17.9% |
| 1996 | 21.9% | +7.6% |
| 1997 | 22.1% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 17.8% | -19.6% |
| 1999 | 16.7% | -6.1% |
| 2000 | 10.6% | -36.6% |
| 2001 | 12.7% | +20.0% |
| 2002 | 13.4% | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 15.5% | +15.3% |
| 2004 | 19.8% | +28.0% |
| 2005 | 23.2% | +17.4% |
| 2006 | 20.9% | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 18.7% | -10.4% |
| 2008 | 19.7% | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 26.2% | +33.1% |
| 2010 | 25.8% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 23.3% | -9.8% |
| 2012 | 25.0% | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 24.7% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 24.2% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 21.2% | -12.3% |
| 2016 | 20.5% | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 18.8% | -8.4% |
| 2018 | 18.5% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 20.5% | +10.8% |
| 2020 | 24.9% | +21.6% |
| 2021 | 25.1% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 20.0% | -20.1% |
| 2023 | 22.3% | +11.6% |
| 2024 | 25.2% | +12.6% |
| 2025 | 25.2% | +0.1% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 25.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 1.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 25.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.0%, 1.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.3% | 8.3% | 25.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 18.1% | 10.6% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.2% | 18.5% | 25.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.8% | 20.0% | 25.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 23 Bosnia and Herzegovina 26.5% compare
- 24 Algeria 26.5% compare
- 25 Albania 25.4% compare
- 27 Cape Verde 24.8% compare
- 28 Montenegro 24.7% compare
- 29 Romania 24.4% compare
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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sweden?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Sweden was 25.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 26.2% in 2009.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.3% in 1991.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Sweden ranks 26th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.