Sweden — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Sweden, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Sweden was 64.59% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 67.03% in 1990. The lowest was 61.99% in 2000 (about 1.0× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to -0.11% per year.
Sweden ranks 67 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 36%. The median for Europe & Central Asia is 60.12%, so Sweden sits above it. It peaked in 1990 and has fallen 4% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved up 1%. Within Europe & Central Asia it ranks 11 of 49 economies; Georgia (64.31%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Slipped: 50th of 187 in 1990 → 85th of 187 in 2000 → 76th of 187 in 2010 → 59th of 187 in 2020 → 66th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64.6% | -0.1 pp |
| 2024 | 64.74% | -0.2 pp |
| 2023 | 64.93% | +0.4 pp |
| 2022 | 64.56% | +0.4 pp |
| 2021 | 64.18% | +0.0 pp |
| 2020 | 64.15% | -0.4 pp |
| 2019 | 64.58% | +0.1 pp |
| 2018 | 64.5% | +0.1 pp |
| 2017 | 64.39% | +0.3 pp |
| 2016 | 64.08% | +0.2 pp |
| 2015 | 63.92% | +0.0 pp |
| 2014 | 63.9% | +0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 63.85% | +0.3 pp |
| 2012 | 63.53% | -0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 63.53% | +0.3 pp |
| 2010 | 63.2% | -0.2 pp |
| 2009 | 63.36% | -0.5 pp |
| 2008 | 63.87% | +0.2 pp |
| 2007 | 63.7% | +0.4 pp |
| 2006 | 63.34% | +0.1 pp |
| 2005 | 63.24% | +0.8 pp |
| 2004 | 62.41% | -0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 62.64% | -0.0 pp |
| 2002 | 62.65% | -0.0 pp |
| 2001 | 62.69% | +0.7 pp |
| 2000 | 61.99% | -0.6 pp |
| 1999 | 62.6% | +0.5 pp |
| 1998 | 62.08% | -0.6 pp |
| 1997 | 62.71% | -0.3 pp |
| 1996 | 63% | -0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 63.22% | +0.5 pp |
| 1994 | 62.7% | -0.7 pp |
| 1993 | 63.44% | -1.4 pp |
| 1992 | 64.88% | -1.4 pp |
| 1991 | 66.29% | -0.7 pp |
| 1990 | 67.03% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Sweden’s Labor participation in 1991?
66.29% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Sweden’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was shrinking overall: -3.6% in total — about 0.1% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 64.6%; 2024: 64.74%; 2023: 64.93%; 2022: 64.56%; 2021: 64.18%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.