Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 8.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden stood at 8.6%.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden peaked at 9.7% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 2.9%, in 1991.
Sweden ranks 60th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.9% | — |
| 1992 | 4.6% | +56.6% |
| 1993 | 7.6% | +65.6% |
| 1994 | 8.1% | +6.5% |
| 1995 | 7.9% | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 8.6% | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 9.7% | +12.9% |
| 1998 | 8.0% | -17.1% |
| 1999 | 6.9% | -14.6% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | -27.1% |
| 2001 | 4.4% | -12.1% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 5.0% | +8.4% |
| 2004 | 6.2% | +23.4% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | +25.0% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | -6.1% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 6.6% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | +22.0% |
| 2010 | 8.5% | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -8.9% |
| 2012 | 7.7% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 7.7% | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 7.3% | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 6.6% | -9.7% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 6.2% | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 7.0% | +11.6% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | +19.1% |
| 2021 | 9.1% | +10.2% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -13.6% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 8.5% | +8.1% |
| 2025 | 8.6% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.2% | 2.9% | 9.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.1% | 4.4% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.3% | 6.2% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.4% | 7.9% | 9.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More education data for Sweden
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 77,813 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,302 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 235,975 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 222,360 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 987,895 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 859,847 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8572 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0814 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in Sweden was 8.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 9.7% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9% in 1991.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- Sweden ranks 60th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. 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, female (% of female labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.