Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sweden
Sweden: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 8.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sweden, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Sweden recorded 8.8% for unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in 2025.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sweden peaked at 11.0% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 1991.
Sweden ranks 43rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 3.5% | — |
| 1992 | 6.7% | +91.7% |
| 1993 | 10.9% | +61.4% |
| 1994 | 10.9% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 9.8% | -9.7% |
| 1996 | 10.4% | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 11.0% | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 9.8% | -11.1% |
| 1999 | 8.3% | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 5.9% | -28.9% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | -14.6% |
| 2002 | 5.3% | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | +14.7% |
| 2004 | 7.2% | +18.2% |
| 2005 | 7.9% | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 6.9% | -12.5% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -14.6% |
| 2008 | 5.9% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 8.7% | +45.8% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -9.8% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | +4.8% |
| 2013 | 8.2% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.2% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 7.6% | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 7.4% | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 7.0% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 6.5% | -7.0% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 8.3% | +23.4% |
| 2021 | 8.5% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 7.0% | -17.8% |
| 2023 | 7.4% | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 8.3% | +12.5% |
| 2025 | 8.8% | +5.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.0% | 3.5% | 11.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 5.0% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.6% | 6.5% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.0% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 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, male (% of male labor force) in Sweden?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Sweden was 8.8% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 11.0% in 1997.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 1991.
- How does Sweden rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Sweden ranks 43rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, male (% of male labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.