Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sweden

Sweden: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 8.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
8.8%
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
43rd
of 185 countries
All-time high
10.4%
in 1997
All-time low
1.5%
in 1989
Years of data
52
1969–2025

Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sweden, 1969–2025

246810196919972025

Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sweden is 8.8%, measured in 2025.

The figure is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 18.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sweden peaked at 10.4% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 1.5%, in 1989.

Sweden ranks 43rd of 185 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 1.9% 1.9% 1.9% 1
1970s 2.1% 1.5% 2.7% 7
1980s 2.5% 1.5% 3.5% 8
1990s 7.6% 1.8% 10.4% 10
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

  1. 40 Aruba 8.9% compare
  2. 41 Chile 8.9% compare
  3. 42 Greece 8.8% compare
  4. 44 Antigua and Barbuda 8.8% compare
  5. 45 Albania 8.4% compare
  6. 46 Colombia 8.4% compare

See the full ranking of 185 places →

More reference data data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sweden?
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Sweden was 8.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 10.4% in 1997.
What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 1.5% in 1989.
How does Sweden rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
Sweden ranks 43rd out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sweden data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates
Unit
%
Source
Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
185 places, 5,169 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.