Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Sweden
Sweden: Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 32.5 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Sweden, 1995–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Sweden stood at 32.5.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Sweden peaked at 39.81 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 26.64, in 2019.
That places Sweden 63rd out of 75 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 30.91 | — |
| 1996 | 38.69 | +25.2% |
| 1997 | 39.21 | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 39.81 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 39.12 | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 39.59 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 37.26 | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 37.34 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 37.25 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 37.46 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 36.75 | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 36.65 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 36.31 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 36.06 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 36.69 | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 29.47 | -19.7% |
| 2011 | 29.06 | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 28.87 | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 28.5 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 28.05 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 28 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 27.91 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 27.28 | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 27.02 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 26.64 | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 26.71 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 33.44 | +25.2% |
| 2022 | 33.07 | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 32.47 | -1.8% |
| 2024 | 32.72 | +0.8% |
| 2025 | 32.5 | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.55 | 30.91 | 39.81 | 5 |
| 2000s | 37.14 | 36.06 | 39.59 | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.08 | 26.64 | 29.47 | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.82 | 26.71 | 33.44 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 60 Australia 33.06 compare
- 61 Switzerland 32.67 compare
- 62 Malta 32.52 compare
- 64 Burkina Faso 31.89 compare
- 65 Netherlands 31.35 compare
- 66 Saint Lucia 31.09 compare
More gender data for Sweden
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 1,663 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.5 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 47,810 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 50,483 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 48,381 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 51,112 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 50,315 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 53,236 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 54,852 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 57,789 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Sweden?
- Inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Sweden was 32.5 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 39.81 in 1998.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.64 in 2019.
- How does Sweden rank for inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Sweden ranks 63rd out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) 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 International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This indicator conveys the number of persons of working age outside the labour force (that is, not employed or unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the working-age population. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.