Inactivity rate in Sweden
Sweden: Inactivity rate was 43.83 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Inactivity rate in Sweden, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inactivity rate in Sweden is 43.83, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate in Sweden peaked at 43.83 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 37.88, in 2006.
That places Sweden 13th out of 57 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Inactivity rate in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 39.98 | — |
| 2005 | 38.1 | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 37.88 | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 38.18 | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 39.58 | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 39.97 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 40.83 | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 40.2 | -1.5% |
| 2012 | 40.19 | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 39.73 | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 40.03 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 39.53 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 39.7 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 39.44 | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 40.42 | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 39.91 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 39.76 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 40.81 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 41.53 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 41.33 | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 42.73 | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 43.83 | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.95 | 37.88 | 39.98 | 6 |
| 2010s | 40 | 39.44 | 40.83 | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.66 | 39.76 | 43.83 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
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 in Sweden?
- Inactivity rate in Sweden was 43.83 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 43.83 in 2025.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.88 in 2006.
- How does Sweden rank for inactivity rate?
- Sweden ranks 13th out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. 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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.