Gender equality
Equal power and influence for women and men – that's what Sweden aims for.
How does Sweden define gender equality?
Everyone, regardless of gender, has the right to work and support themselves, to balance career and family life, and to live without the fear of abuse or violence.
That’s a principle of gender equality Sweden is committed to.
Why is Sweden seen as a global leader?
Some of Sweden's main strengths within gender equality are:
- the country's comprehensive welfare system, including affordable childcare and elderly care
- the parental leave system, which promotes equal opportunities and shared responsibility
- strong representation of women in politics; and
- high female labour force representation.
The World Economic Forum consistently ranks Sweden among the top countries for gender equality, and often singles out Sweden's female labour force participation rate, which is among the EU’s highest – 79.5% per cent of women between 15 and 64 are working.
When both women and men participate equally in the workforce, the country as a whole benefits. Businesses gain from a wider pool of talent and diverse perspectives. Families enjoy greater financial security. Society at large prospers as more people contribute to growth.
Parental leave and other work-related policies in Sweden
Sweden’s approach to gender equality is reflected in its labour market policies. Employers are expected to take active steps that promote equal pay and fair career development, while also ensuring workplaces are inclusive.
The parental leave system is designed to encourage both women and men to take time off with their children, and childcare is available at an affordable cost.
In 1974, Sweden introduced gender-neutral parental leave – a world-first back then. Today, fathers in Sweden take about 30 per cent of all paid parental leave, a high share by international standards.
Gender discrimination in the workplace has been illegal since 1980, and the 2009 Discrimination Act requires employers to promote equality and prevent harassment. The act also protects employees – women and men – from unfair treatment related to parental leave.
The pay gap between men and women is one of the challenges on the Swedish gender equality agenda. Photo: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se
Sweden's parental leave system encourage both women and men to take time off with their children. Photo: Alexander Hall/imagebank.sweden.se
Fathers in Sweden average about 30 per cent of the paid parental leave. Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se
The pay gap between men and women is one of the challenges on the Swedish gender equality agenda. Photo: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se
Sweden's parental leave system encourage both women and men to take time off with their children. Photo: Alexander Hall/imagebank.sweden.se
Fathers in Sweden average about 30 per cent of the paid parental leave. Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se
The pay gap between men and women is one of the challenges on the Swedish gender equality agenda. Photo: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se
Sweden's parental leave system encourage both women and men to take time off with their children. Photo: Alexander Hall/imagebank.sweden.se
Fathers in Sweden average about 30 per cent of the paid parental leave. Photo: Magnus Liam Karlsson/imagebank.sweden.se
Equality Ombudsman
People can report cases of discrimination to the Swedish Equality Ombudsman (Diskrimineringsombudsmannen), a government agency that protects equal rights.
What is the gender pay gap in Sweden and how many companies have women leaders?
In 2024, the gap between women's and men's wages in Sweden was about 10 per cent.
According to Statistics Sweden, 53 per cent of Sweden's state-owned companies had a woman as CEO in 2023. And 45 per cent of the chairpersons were women.
Sweden’s business sector, on the other hand, remains a male-dominated field. Among listed companies, 10 per cent had women chairpersons in 2023, 14 per cent had female CEOs and 36 per cent of the board members were women.
According to a 2024 report by the Allbright foundation, listed large-cap companies in Sweden – defined as those with a market value of at least 1 billion euros – had reached 40 per cent women on their boards.
How about women's influence in politics?
In 2021, Sweden got its first female prime minister in Magdalena Andersson of the then-ruling Social Democrat party. Her spell came to an end in 2022 following the general election and a government change.
After the 2022 election there were 188 men and 161 women in the Swedish parliament. Of the 23 ministers serving under current prime minister Ulf Kristersson, 12 are women.
Sweden’s next general election is in September 2026.
The Gender Equality Agency
The Swedish Gender Equality Agency is tasked by the Swedish government to support government agencies with the work of integrating a gender perspective in all of their operations.
Addressing violence
Over the years, the annual number of reported cases of assault against women has grown in Sweden as more women speak out.
In the early 1980s, Sweden’s legislation was changed so that a woman could not withdraw an allegation of violence once made – a measure to counter threats to women who reported violence.
In April 2026, the Swedish government presented a new national strategy for a society free from violence, oppression and exploitation, with a vision zero approach towards deadly violence against women. Many national government agencies are involved in the implementation of the strategy.
Women who need protection can turn to any of over 200 local women’s shelters in Sweden. Most shelters are connected to either or both of two major national organisations, the Swedish Association of Women’s Shelters or the National Organisation for Women’s and Young Women’s Shelters.
What about the men?
In Sweden, equality is not just a policy goal – it’s part of everyday culture. Gender roles have become more flexible, and most people share responsibility at home and at work.
It’s fairly common to see fathers on parental leave, men temporarily working reduced hours to care for their young children, or couples dividing housework equally.
At the same time, several Swedish studies show that boys and young men feel they are expected to adapt to certain norms of masculinity. These norms – reinforced by algorithms in digital feeds – are perceived to have a negative effect for both men and women.
A national review from 2026 by the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society highlights the need to keep raising awareness about the challenges that boys and men are facing, as well as to further analyse the role that online content plays in shaping ideas of gender roles.
Transgender rights
Transgender people face discrimination on the grounds of both gender and transgender identity or expression. There is still room for improvement in Sweden, according to RFSL – the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Rights.
Back in 1972, Sweden became the first country in the world to allow for change of legal gender. This move contained some drawbacks, including mandatory sterilisation, which was only removed from the law in 2013.
On 1 July 2025, a new law making it possible to change legal gender from 16 years of age – with a parent's or legal guardian's approval – came into effect.
