Working days per year 2025

Working hours per month

An average of 160 working hours per month or 250 working days per year is usually referred to when discussing workload. But these numbers are not always accurate. For example, for 2025, the number of working hours varies from 144 to 184, with an average of 167 hours each month. In total, there will be 251 working days, which leaves 116 days off. In the table below, we provide a detailed overview of the number of working days, working hours, Saturdays, Sundays and other days off - such as national holidays, Midsummer's Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is counted under "Sat & Sun". We base these calculations on a standard eight-hour workday. Which days are considered holidays in Sweden are defined by Lag (1989: 253) on public holidays. Most people have the following holidays off, even if they fall on a regular working day:

Feel free to check out our calendar here on the right, which contains information such as e.g. name days and a little history about what happened on that particular day.

Month	Working days	Working hours	Sat & Sun.	Others
January	22	176	8	1
February	20	160	8	0
March	21	168	10	0
April	20	160	8	3
May	20	160	9	2
June	18	144	9	4
July	23	184	8	0
August	21	168	10	0
September	22	176	8	0
October	23	184	8	0
November	20	160	10	0
December	21	168	8	2
Total annual working hours	251	2008	104	12
Average / Month	20.92	167.33	8.67	1.00

New Year's Day

New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year. New Year's is celebrated on the night between December 31, i.e. New Year's Eve and January 1 according to the Gregorian calendar. New Year's Day is a very popular holiday. It is celebrated with fireworks, New Year's food and New Year's parties. We have made New Year's resolutions ever since the Viking Age. At this time the vow was made by either emptying a brage cup or swearing by a boar's horn. These days it's a bit more mundane, but many see New Year's Day and the associated New Year's resolutions as a chance to start anew. New Year's food is not quite as elaborate as other festive food, but is more generally associated with luxury. For example, we can see artichoke soup, Skagen toast, chocolate mousse and lobster on the New Year's table that we eat on New Year's Eve. The fireworks that are set off at 12 o'clock and beyond are traditionally to scare away evil spirits. Many traditions are very strongly linked to family or religion. However, New Year's Day and the entire New Year's celebration are more public. You usually share New Year's Day and its celebration with your friends. It is also an old tradition to ring in the new year, usually through some kind of joint public event where you count down to New Year's Day.

Epiphany

This day falls on January 6th. Thirteenth day of Christmas is a holiday in Sweden. This day is important for Christians in Sweden and is celebrated to commemorate the revelation of Jesus, when the three wise men visited him in Bethlehem after his birth. The star boys traditionally associated with Lucia appeared from the beginning at the celebration of the thirteenth day of Christmas. In Sweden, these star boys wandered in the villages and actors around biblical stories about the three wise men and their journey to Bethlehem. This train could consist of three star boys, a Herod and a Christmas goat who made aggressive outbursts if he was not happy with the reward / offerings. This was seen as a playful and accepted form of begging. It was common for students in Latin schools to participate in the theater and use the income to pay for their living expenses during the Christmas holidays.

6 June 1523 – Gustav Vasa – Sweden's National Day

Gustav Vasa's background and rise to power

Gustav Eriksson, better known as Gustav Vasa, was born around 1496 and belonged to one of the most prominent noble families in Sweden. His father, Erik Johansson Vasa, was one of the leading opponents of King Christian II of Denmark, who also ruled Sweden through the Kalmar Union. When Christian II conquered Stockholm in 1520, he had many of his opponents executed, including Gustav Vasa's father, in what became known as the Stockholm Massacre. This brutal action created great outrage in Sweden and lit the spark for an uprising.

The beginning of the rebellion and the resistance against the Danes

After the Stockholm massacre, Gustav Vasa fled to Dalarna to seek support for a rebellion against the Danes. Despite a dubious beginning, where he was almost handed over to the Danes, he managed to convince the Dala farmers of the necessity of an uprising. With their support, he was able to launch a successful guerrilla war against the Danish troops. His successes attracted more and more followers, and soon he had a considerable force under his command.

Sweden breaks with the Kalmar union

Gustav Vasa's rebellion and the growing Swedish resistance movement against Danish supremacy led many Swedish citizens and nobles to question the legitimacy of the Kalmar Union. This union, which had been formed in 1397, united the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden under a single monarch. But many Swedes felt that the union benefited Denmark at Sweden's expense. Gustav Vasa used this feeling to further strengthen his position and argue for an independent Sweden.

Gustav Vasa's coronation and the centralization of power

On June 6, 1523, Gustav Vasa was crowned King of Sweden in Uppsala, which officially marked the end of the Kalmar Union and the beginning of the Vasa Dynasty. As king, Gustav Vasa worked to centralize power and strengthen royal authority. He implemented a series of reforms, including an ecclesiastical reform in which the church's wealth was confiscated, giving the crown increased financial resources. This reform also led to Sweden breaking with the Catholic Church and becoming Protestant.

Gustav Vasa's economic reforms

To consolidate his rule and secure Sweden's economic independence, Gustav Vasa carried out extensive economic reforms. He introduced a more systematic tax collection and took control of copper mining in Stora Kopparberget, which would become one of Sweden's most important sources of income. Through these measures, the king was able to finance his administration and defense without depending on the nobility.

Legacy and aftermath of Gustav Vasa

Gustav Vasa died in 1560, but his legacy lived on through the Vasa dynasty, which would rule Sweden for over a century. His decision to break with the Kalmar Union and establish Sweden as an independent nation still influences the country's identity today. He is often seen as the founder of modern Sweden and is a central figure in Swedish historiography.

June 6 – Sweden's National Day

In memory of Gustav Vasa's coronation day on June 6, this day is now celebrated as Sweden's national day. Although the day did not become an official national day until 1983, it has long been an important day for Swedes. It recalls Sweden's journey to independence and the role Gustav Vasa played in shaping the country's destiny. The day is filled with festivities and reflection on Sweden's rich history.

Gustav Vasa's relationship with the peasants and nobility

Although Gustav Vasa strengthened the royal power, he also carried out reforms that benefited the peasants, and this created a balanced relationship between the royal power, the nobility and the peasant population. To reduce the power of the nobility, he introduced a series of land reforms that limited their ability to exploit the peasantry. At the same time, he recognized the rights of the farmers and ensured that they had representation in the Riksdag. This combination of centralized royal power and respect for the rights of the peasants created a stable foundation for Swedish society.

Cultural and educational heritage

During Gustav Vasa's reign, culture and education also flourished in Sweden. He commissioned the translation of the Bible into Swedish, which resulted in Gustav Vasa's Bible in 1541. This was not only a religious achievement, but also a linguistic and educational one. The Swedish Bible translation played a central role in standardizing the Swedish language and increasing literacy among the population. This investment in education and culture would be decisive for Sweden's progress in the coming centuries.

Military reforms and Sweden's defence

To secure Sweden's independence and protect the country from external threats, Gustav Vasa carried out significant military reforms. He realized the importance of a strong and well-organized defense and therefore established a standing army. In addition, he modernized the fortifications around the country and established a Swedish navy. These initiatives not only strengthened Sweden's military position in the Nordic region, but also gave the country the tools it needed to become a major power in Europe in the coming centuries.

The reform of the legal system

During Gustav Vasa's rule, the Swedish legal system also underwent significant changes. He introduced laws that modernized the medieval legal system and laid the foundation for a more fair and organized judiciary. These reforms included, among other things, the introduction of written legal texts, which reduced arbitrariness in judicial decisions. He also sought to make the legal system more accessible to the common man by reducing the influence of the nobility over local courts.

Communication and infrastructure

To strengthen his rule and improve communication within the kingdom, Gustav Vasa also laid the foundations for the expansion of Sweden's infrastructure. He realized the importance of good communication routes and therefore started investing in the construction of roads and bridges. In addition, he promoted shipping by building harbors and canals. This investment in infrastructure not only brought economic benefits in the form of increased trade and communication, but also helped to tie together the different parts of the kingdom and strengthen national identity.