Annual population and employment, national concept — Total employment in Iceland
Iceland: Annual population and employment, national concept — Total employment was 224.6 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Annual population and employment, national concept — Total employment in Iceland, 1970–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2025, annual population and employment, national concept — total employment in Iceland stood at 224.6 Persons. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population and employment, national concept — total employment in Iceland peaked at 224.6 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 85.9 Persons, in 1970.
Iceland ranks 36th of 36 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Annual population and employment, national concept — Total employment in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 85.9 Persons | — |
| 1971 | 89.98 Persons | +4.7% |
| 1972 | 92.59 Persons | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 95.11 Persons | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 98.3 Persons | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 100.12 Persons | +1.9% |
| 1976 | 103.45 Persons | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 103.83 Persons | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 106.98 Persons | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 107.7 Persons | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 111.06 Persons | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 116.86 Persons | +5.2% |
| 1982 | 119.83 Persons | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 120.93 Persons | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 122.6 Persons | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 127.06 Persons | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 131.06 Persons | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 138.66 Persons | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 134.57 Persons | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 132.62 Persons | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 131.38 Persons | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 131.3 Persons | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 132 Persons | +0.5% |
| 1993 | 131.8 Persons | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 131.7 Persons | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 135.7 Persons | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 135.5 Persons | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 138.7 Persons | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 140.8 Persons | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 144.3 Persons | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 148.4 Persons | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 150 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 148 Persons | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 149.1 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 150.1 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 161.6 Persons | +7.7% |
| 2006 | 170.3 Persons | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 178.1 Persons | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 179.3 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 164.6 Persons | -8.2% |
| 2010 | 162.5 Persons | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 164.3 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 167.4 Persons | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 171.3 Persons | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 175.5 Persons | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 180.5 Persons | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 188.7 Persons | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 196.7 Persons | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 202.6 Persons | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 202.4 Persons | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 192.8 Persons | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 195.5 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 209.4 Persons | +7.1% |
| 2023 | 218.3 Persons | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 222.1 Persons | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 224.6 Persons | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 98.4 Persons | 85.9 Persons | 107.7 Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 125.52 Persons | 111.06 Persons | 138.66 Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 135.32 Persons | 131.3 Persons | 144.3 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 159.95 Persons | 148 Persons | 179.3 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 181.19 Persons | 162.5 Persons | 202.6 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 210.45 Persons | 192.8 Persons | 224.6 Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More work & labour data for Iceland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4501 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5492 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.2312 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 373.77 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16.3 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 169.5 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 193.08 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 362.58 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population and employment, national concept — total employment in Iceland?
- Annual population and employment, national concept — total employment in Iceland was 224.6 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest annual population and employment, national concept — total employment recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 224.6 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest annual population and employment, national concept — total employment recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 85.9 Persons in 1970.
- How does Iceland rank for annual population and employment, national concept — total employment?
- Iceland ranks 36th out of 36 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual population and employment, national concept — total employment rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Annual population and employment, national concept — Total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table presents population and employment data according to the national concept. The national concept is defined by the residence of the person: employees are residents employed by either resident or non-resident producer units; and the self-employed are resident self-employed people in either resident or non-resident producer units. Users should note that population data corresponds to mid-year estimates (or the average of the reference year). These indicators were presented in the previous dissemination system in the SNA_TABLE3 dataset. See ANA Changes for information on changes in methodology: ANA Changes Explore also the GDP and non-financial accounts webpage: GDP and non-financial accounts webpage OECD statistics contact: STAT.Contact@oecd.org