Employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level in Iceland
Iceland: Employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level was 227.2 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
227.2 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
46th
of 47 countries
All-time high
229.5 Thousand persons
in 2024
All-time low
139.3 Thousand persons
in 1997
Years of data
31
1995–2025
Employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level in Iceland, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level in Iceland stood at 227.2 Thousand persons.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level in Iceland peaked at 229.5 Thousand persons in 2024 and was at its lowest, 139.3 Thousand persons, in 1997.
That places Iceland 46th out of 47 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 139.7 Thousand persons | — |
| 1996 | 140.3 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 139.3 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 144.6 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 150.6 Thousand persons | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 156.6 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 158.1 Thousand persons | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 156.4 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 157.5 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 156.4 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 159.9 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 167.8 Thousand persons | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 175.5 Thousand persons | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 177.1 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 166.2 Thousand persons | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 165.8 Thousand persons | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 166 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 167.9 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 173.2 Thousand persons | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 177.6 Thousand persons | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 183.6 Thousand persons | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 190.5 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 193.9 Thousand persons | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 198.3 Thousand persons | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 201 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 194.5 Thousand persons | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 197 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 210.4 Thousand persons | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 220.3 Thousand persons | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 229.5 Thousand persons | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 227.2 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 227.2 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,014 Thousand persons, 8% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 227.2 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,340 Thousand persons, 5% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 142.9 Thousand persons | 139.3 Thousand persons | 150.6 Thousand persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 163.15 Thousand persons | 156.4 Thousand persons | 177.1 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 181.78 Thousand persons | 165.8 Thousand persons | 201 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 213.15 Thousand persons | 194.5 Thousand persons | 229.5 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 43 Cyprus 504.6 Thousand persons compare
- 44 Malta 329.7 Thousand persons compare
- 45 Luxembourg 328.4 Thousand persons compare
- 47 Montenegro 219.4 Thousand persons compare
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 employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level in Iceland?
- Employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level in Iceland was 227.2 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 229.5 Thousand persons in 2024.
- What is the lowest employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 139.3 Thousand persons in 1997.
- How does Iceland rank for employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level?
- Iceland ranks 46th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employed persons by occupation and educational attainment level. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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