Employees by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Iceland

Iceland: Employees by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) was 197.8 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising

Latest (2025)
197.8 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
44th
of 45 countries
All-time high
198.7 Thousand persons
in 2024
All-time low
144 Thousand persons
in 2010
Years of data
18
2008–2025

Employees by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Iceland, 2008–2025

0501001502002008201620252008: 154 Thousand persons2009: 145.7 Thousand persons2010: 144 Thousand persons2011: 144.3 Thousand persons2012: 144.6 Thousand persons2013: 150.5 Thousand persons2014: 155.3 Thousand persons2015: 161 Thousand persons2016: 167.7 Thousand persons2017: 171 Thousand persons2018: 174.6 Thousand persons2019: 177.7 Thousand persons2020: 172 Thousand persons2021: 171.2 Thousand persons2022: 183.7 Thousand persons2023: 190.6 Thousand persons2024: 198.7 Thousand persons2025: 197.8 Thousand persons

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.

Analysis

The most recent figure for employees by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Iceland is 197.8 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 22.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employees by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Iceland peaked at 198.7 Thousand persons in 2024 and was at its lowest, 144 Thousand persons, in 2010.

That places Iceland 44th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.

Employees by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Employees by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026) in Iceland, 2008 to 2025.
Year Thousand persons Change
2008 154 Thousand persons
2009 145.7 Thousand persons -5.4%
2010 144 Thousand persons -1.2%
2011 144.3 Thousand persons +0.2%
2012 144.6 Thousand persons +0.2%
2013 150.5 Thousand persons +4.1%
2014 155.3 Thousand persons +3.2%
2015 161 Thousand persons +3.7%
2016 167.7 Thousand persons +4.2%
2017 171 Thousand persons +2.0%
2018 174.6 Thousand persons +2.1%
2019 177.7 Thousand persons +1.8%
2020 172 Thousand persons -3.2%
2021 171.2 Thousand persons -0.5%
2022 183.7 Thousand persons +7.3%
2023 190.6 Thousand persons +3.8%
2024 198.7 Thousand persons +4.2%
2025 197.8 Thousand persons -0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 149.85 Thousand persons 145.7 Thousand persons 154 Thousand persons 2
2010s 159.07 Thousand persons 144 Thousand persons 177.7 Thousand persons 10
2020s 185.67 Thousand persons 171.2 Thousand persons 198.7 Thousand persons 6

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 41 Cyprus 453.6 Thousand persons compare
  2. 42 Luxembourg 292.6 Thousand persons compare
  3. 43 Malta 283.8 Thousand persons compare
  4. 45 Montenegro 172.1 Thousand persons compare

See the full ranking of 47 places →

More work & labour data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is employees by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Iceland?
Employees by economic activity (nace rev. 2) in Iceland was 197.8 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest employees by economic activity (nace rev. 2) recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 198.7 Thousand persons in 2024.
What is the lowest employees by economic activity (nace rev. 2) recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 144 Thousand persons in 2010.
How does Iceland rank for employees by economic activity (nace rev. 2)?
Iceland ranks 44th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
Is employees by economic activity (nace rev. 2) rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.9%. 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 Employees by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employees by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employees-by-economic-activity-nace-rev-2-2008-2026/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Employees by economic activity (NACE Rev. 2) (2008-2026)
Unit
Thousand persons
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
47 places, 811 data points, 2008–2025
Last refreshed