Employees by occupation in Iceland
Iceland: Employees by occupation was 197.8 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
197.8 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
46th
of 47 countries
All-time high
198.7 Thousand persons
in 2024
All-time low
113.4 Thousand persons
in 1995
Years of data
31
1995–2025
Employees by occupation in Iceland, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, employees by occupation in Iceland stood at 197.8 Thousand persons.
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 occupation in Iceland peaked at 198.7 Thousand persons in 2024 and was at its lowest, 113.4 Thousand persons, in 1995.
Iceland ranks 46th of 47 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Employees by occupation in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 113.4 Thousand persons | — |
| 1996 | 114.3 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 114.9 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 117.6 Thousand persons | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 123.3 Thousand persons | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 128.8 Thousand persons | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 131 Thousand persons | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 129.5 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 135.9 Thousand persons | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 134.8 Thousand persons | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 135.4 Thousand persons | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 142.2 Thousand persons | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 150.8 Thousand persons | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 154 Thousand persons | +2.1% |
| 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% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 197.8 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2,801 Thousand persons, 7% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 197.8 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,127 Thousand persons, 6% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 116.7 Thousand persons | 113.4 Thousand persons | 123.3 Thousand persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 138.81 Thousand persons | 128.8 Thousand persons | 154 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 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
- 43 Cyprus 453.6 Thousand persons compare
- 44 Luxembourg 292.7 Thousand persons compare
- 45 Malta 283.8 Thousand persons compare
- 47 Montenegro 172.1 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 employees by occupation in Iceland?
- Employees by occupation in Iceland was 197.8 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest employees by occupation recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 198.7 Thousand persons in 2024.
- What is the lowest employees by occupation recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 113.4 Thousand persons in 1995.
- How does Iceland rank for employees by occupation?
- Iceland ranks 46th out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employees by occupation 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 occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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