Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in Iceland
Iceland: Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels was 113.35 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in Iceland is 113.35 Persons, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 50.6% on the previous year and down 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in Iceland peaked at 229.39 Persons in 2024 and was at its lowest, 113.35 Persons, in 2025.
That places Iceland 43rd out of 43 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 136.94 Persons | — |
| 1992 | 136.89 Persons | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 136.61 Persons | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 137.7 Persons | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 141.78 Persons | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 142.03 Persons | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 142.04 Persons | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 147.91 Persons | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 153.35 Persons | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 156.36 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 159.04 Persons | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 156.73 Persons | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 153.42 Persons | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 153.4 Persons | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 158.63 Persons | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 165.37 Persons | +4.2% |
| 2007 | 172.46 Persons | +4.3% |
| 2008 | 173.68 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 162.71 Persons | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 162.16 Persons | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 162.97 Persons | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 165.2 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 170.75 Persons | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 173.3 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 180.21 Persons | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 187.72 Persons | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 189.57 Persons | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 193.08 Persons | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 194.82 Persons | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 189.13 Persons | -2.9% |
| 2021 | 195.81 Persons | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 209.43 Persons | +7.0% |
| 2023 | 219.28 Persons | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 229.39 Persons | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 113.35 Persons | -50.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 113.35 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 5,016 Persons, 2% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 113.35 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4,777 Persons, 2% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -50.6% | 229.39 Persons | 113.35 Persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 141.69 Persons | 136.61 Persons | 153.35 Persons | 9 |
| 2000s | 161.18 Persons | 153.4 Persons | 173.68 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 177.98 Persons | 162.16 Persons | 194.82 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 192.73 Persons | 113.35 Persons | 229.39 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 employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in Iceland?
- Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels in Iceland was 113.35 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 229.39 Persons in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 113.35 Persons in 2025.
- How does Iceland rank for employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels?
- Iceland ranks 43rd out of 43 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 37.1%. 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 Employment and unemployment by five-year age group and sex - levels — Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This dataset contains labour force data on labour market status - population, labour force, unemployment and employment - by sex and by detailed age groups and standard age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+, total). Information for all countries and all LFS subjects may be found in the attached file LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.