Employment by detailed industry (NACE Rev.2) - national accounts in Iceland
Iceland: Employment by detailed industry (NACE Rev.2) - national accounts was 320,713 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
320,713
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
43rd
of 43 countries
All-time high
325,971
in 2024
All-time low
229,489
in 1991
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment by detailed industry (NACE Rev.2) - national accounts in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: Eurostat.
Analysis
In 2025, employment by detailed industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts in Iceland stood at 320,713.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and up 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment by detailed industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts in Iceland peaked at 325,971 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 229,489, in 1991.
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 by detailed industry (NACE Rev.2) - national accounts in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 229,489 | — |
| 1992 | 231,355 | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 231,498 | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 232,348 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 235,261 | +1.3% |
| 1996 | 238,315 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 240,916 | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 245,150 | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 251,424 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 256,540 | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 257,164 | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 253,741 | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 250,851 | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 253,197 | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 260,959 | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 270,496 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 276,745 | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 291,399 | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 252,889 | -13.2% |
| 2010 | 248,276 | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 252,641 | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 254,961 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 261,084 | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 265,608 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 272,808 | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 286,823 | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 296,441 | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 303,182 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 299,582 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 282,341 | -5.8% |
| 2021 | 285,506 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 305,701 | +7.1% |
| 2023 | 317,960 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 325,971 | +2.5% |
| 2025 | 320,713 | -1.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 320,713 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.68 million, 6% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 320,713 is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.53 million, 5% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 237,306 | 229,489 | 251,424 | 9 |
| 2000s | 262,398 | 250,851 | 291,399 | 10 |
| 2010s | 274,141 | 248,276 | 303,182 | 10 |
| 2020s | 306,365 | 282,341 | 325,971 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 40 Luxembourg 761,228 compare
- 41 Montenegro 678,660 compare
- 42 Malta 625,503 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 employment by detailed industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts in Iceland?
- Employment by detailed industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts in Iceland was 320,713 in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest employment by detailed industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 325,971 in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment by detailed industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 229,489 in 1991.
- How does Iceland rank for employment by detailed industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts?
- Iceland ranks 43rd out of 43 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment by detailed industry (nace rev.2) - national accounts rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.6%. 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 Employment by detailed industry (NACE Rev.2) - national accounts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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