Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Iceland
Iceland: Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) was 7.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Iceland stood at 7.4%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% on the previous year and up 6.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Iceland peaked at 17.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 6.9%, in 2017.
That places Iceland 135th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.5% | — |
| 1992 | 15.1% | -13.9% |
| 1993 | 15.3% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 15.1% | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 14.2% | -6.1% |
| 1996 | 13.4% | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 14.0% | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 17.0% | +21.5% |
| 1999 | 12.9% | -24.1% |
| 2000 | 10.3% | -19.9% |
| 2001 | 11.0% | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 11.0% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 11.2% | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 11.8% | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 10.6% | -10.3% |
| 2006 | 9.4% | -11.1% |
| 2007 | 8.5% | -10.1% |
| 2008 | 8.4% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 8.8% | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 7.8% | -11.8% |
| 2011 | 8.0% | +3.2% |
| 2012 | 7.4% | -8.1% |
| 2013 | 7.8% | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 6.9% | -13.2% |
| 2016 | 6.9% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 6.9% | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 7.4% | +6.7% |
| 2019 | 7.2% | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 7.5% | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 7.4% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 7.3% | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 7.4% | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 7.5% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 7.4% | -2.1% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 7.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.2%, 80% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 7.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.4%, 59% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.9% | 12.9% | 17.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 8.4% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.4% | 6.9% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.4% | 7.3% | 7.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 132 Fiji 7.6% compare
- 133 Republic of Moldova 7.6% compare
- 134 Mali 7.5% compare
- 136 Eritrea 7.3% compare
- 137 United States Virgin Islands 7.2% compare
- 138 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 7.2% 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 in industry, female (% of female employment) in Iceland?
- Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) in Iceland was 7.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest employment in industry, female (% of female employment) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.9% in 2017.
- How does Iceland rank for employment in industry, female (% of female employment)?
- Iceland ranks 135th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment in industry, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Employment in industry, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Employment is defined as persons of working age who were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangement. The industry sector consists of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities (electricity, gas, and water), in accordance with divisions 2-5 (ISIC 2) or categories C-F (ISIC 3) or categories B-F (ISIC 4).