Employment in Iceland
Iceland: Employment was 227.24 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
227.24
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
138th
of 174 countries
All-time high
229.53
in 2024
All-time low
136.61
in 1993
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 227.24 for employment in 2025.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Iceland peaked at 229.53 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 136.61, in 1993.
Iceland ranks 138th of 174 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 136.94 | — |
| 1992 | 136.89 | -0.0% |
| 1993 | 136.61 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 137.7 | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 139.74 | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 140.28 | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 139.31 | -0.7% |
| 1998 | 144.62 | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 150.65 | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 156.58 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 158.06 | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 156.42 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 157.48 | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 156.38 | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 159.86 | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 167.85 | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 175.53 | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 177.06 | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 166.24 | -6.1% |
| 2010 | 165.76 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 165.98 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 167.9 | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 173.23 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 177.62 | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 183.65 | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 190.48 | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 193.88 | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 198.34 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 201.02 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 194.53 | -3.2% |
| 2021 | 197 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 210.39 | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 220.3 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | 229.53 | +4.2% |
| 2025 | 227.24 | -1.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 227.24 is below the median for high income countries, which is 2,235, 10% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 227.24 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3,067, 7% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 140.3 | 136.61 | 150.65 | 9 |
| 2000s | 163.14 | 156.38 | 177.06 | 10 |
| 2010s | 181.78 | 165.76 | 201.02 | 10 |
| 2020s | 213.17 | 194.53 | 229.53 | 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 in Iceland?
- Employment in Iceland was 227.24 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 229.53 in 2024.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 136.61 in 1993.
- How does Iceland rank for employment?
- Iceland ranks 138th out of 174 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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