Employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship in Iceland
Iceland: Employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship was 72.3% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
72.3%
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
1st
of 45 countries
All-time high
82.2%
in 2000
All-time low
69.1%
in 2021
Years of data
31
1995–2025
Employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship in Iceland, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship in Iceland is 72.3%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.6% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship in Iceland peaked at 82.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 69.1%, in 2021.
That places Iceland 1st out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 78.0% | — |
| 1996 | 78.2% | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 77.1% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 78.8% | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 80.9% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 82.2% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 81.9% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 80.3% | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 79.8% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 78.6% | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 79.3% | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 80.1% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 80.8% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 79.5% | -1.6% |
| 2009 | 74.5% | -6.3% |
| 2010 | 74.3% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 74.2% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 75.1% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 76.3% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 78.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 79.7% | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 81.3% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 80.6% | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 79.6% | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 78.4% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 74.7% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 69.1% | -7.5% |
| 2022 | 71.8% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 72.4% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 73.5% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 72.3% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 78.6% | 77.1% | 80.9% | 5 |
| 2000s | 79.7% | 74.5% | 82.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.8% | 74.2% | 81.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.3% | 69.1% | 74.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 2 Netherlands 66.0% compare
- 2 Netherlands 66.0% compare
- 4 Malta 65.4% 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 rates by educational attainment level and citizenship in Iceland?
- Employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship in Iceland was 72.3% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 82.2% in 2000.
- What is the lowest employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.1% in 2021.
- How does Iceland rank for employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship?
- Iceland ranks 1st out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employment rates by educational attainment level and citizenship. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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