Employment rate in Iceland
Iceland: Employment rate was 72.2% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
72.2%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
17th
of 186 countries
All-time high
76.4%
in 2000
All-time low
69.0%
in 2011
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Employment rate in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment rate in Iceland is 72.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment rate in Iceland peaked at 76.4% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 69.0%, in 2011.
Iceland ranks 17th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Employment rate in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 70.9% | — |
| 1992 | 70.1% | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 69.1% | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 69.3% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 71.7% | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 71.7% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 70.8% | -1.3% |
| 1998 | 72.7% | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 74.6% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 76.4% | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 76.3% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 74.4% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 74.1% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 73.2% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 73.8% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 74.7% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 75.4% | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 74.2% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 69.4% | -6.4% |
| 2010 | 69.0% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 69.0% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 69.8% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 70.9% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 72.2% | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 73.6% | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 75.1% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 74.8% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 73.9% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 73.0% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 69.5% | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 69.0% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 71.6% | +3.9% |
| 2023 | 72.1% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 72.4% | +0.5% |
| 2025 | 72.2% | -0.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 72.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 58.9%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 72.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.6%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 71.2% | 69.1% | 74.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 74.2% | 69.4% | 76.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.1% | 69.0% | 75.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.2% | 69.0% | 72.4% | 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 rate in Iceland?
- Employment rate in Iceland was 72.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment rate recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 76.4% in 2000.
- What is the lowest employment rate recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.0% in 2011.
- How does Iceland rank for employment rate?
- Iceland ranks 17th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rate rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and older) who are employed.