Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland
Iceland: Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 was 68.8% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland is 68.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland peaked at 77.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 64.9%, in 2021.
Iceland ranks 15th of 172 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 70.8% | — |
| 1992 | 70.6% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 70.3% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 70.8% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 73.6% | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 73.1% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 71.6% | -2.2% |
| 1998 | 73.1% | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 76.1% | +4.1% |
| 2000 | 77.7% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 76.7% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 76.2% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 75.6% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 74.7% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 75.2% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 75.4% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 76.0% | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 75.0% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 72.1% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 71.6% | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 71.7% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 72.7% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 73.7% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 74.9% | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 76.4% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 77.3% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 76.8% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 75.9% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 75.0% | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 71.0% | -5.3% |
| 2021 | 64.9% | -8.7% |
| 2022 | 68.3% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 68.3% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 69.0% | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 68.8% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 72.2% | 70.3% | 76.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 75.4% | 72.1% | 77.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.6% | 71.6% | 77.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 68.4% | 64.9% | 71.0% | 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 female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland?
- Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland was 68.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 77.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.9% in 2021.
- How does Iceland rank for female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024?
- Iceland ranks 15th out of 172 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female employment rate, 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are employed. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.