Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland
Iceland: Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 was 72.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland is 72.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and down 9.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland peaked at 79.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 26.8%, in 1974.
Iceland ranks 17th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.6% | 32.6% | 32.6% | 1 |
| 1970s | 40.1% | 26.8% | 59.2% | 5 |
| 1980s | 53.6% | 41.7% | 60.2% | 5 |
| 1990s | 75.4% | 72.9% | 78.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 77.8% | 76.4% | 79.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.0% | 76.4% | 79.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.5% | 69.3% | 75.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More work & labour data for Iceland
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 74.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 79.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 70.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 87.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 90.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 84.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland?
- Female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 in Iceland was 72.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 79.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.8% in 1974.
- How does Iceland rank for female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024?
- Iceland ranks 17th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024 rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 labor force participation rate: 1980 vs. 2024. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.