Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Iceland
Iceland: Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 was 72 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Iceland, 1960–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Iceland is 72, 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 rates latest vs 1980 in Iceland peaked at 79.77 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.
Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 32.63 | — |
| 1974 | 26.8 | -17.9% |
| 1975 | 38.26 | +42.8% |
| 1976 | 38.16 | -0.3% |
| 1977 | 38.08 | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 59.2 | +55.5% |
| 1980 | 46.89 | -20.8% |
| 1981 | 59.17 | +26.2% |
| 1982 | 60.12 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 60.15 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 41.74 | -30.6% |
| 1991 | 72.9 | +74.6% |
| 1992 | 74.24 | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 74.48 | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 74.92 | +0.6% |
| 1995 | 77.41 | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 75.75 | -2.1% |
| 1997 | 74.4 | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 75.96 | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 78.27 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 79.77 | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 78.47 | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 78.26 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 78.73 | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 76.81 | -2.4% |
| 2005 | 77.08 | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 77.75 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 77.75 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 77.01 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 76.4 | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 76.78 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 76.4 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 77.08 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 77.64 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 78.66 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 79.67 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 79.75 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 78.9 | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 77.92 | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 77.37 | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 75 | -3.1% |
| 2021 | 69.29 | -7.6% |
| 2022 | 70.7 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 70.46 | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 71.33 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 72 | +0.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 72 is above the median for high income countries, which is 57.22, 1.3× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 72 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 56.9, 1.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +74.6% | 41.74 | 72.9 |
| 1979 | +55.5% | 38.08 | 59.2 |
| 1975 | +42.8% | 26.8 | 38.26 |
| 1985 | -30.6% | 60.15 | 41.74 |
| 1981 | +26.2% | 46.89 | 59.17 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.63 | 32.63 | 32.63 | 1 |
| 1970s | 40.1 | 26.8 | 59.2 | 5 |
| 1980s | 53.61 | 41.74 | 60.15 | 5 |
| 1990s | 75.37 | 72.9 | 78.27 | 9 |
| 2000s | 77.8 | 76.4 | 79.77 | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.02 | 76.4 | 79.75 | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.46 | 69.29 | 75 | 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 labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Iceland?
- Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 in Iceland was 72 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 79.77 in 2000.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.8 in 1974.
- How does Iceland rank for female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980?
- Iceland ranks 17th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rates latest vs 1980. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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