Female labor force participation rate in Iceland
Iceland: Female labor force participation rate was 70.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
70.0%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
19th
of 186 countries
All-time high
73.5%
in 2000
All-time low
66.2%
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Female labor force participation rate in Iceland, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, female labor force participation rate in Iceland stood at 70.0%.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Iceland peaked at 73.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 66.2%, in 1990.
That places Iceland 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
Female labor force participation rate in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 66.2% | — |
| 1991 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 67.1% | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 67.4% | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 67.9% | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 70.1% | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 68.7% | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 67.6% | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 69.4% | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 71.2% | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 73.5% | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 72.6% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 71.7% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 72.1% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 70.4% | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 70.9% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 71.7% | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 71.3% | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 70.7% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 70.2% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 70.5% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 70.0% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 70.6% | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 71.1% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 71.9% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 72.8% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 73.0% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 72.6% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 71.6% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 71.5% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 69.3% | -3.0% |
| 2021 | 69.1% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 70.6% | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 70.4% | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 70.3% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 70.0% | -0.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 70.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 55.1%, 1.3× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 70.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 54.6%, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 68.2% | 66.2% | 71.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.5% | 70.2% | 73.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.6% | 70.0% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.9% | 69.1% | 70.6% | 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 rate in Iceland?
- Female labor force participation rate in Iceland was 70.0% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 73.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 66.2% in 1990.
- How does Iceland rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Iceland ranks 19th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.8%. 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 Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).