Incidence of unemployment by duration in Iceland
Iceland: Incidence of unemployment by duration was 26.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Incidence of unemployment by duration in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2025, incidence of unemployment by duration in Iceland stood at 26.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
That represents a change of down 5.2% on the previous year and up 6.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, incidence of unemployment by duration in Iceland peaked at 38.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2008 and was at its lowest, 15.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 1994.
Iceland ranks 11th of 38 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Incidence of unemployment by duration in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 25.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1992 | 26.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.7% |
| 1993 | 20.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -21.8% |
| 1994 | 15.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -24.2% |
| 1995 | 20.51 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +31.3% |
| 1996 | 22.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +10.3% |
| 1997 | 18.71 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -17.3% |
| 1998 | 21.46 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +14.7% |
| 1999 | 20.73 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -3.4% |
| 2000 | 22.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +9.4% |
| 2001 | 26.68 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +17.7% |
| 2002 | 26.95 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 24.22 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -10.1% |
| 2004 | 28.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +18.5% |
| 2005 | 23.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -18.4% |
| 2006 | 19.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -15.7% |
| 2007 | 22.72 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +15.1% |
| 2008 | 38.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +68.3% |
| 2009 | 29.76 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -22.2% |
| 2010 | 22.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -23.6% |
| 2011 | 21.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 20.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 27.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +35.1% |
| 2014 | 24.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -12.2% |
| 2015 | 25.03 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 31.83 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +27.1% |
| 2017 | 24.95 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -21.6% |
| 2018 | 28.26 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +13.3% |
| 2019 | 31.53 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +11.6% |
| 2020 | 30.91 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 19.88 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -35.7% |
| 2022 | 21.48 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 26.04 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +21.2% |
| 2024 | 28.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +8.3% |
| 2025 | 26.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.34 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 15.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 26.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 9 |
| 2000s | 26.31 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 19.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 38.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.77 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 20.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 31.83 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 25.55 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 19.88 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 30.91 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 8 Norway 28.02 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 9 OECD 27.97 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 10 Israel 27.21 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 12 Canada 26.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 13 Russia 26.31 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 14 Argentina 25.52 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
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 incidence of unemployment by duration in Iceland?
- Incidence of unemployment by duration in Iceland was 26.75 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 38.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2008.
- What is the lowest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.62 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1994.
- How does Iceland rank for incidence of unemployment by duration?
- Iceland ranks 11th out of 38 countries with data for 2025.
- Is incidence of unemployment by duration rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Incidence of unemployment by duration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
This table contains data on the share of the five durations - less than 1 month,>1 month and < 3 months,>3 months and <6 months,>6 months and <1 year, 1 year and over - of unemployment among total unemployment by sex and by standardised age groups (15-19, 15-24, 20-24, 25-54, 55+, total). Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.