Labor force participation rate by age in Iceland
Iceland: Labor force participation rate by age was 82.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate by age in Iceland, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, labor force participation rate by age in Iceland stood at 82.2%.
The figure is up 4.5% on the previous year and up 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Iceland peaked at 83.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 58.2%, in 1993.
That places Iceland 2nd out of 188 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.2% | 58.2% | 72.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.4% | 71.4% | 80.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 78.3% | 73.1% | 83.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 77.3% | 72.9% | 82.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 1 Netherlands 83.2% compare
- 3 North Korea 78.5% compare
- 4 Madagascar 72.5% compare
- 5 Niger 71.2% compare
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 labor force participation rate by age in Iceland?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Iceland was 82.2% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 83.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 58.2% in 1993.
- How does Iceland rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Iceland ranks 2nd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).