Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland

Iceland: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 74.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
74.9%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
17th
of 187 countries
All-time high
77.9%
in 2000
All-time low
72.7%
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland, 1990–2025

0204060801990200720251990: 72.71991: 72.71992: 73.31993: 72.91994: 73.21995: 75.71996: 74.41997: 73.51998: 751999: 76.32000: 77.92001: 77.82002: 76.72003: 77.22004: 76.32005: 75.72006: 76.92007: 77.22008: 76.42009: 74.82010: 74.72011: 74.22012: 74.32013: 74.92014: 762015: 76.72016: 77.42017: 76.92018: 762019: 75.72020: 73.62021: 73.42022: 74.52023: 74.72024: 75.22025: 74.9

Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2025, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland stood at 74.9%.

That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland peaked at 77.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 72.7%, in 1990.

That places Iceland 17th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.

Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate) in Iceland, 1990 to 2025.
Year Value Change
1990 72.7%
1991 72.7% +0.1%
1992 73.3% +0.7%
1993 72.9% -0.5%
1994 73.2% +0.4%
1995 75.7% +3.4%
1996 74.4% -1.7%
1997 73.5% -1.2%
1998 75.0% +2.0%
1999 76.3% +1.7%
2000 77.9% +2.1%
2001 77.8% -0.1%
2002 76.7% -1.4%
2003 77.2% +0.7%
2004 76.3% -1.2%
2005 75.7% -0.8%
2006 76.9% +1.5%
2007 77.2% +0.3%
2008 76.4% -1.0%
2009 74.8% -2.1%
2010 74.7% -0.2%
2011 74.2% -0.7%
2012 74.3% +0.1%
2013 74.9% +0.8%
2014 76.0% +1.4%
2015 76.7% +0.9%
2016 77.4% +1.0%
2017 76.9% -0.7%
2018 76.0% -1.2%
2019 75.7% -0.4%
2020 73.6% -2.8%
2021 73.4% -0.2%
2022 74.5% +1.4%
2023 74.7% +0.4%
2024 75.2% +0.5%
2025 74.9% -0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 74.0% 72.7% 76.3% 10
2000s 76.7% 74.8% 77.9% 10
2010s 75.7% 74.2% 77.4% 10
2020s 74.4% 73.4% 75.2% 6

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 14 Burundi 78.3% compare
  2. 15 Liberia 76.6% compare
  3. 16 Benin 76.4% compare
  4. 18 Angola 74.8% compare
  5. 19 Bahamas 73.8% compare
  6. 20 South Sudan 73.4% compare

See the full ranking of 235 places →

More work & labour data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland?
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland was 74.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 77.9% in 2000.
What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 72.7% in 1990.
How does Iceland rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
Iceland ranks 17th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
Is labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-participation-rate-total-percent-of-total-population-ages-15-modeled-ilo/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
235 places, 8,446 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.