Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland
Iceland: Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) was 75.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland is 75.6%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 8.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland peaked at 83.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 42.2%, in 1974.
That places Iceland 17th out of 199 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 59.6% | — |
| 1974 | 42.2% | -29.2% |
| 1975 | 60.5% | +43.5% |
| 1976 | 60.4% | -0.1% |
| 1977 | 60.4% | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 71.0% | +17.5% |
| 1980 | 44.8% | -36.8% |
| 1981 | 71.1% | +58.4% |
| 1982 | 71.6% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 72.3% | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 50.4% | -30.3% |
| 1986 | 51.5% | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 79.1% | +53.6% |
| 1992 | 80.0% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 79.3% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 79.4% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 82.2% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 81.2% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 80.1% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 81.3% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 82.7% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 83.8% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 83.5% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 82.8% | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 83.1% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 81.9% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 81.4% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 82.5% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 82.7% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 81.9% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 80.3% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 80.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 79.8% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 79.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 80.7% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 82.1% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 83.0% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 83.8% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 82.9% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 81.8% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 81.2% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 79.0% | -2.8% |
| 2021 | 73.5% | -6.9% |
| 2022 | 74.6% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 75.0% | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 76.3% | +1.6% |
| 2025 | 75.6% | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 59.6% | 59.6% | 59.6% | 1 |
| 1970s | 58.9% | 42.2% | 71.0% | 5 |
| 1980s | 60.3% | 44.8% | 72.3% | 6 |
| 1990s | 80.6% | 79.1% | 82.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 82.4% | 80.3% | 83.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.6% | 79.8% | 83.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 75.7% | 73.5% | 79.0% | 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 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 75.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 83.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.2% in 1974.
- How does Iceland rank for labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+)?
- Iceland ranks 17th out of 199 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 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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.