Labor force participation rate in Iceland
Iceland: Labor force participation rate was 74.9% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
74.9%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
17th
of 186 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 in Iceland, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate in Iceland is 74.9%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Iceland peaked at 77.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 72.7%, in 1990.
Iceland ranks 17th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labor force participation rate in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | 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% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 74.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.2× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 74.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 1.2× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
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 in Iceland?
- Labor force participation rate in Iceland was 74.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 77.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.7% in 1990.
- How does Iceland rank for labor force participation rate?
- Iceland ranks 17th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate 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, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).