Labor force with basic education in Iceland

Iceland: Labor force with basic education was 65.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
65.6%
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
18th
of 125 countries
All-time high
79.9%
in 2000
All-time low
60.1%
in 2021
Years of data
26
1999–2024

Labor force with basic education in Iceland, 1999–2024

0204060801999201120241999: 76.7 % of total working-age population with basic education2000: 79.9 % of total working-age population with basic education2001: 79.2 % of total working-age population with basic education2002: 77 % of total working-age population with basic education2003: 79 % of total working-age population with basic education2004: 76.4 % of total working-age population with basic education2005: 76.1 % of total working-age population with basic education2006: 78.1 % of total working-age population with basic education2007: 77.9 % of total working-age population with basic education2008: 77.4 % of total working-age population with basic education2009: 74 % of total working-age population with basic education2010: 74 % of total working-age population with basic education2011: 71 % of total working-age population with basic education2012: 71 % of total working-age population with basic education2013: 72.2 % of total working-age population with basic education2014: 72.8 % of total working-age population with basic education2015: 73.4 % of total working-age population with basic education2016: 74.5 % of total working-age population with basic education2017: 71.6 % of total working-age population with basic education2018: 70.8 % of total working-age population with basic education2019: 68.9 % of total working-age population with basic education2020: 66.3 % of total working-age population with basic education2021: 60.1 % of total working-age population with basic education2022: 63.2 % of total working-age population with basic education2023: 63.6 % of total working-age population with basic education2024: 65.6 % of total working-age population with basic education

Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total working-age population with basic education.

Analysis

The most recent figure for labor force with basic education in Iceland is 65.6%, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labor force with basic education in Iceland peaked at 79.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 60.1%, in 2021.

That places Iceland 18th out of 125 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Labor force with basic education in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education) in Iceland, 1999 to 2024.
Year % of total working-age population with basic education Change
1999 76.7%
2000 79.9% +4.1%
2001 79.2% -0.9%
2002 77.0% -2.8%
2003 79.0% +2.6%
2004 76.4% -3.2%
2005 76.1% -0.5%
2006 78.1% +2.7%
2007 77.9% -0.3%
2008 77.4% -0.7%
2009 74.0% -4.3%
2010 74.0% -0.1%
2011 71.0% -4.0%
2012 71.0% -0.1%
2013 72.2% +1.7%
2014 72.8% +0.8%
2015 73.4% +0.9%
2016 74.5% +1.5%
2017 71.6% -3.9%
2018 70.8% -1.1%
2019 68.9% -2.7%
2020 66.3% -3.8%
2021 60.1% -9.4%
2022 63.2% +5.3%
2023 63.6% +0.7%
2024 65.6% +3.0%

Iceland compared with similar countries

  • Iceland's 65.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 41.5%, 1.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
  • Iceland's 65.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 33.5%, 2.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 76.7% 76.7% 76.7% 1
2000s 77.5% 74.0% 79.9% 10
2010s 72.0% 68.9% 74.5% 10
2020s 63.7% 60.1% 66.3% 5

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 15 Moldova 66.6% compare
  2. 16 Guatemala 65.7% compare
  3. 17 Kenya 65.6% compare
  4. 19 Paraguay 65.2% compare
  5. 20 Rwanda 64.7% compare
  6. 21 Macao 64.5% compare

See the full ranking of 144 places →

More work & labour data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is labor force with basic education in Iceland?
Labor force with basic education in Iceland was 65.6% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest labor force with basic education recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 79.9% in 2000.
What is the lowest labor force with basic education recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 60.1% in 2021.
How does Iceland rank for labor force with basic education?
Iceland ranks 18th out of 125 countries with data for 2024.
Is labor force with basic education rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labor force with basic education in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labor-force-with-basic-education-percent-of-total-working-age-population-with-basic/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Labor force with basic education (% of total working-age population with basic education)
Unit
% of total working-age population with basic education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
144 places, 2,683 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The ratio of the labor force with basic education to the working-age population with basic education. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).