Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region in Iceland
Iceland: Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region was 81.5% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
81.5%
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
1st
of 48 countries
All-time high
83.8%
in 2000
All-time low
78.9%
in 2021
Years of data
27
1999–2025
Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region in Iceland, 1999–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region in Iceland is 81.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region in Iceland peaked at 83.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 78.9%, in 2021.
Iceland ranks 1st of 48 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Percentage | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 82.7% | — |
| 2000 | 83.8% | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 83.5% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 82.8% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 83.1% | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 81.9% | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 81.4% | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 82.5% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 82.7% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 81.9% | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 80.3% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 80.4% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 79.8% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 79.9% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 80.7% | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 82.1% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 83.0% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 83.8% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 82.9% | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 81.8% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 81.2% | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 79.0% | -2.7% |
| 2021 | 78.9% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 80.1% | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 80.7% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 82.1% | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 81.5% | -0.7% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 81.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68.2%, 1.2× the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 81.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 69.2%, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.7% | 82.7% | 82.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 82.4% | 80.3% | 83.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 81.6% | 79.8% | 83.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.4% | 78.9% | 82.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 2 Netherlands 76.2% compare
- 2 Netherlands 76.2% compare
- 4 Sweden 75.7% compare
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 labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region in Iceland?
- Labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region in Iceland was 81.5% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 83.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 78.9% in 2021.
- How does Iceland rank for labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region?
- Iceland ranks 1st out of 48 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labour force participation rates by nuts 2 region rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Labour force participation rates by NUTS 2 region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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