Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in Iceland

Iceland: Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force was 238,000 Persons in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
238,000 Persons
Change on year
up 4.2%
World rank
46th
of 46 countries
All-time high
238,000 Persons
in 2024
All-time low
147,600 Persons
in 1996
Years of data
30
1995–2024

Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in Iceland, 1995–2024

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k1995200920241995: 149.1k Persons1996: 147.6k Persons1997: 147.8k Persons1998: 152.1k Persons1999: 154.0k Persons2000: 159.7k Persons2001: 161.1k Persons2002: 161.2k Persons2003: 164.0k Persons2004: 162.9k Persons2005: 164.0k Persons2006: 172.7k Persons2007: 179.6k Persons2008: 182.4k Persons2009: 179.2k Persons2010: 179.3k Persons2011: 178.5k Persons2012: 178.6k Persons2013: 183.1k Persons2014: 186.8k Persons2015: 191.3k Persons2016: 196.3k Persons2017: 199.3k Persons2018: 203.9k Persons2019: 208.3k Persons2020: 205.8k Persons2021: 209.6k Persons2022: 218.7k Persons2023: 228.3k Persons2024: 238.0k Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

Iceland recorded 238,000 Persons for labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in 2024. That is the highest value across all 30 years on record.

The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and up 27.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in Iceland peaked at 238,000 Persons in 2024 and was at its lowest, 147,600 Persons, in 1996.

That places Iceland 46th out of 46 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.

Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in Iceland, 1995 to 2024.
Year Persons Change
1995 149,100 Persons —
1996 147,600 Persons -1.0%
1997 147,800 Persons +0.1%
1998 152,100 Persons +2.9%
1999 154,000 Persons +1.2%
2000 159,700 Persons +3.7%
2001 161,100 Persons +0.9%
2002 161,200 Persons +0.1%
2003 164,000 Persons +1.7%
2004 162,900 Persons -0.7%
2005 164,000 Persons +0.7%
2006 172,700 Persons +5.3%
2007 179,600 Persons +4.0%
2008 182,400 Persons +1.6%
2009 179,200 Persons -1.8%
2010 179,300 Persons +0.1%
2011 178,500 Persons -0.4%
2012 178,600 Persons +0.1%
2013 183,100 Persons +2.5%
2014 186,800 Persons +2.0%
2015 191,300 Persons +2.4%
2016 196,300 Persons +2.6%
2017 199,300 Persons +1.5%
2018 203,900 Persons +2.3%
2019 208,300 Persons +2.2%
2020 205,800 Persons -1.2%
2021 209,600 Persons +1.8%
2022 218,700 Persons +4.3%
2023 228,300 Persons +4.4%
2024 238,000 Persons +4.2%

Iceland compared with similar countries

  • Iceland's 238,000 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.02 million Persons, 5% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
  • Iceland's 238,000 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.77 million Persons, 5% of the median. (31 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 150,120 Persons 147,600 Persons 154,000 Persons 5
2000s 168,680 Persons 159,700 Persons 182,400 Persons 10
2010s 190,540 Persons 178,500 Persons 208,300 Persons 10
2020s 220,080 Persons 205,800 Persons 238,000 Persons 5

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 43 Estonia 754,900 Persons compare
  2. 44 Luxembourg 351,100 Persons compare
  3. 45 Malta 340,000 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 54 places →

More work & labour data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in Iceland?
Labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in Iceland was 238,000 Persons in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest labour indicators levels - regions — labour force recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 238,000 Persons in 2024.
What is the lowest labour indicators levels - regions — labour force recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 147,600 Persons in 1996.
How does Iceland rank for labour indicators levels - regions — labour force?
Iceland ranks 46th out of 46 countries with data for 2024.
Is labour indicators levels - regions — labour force rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is up 27.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 03 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-indicators-levels-regions-labour-force/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
54 places, 1,323 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed

This dataset presents indicators on the size of the labour force, employment, and unemployment in large regions (TL2) and, where available, in small regions (TL3). Data definition and source The labour force status is presented by sex, for 15-64 year-olds and 15+ year-olds age ranges, the latter having less country coverage. Data is based on a labour force survey using ILO guidelines and collected from Eurostat (reg_lmk) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites. Definition of regions Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xlsx). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats. Further information OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For questions and/or comments, please email RegionStat@oecd.org.