LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Iceland

Iceland: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) was 10.23 in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
10.23
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
51st
of 75 countries
All-time high
13.89
in 2014
All-time low
4.9
in 2007
Years of data
15
2000–2023

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Iceland, 2000–2023

0510152000201120232000: 5.72001: 8.62002: 9.72006: 5.62007: 4.92014: 13.92015: 12.92016: 10.72017: 10.22018: 8.72019: 9.12020: 13.32021: 13.22022: 9.92023: 10.2

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Iceland recorded 10.23 for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in 2023.

The figure is up 3.8% on the previous year and down 26.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Iceland peaked at 13.89 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.9, in 2007.

That places Iceland 51st out of 75 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+) in Iceland, 2000 to 2023.
Year Value Change
2000 5.68
2001 8.58 +50.9%
2002 9.67 +12.8%
2006 5.56 -42.5%
2007 4.9 -11.9%
2014 13.89 +183.4%
2015 12.92 -7.0%
2016 10.67 -17.4%
2017 10.25 -4.0%
2018 8.73 -14.8%
2019 9.06 +3.7%
2020 13.29 +46.8%
2021 13.17 -0.9%
2022 9.86 -25.1%
2023 10.23 +3.8%

Iceland compared with similar countries

  • Iceland's 10.23 is below the median for high income countries, which is 11.43, 90% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
  • Iceland's 10.23 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.04, 85% of the median. (39 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2014 +183.4% 4.9 13.89

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 6.88 4.9 9.67 5
2010s 10.92 8.73 13.89 6
2020s 11.64 9.86 13.29 4

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 48 Norway 10.51 compare
  2. 49 Lithuania 10.41 compare
  3. 50 Brunei 10.32 compare
  4. 52 Mauritius 9.6 compare
  5. 53 Croatia 8.91 compare
  6. 54 Canada 8.85 compare

See the full ranking of 75 places →

More work & labour data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Iceland?
Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in Iceland was 10.23 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 13.89 in 2014.
What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 4.9 in 2007.
How does Iceland rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo)?
Iceland ranks 51st out of 75 countries with data for 2023.
Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu4-composite-rate-of-labour-underutilization-previous-ilo-definition-icls13-15/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
75 places, 1,249 data points, 1991–2025
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.