Persons outside the labour force by citizenship in Iceland
Iceland: Persons outside the labour force by citizenship was 53.7 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
53.7 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 3.9%
World rank
45th
of 45 countries
All-time high
55.9 Thousand persons
in 2021
All-time low
30.8 Thousand persons
in 2000
Years of data
31
1995–2025
Persons outside the labour force by citizenship in Iceland, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for persons outside the labour force by citizenship in Iceland is 53.7 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 37.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force by citizenship in Iceland peaked at 55.9 Thousand persons in 2021 and was at its lowest, 30.8 Thousand persons, in 2000.
That places Iceland 45th out of 45 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force by citizenship in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 31.8 Thousand persons | — |
| 1996 | 33.8 Thousand persons | +6.3% |
| 1997 | 36 Thousand persons | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 34.3 Thousand persons | -4.7% |
| 1999 | 32.1 Thousand persons | -6.4% |
| 2000 | 30.8 Thousand persons | -4.0% |
| 2001 | 31.8 Thousand persons | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 33.5 Thousand persons | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 33.4 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 36 Thousand persons | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 37.6 Thousand persons | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 36.7 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2007 | 37.7 Thousand persons | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 40.3 Thousand persons | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 43.9 Thousand persons | +8.9% |
| 2010 | 43.7 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 45.2 Thousand persons | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 45 Thousand persons | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 43.8 Thousand persons | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 40.6 Thousand persons | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 39.2 Thousand persons | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 37.9 Thousand persons | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 41.2 Thousand persons | +8.7% |
| 2018 | 45.2 Thousand persons | +9.7% |
| 2019 | 48.1 Thousand persons | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 54.8 Thousand persons | +13.9% |
| 2021 | 55.9 Thousand persons | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 54 Thousand persons | -3.4% |
| 2023 | 54.5 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 51.7 Thousand persons | -5.1% |
| 2025 | 53.7 Thousand persons | +3.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 53.7 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,718 Thousand persons, 3% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 53.7 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 1,789 Thousand persons, 3% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 33.6 Thousand persons | 31.8 Thousand persons | 36 Thousand persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 36.17 Thousand persons | 30.8 Thousand persons | 43.9 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.99 Thousand persons | 37.9 Thousand persons | 48.1 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.1 Thousand persons | 51.7 Thousand persons | 55.9 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 42 Montenegro 203.2 Thousand persons compare
- 43 Luxembourg 170.3 Thousand persons compare
- 44 Malta 120.3 Thousand persons 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 persons outside the labour force by citizenship in Iceland?
- Persons outside the labour force by citizenship in Iceland was 53.7 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force by citizenship recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 55.9 Thousand persons in 2021.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force by citizenship recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.8 Thousand persons in 2000.
- How does Iceland rank for persons outside the labour force by citizenship?
- Iceland ranks 45th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force by citizenship rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force by citizenship. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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