Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Iceland
Iceland: Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by was 55.8 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
55.8 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
45th
of 45 countries
All-time high
60.7 Thousand persons
in 2020
All-time low
28.8 Thousand persons
in 2001
Years of data
28
1998–2025
Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Iceland, 1998–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Iceland stood at 55.8 Thousand persons.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 37.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Iceland peaked at 60.7 Thousand persons in 2020 and was at its lowest, 28.8 Thousand persons, in 2001.
Iceland ranks 45th of 45 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 32.6 Thousand persons | — |
| 1999 | 31.1 Thousand persons | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 28.9 Thousand persons | -7.1% |
| 2001 | 28.8 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 31.2 Thousand persons | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 40 Thousand persons | +28.2% |
| 2004 | 40.9 Thousand persons | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 38.2 Thousand persons | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 38.5 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 39.7 Thousand persons | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 41.2 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 43.7 Thousand persons | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 44.4 Thousand persons | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 47.6 Thousand persons | +7.2% |
| 2012 | 46.9 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 45.2 Thousand persons | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 40.5 Thousand persons | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 40.7 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 38.9 Thousand persons | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 44 Thousand persons | +13.1% |
| 2018 | 47.4 Thousand persons | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 51.4 Thousand persons | +8.4% |
| 2020 | 60.7 Thousand persons | +18.1% |
| 2021 | 54.8 Thousand persons | -9.7% |
| 2022 | 55.1 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 55.5 Thousand persons | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 54.3 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 2025 | 55.8 Thousand persons | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 31.85 Thousand persons | 31.1 Thousand persons | 32.6 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2000s | 37.11 Thousand persons | 28.8 Thousand persons | 43.7 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.7 Thousand persons | 38.9 Thousand persons | 51.4 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 56.03 Thousand persons | 54.3 Thousand persons | 60.7 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
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 not seeking employment by in Iceland?
- Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Iceland was 55.8 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 60.7 Thousand persons in 2020.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.8 Thousand persons in 2001.
- How does Iceland rank for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by?
- Iceland ranks 45th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.1%. 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 not seeking employment by willingness to work - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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