Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not in Iceland
Iceland: Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not was 52.1 Thousand persons in 2026. ▲ Rising
Latest (2026)
52.1 Thousand persons
Change on year
down 6.6%
World rank
47th
of 47 countries
All-time high
60.7 Thousand persons
in 2020
All-time low
28.8 Thousand persons
in 2001
Years of data
29
1998–2026
Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Iceland, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2026, persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Iceland stood at 52.1 Thousand persons.
The figure is down 6.6% on the previous year and up 33.9% 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 47th of 47 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Persons outside: quarterly data … quarterly willingness work not 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% |
| 2026 | 52.1 Thousand persons | -6.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 52.1 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,579 Thousand persons, 3% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 52.1 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 1,587 Thousand persons, 3% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
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 | 55.47 Thousand persons | 52.1 Thousand persons | 60.7 Thousand persons | 7 |
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 52.1 Thousand persons in 2026, 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 47th out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
- Is persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.9%. 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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