Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Iceland
Iceland: Public sector employment as a share of total employment was 29.9% in 2013. ▬ Flat
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Iceland, 2004–2013
Source: World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for public sector employment as a share of total employment in Iceland is 29.9%, measured in 2013.
That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, public sector employment as a share of total employment in Iceland peaked at 32.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 25.4%, in 2008.
That places Iceland 8th out of 79 countries with data for 2013, putting it in the top 10%.
Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 31.2% | — |
| 2005 | 30.4% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 30.7% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 30.0% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 25.4% | -15.5% |
| 2009 | 31.3% | +23.3% |
| 2010 | 32.8% | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 31.9% | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 30.4% | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 29.9% | -1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.8% | 25.4% | 31.3% | 6 |
| 2010s | 31.3% | 29.9% | 32.8% | 4 |
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 public sector employment as a share of total employment in Iceland?
- Public sector employment as a share of total employment in Iceland was 29.9% in 2013, according to World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 32.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest public sector employment as a share of total employment recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.4% in 2008.
- How does Iceland rank for public sector employment as a share of total employment?
- Iceland ranks 8th out of 79 countries with data for 2013.
- Is public sector employment as a share of total employment rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Public sector employment as a share of total employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of all employed people who are paid employees of the public sector, including government, the armed forces, public services, and state-owned enterprises.