Unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data (country) in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data (country) was 15.4 Thousand persons in 2026. ▲ Rising
Latest (2026)
15.4 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 24.2%
World rank
46th
of 47 countries
All-time high
15.4 Thousand persons
in 2026
All-time low
3 Thousand persons
in 2001
Years of data
29
1998–2026
Unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data in Iceland, 1998–2026
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2026, unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data in Iceland stood at 15.4 Thousand persons. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.2% on the previous year and up 208.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data in Iceland peaked at 15.4 Thousand persons in 2026 and was at its lowest, 3 Thousand persons, in 2001.
Iceland ranks 46th 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.
Unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data (country) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 4.6 Thousand persons | — |
| 1999 | 3.4 Thousand persons | -26.1% |
| 2000 | 3.1 Thousand persons | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 3 Thousand persons | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 4.8 Thousand persons | +60.0% |
| 2003 | 4.5 Thousand persons | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 3.8 Thousand persons | -15.6% |
| 2005 | 4.3 Thousand persons | +13.2% |
| 2006 | 4.3 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 3.4 Thousand persons | -20.9% |
| 2008 | 7.3 Thousand persons | +114.7% |
| 2009 | 11.9 Thousand persons | +63.0% |
| 2010 | 13.2 Thousand persons | +10.9% |
| 2011 | 10.5 Thousand persons | -20.5% |
| 2012 | 8.4 Thousand persons | -20.0% |
| 2013 | 8.2 Thousand persons | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 7.5 Thousand persons | -8.5% |
| 2015 | 5.9 Thousand persons | -21.3% |
| 2016 | 5 Thousand persons | -15.3% |
| 2017 | 5.2 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 4.9 Thousand persons | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 6.7 Thousand persons | +36.7% |
| 2020 | 14.9 Thousand persons | +122.4% |
| 2021 | 9.5 Thousand persons | -36.2% |
| 2022 | 7.2 Thousand persons | -24.2% |
| 2023 | 7.7 Thousand persons | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 7.3 Thousand persons | -5.2% |
| 2025 | 12.4 Thousand persons | +69.9% |
| 2026 | 15.4 Thousand persons | +24.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 15.4 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 219.2 Thousand persons, 7% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 15.4 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 220.8 Thousand persons, 7% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4 Thousand persons | 3.4 Thousand persons | 4.6 Thousand persons | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.04 Thousand persons | 3 Thousand persons | 11.9 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.55 Thousand persons | 4.9 Thousand persons | 13.2 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.63 Thousand persons | 7.2 Thousand persons | 15.4 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 unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data in Iceland?
- Unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data in Iceland was 15.4 Thousand persons in 2026, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 15.4 Thousand persons in 2026.
- What is the lowest unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 Thousand persons in 2001.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data?
- Iceland ranks 46th out of 47 countries with data for 2026.
- Is unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 208.0%. 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 Unemployed persons by country of birth - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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