Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Iceland

Iceland: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 46.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
46.1%
Change on year
up 29.1%
World rank
24th
of 43 countries
All-time high
67.6%
in 1999
All-time low
18.3%
in 2007
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Iceland, 1998–2020

2030405060701998200920201998: 50.5 Percentage1999: 67.6 Percentage2000: 46.2 Percentage2001: 38.7 Percentage2002: 54.8 Percentage2003: 37 Percentage2004: 27.1 Percentage2005: 36.2 Percentage2006: 18.5 Percentage2007: 18.3 Percentage2008: 30.4 Percentage2009: 56.8 Percentage2010: 52 Percentage2011: 43.2 Percentage2012: 41.6 Percentage2013: 40.7 Percentage2014: 37.3 Percentage2015: 31.1 Percentage2016: 34.1 Percentage2017: 28.8 Percentage2018: 29.7 Percentage2019: 35.7 Percentage2020: 46.1 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2020, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Iceland stood at 46.1%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 29.1% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Iceland peaked at 67.6% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 18.3%, in 2007.

Iceland ranks 24th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment in Iceland, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 50.5%
1999 67.6% +33.9%
2000 46.2% -31.7%
2001 38.7% -16.2%
2002 54.8% +41.6%
2003 37.0% -32.5%
2004 27.1% -26.8%
2005 36.2% +33.6%
2006 18.5% -48.9%
2007 18.3% -1.1%
2008 30.4% +66.1%
2009 56.8% +86.8%
2010 52.0% -8.5%
2011 43.2% -16.9%
2012 41.6% -3.7%
2013 40.7% -2.2%
2014 37.3% -8.4%
2015 31.1% -16.6%
2016 34.1% +9.6%
2017 28.8% -15.5%
2018 29.7% +3.1%
2019 35.7% +20.2%
2020 46.1% +29.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 59.0% 50.5% 67.6% 2
2000s 36.4% 18.3% 56.8% 10
2010s 37.4% 28.8% 52.0% 10
2020s 46.1% 46.1% 46.1% 1

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 22 France 52.9% compare
  2. 23 North Macedonia 51.9% compare
  3. 25 Bulgaria 46.0% compare
  4. 26 Latvia 45.6% compare
  5. 26 Latvia 45.6% compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More work & labour data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Iceland?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Iceland was 46.1% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 67.6% in 1999.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 18.3% in 2007.
How does Iceland rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
Iceland ranks 24th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment-2/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
43 places, 931 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed