Unemployed persons by previous occupation in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployed persons by previous occupation was 10.5 Thousand persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployed persons by previous occupation in Iceland, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployed persons by previous occupation in Iceland is 10.5 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 31.2% on the previous year and up 38.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed persons by previous occupation in Iceland peaked at 13.6 Thousand persons in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3 Thousand persons, in 2001.
Iceland ranks 44th of 45 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 previous occupation in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 7.7 Thousand persons | — |
| 1996 | 5.2 Thousand persons | -32.5% |
| 1997 | 5.4 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 1998 | 4.6 Thousand persons | -14.8% |
| 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 | 6.6 Thousand persons | +37.5% |
| 2004 | 6.6 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 4.2 Thousand persons | -36.4% |
| 2006 | 4.9 Thousand persons | +16.7% |
| 2007 | 4 Thousand persons | -18.4% |
| 2008 | 5.4 Thousand persons | +35.0% |
| 2009 | 12.9 Thousand persons | +138.9% |
| 2010 | 13.6 Thousand persons | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 12.5 Thousand persons | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 10.7 Thousand persons | -14.4% |
| 2013 | 9.8 Thousand persons | -8.4% |
| 2014 | 9.1 Thousand persons | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 7.6 Thousand persons | -16.5% |
| 2016 | 5.8 Thousand persons | -23.7% |
| 2017 | 5.5 Thousand persons | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 5.5 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 7.3 Thousand persons | +32.7% |
| 2020 | 11.3 Thousand persons | +54.8% |
| 2022 | 8.3 Thousand persons | -26.5% |
| 2023 | 8 Thousand persons | -3.6% |
| 2025 | 10.5 Thousand persons | +31.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 10.5 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 212.7 Thousand persons, 5% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 10.5 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 216.5 Thousand persons, 5% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployed persons by previous occupation in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +138.9% | 5.4 Thousand persons | 12.9 Thousand persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.26 Thousand persons | 3.4 Thousand persons | 7.7 Thousand persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 5.55 Thousand persons | 3 Thousand persons | 12.9 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.74 Thousand persons | 5.5 Thousand persons | 13.6 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.53 Thousand persons | 8 Thousand persons | 11.3 Thousand persons | 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 unemployed persons by previous occupation in Iceland?
- Unemployed persons by previous occupation in Iceland was 10.5 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest unemployed persons by previous occupation recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 13.6 Thousand persons in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployed persons by previous occupation recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 Thousand persons in 2001.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployed persons by previous occupation?
- Iceland ranks 44th out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployed persons by previous occupation rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.2%. 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 previous occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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