Unemployed population — Unemployment in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployed population — Unemployment was 10.53 Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Iceland, 1964–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 10.53 Persons for unemployed population — unemployment in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 24.2% on the previous year and up 38.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed population — unemployment in Iceland peaked at 13.55 Persons in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.06 Persons, in 1964.
That places Iceland 35th out of 35 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.61 Persons | 0.06 Persons | 1.98 Persons | 6 |
| 1970s | 0.473 Persons | 0.285 Persons | 1.05 Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.963 Persons | 0.331 Persons | 2.12 Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.31 Persons | 2.25 Persons | 7.75 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.42 Persons | 3.68 Persons | 12.95 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.75 Persons | 5.47 Persons | 13.55 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.87 Persons | 8.03 Persons | 12.65 Persons | 6 |
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 population — unemployment in Iceland?
- Unemployed population — unemployment in Iceland was 10.53 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 13.55 Persons in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.06 Persons in 1964.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployed population — unemployment?
- Iceland ranks 35th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployed population — unemployment rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployed population — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.