Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) was 4.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iceland stood at 4.5%.
The figure is up 20.0% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iceland peaked at 8.6% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 2000.
That places Iceland 98th out of 181 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.3% | — |
| 1992 | 3.8% | +67.8% |
| 1993 | 5.0% | +30.5% |
| 1994 | 5.2% | +4.3% |
| 1995 | 5.5% | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 3.7% | -31.6% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 2.4% | -33.1% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | -32.6% |
| 2000 | 1.3% | -19.3% |
| 2001 | 1.6% | +17.5% |
| 2002 | 3.3% | +111.4% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | +22.4% |
| 2004 | 5.1% | +28.0% |
| 2005 | 2.6% | -49.6% |
| 2006 | 2.6% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | -15.2% |
| 2008 | 3.2% | +45.3% |
| 2009 | 8.6% | +163.6% |
| 2010 | 8.3% | -2.9% |
| 2011 | 7.8% | -6.5% |
| 2012 | 6.3% | -18.8% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | -10.4% |
| 2014 | 5.0% | -11.5% |
| 2015 | 3.9% | -21.7% |
| 2016 | 2.9% | -25.4% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 3.8% | +35.1% |
| 2020 | 5.6% | +46.6% |
| 2021 | 5.7% | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -28.0% |
| 2023 | 3.9% | -6.5% |
| 2024 | 3.8% | -3.0% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | +20.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 4.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.9%, 91% of the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 4.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.4%, 83% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.7% | 1.6% | 5.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.5% | 1.3% | 8.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.9% | 2.8% | 8.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.6% | 3.8% | 5.7% | 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 unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iceland?
- Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) in Iceland was 4.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 8.6% in 2009.
- What is the lowest unemployment, male (% of male labor force) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 2000.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployment, male (% of male labor force)?
- Iceland ranks 98th out of 181 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, male (% of male labor force) rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, male (% of male labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.