Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 10.54 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Iceland, 1995–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Iceland is 10.54, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 24.5% on the previous year and up 38.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Iceland peaked at 13.56 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 3.02, in 2001.
That places Iceland 74th out of 78 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 7.66 | — |
| 1996 | 5.24 | -31.6% |
| 1997 | 5.38 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 4.58 | -14.9% |
| 1999 | 3.35 | -26.8% |
| 2000 | 3.09 | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 3.02 | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 4.82 | +59.6% |
| 2003 | 6.56 | +36.1% |
| 2004 | 6.57 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 4.18 | -36.4% |
| 2006 | 4.89 | +17.0% |
| 2007 | 4.04 | -17.3% |
| 2008 | 5.37 | +33.0% |
| 2009 | 12.94 | +140.7% |
| 2010 | 13.56 | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 12.55 | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 10.72 | -14.6% |
| 2013 | 9.84 | -8.2% |
| 2014 | 9.15 | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 7.61 | -16.8% |
| 2016 | 5.85 | -23.2% |
| 2017 | 5.47 | -6.5% |
| 2018 | 5.51 | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 7.31 | +32.6% |
| 2020 | 11.27 | +54.3% |
| 2021 | 12.64 | +12.1% |
| 2022 | 8.29 | -34.4% |
| 2023 | 8.03 | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 8.47 | +5.4% |
| 2025 | 10.54 | +24.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.24 | 3.35 | 7.66 | 5 |
| 2000s | 5.55 | 3.02 | 12.94 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.76 | 5.47 | 13.56 | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.87 | 8.03 | 12.64 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 71 Luxembourg 22.73 compare
- 72 Fiji 18.07 compare
- 73 Brunei Darussalam 11.42 compare
- 75 Malta 10.37 compare
- 76 Saint Lucia 8.35 compare
- 77 Belize 6.33 compare
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 (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Iceland?
- Unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Iceland was 10.54 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 13.56 in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.02 in 2001.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Iceland ranks 74th out of 78 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.