Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 9.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Iceland recorded 9.2% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is up 6.9% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland peaked at 19.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.4%, in 1999.
That places Iceland 122nd out of 187 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.8% | — |
| 1992 | 8.8% | +53.8% |
| 1993 | 10.1% | +14.6% |
| 1994 | 12.9% | +27.2% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | +5.3% |
| 1996 | 9.1% | -33.0% |
| 1997 | 8.2% | -10.1% |
| 1998 | 6.1% | -25.4% |
| 1999 | 3.4% | -44.5% |
| 2000 | 4.8% | +41.3% |
| 2001 | 5.4% | +12.7% |
| 2002 | 9.2% | +70.2% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | +31.9% |
| 2004 | 15.4% | +27.3% |
| 2005 | 8.3% | -46.4% |
| 2006 | 8.5% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 7.4% | -12.9% |
| 2008 | 8.7% | +17.0% |
| 2009 | 19.3% | +123.6% |
| 2010 | 18.0% | -7.1% |
| 2011 | 17.8% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 14.4% | -18.9% |
| 2013 | 13.3% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 12.5% | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 10.5% | -15.9% |
| 2016 | 6.5% | -38.5% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | +27.7% |
| 2018 | 6.4% | -23.3% |
| 2019 | 11.4% | +80.1% |
| 2020 | 10.9% | -4.7% |
| 2021 | 13.0% | +19.0% |
| 2022 | 11.3% | -12.7% |
| 2023 | 10.0% | -11.4% |
| 2024 | 8.7% | -13.7% |
| 2025 | 9.2% | +6.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 9.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 67% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 9.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.0%, 62% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.7% | 3.4% | 13.6% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.9% | 4.8% | 19.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.9% | 6.4% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.5% | 8.7% | 13.0% | 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland was 9.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 19.3% in 2009.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.4% in 1999.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Iceland ranks 122nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.