Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 8.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland is 8.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 19.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland peaked at 19.7% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.5%, in 1999.
Iceland ranks 109th of 157 countries on this measure, 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 | 8.9% | +53.9% |
| 1993 | 10.2% | +14.1% |
| 1994 | 12.9% | +27.1% |
| 1995 | 14.1% | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 9.5% | -32.8% |
| 1997 | 8.4% | -11.0% |
| 1998 | 6.3% | -25.3% |
| 1999 | 3.5% | -45.0% |
| 2000 | 5.0% | +44.5% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | +13.4% |
| 2002 | 9.5% | +67.4% |
| 2003 | 12.7% | +33.1% |
| 2004 | 16.2% | +28.1% |
| 2005 | 8.6% | -46.9% |
| 2006 | 8.9% | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | -13.2% |
| 2008 | 8.9% | +15.3% |
| 2009 | 19.7% | +121.5% |
| 2010 | 18.4% | -7.0% |
| 2011 | 18.2% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 14.7% | -19.0% |
| 2013 | 13.6% | -7.8% |
| 2014 | 12.9% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 10.9% | -15.5% |
| 2016 | 6.7% | -39.1% |
| 2017 | 8.6% | +28.9% |
| 2018 | 6.5% | -24.4% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | +82.4% |
| 2020 | 11.1% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 13.2% | +19.5% |
| 2022 | 11.6% | -12.4% |
| 2023 | 10.2% | -11.8% |
| 2024 | 8.8% | -14.1% |
| 2025 | 8.8% | +0.1% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 8.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 62% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 8.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.3%, 58% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.9% | 3.5% | 14.1% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.3% | 5.0% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.2% | 6.5% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.6% | 8.8% | 13.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 106 Ghana 9.1% compare
- 107 Dominican Republic 9.1% compare
- 108 Seychelles 9.1% compare
- 110 Isle of Man 8.7% compare
- 111 Afghanistan 8.5% compare
- 112 Paraguay 8.4% 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland was 8.8% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 19.7% in 2009.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.5% in 1999.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Iceland ranks 109th out of 157 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 19.5%. 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national 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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.