Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 8.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland is 8.7%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland peaked at 15.9% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 1999.
That places Iceland 133rd 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.8% | — |
| 1992 | 9.8% | +101.7% |
| 1993 | 9.9% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 11.5% | +15.8% |
| 1995 | 11.7% | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | -28.8% |
| 1997 | 7.8% | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | -13.5% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | -38.3% |
| 2000 | 4.2% | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 4.9% | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | +26.7% |
| 2003 | 11.8% | +91.9% |
| 2004 | 11.5% | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 7.1% | -38.6% |
| 2006 | 7.9% | +12.3% |
| 2007 | 6.7% | -15.6% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | +17.7% |
| 2009 | 15.5% | +96.4% |
| 2010 | 15.9% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 14.2% | -10.8% |
| 2012 | 13.2% | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 10.4% | -21.1% |
| 2014 | 9.6% | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 8.6% | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 6.3% | -26.4% |
| 2017 | 7.5% | +19.4% |
| 2018 | 5.9% | -21.8% |
| 2019 | 8.4% | +43.2% |
| 2020 | 9.9% | +16.8% |
| 2021 | 11.8% | +19.8% |
| 2022 | 8.4% | -28.8% |
| 2023 | 8.5% | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 8.8% | +3.4% |
| 2025 | 8.7% | -1.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 8.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 63% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 8.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.4%, 60% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.3% | 4.2% | 11.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 8.4% | 4.2% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.0% | 5.9% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.3% | 8.4% | 11.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 130 Netherlands 8.8% compare
- 131 Sao Tome and Principe 8.8% compare
- 132 Comoros 8.8% compare
- 134 Honduras 8.5% compare
- 135 Malta 8.4% compare
- 136 Kyrgyzstan 8.2% 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 total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Iceland was 8.7% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 15.9% in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 1999.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Iceland ranks 133rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. 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 total (% of total 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.