Labor force, total in Iceland
Iceland: Labor force, total was 242,507 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Iceland, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Iceland stood at 242,507. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 19.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Iceland peaked at 242,507 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 138,996, in 1990.
That places Iceland 172nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 138,996 | — |
| 1991 | 140,969 | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 143,787 | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 144,512 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 146,565 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 152,961 | +4.4% |
| 1996 | 151,743 | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 151,778 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 157,059 | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 162,052 | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 167,968 | +3.7% |
| 2001 | 170,262 | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 169,794 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 172,652 | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 172,771 | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 175,134 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 183,267 | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 189,668 | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 191,884 | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 188,521 | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 187,815 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 187,361 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 188,899 | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 192,559 | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 197,861 | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 202,438 | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 208,038 | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 212,416 | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 216,594 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 221,428 | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 219,071 | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 222,546 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 232,189 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 236,225 | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 238,873 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 242,507 | +1.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 242,507 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.08 million, 8% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 242,507 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.31 million, 7% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 149,042 | 138,996 | 162,052 | 10 |
| 2000s | 178,192 | 167,968 | 191,884 | 10 |
| 2010s | 201,541 | 187,361 | 221,428 | 10 |
| 2020s | 231,902 | 219,071 | 242,507 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More education data for Iceland
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 6,661 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 6,167 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,056 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 32,314 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0838 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Iceland?
- Labor force, total in Iceland was 242,507 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 242,507 in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 138,996 in 1990.
- How does Iceland rank for labor force, total?
- Iceland ranks 172nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.