Labor force in Iceland: 241,522 (Labor force, 2025 · 169th of 184). Labor force (people) in Iceland: 241,522 in 2025, ranking 169th of 184 countries. In 2010 it was 187,815.
Data last updated · Period: 2010–2025
Understanding the chart
The line chart above tracks labor force (people) in Iceland for each year from 2010 to 2025, 16 data points in all. Each dot is one year; the first and last years and the highest point are labelled with their values, and the vertical scale is in people. All values in this period were above zero. The data table below the chart lists every value, and you can download the data, embed the chart or share it from the buttons above. The figures cover 2010–2025 and come from World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).
Key insights
- Between 2010 and 2025, Iceland's labor force rose from 187,815 to 241,522, a change of 28.6% (about 1.7% a year on average).
- The highest value in this period was 241,522 in 2025; the lowest was 187,361 in 2011.
- Recently, the figure has risen in each of the last two years (2024: 238,873; 2025: 241,522).
- That is 100% lower than the world figure of 3.7 billion.
- Iceland has the 169th-highest value of 184 countries with recent data.
- In Northern Europe, Iceland has the 10th-highest value of 11 countries with recent data; the highest is United Kingdom (35.5 million), and the typical (median) value is 2.9 million.
Analysis
Averaged over periods, the figure was 190,899 in 2010 to 2014, 212,183 in 2015 to 2019 and 231,738 in 2020 onwards. The value went up in 13 of the 15 year-to-year steps and down in 2. The biggest one-year rise came in 2022 (+9,643, or 4.3%). The biggest one-year fall came in 2020 (−2,357, or 1.1%). Across the period the values varied by about 9% around their average (212,865), a fairly steady path.
Iceland and its neighbours
Labor force (people) among 11 countries in Northern Europe with recent data, ranked from highest to lowest.
| Rank in region | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Ireland | 2.9 million | 2025 |
| 6 | Finland | 2.9 million | 2025 |
| 7 | Lithuania | 1.5 million | 2025 |
| 8 | Latvia | 946,983 | 2025 |
| 9 | Estonia | 746,793 | 2025 |
| 10 | Iceland | 241,522 | 2025 |
| 11 | Channel Islands | 81,617 | 2025 |
Iceland on related measures
- Unemployment (% of labor force): 3.6% (2025, 123rd-highest of 184 countries)
- Employment to population ratio (% of people 15+): 72.2% (2025, 17th-highest of 184 countries)
- Women in the labor force (% of women 15+): 70.0% (2025, 19th-highest of 184 countries)
- GDP per person (current US$): $98,323 (2025, 9th-highest of 204 countries)
- GDP growth (annual %): 1.3% (2025, 162nd-highest of 204 countries)
Global position: Iceland's figure is higher than 8% of the 184 countries with data for this measure.
What it means
For businesses and investors, the figure is most useful alongside related measures for the same country, such as growth, inflation, population and incomes, and compared with similar countries. Compared with its neighbours in Northern Europe, where the typical value is 2.9 million, Iceland is 92% lower than the regional median.
About this statistic
The number of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators.
For the full definition, caveats and every country ranked, see Labor force (people) by country, 2025.
Questions and answers
What is the labor force (people) in Iceland?
241,522 (Labor force, 2025 · 169th of 184). Labor force (people) in Iceland: 241,522 in 2025, ranking 169th of 184 countries. In 2010 it was 187,815.
How has labor force in Iceland changed since 2010?
Between 2010 and 2025, Iceland's labor force rose from 187,815 to 241,522, a change of 28.6% (about 1.7% a year on average). The highest value in this period was 241,522 in 2025; the lowest was 187,361 in 2011.
How this page was made
Generated by Advanton from World Bank, World Development Indicators (2010–2025), data updated 8 November 2026: chart, ranks, comparisons and text are computed from the published figures; no figures are changed. About the data.
Data
| Year | Labor force (people) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 187,815 |
| 2011 | 187,361 |
| 2012 | 188,899 |
| 2013 | 192,559 |
| 2014 | 197,861 |
| 2015 | 202,438 |
| 2016 | 208,038 |
| 2017 | 212,416 |
| 2018 | 216,594 |
| 2019 | 221,428 |
| 2020 | 219,071 |
| 2021 | 222,546 |
| 2022 | 232,189 |
| 2023 | 236,225 |
| 2024 | 238,873 |
| 2025 | 241,522 |
Source and notes
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). Period: 2010–2025. Coverage: Iceland.
The number of people aged 15 and over who are working or looking for work. The pool of potential workers and, broadly, of earning customers.
Cite this statistic
Please also credit the original source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).Related statistics
- Labor force (people) by country, 2025
- Labor force (people) in Channel Islands, 2010–2025
- Labor force (people) in Denmark, 2010–2025
- Labor force (people) in Estonia, 2010–2025
- Labor force (people) in Finland, 2010–2025
- GDP of Iceland, 2010–2025
- Economic growth (GDP growth) in Iceland, 2010–2025
- GDP per person in Iceland, 2010–2025
- GDP per person, adjusted for prices (PPP, international $) in Iceland, 2010–2024
All Iceland data: economy, people, jobs and digital in one place
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