Labor force — all countries

Labor force — Iceland

Labor force in Iceland in 2025 — 242,507 people. Ranked 167 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 74.5%.

2025 242,507 people +1.52% vs 2024
World rank 167of 182
Period maximum 242,507 people2025
Period minimum 138,996 people1990

Trend over time

1990–2025 · people

Labor force — Iceland, 1990–2025100,000150,000200,000250,00019901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 138,996 people1991: 140,969 people1992: 143,787 people1993: 144,512 people1994: 146,565 people1995: 152,961 people1996: 151,743 people1997: 151,778 people1998: 157,059 people1999: 162,052 people2000: 167,968 people2001: 170,262 people2002: 169,794 people2003: 172,652 people2004: 172,771 people2005: 175,134 people2006: 183,267 people2007: 189,668 people2008: 191,884 people2009: 188,521 people2010: 187,815 people2011: 187,361 people2012: 188,899 people2013: 192,559 people2014: 197,861 people2015: 202,438 people2016: 208,038 people2017: 212,416 people2018: 216,594 people2019: 221,428 people2020: 219,071 people2021: 222,546 people2022: 232,189 people2023: 236,225 people2024: 238,873 people2025: 242,507 people
Change over the period: +103,511 (+74.47%) Average annual rate: 1.6 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Iceland

Iceland 242,507 people
World 3.74B people
Europe & Central Asia 429M people
Northern Europe computed 56.88M people
High-income countries computed 716M people
Labor force — Iceland, by year Iceland All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 242,507 +3,634 +1.52%
2024 238,873 +2,648 +1.12%
2023 236,225 +4,036 +1.74%
2022 232,189 +9,643 +4.33%
2021 222,546 +3,475 +1.59%
2020 219,071 −2,357 −1.06%
2019 221,428 +4,834 +2.23%
2018 216,594 +4,178 +1.97%
2017 212,416 +4,378 +2.1%
2016 208,038 +5,600 +2.77%
2015 202,438 +4,577 +2.31%
2014 197,861 +5,302 +2.75%
2013 192,559 +3,660 +1.94%
2012 188,899 +1,538 +0.82%
2011 187,361 −454 −0.24%
2010 187,815 −706 −0.37%
2009 188,521 −3,363 −1.75%
2008 191,884 +2,216 +1.17%
2007 189,668 +6,401 +3.49%
2006 183,267 +8,133 +4.64%
2005 175,134 +2,363 +1.37%
2004 172,771 +119 +0.07%
2003 172,652 +2,858 +1.68%
2002 169,794 −468 −0.27%
2001 170,262 +2,294 +1.37%
2000 167,968 +5,916 +3.65%
1999 162,052 +4,993 +3.18%
1998 157,059 +5,281 +3.48%
1997 151,778 +35 +0.02%
1996 151,743 −1,218 −0.8%
1995 152,961 +6,396 +4.36%
1994 146,565 +2,053 +1.42%
1993 144,512 +725 +0.5%
1992 143,787 +2,818 +2%
1991 140,969 +1,973 +1.42%
1990 138,996

About the indicator

The economically active population — everyone aged 15 and over who either works or actively looks for work. It covers the employed, the unemployed and first-time job seekers; it leaves out students, homemakers and other people who do not offer their labor on the market. The size of the labor force is the basic constraint on the growth potential of an economy.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.