Self-employed — all countries

Self-employed — Iceland

Self-employed in Iceland in 2025 — 13.3%. Ranked 147 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 6.9 pp.

2025 13.3% −0 pp vs 2024
World rank 147of 182
Period maximum 20.2%1991
Period minimum 13.3%2025

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Self-employed — Iceland, 1991–202512141618202219911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 20.2%1992: 19.3%1993: 18%1994: 18.4%1995: 18.1%1996: 17.6%1997: 17.4%1998: 17.5%1999: 17.3%2000: 17.2%2001: 17%2002: 17%2003: 16.4%2004: 16.4%2005: 16.6%2006: 16.6%2007: 16.3%2008: 16.2%2009: 16.1%2010: 16.4%2011: 16.5%2012: 16.7%2013: 16.7%2014: 16.7%2015: 16.7%2016: 16.5%2017: 16.3%2018: 16.1%2019: 15.9%2020: 15.8%2021: 17%2022: 16.7%2023: 15.1%2024: 13.3%2025: 13.3%
Change over the period: −6.9 pp Annual average: -0.2 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

Iceland 13.3%
World 46.4%
Northern Europe computed 12%
High-income countries computed 11%
Self-employed — Iceland, by year Iceland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 13.3 −0 pp
2024 13.3 −1.7 pp
2023 15.1 −1.7 pp
2022 16.7 −0.3 pp
2021 17 +1.3 pp
2020 15.8 −0.1 pp
2019 15.9 −0.2 pp
2018 16.1 −0.2 pp
2017 16.3 −0.2 pp
2016 16.5 −0.2 pp
2015 16.7 +0 pp
2014 16.7 −0 pp
2013 16.7 −0 pp
2012 16.7 +0.2 pp
2011 16.5 +0.1 pp
2010 16.4 +0.3 pp
2009 16.1 −0 pp
2008 16.2 −0.2 pp
2007 16.3 −0.2 pp
2006 16.6 −0 pp
2005 16.6 +0.2 pp
2004 16.4 −0 pp
2003 16.4 −0.6 pp
2002 17 −0 pp
2001 17 −0.2 pp
2000 17.2 −0.1 pp
1999 17.3 −0.2 pp
1998 17.5 +0.1 pp
1997 17.4 −0.2 pp
1996 17.6 −0.5 pp
1995 18.1 −0.3 pp
1994 18.4 +0.4 pp
1993 18 −1.3 pp
1992 19.3 −0.9 pp
1991 20.2

About the indicator

The share of total employment that is self-employed: employers, own-account workers, members of producers cooperatives and contributing family workers. High values in low-income countries reflect not developed entrepreneurship but the absence of wage jobs and informal work in agriculture and small-scale trade.

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