Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Iceland
Iceland: Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) was 24.4 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Iceland, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in Iceland is 24.4, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 43.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in Iceland peaked at 26.49 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 16.19, in 2016.
That places Iceland 69th out of 71 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.
Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 17.86 | — |
| 2015 | 17.01 | -4.7% |
| 2016 | 16.19 | -4.8% |
| 2017 | 17.12 | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 18.16 | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 18.76 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 21.02 | +12.0% |
| 2021 | 26.49 | +26.0% |
| 2022 | 25.4 | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 24.96 | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 23.7 | -5.1% |
| 2025 | 24.4 | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 17.52 | 16.19 | 18.76 | 6 |
| 2020s | 24.33 | 21.02 | 26.49 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 66 Netherlands 31.3 compare
- 67 Angola 30.88 compare
- 68 New Zealand 29.5 compare
- 70 United Arab Emirates 18.64 compare
- 71 Qatar 12.05 compare
More gender data for Iceland
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 69.14 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.228 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 2,155 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2,290 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 2,184 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2,324 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 2,211 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 2,349 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 2,353 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 2,500 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in Iceland?
- Inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) in Iceland was 24.4 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 26.49 in 2021.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.19 in 2016.
- How does Iceland rank for inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19)?
- Iceland ranks 69th out of 71 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate (current ilo definition - icls19) rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series includes only countries for which the 19th ICLS definitions are applied. This indicator conveys the number of persons of working age outside the labour force (that is, not employed or unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the working-age population. For more information, refer to the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database description.