Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Iceland
Iceland: Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 24.38 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Iceland, 1995–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Iceland is 24.38, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 43.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Iceland peaked at 26.49 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 16.15, in 2000.
That places Iceland 72nd out of 75 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 17.75 | — |
| 1996 | 18.84 | +6.1% |
| 1997 | 19.94 | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 18.68 | -6.3% |
| 1999 | 17.26 | -7.6% |
| 2000 | 16.15 | -6.4% |
| 2001 | 16.49 | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 17.21 | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 16.92 | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 18.11 | +7.1% |
| 2005 | 18.65 | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 17.54 | -6.0% |
| 2007 | 17.35 | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 18.09 | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 19.68 | +8.7% |
| 2010 | 19.62 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 20.2 | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 20.12 | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 19.32 | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 17.86 | -7.6% |
| 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 | 23.75 | -4.9% |
| 2025 | 24.38 | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 18.5 | 17.26 | 19.94 | 5 |
| 2000s | 17.62 | 16.15 | 19.68 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.43 | 16.19 | 20.2 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.33 | 21.02 | 26.49 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 69 New Zealand 28.68 compare
- 70 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 26.56 compare
- 71 Angola 25.66 compare
- 73 Rwanda 23.22 compare
- 74 Cambodia 20.49 compare
- 75 Tanzania, United Republic of 14.71 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 (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Iceland?
- Inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) in Iceland was 24.38 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 26.49 in 2021.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.15 in 2000.
- How does Iceland rank for inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13)?
- Iceland ranks 72nd out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate (previous ilo definition - icls13) rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.3%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
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 International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) database description.