Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iceland
Iceland: Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas was 3.7% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iceland, 1991–2023
Source: ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iceland stood at 3.7%. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.4% on the previous year and down 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iceland peaked at 10.5% in 1992 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2023.
Iceland ranks 140th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 10.2% | — |
| 1992 | 10.5% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 9.2% | -12.1% |
| 1994 | 9.1% | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 9.6% | +5.7% |
| 1996 | 10.0% | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 9.1% | -8.9% |
| 1998 | 8.6% | -4.8% |
| 1999 | 8.9% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 8.7% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 7.7% | -11.5% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | -4.4% |
| 2003 | 7.0% | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 6.3% | -9.5% |
| 2005 | 6.5% | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 6.3% | -3.3% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -6.2% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | -22.2% |
| 2009 | 4.8% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 5.6% | +15.6% |
| 2011 | 5.5% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 5.5% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 4.4% | -19.9% |
| 2014 | 4.5% | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 3.9% | -8.1% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 4.0% | +7.3% |
| 2019 | 4.0% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 4.0% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 4.1% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.7% | -9.4% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 3.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.6%, 1.4× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 3.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.9%, 76% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.5% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.5% | 4.6% | 8.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | 3.8% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.7% | 4.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More agriculture & rural data for Iceland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 19.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0365 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 3,593 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.8983 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0578 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iceland?
- Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas in Iceland was 3.7% in 2023, according to ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 1992.
- What is the lowest share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2023.
- How does Iceland rank for share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas?
- Iceland ranks 140th out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from ILO via World Bank – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of employment in agriculture vs. share of population living in rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of people employed in agriculture includes working-age people with a job in farming, forestry, fishing, and related activities, including those temporarily absent.