A total of 5,142 households received municipal income support in 2017, a decrease of 716 (12.2%) from the year before. From 2013 the number of households receiving municipal income support has decreased yearly after having steadily increased from 2007 to 2013.

Households of single men without children (43.5%) and households of single women with children (23.4%) were as previously the largest groups receiving income support. In the year 2017 little more than 31% of recipients of municipal income support were unemployed and thereof five of every six non-insured or 1,359 individuals.

Households receiving income support in the year 2017 were composed of 8,223 individuals or 2.4% of inhabitants in the country, thereof were 2,887 children (17 years of age or younger) or 3.6% of all children in the country. In the year 2016 there were 9,697 individuals, 2.9% of inhabitants in the country, living in households receiving income support, thereof 3,317 children or 4.2% of all children in Iceland.

One of every five 65 years and older received municipal home-help service
In the year 2017, 9,131 households received municipal home-help service. Nearly five of every six of these households were households of the elderly or 7,377 (80.8%) which is an increase of 70 (1.0%) households from the year 2016. A total of 9,284 individuals or 19.0% of inhabitants 65 years or older were living in these households. Of individuals 80 years or older a total of 5,693 individuals or 45.9% of inhabitants received municipal home-help service.

Decrease in the number of children enrolled in day care in private homes
In the year 2017, 1,347 children were enrolled in day care in private homes, a decrease of 101 (7.0%) from the year before. This was 5.2% of children aged 0 to 5 in the country. Little more than 4% of all children in the first year were enrolled in day care in private homes but little more than 28% of one year old children are in the age group that has not reached the pre-primary school age.

Statistics