A total of 6,910 households received municipal income support in 2010, an increase by 916 (15.3%) from the year before and by 1,881 (37.4%) from the year 2008. Households of single men without children (43.6%) and households of single women with children (27.1%) were as before the biggest groups receiving income support. A total of 5,994 households received municipal income support in 2009, an increase by 965 (16.1%) from the year before and by 1,714 (40%) from the year 2007. Households of single men without children (42.2%) and households of single women with children (29.3%) were as before the biggest groups receiving income support.

In households receiving income support in the year 2010 there were 11,468 individuals or 3.6% of inhabitants in the country, thereof were 3,974 children (17 years of age or younger) or 5% of all children in the country. In the year 2008 there were 9,097 individuals, 2.8% of inhabitants in the country, who lived in households receiving income support, thereof 3,587 children or 4.5% of all children in Iceland.

In the year 2010, 8,148 households received municipal home-help service, an increase by 88 (1.1%) from the previous year and by 284 (3.6%) from the year 2008. Nearly four of every five of these households were households of the elderly or 6,493 (79.7%) That was an increase of 474 (7.9%) from the year 2008. A total of 8,091 individuals or 20.8% of inhabitants 65 years or older were living in these homes. In the municipality of Reykjavík, 25% of that age group received home-help service. The average number of hours worked per household receiving municipal home-help service in the year 2010 was 114 (2,5 hours per week) and had the average number decreased by 4 hours from the year before.

In the year 2010 1,771 children were enrolled in daycare in private homes, an increase by 157 (9.7%) from the year before. That was little more than 6% of children at the age of 0 to 5 years in the country. There of where nearly 6% of all children in the first year and little more than 30% of children 1 year of age, but those are children that have not reaced the pre-primary school age.

Municipal social services 2008-2010 - Statistical Series