A total of 5,858 households received municipal income support in 2016, a decrease by 1,138 (16.3%) from the year before. From the year 2013 the number of households receiving municipal income support have decreased between years after having steadily increased from the year 2007 to 2013 at the average of 627 households pr. year.

Households of single men without children (42.2%) and households of single women with children (24.7%) were as previously the largest groups receiving income support. In the year 2016 nearly 32% of recipients of municipal income support were unemployed and thereof five of every six non-insured or 1,498 individuals.

Households receiving income support in the year 2016 were composed of 9,697 individuals or 2.9% of inhabitants in the country, thereof were 3,317 children (17 years of age or younger) or 4.2% of all children in the country. In the year 2015 there were 11,317 individuals, 3.4% of inhabitants in the country, living in households receiving income support, thereof 3,736 children or 4.4% of all children in Iceland.

One of every five 65 years and older received municipal home-help service
In the year 2016, 8,973 households received municipal home-help service. Four of every five of these households were households of the elderly or 7,307 (81.4%). That was an increase of 24 (0.3%) households from the year 2015. A total of 9,186 individuals or 19.4% of inhabitants 65 years or older were living in these households. In the municipality of Reykjavík 21% of that age group received home-help service.

Decrease in number of children enrolled in day care in private homes
In the year 2016, 1,448 children were enrolled in day care in private homes, an decrease by 270 (-15.7%) from the year before. This was 5.6% of children at the age of 0 to 5 years in the country. Nearly 4% of all children in the first year were enrolled in day care in private homes but nearly 31% of children 1 year of age which are the age groups that have not reached the pre-primary school age.

Statistics