The population of Iceland grew steadily within the last 10 years. Even so, the inhabitants with an Icelandic citizenship grew slower than the inhabitants with a foreign citizenship in recent years. In conclusion, the population growth was to a big extent due to immigration. To be specific, several of the immigrants who moved to Iceland in 2022 came from Poland and Denmark.

The population in Iceland increased steadily over the past 10 years. Of the 387,758 people living in Iceland at the beginning of 2023, people between 20 and 39 years of age made up the largest age group. The second largest age group was those aged 40 to 59 years. Above 13,000 people aged 80 years or more live in Iceland. The Icelandic population consists of more men than women.

The total population in Iceland was estimated at 0.4 million people in 2025, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Iceland Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Iceland was reported at 3.7886 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iceland - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Iceland (POPTOTISA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Iceland and population.

After having decreased by 0.5 percent due to increasing emigration after the financial crisis in 2009, the annual population growth in Iceland has been positive since 2010. In 2022, the country's population increased by around three percent. At the beginning of 2022, the population of Iceland was 387,758 inhabitants.

Migration

One reason behind Iceland's growing population is immigration to Iceland. The number peaked in 2017, when nearly 15,000 people immigrated to Iceland. A high number of the immigrants who arrived in Iceland in 2021 came from other European countries, the largest group coming from Poland.

Decreasing fertility rate

While the number of births in Iceland increased slightly over recent years after having fallen until 2016, the fertility rate decreased over the last decade. In 2021, the fertility rate in Iceland was 1.82 children per woman. Despite this, Iceland's birth rate is roughly double its death rate, which results in natural population growth.

Iceland IS: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data was reported at 12.000 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.500 Ratio for 2015. Iceland IS: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data is updated yearly, averaging 17.600 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.000 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 12.000 Ratio in 2016. Iceland IS: Birth Rate: Crude: per 1000 People data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Crude birth rate indicates the number of live births occurring during the year, per 1,000 population estimated at midyear. Subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate provides the rate of natural increase, which is equal to the rate of population change in the absence of migration.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Iceland (SPPOPGROWISL) from 1961 to 2024 about Iceland, population, and rate.

Historical dataset showing total population for Iceland by year from 1950 to 2025.

Iceland IS: Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 20.092 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 20.167 % for 2016. Iceland IS: Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 25.287 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 35.062 % in 1962 and a record low of 20.092 % in 2017. Iceland IS: Population: as % of Total: Aged 0-14 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population between the ages 0 to 14 as a percentage of the total population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

Population growth (annual %) in Iceland was reported at 2.8226 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iceland - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Historical dataset showing Iceland population density by year from 1961 to 2022.

Iceland Population: Male data was reported at 182,837.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 177,600.000 Person for 2017. Iceland Population: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 52,135.000 Person from Dec 1840 (Median) to 2018, with 179 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 182,837.000 Person in 2018 and a record low of 27,104.000 Person in 1840. Iceland Population: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G001: Population.

Population, male (% of total population) in Iceland was reported at 51.2 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iceland - Population, male (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Population ages 30-34, female (% of female population) in Iceland was reported at 8.1565 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iceland - Population ages 30-34, female (% of female population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Population ages 15-64, male in Iceland was reported at 139551 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iceland - Population ages 15-64, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Population, male in Iceland was reported at 207180 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iceland - Population, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Iceland Population: Female data was reported at 174,154.000 Person in 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 170,850.000 Person for 2017. Iceland Population: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 54,215.000 Person from Dec 1840 (Median) to 2018, with 179 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 174,154.000 Person in 2018 and a record low of 29,998.000 Person in 1843. Iceland Population: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G001: Population.

Iceland: Population size, in millions: The latest value from 2024 is 0.4 million, an increase from 0.39 million in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 41.28 million, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Iceland from 1960 to 2024 is 0.27 million. The minimum value, 0.18 million, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 0.4 million was recorded in 2024.

Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) in Iceland was reported at 17.69 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Iceland - Population ages 0-14, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.