The number of people immigrating to Iceland reached a new high in 2022 when more than 17,000 people immigrated to the country. The number of immigrants dropped to 10,400 in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immigrants from Poland

The most common country of origin for people immigrating to Iceland was Poland, followed by Ukraine and Romania. Of immigrants from outside of Europe, the United States had the highest number. There were more men than women immigrating to Iceland over the last 15 years.

A growing population due to migration

Migration to Iceland in recent years is one of the reasons why the population is increasing steadily, despite the fact that the increase number of people between zero and 19 years has been increasing slowly during the last 10 years.

In 2022, more than 17,000 individuals immigrated to Iceland. Of these, people immigrating from Poland made up the largest group with nearly 4,000 immigrants. People from Ukraine made up the second largest group, which must be seen in relation with the Russia-Ukraine war that broke out in February 2022.

Iceland IS: Net Migration data was reported at 1,900.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of -2,163.000 Person for 2012. Iceland IS: Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging -236.000 Person from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2017, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12,007.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of -3,929.000 Person in 1977. Iceland IS: Net Migration 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. Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the total number of immigrants less the annual number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens. Data are five-year estimates.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

Iceland net migration for 2023 was 380.00, a 0% increase from 2022.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Iceland net migration for 2022 was <strong>380.00</strong>, a <strong>38.91% decline</strong> from 2021.</li>
<li>Iceland net migration for 2021 was <strong>622.00</strong>, a <strong>75.83% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Iceland net migration for 2020 was <strong>2,573</strong>, a <strong>50.06% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
</ul>Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the total number of immigrants less the annual number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens. Data are five-year estimates.

Iceland IS: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data was reported at 11.390 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.033 % for 2010. Iceland IS: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7.121 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.390 % in 2015 and a record low of 3.761 % in 1990. Iceland IS: International Migrant Stock: % of Population 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. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2008 Revision.; Weighted average;

The number of registered immigrants from EU countries to Iceland fluctuated and increased through the documented time period. In 2023, there were 8,335 immigrants to Iceland, an increase of 5,580 since 2013.

Iceland IS: International Migrant Stock: Total data was reported at 37,522.000 Person in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 35,091.000 Person for 2010. Iceland IS: International Migrant Stock: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 8,341.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37,522.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 3,317.000 Person in 1960. Iceland IS: International Migrant Stock: Total 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. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2012 Revision.; Sum;

Of the foreign inhabitants residing in Iceland in 2023, the highest number had a Polish origin. Over 23,000 people with a Polish origin lived in Iceland. Danes, who made up the second largest group of foreign-born citizens, only counted 3,900 people. People from Poland also made up the largest group of people immigrating to Iceland in 2022.

Poles in Iceland

The number of immigrants from Poland started to increase after the country joined the European Union in 2004. Even though Iceland is not a member of the EU, it is a part of the European Economic Area (EEA), meaning that people from Poland do not need a residence or work permit when moving to Iceland. Traditionally, many Poles have been working in Iceland's important fishing industry, but in recent years, tourism, health care, and construction have also become important industries for Polish immigrants. In 2022, the tourism industry was the third largest employer in the country.

Employment in Iceland

The Nordic country is known for its high employment rates and high living standards. In 2022, more than 83 percent of the country's working age population was employed. This was the highest of the OECD countries that year.

Norway Immigration: Europe: Iceland data was reported at 401.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 604.000 Person for 2016. Norway Immigration: Europe: Iceland data is updated yearly, averaging 401.000 Person from Dec 1967 (Median) to 2017, with 51 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,753.000 Person in 2011 and a record low of 166.000 Person in 1971. Norway Immigration: Europe: Iceland data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Norway. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.G006: Immigration: by Country.

Iceland: Migrant population, percent of total population: The latest value from 2015 is 11 percent, unchanged from 11 percent in 2010. In comparison, the world average is 10 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Iceland from 1990 to 2015 is 8 percent. The minimum value, 4 percent, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 11 percent was recorded in 2010.

Iceland Number of Immigrants: Cuba data was reported at 5.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.000 Person for 2016. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Cuba data is updated yearly, averaging 3.000 Person from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of 0.000 Person in 1995. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Cuba data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland . The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G006: Number of Immigrants.

Iceland Number of Immigrants: Eritrea data was reported at 2.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.000 Person for 2016. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Eritrea data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 Person from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.000 Person in 2010 and a record low of 0.000 Person in 2016. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Eritrea data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland . The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G006: Number of Immigrants.

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.

Iceland Number of Immigrants: China data was reported at 95.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 79.000 Person for 2016. Iceland Number of Immigrants: China data is updated yearly, averaging 45.000 Person from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 432.000 Person in 2005 and a record low of 2.000 Person in 1986. Iceland Number of Immigrants: China data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland . The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G006: Number of Immigrants.

Iceland Number of Immigrants: Iraq data was reported at 55.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 35.000 Person for 2016. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Iraq data is updated yearly, averaging 1.000 Person from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 55.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 0.000 Person in 2010. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Iraq data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland . The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G006: Number of Immigrants.

In Iceland, the employment rates among foreign-born citizens were at their lowest in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the employment rate for male migrants dropped from nearly ** percent to below ** percent. However, while the rate among men rose again in 2021, that of foreign-born women continued to drop, falling to **** percent.

Iceland Number of Immigrants: Ukraine data was reported at 34.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 38.000 Person for 2016. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Ukraine data is updated yearly, averaging 16.000 Person from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 0.000 Person in 1994. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Ukraine data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland . The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G006: Number of Immigrants.

This horizontal bar chart displays net migration (people) by continent using the aggregation sum in Iceland. The data is about countries per year.

This scatter chart displays access to electricity (% of population) against net migration (people) in Iceland. The data is about countries per year.

Iceland Number of Immigrants: Poland data was reported at 4,487.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 2,839.000 Person for 2016. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Poland data is updated yearly, averaging 347.000 Person from Dec 1986 (Median) to 2017, with 32 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,653.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of 5.000 Person in 1986. Iceland Number of Immigrants: Poland data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Iceland . The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.G006: Number of Immigrants.