Iceland Population 2024 (Live)

376,975

Iceland is expected to continue its steady growth, potentially hitting 493,000 by 2060, exceeding half a million for the first time by the second half of the 21st century.

Population Rank
Growth Rate
2024 World Percentage
Land Area
100,830
The current population of Iceland is 376,975 based on projections of the latest United Nations data. The UN estimates the July 1, 2024 population at 377,689.

Iceland Growth Rate

Iceland Population 2024 (Live)

Iceland Population Clock

Iceland Population (as of 3/11/2024)376,975
Next UN Estimate (July 1, 2024)377,689
Births per Day12
Deaths per Day7
Migrations per Day1
Net Change per Day6
Population Change Since Jan. 1426

Components of Population Change

One birth every 120 minutes
One death every 205.72 minutes
One immigrant every 1440 minutes
Net gain of one person every 240 minutes

Iceland Population Clock

City
2024 Population
Reykjavik118,918
Kopavogur31,719
Hafnarfjoerdur26,808
Akureyri17,693
Gardabaer11,421
Mosfellsbaer8,651
Akranes6,612
Selfoss6,510
Isafjoerdur2,624
Saudarkrokur2,575

Area and Population Density in Iceland

Overall, Iceland has a surface area of 103,001 square kilometers (39,770 square miles) and it is the 108th largest in this respect. However, that harsh geographical landscape is one of the reasons why it's population remains so low. Iceland has the lowest population density of all European countries at just 3 people per kilometer (8/square mile).

City Centers and Capital of Iceland

The capital and largest city of Iceland is Reykjavik, which is also the northernmost capital in the world and a major tourist destination. Reykjavik has a population of about 120,000 or 200,00c0 if the larger Capital Region is included. It's believed that the city was the site of the first permanent settlement on the island, founded sometime around AD 870. It's one of the safest, greenest, and cleanest global cities. The Capital Region accounts for 64% of Iceland's total population.

Iceland Population Density Map

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Year
Population
Growth Rate
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
2024377,6890.92%4180225
2023375,3181.24%4180225
2020366,6691.63%4181224
2019360,7742.22%4181224
2018352,9462.71%4181224
2017343,6322.37%3181224
2015331,0600.79%3181224
2010318,3331.4%3181224
2005297,0291.08%3180223
2000281,4621.01%3179223
1995267,6810.97%3178223
1990255,0191.09%3179221
1985241,5771.14%2178221
1980228,2630.92%2177221
1975218,0701.3%2174221
1970204,4681.23%2174221
1965192,3091.84%2173221
1960175,5662.17%2172218
1955157,7352.03%2172219

Iceland Population by Year (Historical)

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Year
Population
Growth Rate
Density (/km²)
Population Rank
Density Rank
2024377,6890.92%4180225
2025380,0100.72%4180225
2030390,3380.54%4182225
2035398,2090.4%4183225
2040403,7370.28%4182226
2045407,1490.17%4182227
2050408,7830.08%4182227
2055409,2600.02%4182227
2060408,673-0.03%4183227
2065406,834-0.09%4183227
2070403,628-0.16%4183227
2075398,961-0.23%4184227
2080393,007-0.3%4184227
2085386,222-0.35%4184227
2090379,500-0.35%4184227
2095373,622-0.31%4184227

Iceland Population by Year (Projections)

Iceland Population Pyramid 2024

Iceland Median Age

37.1

Total

36.6

Male

37.7

Female

Iceland Population by Age

There are people over age 18 in Iceland.

Census Years

Year
Date
20212021
201131 December 2011

Iceland Population Pyramid

Iceland Demographics

The original population of the island was of Gaelic and Nordic origin based on genetic analysis and literary evidence from the island's settlement. One genetic study of Icelanders found most men were of Nordic origin while most women were of Gaelic origin.

In the island's early history, the harsh winters, volcanic eruptions, and outbreaks of plague affected its growth many times, with 37 famines recorded between 1500 and 1804. The first census of Iceland found a population of more than 50,000 in 1703, which declined to 40,000 after massive eruptions of the Laki volcano between 1783 and 1784. As living conditions improved, the population began to grow, eventually hitting 60,000 in 1850 then 320,000 by 2008.

Iceland's population is fairly young for such a developed country. The median age in Iceland is 36.5 years of age, with a total life expectancy of 83.1 years of age. Iceland is also rare in that it is one of the few European nations with a fertility rate well above the replacement rate at 2.1 children born per woman.

The ethnic composition of Iceland today is 93% Icelandic. The largest ethnic minority is Polish at 3% of the population. There are about 8,000 Poles on the island, accounting for 75% of the workforce in Fjarðabyggð. More than 13% of the population was born abroad while 6% hold foreign citizenship. There is also significant Icelandic diaspora with 88,000 people of Icelandic descent in Canada and more than 40,000 in the United States.

Quality of Life in Iceland

Iceland ranks at number 4 in the World Happiness Report in 2018, with a rating of 7.495. This rating is discerned from the examination of GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceived corruption. Additionally, 100% of the population has improved access to clean drinking water and only 1.2% of the population struggles with access to improved sanitation facilities. School life expectancy is at a total of 20 years, with females tending to spend 21 years in education over males who are only expected to stay in for 18 years.

Iceland Population Rank 2024
Area (km²)
103,000
2024 Growth Rate
Capital
GDP (IMF '23)
$30.57
GDP (UN '22)
$28.06 Bn

Iceland - General Info

Sources