Long run birth rate in Iceland
Iceland: Long run birth rate was 11.21 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
11.21
Change on year
down 1.6%
World rank
147th
of 236 countries
All-time high
42.72
in 1858
All-time low
11.21
in 2023
Years of data
186
1838–2023
Long run birth rate in Iceland, 1838–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for long run birth rate in Iceland is 11.21, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 186 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, long run birth rate in Iceland peaked at 42.72 in 1858 and was at its lowest, 11.21, in 2023.
That places Iceland 147th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 186 years of available data.
Long run birth rate in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1838 | 32.59 | — |
| 1839 | 32.35 | -0.7% |
| 1840 | 35.21 | +8.8% |
| 1841 | 37.07 | +5.3% |
| 1842 | 36.55 | -1.4% |
| 1843 | 34.18 | -6.5% |
| 1844 | 33.42 | -2.2% |
| 1845 | 35.31 | +5.7% |
| 1846 | 35.31 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 33.44 | -5.3% |
| 1848 | 36.86 | +10.2% |
| 1849 | 36.4 | -1.2% |
| 1850 | 38.3 | +5.2% |
| 1851 | 38.21 | -0.2% |
| 1852 | 39.1 | +2.3% |
| 1853 | 40.04 | +2.4% |
| 1854 | 39.26 | -2.0% |
| 1855 | 38.04 | -3.1% |
| 1856 | 37.25 | -2.1% |
| 1857 | 40.46 | +8.6% |
| 1858 | 42.72 | +5.6% |
| 1859 | 38.4 | -10.1% |
| 1860 | 35.28 | -8.1% |
| 1861 | 36.6 | +3.7% |
| 1862 | 38.89 | +6.3% |
| 1863 | 38.21 | -1.7% |
| 1864 | 39.64 | +3.7% |
| 1865 | 39.07 | -1.4% |
| 1866 | 37.51 | -4.0% |
| 1867 | 39.05 | +4.1% |
| 1868 | 34.24 | -12.3% |
| 1869 | 30.4 | -11.2% |
| 1870 | 31.52 | +3.7% |
| 1871 | 31.34 | -0.6% |
| 1872 | 31.19 | -0.5% |
| 1873 | 33.8 | +8.4% |
| 1874 | 32.13 | -5.0% |
| 1875 | 32.11 | -0.0% |
| 1876 | 33.1 | +3.1% |
| 1877 | 30.8 | -6.9% |
| 1878 | 33.02 | +7.2% |
| 1879 | 31.24 | -5.4% |
| 1880 | 31.5 | +0.8% |
| 1881 | 32.01 | +1.6% |
| 1882 | 31.46 | -1.7% |
| 1883 | 29.36 | -6.7% |
| 1884 | 32.78 | +11.6% |
| 1885 | 31.52 | -3.9% |
| 1886 | 29.58 | -6.1% |
| 1887 | 27.71 | -6.3% |
| 1888 | 27.09 | -2.2% |
| 1889 | 31.08 | +14.7% |
| 1890 | 31.02 | -0.2% |
| 1891 | 33.42 | +7.7% |
| 1892 | 31.63 | -5.4% |
| 1893 | 31.93 | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 29.74 | -6.8% |
| 1895 | 33.85 | +13.8% |
| 1896 | 31.58 | -6.7% |
| 1897 | 31.47 | -0.4% |
| 1898 | 29.9 | -5.0% |
| 1899 | 29.07 | -2.8% |
| 1900 | 28.7 | -1.3% |
| 1901 | 27.87 | -2.9% |
| 1902 | 28.23 | +1.3% |
| 1903 | 28.35 | +0.4% |
| 1904 | 28.81 | +1.6% |
| 1905 | 28.26 | -1.9% |
| 1906 | 28.97 | +2.5% |
| 1907 | 28.08 | -3.1% |
| 1908 | 27.38 | -2.5% |
| 1909 | 27.32 | -0.2% |
| 1910 | 25.67 | -6.0% |
| 1911 | 25.88 | +0.8% |
| 1912 | 26.08 | +0.8% |
| 1913 | 25.74 | -1.3% |
| 1914 | 26.84 | +4.3% |
| 1915 | 27.78 | +3.5% |
| 1916 | 26.7 | -3.9% |
| 1917 | 27.03 | +1.2% |
| 1918 | 26.72 | -1.2% |
| 1919 | 25.48 | -4.6% |
| 1920 | 28.28 | +11.0% |
| 1921 | 27.55 | -2.6% |
| 1922 | 26.76 | -2.8% |
| 1923 | 27.12 | +1.3% |
| 1924 | 25.86 | -4.6% |
| 1925 | 25.95 | +0.4% |
| 1926 | 26.75 | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 25.98 | -2.9% |
| 1928 | 24.6 | -5.3% |
| 1929 | 25.22 | +2.5% |
| 1930 | 26.39 | +4.7% |
| 1931 | 25.81 | -2.2% |
| 1932 | 24.55 | -4.9% |
| 1933 | 22.7 | -7.5% |
| 1934 | 22.92 | +1.0% |
| 1935 | 22.24 | -3.0% |
| 1936 | 22.07 | -0.7% |
| 1937 | 20.51 | -7.1% |
| 1938 | 20.18 | -1.6% |
| 1939 | 19.88 | -1.5% |
| 1940 | 20.62 | +3.7% |
| 1941 | 21.67 | +5.1% |
| 1942 | 24.55 | +13.3% |
| 1943 | 25.59 | +4.2% |
| 1944 | 25.5 | -0.3% |
| 1945 | 26.87 | +5.4% |
| 1946 | 26.34 | -2.0% |
| 1947 | 27.92 | +6.0% |
| 1948 | 28.11 | +0.7% |
| 1949 | 28.05 | -0.2% |
| 1950 | 28.76 | +2.5% |
| 1951 | 27.73 | -3.6% |
| 1952 | 27.82 | +0.3% |
| 1953 | 28.28 | +1.7% |
| 1954 | 27.83 | -1.6% |
| 1955 | 28.38 | +2.0% |
| 1956 | 28.43 | +0.2% |
| 1957 | 28.25 | -0.6% |
| 1958 | 27.35 | -3.2% |
| 1959 | 27.79 | +1.6% |
| 1960 | 27.73 | -0.2% |
| 1961 | 25.32 | -8.7% |
| 1962 | 25.81 | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 25.9 | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 25.23 | -2.6% |
| 1965 | 24.5 | -2.9% |
| 1966 | 23.89 | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 22.17 | -7.2% |
| 1968 | 20.98 | -5.4% |
| 1969 | 20.82 | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 19.87 | -4.6% |
| 1971 | 20.71 | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 22.22 | +7.3% |
| 1973 | 21.63 | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 19.87 | -8.1% |
| 1975 | 20.05 | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 19.55 | -2.5% |
| 1977 | 18.21 | -6.8% |
| 1978 | 18.65 | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 19.82 | +6.3% |
| 1980 | 19.88 | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 18.86 | -5.1% |
| 1982 | 18.54 | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 18.45 | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 17.21 | -6.7% |
| 1985 | 16.1 | -6.4% |
| 1986 | 16.02 | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 17.02 | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 18.5 | +8.7% |
| 1989 | 18.21 | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 18.72 | +2.8% |
| 1991 | 17.59 | -6.1% |
| 1992 | 17.71 | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 17.56 | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 16.76 | -4.5% |
| 1995 | 16.11 | -3.9% |
| 1996 | 16.07 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 15.33 | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 15.18 | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 14.76 | -2.8% |
| 2000 | 15.21 | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 14.34 | -5.8% |
| 2002 | 14.12 | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 14.37 | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 14.49 | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 14.31 | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 14.38 | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 14.42 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 15.12 | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 15.9 | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 15.48 | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 14.18 | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 14.14 | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 13.36 | -5.5% |
| 2014 | 13.3 | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 12.48 | -6.2% |
| 2016 | 11.96 | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 11.65 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 11.82 | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 12.21 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 12.24 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 12.93 | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 11.39 | -11.9% |
| 2023 | 11.21 | -1.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 11.21 is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.6, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 11.21 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9.31, 1.2× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 32.47 | 32.35 | 32.59 | 2 |
| 1840s | 35.37 | 33.42 | 37.07 | 10 |
| 1850s | 39.18 | 37.25 | 42.72 | 10 |
| 1860s | 36.89 | 30.4 | 39.64 | 10 |
| 1870s | 32.03 | 30.8 | 33.8 | 10 |
| 1880s | 30.41 | 27.09 | 32.78 | 10 |
| 1890s | 31.36 | 29.07 | 33.85 | 10 |
| 1900s | 28.2 | 27.32 | 28.97 | 10 |
| 1910s | 26.39 | 25.48 | 27.78 | 10 |
| 1920s | 26.41 | 24.6 | 28.28 | 10 |
| 1930s | 22.72 | 19.88 | 26.39 | 10 |
| 1940s | 25.52 | 20.62 | 28.11 | 10 |
| 1950s | 28.06 | 27.35 | 28.76 | 10 |
| 1960s | 24.23 | 20.82 | 27.73 | 10 |
| 1970s | 20.06 | 18.21 | 22.22 | 10 |
| 1980s | 17.88 | 16.02 | 19.88 | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.58 | 14.76 | 18.72 | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.67 | 14.12 | 15.9 | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.06 | 11.65 | 15.48 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.94 | 11.21 | 12.93 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 144 Falkland Islands 11.31 compare
- 145 Saint Lucia 11.26 compare
- 146 Guadeloupe 11.24 compare
- 148 United States Virgin Islands 11.19 compare
- 149 Barbados 11.17 compare
- 150 Dominica 11.09 compare
More population data for Iceland
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -5.08 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2688 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 408.78 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4806 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.502 (2100)
- Population density 3.6 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 13,661 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is long run birth rate in Iceland?
- Long run birth rate in Iceland was 11.21 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest long run birth rate recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 42.72 in 1858.
- What is the lowest long run birth rate recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.21 in 2023.
- How does Iceland rank for long run birth rate?
- Iceland ranks 147th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is long run birth rate rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Long run birth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 186 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).