Share of population living in urbanized areas in Iceland
Iceland: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 72.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Iceland, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urbanized areas in Iceland is 72.8%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Iceland peaked at 73.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Iceland 74th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1710s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 1 |
| 1730s | 11.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% | 1 |
| 1740s | 13.5% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 1 |
| 1750s | 15.9% | 15.9% | 15.9% | 1 |
| 1760s | 18.4% | 18.4% | 18.4% | 1 |
| 1770s | 20.9% | 20.9% | 20.9% | 1 |
| 1780s | 23.3% | 23.3% | 23.3% | 1 |
| 1790s | 25.8% | 25.8% | 25.8% | 1 |
| 1800s | 28.3% | 28.3% | 28.3% | 1 |
| 1810s | 30.7% | 30.7% | 30.7% | 1 |
| 1820s | 33.2% | 33.2% | 33.2% | 1 |
| 1830s | 35.7% | 35.7% | 35.7% | 1 |
| 1840s | 38.1% | 38.1% | 38.1% | 1 |
| 1850s | 40.6% | 40.6% | 40.6% | 1 |
| 1860s | 43.1% | 43.1% | 43.1% | 1 |
| 1870s | 45.5% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 1 |
| 1880s | 48.0% | 48.0% | 48.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 50.5% | 50.5% | 50.5% | 1 |
| 1900s | 52.9% | 52.9% | 52.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 55.4% | 55.4% | 55.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 57.9% | 57.9% | 57.9% | 1 |
| 1930s | 59.1% | 59.1% | 59.1% | 1 |
| 1940s | 60.6% | 60.6% | 60.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 63.5% | 61.2% | 65.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 67.6% | 66.0% | 69.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 70.8% | 69.5% | 72.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 72.6% | 72.2% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 72.1% | 71.3% | 73.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 71.4% | 70.9% | 71.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.2% | 71.9% | 72.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.7% | 72.6% | 72.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More population data for Iceland
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 13,661 people (2100)
- Population density 3.6 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 7,879 people (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.56 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.4% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.54 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Iceland?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Iceland was 72.8% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 73.0% in 1990.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Iceland rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Iceland ranks 74th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.