Net migration (UNICEF) in Iceland
Iceland: Net migration was 2,709 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2,709
Change on year
down 23.5%
World rank
32nd
of 74 countries
All-time high
8,348
in 2017
All-time low
-4,785
in 2009
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Iceland, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Iceland is 2,709, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 23.5% on the previous year and up 80.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Iceland peaked at 8,348 in 2017 and was at its lowest, -4,785, in 2009.
Iceland ranks 32nd of 74 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -269 | — |
| 1961 | 164 | -161.0% |
| 1962 | -228 | -239.0% |
| 1963 | -113 | -50.4% |
| 1964 | -67 | -40.7% |
| 1965 | -194 | +189.6% |
| 1966 | 39 | -120.1% |
| 1967 | 47 | +20.5% |
| 1968 | -448 | -1053.2% |
| 1969 | -1,414 | +215.6% |
| 1970 | -1,754 | +24.0% |
| 1971 | -231 | -86.8% |
| 1972 | 362 | -256.7% |
| 1973 | -310 | -185.6% |
| 1974 | 209 | -167.4% |
| 1975 | -388 | -285.6% |
| 1976 | -1,181 | +204.4% |
| 1977 | -1,079 | -8.6% |
| 1978 | -781 | -27.6% |
| 1979 | -572 | -26.8% |
| 1980 | -629 | +10.0% |
| 1981 | 157 | -125.0% |
| 1982 | 616 | +292.4% |
| 1983 | 170 | -72.4% |
| 1984 | -328 | -292.9% |
| 1985 | -628 | +91.5% |
| 1986 | -335 | -46.7% |
| 1987 | 944 | -381.8% |
| 1988 | 1,572 | +66.5% |
| 1989 | -994 | -163.2% |
| 1990 | -971 | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 1,145 | -217.9% |
| 1992 | -225 | -119.7% |
| 1993 | -194 | -13.8% |
| 1994 | -804 | +314.4% |
| 1995 | -1,354 | +68.4% |
| 1996 | -511 | -62.3% |
| 1997 | 225 | -144.0% |
| 1998 | 1,014 | +350.7% |
| 1999 | 1,165 | +14.9% |
| 2000 | 1,877 | +61.1% |
| 2001 | 867 | -53.8% |
| 2002 | -333 | -138.4% |
| 2003 | -204 | -38.7% |
| 2004 | 610 | -399.0% |
| 2005 | 3,925 | +543.4% |
| 2006 | 5,300 | +35.0% |
| 2007 | 5,254 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 1,138 | -78.3% |
| 2009 | -4,785 | -520.5% |
| 2010 | -2,055 | -57.1% |
| 2011 | -1,393 | -32.2% |
| 2012 | -277 | -80.1% |
| 2013 | 1,666 | -701.4% |
| 2014 | 1,139 | -31.6% |
| 2015 | 1,499 | +31.6% |
| 2016 | 4,128 | +175.4% |
| 2017 | 8,348 | +102.2% |
| 2018 | 6,638 | -20.5% |
| 2019 | 5,030 | -24.2% |
| 2020 | 2,498 | -50.3% |
| 2021 | 4,911 | +96.6% |
| 2022 | 6,535 | +33.1% |
| 2023 | 4,630 | -29.2% |
| 2024 | 3,543 | -23.5% |
| 2025 | 2,709 | -23.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2,709 is below the median for high income countries, which is 9,502, 29% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2,709 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 158, 17.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | -1053.2% | 47 | -448 |
| 2013 | +701.4% | -277 | 1,666 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -248.3 | -1,414 | 164 | 10 |
| 1970s | -572.5 | -1,754 | 362 | 10 |
| 1980s | 54.5 | -994 | 1,572 | 10 |
| 1990s | -51 | -1,354 | 1,165 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,365 | -4,785 | 5,300 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,472 | -2,055 | 8,348 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4,138 | 2,498 | 6,535 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More population data for Iceland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 408.78 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2688 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- 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)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6617 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Iceland?
- Net migration in Iceland was 2,709 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 8,348 in 2017.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -4,785 in 2009.
- How does Iceland rank for net migration?
- Iceland ranks 32nd out of 74 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 80.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).