Net migration metrics in Iceland
Iceland: Net migration metrics was 4,630 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
4,630
Change on year
down 29.2%
World rank
65th
of 236 countries
All-time high
8,348
in 2017
All-time low
-4,785
in 2009
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Net migration metrics in Iceland, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, net migration metrics in Iceland stood at 4,630.
The figure is down 29.2% on the previous year and up 177.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration metrics in Iceland peaked at 8,348 in 2017 and was at its lowest, -4,785, in 2009.
Iceland ranks 65th of 236 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 metrics in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 277 | — |
| 1951 | -642 | -331.8% |
| 1952 | -580 | -9.7% |
| 1953 | 375 | -164.7% |
| 1954 | 295 | -21.3% |
| 1955 | 72 | -75.6% |
| 1956 | -200 | -377.8% |
| 1957 | 640 | -420.0% |
| 1958 | -111 | -117.3% |
| 1959 | 175 | -257.7% |
| 1960 | -269 | -253.7% |
| 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% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 4,630 is below the median for high income countries, which is 5,173, 90% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 4,630 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5,053, 92% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration metrics 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 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 30.1 | -642 | 640 | 10 |
| 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 | 4,644 | 2,498 | 6,535 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
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 net migration metrics in Iceland?
- Net migration metrics in Iceland was 4,630 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net migration metrics recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 8,348 in 2017.
- What is the lowest net migration metrics recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -4,785 in 2009.
- How does Iceland rank for net migration metrics?
- Iceland ranks 65th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is net migration metrics rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 177.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Net migration metrics. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).