Population density - Regions in Iceland
Iceland: Population density - Regions was 389,444 Persons in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population density - Regions in Iceland, 1990–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 389,444 Persons for population density - regions in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 18.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density - regions in Iceland peaked at 389,444 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 253,785 Persons, in 1990.
That places Iceland 51st out of 51 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Population density - Regions in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 253,785 Persons | — |
| 1991 | 255,866 Persons | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 259,727 Persons | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 262,386 Persons | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 265,064 Persons | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 266,978 Persons | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 267,958 Persons | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 269,874 Persons | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 272,381 Persons | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 275,712 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 279,049 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 283,361 Persons | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 286,575 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 288,471 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 290,570 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 293,577 Persons | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 299,891 Persons | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 307,672 Persons | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 315,459 Persons | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 319,368 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 317,630 Persons | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 318,452 Persons | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 319,575 Persons | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 321,857 Persons | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 325,671 Persons | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 329,100 Persons | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 332,529 Persons | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 338,349 Persons | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 348,450 Persons | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 356,991 Persons | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 364,134 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 368,792 Persons | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 376,248 Persons | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 387,758 Persons | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 383,567 Persons | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 389,444 Persons | +1.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 389,444 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.71 million Persons, 4% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 389,444 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9.05 million Persons, 4% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 264,973 Persons | 253,785 Persons | 275,712 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 296,399 Persons | 279,049 Persons | 319,368 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 330,860 Persons | 317,630 Persons | 356,991 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 378,324 Persons | 364,134 Persons | 389,444 Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More population data for Iceland
- 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)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4806 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density - regions in Iceland?
- Population density - regions in Iceland was 389,444 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest population density - regions recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 389,444 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest population density - regions recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 253,785 Persons in 1990.
- How does Iceland rank for population density - regions?
- Iceland ranks 51st out of 51 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population density - regions rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Population density - Regions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
This dataset provides indicators on population density and land areas, in large (TL2) regions and small (TL3) regions. Data definition and source Population density per land area excludes inland water bodies. This indicator measures the number of people residing in small TL3 and large TL2 regions per square kilometers. Data is collected from Eurostat (reg_dem) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites. Definition of regions Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xlsx). Use of data on small regions When demographic data are analysed along with economic data using the TL3 level, it is advisable to aggregate data at the metropolitan region level when several TL3 regions are associated to the same metropolitan region. Metropolitan regions combine TL3 regions when 50% or more of the regional population live in a functionnal urban areas above 250 000 inhabitants. This approach corrects the distortions created by commuting, see the list of OECD metropolitan regions (xlsx) and the EU methodology (link). Territorial typologies Small TL3 regions are categorized based on shared characteristics into regional typologies. See the demographic indicators aggregated by territorial typology at country level on the access to City typology (link) and by urban-rural typology (link). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats. Further information OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For questions and/or comments, please email RegionStat@oecd.org.