Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iceland
Iceland: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 8,459 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iceland, 1990–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iceland is 8,459, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.4% on the previous year and up 4,875.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iceland peaked at 8,715 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 39, in 2008.
That places Iceland 94th out of 183 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 85 | — |
| 1991 | 141 | +65.9% |
| 1992 | 154 | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 160 | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 160 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 197 | +23.1% |
| 1996 | 232 | +17.8% |
| 1997 | 252 | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 286 | +13.5% |
| 1999 | 245 | -14.3% |
| 2000 | 235 | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 204 | -13.2% |
| 2002 | 197 | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 226 | +14.7% |
| 2004 | 226 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 284 | +25.7% |
| 2006 | 254 | -10.6% |
| 2007 | 41 | -83.9% |
| 2008 | 39 | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 58 | +48.7% |
| 2010 | 72 | +24.1% |
| 2011 | 55 | -23.6% |
| 2012 | 55 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 72 | +30.9% |
| 2014 | 93 | +29.2% |
| 2015 | 170 | +82.8% |
| 2016 | 245 | +44.1% |
| 2017 | 361 | +47.3% |
| 2018 | 549 | +52.1% |
| 2019 | 894 | +62.8% |
| 2020 | 1,460 | +63.3% |
| 2021 | 1,830 | +25.3% |
| 2022 | 5,240 | +186.3% |
| 2023 | 8,715 | +66.3% |
| 2024 | 7,879 | -9.6% |
| 2025 | 8,459 | +7.4% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 8,459 is below the median for high income countries, which is 11,811, 72% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 8,459 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 70,349, 12% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +186.3% | 1,830 | 5,240 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 191.2 | 85 | 286 | 10 |
| 2000s | 176.4 | 39 | 284 | 10 |
| 2010s | 256.6 | 55 | 894 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,597 | 1,460 | 8,715 | 6 |
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 refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iceland?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Iceland was 8,459 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 8,715 in 2023.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 39 in 2008.
- How does Iceland rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Iceland ranks 94th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4,875.9%. 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 Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).