Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Iceland
Iceland: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 54.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Iceland, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 54.0% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Iceland peaked at 54.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
Iceland ranks 45th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 29.8% | — |
| 1965 | 30.9% | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 32.1% | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 33.3% | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 35.4% | +6.3% |
| 1985 | 36.4% | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 37.1% | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 44.0% | +18.7% |
| 2000 | 45.8% | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 45.1% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 46.4% | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 45.4% | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 54.0% | +18.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 30.3% | 29.8% | 30.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.7% | 32.1% | 33.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 35.9% | 35.4% | 36.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 40.5% | 37.1% | 44.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 45.4% | 45.1% | 45.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 45.9% | 45.4% | 46.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 54.0% | 54.0% | 54.0% | 1 |
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)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Population density 3.6 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 13,661 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Iceland?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Iceland was 54.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 54.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Iceland rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Iceland ranks 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.