Share of the population living in cities in Iceland

Iceland: Share of the population living in cities was 53.96 in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
53.96
World rank
45th
of 229 countries
All-time high
53.96
in 2020
All-time low
0
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of the population living in cities in Iceland, 1950–2020

02040601950198520201950: 01955: 01960: 29.81965: 30.91970: 32.11975: 33.31980: 35.41985: 36.41990: 37.11995: 442000: 45.82005: 45.12010: 46.42015: 45.42020: 54

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, share of the population living in cities in Iceland stood at 53.96. 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 the population living in cities in Iceland peaked at 53.96 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1950.

That places Iceland 45th out of 229 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.

Share of the population living in cities in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population living in cities in Iceland, 1950 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1950 0
1955 0
1960 29.76
1965 30.91 +3.9%
1970 32.15 +4.0%
1975 33.31 +3.6%
1980 35.4 +6.3%
1985 36.44 +2.9%
1990 37.07 +1.7%
1995 44 +18.7%
2000 45.78 +4.0%
2005 45.1 -1.5%
2010 46.42 +2.9%
2015 45.38 -2.2%
2020 53.96 +18.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 0 0 0 2
1960s 30.33 29.76 30.91 2
1970s 32.73 32.15 33.31 2
1980s 35.92 35.4 36.44 2
1990s 40.54 37.07 44 2
2000s 45.44 45.1 45.78 2
2010s 45.9 45.38 46.42 2
2020s 53.96 53.96 53.96 1

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 42 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 54.53 compare
  2. 43 Ecuador 54.26 compare
  3. 44 Gambia 54 compare
  4. 46 Brazil 53.88 compare
  5. 47 Mexico 53.64 compare
  6. 48 Cameroon 53.48 compare

See the full ranking of 236 places →

More population data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of the population living in cities in Iceland?
Share of the population living in cities in Iceland was 53.96 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of the population living in cities recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 53.96 in 2020.
What is the lowest share of the population living in cities recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1950.
How does Iceland rank for share of the population living in cities?
Iceland ranks 45th out of 229 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of the population living in cities 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population living in cities. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of the population living in cities in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-the-population-living-in-cities/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population living in cities
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
236 places, 3,540 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed