What is survival ages across the population in Iceland?

Survival ages across the population in Iceland was 28.06 years in 2023, according to Alvarez & Vaupel (2023); Human Mortality Database (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest survival ages across the population recorded in Iceland?

The highest recorded value was 35.37 years in 2019.

What is the lowest survival ages across the population recorded in Iceland?

The lowest recorded value was 0.02 years in 1846.

How does Iceland rank for survival ages across the population?

Iceland ranks 33rd out of 41 countries with data for 2023.

Is survival ages across the population rising or falling in Iceland?

Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.

Where does this Iceland data come from?

The figures come from Alvarez & Vaupel (2023); Human Mortality Database (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Survival ages across the population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Survival ages across the population in Iceland

Name: Survival ages across the population in Iceland
Creator: Alvarez & Vaupel (2023); Human Mortality Database (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

Iceland: Survival ages across the population was 28.06 years in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)

28.06 years

Change on year

down 17.7%

World rank

33rd

of 41 countries

All-time high

35.37 years

in 2019

All-time low

0.02 years

in 1846

Years of data

186

1838–2023

Survival ages across the population in Iceland, 1838–2023

Source: Alvarez & Vaupel (2023); Human Mortality Database (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.

Analysis

The most recent figure for survival ages across the population in Iceland is 28.06 years, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 17.7% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, survival ages across the population in Iceland peaked at 35.37 years in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.02 years, in 1846.

Iceland ranks 33rd of 41 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1830s	0.03 years	0.03 years	0.03 years	2
1840s	0.036 years	0.02 years	0.05 years	10
1850s	0.04 years	0.03 years	0.05 years	10
1860s	0.037 years	0.03 years	0.04 years	10
1870s	0.052 years	0.03 years	0.07 years	10
1880s	0.061 years	0.02 years	0.1 years	10
1890s	0.085 years	0.04 years	0.12 years	10
1900s	0.098 years	0.06 years	0.14 years	10
1910s	0.157 years	0.1 years	0.24 years	10
1920s	0.207 years	0.12 years	0.26 years	10
1930s	0.295 years	0.17 years	0.46 years	10
1940s	0.491 years	0.21 years	0.83 years	10
1950s	2.96 years	0.65 years	8.75 years	10
1960s	5.73 years	2.65 years	11.61 years	10
1970s	13.61 years	6.66 years	18.59 years	10
1980s	20.18 years	17.31 years	22.61 years	10
1990s	24.64 years	19.45 years	30.93 years	10
2000s	29.19 years	23.38 years	34.06 years	10
2010s	32.95 years	31.05 years	35.37 years	10
2020s	31.42 years	28.06 years	34.1 years	4

Countries ranked near Iceland

30 New Zealand 28.34 years compare
31 Taiwan 28.29 years compare
32 Poland 28.27 years compare
34 Slovakia 27.58 years compare
35 Canada 26.97 years compare
36 Latvia 26.91 years compare

See the full ranking of 41 places →

More population data for Iceland

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)
Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.56 births per woman (2024)
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.56 births per woman (2024)
Refugees by country of asylum 7,879 people (2024)
Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.56 births per woman (2024)
Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.54 live births per woman (2023)
Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.53 children per women (2023)

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is survival ages across the population in Iceland?: Survival ages across the population in Iceland was 28.06 years in 2023, according to Alvarez & Vaupel (2023); Human Mortality Database (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest survival ages across the population recorded in Iceland?: The highest recorded value was 35.37 years in 2019.
What is the lowest survival ages across the population recorded in Iceland?: The lowest recorded value was 0.02 years in 1846.
How does Iceland rank for survival ages across the population?: Iceland ranks 33rd out of 41 countries with data for 2023.
Is survival ages across the population rising or falling in Iceland?: Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iceland data come from?: The figures come from Alvarez & Vaupel (2023); Human Mortality Database (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Survival ages across the population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 186 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Survival ages across the population
Unit: years
Source: Alvarez & Vaupel (2023); Human Mortality Database (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 41 places, 3,817 data points, 1751–2024
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

The age until which the 1st percentile (99% of the population) of the population would survive until, if they experienced the same age-specific death rates throughout their whole lives as the age-specific death rates seen in that particular year.