Total population (thousands) in Iceland
Iceland: Total population (thousands) was 396.05 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
396.05 thousands
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
177th
of 233 countries
All-time high
396.05 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
204.06 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Iceland, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 396.05 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Iceland peaked at 396.05 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 204.06 thousands, in 1970.
Iceland ranks 177th of 233 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 204.06 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 204.9 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 207.43 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 210.98 thousands | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 213.78 thousands | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 216.75 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 219.31 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1977 | 221.07 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1978 | 222.59 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 224.55 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 226.96 thousands | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 229.33 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 232.16 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 235.52 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 238.4 thousands | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 240.6 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 242.2 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 244.16 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 247.54 thousands | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 251.91 thousands | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 253.79 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 255.87 thousands | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 259.75 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 262.42 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 265.09 thousands | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 267.02 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 268 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 269.92 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 272.45 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 275.77 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 279.12 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 283.44 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 286.67 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 288.55 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 290.66 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 293.67 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 300 thousands | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 307.75 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 315.55 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 319.48 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 317.74 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 318.57 thousands | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 319.7 thousands | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 321.98 thousands | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 325.79 thousands | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 329.23 thousands | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 332.67 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 338.48 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 348.59 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 357.12 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 364.28 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 368.95 thousands | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 376.34 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 384.38 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2024 | 390.74 thousands | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 396.05 thousands | +1.4% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 396.05 thousands is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 13% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 396.05 thousands is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6,353 thousands, 6% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 214.54 thousands | 204.06 thousands | 224.55 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 238.88 thousands | 226.96 thousands | 251.91 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 265.01 thousands | 253.79 thousands | 275.77 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 296.49 thousands | 279.12 thousands | 319.48 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 330.99 thousands | 317.74 thousands | 357.12 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 380.12 thousands | 364.28 thousands | 396.05 thousands | 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)
- 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 total population in Iceland?
- Total population in Iceland was 396.05 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 396.05 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 204.06 thousands in 1970.
- How does Iceland rank for total population?
- Iceland ranks 177th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release