Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iceland
Iceland: Urban and rural population projected to 2050 was 13,822 people in 2050. ▼ Falling
Latest (2050)
13,822 people
Change on year
down 5.1%
World rank
194th
of 238 countries
All-time high
69,997 people
in 1100
All-time low
13,822 people
in 2050
Years of data
133
1000–2050
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iceland, 1000–2050
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2050, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iceland stood at 13,822 people. That is the lowest value across all 133 years on record.
The figure is down 5.1% on the previous year and down 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iceland peaked at 69,997 people in 1100 and was at its lowest, 13,822 people, in 2050.
That places Iceland 194th out of 238 countries with data for 2050, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 133 years of available data.
Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iceland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 49,999 people | — |
| 1100 | 69,997 people | +40.0% |
| 1200 | 69,990 people | -0.0% |
| 1300 | 69,969 people | -0.0% |
| 1400 | 59,920 people | -14.4% |
| 1500 | 59,761 people | -0.3% |
| 1600 | 49,404 people | -17.3% |
| 1700 | 47,765 people | -3.3% |
| 1710 | 47,492 people | -0.6% |
| 1720 | 47,188 people | -0.6% |
| 1730 | 46,852 people | -0.7% |
| 1740 | 46,482 people | -0.8% |
| 1750 | 46,078 people | -0.9% |
| 1760 | 45,638 people | -1.0% |
| 1770 | 45,161 people | -1.0% |
| 1780 | 44,645 people | -1.1% |
| 1790 | 44,090 people | -1.2% |
| 1800 | 43,493 people | -1.4% |
| 1810 | 42,854 people | -1.5% |
| 1820 | 43,048 people | +0.5% |
| 1830 | 43,185 people | +0.3% |
| 1840 | 43,258 people | +0.2% |
| 1850 | 43,263 people | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 43,192 people | -0.2% |
| 1870 | 41,737 people | -3.4% |
| 1880 | 40,248 people | -3.6% |
| 1890 | 38,724 people | -3.8% |
| 1900 | 37,165 people | -4.0% |
| 1910 | 35,571 people | -4.3% |
| 1920 | 42,002 people | +18.1% |
| 1930 | 46,901 people | +11.7% |
| 1940 | 51,376 people | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 40,060 people | -22.0% |
| 1951 | 37,246 people | -7.0% |
| 1952 | 37,219 people | -0.1% |
| 1953 | 36,690 people | -1.4% |
| 1954 | 36,205 people | -1.3% |
| 1955 | 36,308 people | +0.3% |
| 1956 | 36,439 people | +0.4% |
| 1957 | 36,335 people | -0.3% |
| 1958 | 35,936 people | -1.1% |
| 1959 | 34,945 people | -2.8% |
| 1960 | 34,494 people | -1.3% |
| 1961 | 34,040 people | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 33,666 people | -1.1% |
| 1963 | 33,369 people | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 32,794 people | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 32,335 people | -1.4% |
| 1966 | 32,198 people | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 32,007 people | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 31,437 people | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 31,008 people | -1.4% |
| 1970 | 30,588 people | -1.4% |
| 1971 | 30,253 people | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 29,820 people | -1.4% |
| 1973 | 29,314 people | -1.7% |
| 1974 | 29,068 people | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 28,649 people | -1.4% |
| 1976 | 28,229 people | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 27,870 people | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 27,565 people | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 27,365 people | -0.7% |
| 1980 | 27,179 people | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 26,899 people | -1.0% |
| 1982 | 26,639 people | -1.0% |
| 1983 | 26,335 people | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 26,052 people | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 25,757 people | -1.1% |
| 1986 | 25,400 people | -1.4% |
| 1987 | 25,009 people | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 24,669 people | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 24,280 people | -1.6% |
| 1990 | 23,939 people | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 23,458 people | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 23,117 people | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 22,956 people | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 22,749 people | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 22,364 people | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 21,947 people | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 21,644 people | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 22,817 people | +5.4% |
| 1999 | 22,717 people | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 22,594 people | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 22,675 people | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 22,527 people | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 22,231 people | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 22,094 people | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 22,626 people | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 23,718 people | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 23,806 people | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 22,021 people | -7.5% |
| 2009 | 20,888 people | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 20,811 people | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 21,028 people | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 20,807 people | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 20,675 people | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 20,896 people | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 20,758 people | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 20,865 people | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 21,396 people | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 21,691 people | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 21,725 people | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 21,496 people | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 21,573 people | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 22,142 people | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 22,665 people | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 22,888 people | +1.0% |
| 2025 | 23,028 people | +0.6% |
| 2026 | 23,100 people | +0.3% |
| 2027 | 23,118 people | +0.1% |
| 2028 | 23,094 people | -0.1% |
| 2029 | 23,025 people | -0.3% |
| 2030 | 22,914 people | -0.5% |
| 2031 | 22,767 people | -0.6% |
| 2032 | 22,581 people | -0.8% |
| 2033 | 22,359 people | -1.0% |
| 2034 | 22,104 people | -1.1% |
| 2035 | 21,818 people | -1.3% |
| 2036 | 21,503 people | -1.4% |
| 2037 | 21,155 people | -1.6% |
| 2038 | 20,775 people | -1.8% |
| 2039 | 20,364 people | -2.0% |
| 2040 | 19,920 people | -2.2% |
| 2041 | 19,445 people | -2.4% |
| 2042 | 18,939 people | -2.6% |
| 2043 | 18,407 people | -2.8% |
| 2044 | 17,844 people | -3.1% |
| 2045 | 17,245 people | -3.4% |
| 2046 | 16,616 people | -3.6% |
| 2047 | 15,959 people | -4.0% |
| 2048 | 15,274 people | -4.3% |
| 2049 | 14,562 people | -4.7% |
| 2050 | 13,822 people | -5.1% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 13,822 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 306,014 people, 5% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 13,822 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.09 million people, 1% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban and rural population projected to 2050 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +40.0% | 49,999 people | 69,997 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 49,999 people | 49,999 people | 49,999 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 69,997 people | 69,997 people | 69,997 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 69,990 people | 69,990 people | 69,990 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 69,969 people | 69,969 people | 69,969 people | 1 |
| 1400s | 59,920 people | 59,920 people | 59,920 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 59,761 people | 59,761 people | 59,761 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 49,404 people | 49,404 people | 49,404 people | 1 |
| 1700s | 47,765 people | 47,765 people | 47,765 people | 1 |
| 1710s | 47,492 people | 47,492 people | 47,492 people | 1 |
| 1720s | 47,188 people | 47,188 people | 47,188 people | 1 |
| 1730s | 46,852 people | 46,852 people | 46,852 people | 1 |
| 1740s | 46,482 people | 46,482 people | 46,482 people | 1 |
| 1750s | 46,078 people | 46,078 people | 46,078 people | 1 |
| 1760s | 45,638 people | 45,638 people | 45,638 people | 1 |
| 1770s | 45,161 people | 45,161 people | 45,161 people | 1 |
| 1780s | 44,645 people | 44,645 people | 44,645 people | 1 |
| 1790s | 44,090 people | 44,090 people | 44,090 people | 1 |
| 1800s | 43,493 people | 43,493 people | 43,493 people | 1 |
| 1810s | 42,854 people | 42,854 people | 42,854 people | 1 |
| 1820s | 43,048 people | 43,048 people | 43,048 people | 1 |
| 1830s | 43,185 people | 43,185 people | 43,185 people | 1 |
| 1840s | 43,258 people | 43,258 people | 43,258 people | 1 |
| 1850s | 43,263 people | 43,263 people | 43,263 people | 1 |
| 1860s | 43,192 people | 43,192 people | 43,192 people | 1 |
| 1870s | 41,737 people | 41,737 people | 41,737 people | 1 |
| 1880s | 40,248 people | 40,248 people | 40,248 people | 1 |
| 1890s | 38,724 people | 38,724 people | 38,724 people | 1 |
| 1900s | 37,165 people | 37,165 people | 37,165 people | 1 |
| 1910s | 35,571 people | 35,571 people | 35,571 people | 1 |
| 1920s | 42,002 people | 42,002 people | 42,002 people | 1 |
| 1930s | 46,901 people | 46,901 people | 46,901 people | 1 |
| 1940s | 51,376 people | 51,376 people | 51,376 people | 1 |
| 1950s | 36,738 people | 34,945 people | 40,060 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 32,735 people | 31,008 people | 34,494 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 28,872 people | 27,365 people | 30,588 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 25,822 people | 24,280 people | 27,179 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 22,771 people | 21,644 people | 23,939 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,518 people | 20,888 people | 23,806 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,065 people | 20,675 people | 21,725 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,613 people | 21,496 people | 23,118 people | 10 |
| 2030s | 21,834 people | 20,364 people | 22,914 people | 10 |
| 2040s | 17,421 people | 14,562 people | 19,920 people | 10 |
| 2050s | 13,822 people | 13,822 people | 13,822 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 191 Malta 21,658 people compare
- 192 Netherlands Antilles 19,612 people compare
- 193 Puerto Rico 17,230 people compare
- 195 American Samoa 12,060 people compare
- 196 Wallis and Futuna 10,148 people compare
- 197 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 8,520 people compare
More population data for Iceland
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.2688 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 13,661 people (2100)
- Population density 3.6 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6617 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4806 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iceland?
- Urban and rural population projected to 2050 in Iceland was 13,822 people in 2050, according to HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 69,997 people in 1100.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population projected to 2050 recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 13,822 people in 2050.
- How does Iceland rank for urban and rural population projected to 2050?
- Iceland ranks 194th out of 238 countries with data for 2050.
- Is urban and rural population projected to 2050 rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 133 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of people living in rural areas, combining UN estimates and projections with modeled historical data.