Urban and rural population in Iceland
Iceland: Urban and rural population was 375,238 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
375,238
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
169th
of 236 countries
All-time high
375,238
in 2025
All-time low
102,607
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Iceland, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, urban and rural population in Iceland stood at 375,238. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban and rural population in Iceland peaked at 375,238 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 102,607, in 1950.
That places Iceland 169th out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Urban and rural population in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 102,607 | — |
| 1951 | 108,174 | +5.4% |
| 1952 | 110,543 | +2.2% |
| 1953 | 114,052 | +3.2% |
| 1954 | 118,058 | +3.5% |
| 1955 | 121,438 | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 124,640 | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 128,420 | +3.0% |
| 1958 | 132,542 | +3.2% |
| 1959 | 137,049 | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 141,066 | +2.9% |
| 1961 | 144,958 | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 148,675 | +2.6% |
| 1963 | 152,274 | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 156,232 | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 159,998 | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 163,398 | +2.1% |
| 1967 | 166,776 | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 170,067 | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 172,369 | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 173,890 | +0.9% |
| 1971 | 175,908 | +1.2% |
| 1972 | 179,382 | +2.0% |
| 1973 | 183,067 | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 186,198 | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 189,379 | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 191,961 | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 193,964 | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 196,007 | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 198,391 | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 200,965 | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 203,847 | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 207,206 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 210,629 | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 213,449 | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 215,645 | +1.0% |
| 1986 | 217,784 | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 220,845 | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 225,057 | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 228,571 | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 230,894 | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 234,354 | +1.5% |
| 1992 | 237,968 | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 240,798 | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 243,305 | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 245,146 | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 247,013 | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 249,541 | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 251,294 | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 254,731 | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 258,686 | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 262,377 | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 265,080 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 267,374 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 270,073 | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 274,208 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 280,156 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 287,845 | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 295,493 | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 297,724 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 297,347 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 298,109 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 300,034 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 303,210 | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 306,616 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 310,194 | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 314,709 | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 322,136 | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 331,163 | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 338,975 | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 345,118 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 351,071 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 358,214 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 364,893 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 370,508 | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 375,238 | +1.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 375,238 is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.22 million, 17% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 375,238 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.89 million, 10% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 119,752 | 102,607 | 137,049 | 10 |
| 1960s | 157,581 | 141,066 | 172,369 | 10 |
| 1970s | 186,815 | 173,890 | 198,391 | 10 |
| 1980s | 214,400 | 200,965 | 228,571 | 10 |
| 1990s | 243,504 | 230,894 | 254,731 | 10 |
| 2000s | 275,902 | 258,686 | 297,724 | 10 |
| 2010s | 312,249 | 297,347 | 338,975 | 10 |
| 2020s | 360,840 | 345,118 | 375,238 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 166 Montenegro 415,124 compare
- 167 Cape Verde 409,364 compare
- 168 East Timor 408,340 compare
- 170 Guadeloupe 360,516 compare
- 171 Brunei 349,799 compare
- 172 Bhutan 346,000 compare
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)
- Population growth rate -0.502 (2100)
- Population density 3.6 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 13,661 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban and rural population in Iceland?
- Urban and rural population in Iceland was 375,238 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 375,238 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 102,607 in 1950.
- How does Iceland rank for urban and rural population?
- Iceland ranks 169th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. 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 Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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