Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iceland
Iceland: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 375,238 people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iceland, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iceland stood at 375,238 people. 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, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iceland peaked at 375,238 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 102,607 people, 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 119,752 people | 102,607 people | 137,049 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 157,581 people | 141,066 people | 172,369 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 186,815 people | 173,890 people | 198,391 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 214,400 people | 200,965 people | 228,571 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 243,504 people | 230,894 people | 254,731 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 275,902 people | 258,686 people | 297,724 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 312,249 people | 297,347 people | 338,975 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 360,840 people | 345,118 people | 375,238 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 166 Montenegro 415,124 people compare
- 167 Cape Verde 409,364 people compare
- 168 East Timor 408,340 people compare
- 171 Brunei 349,799 people compare
- 172 Bhutan 346,000 people compare
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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iceland?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Iceland was 375,238 people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 375,238 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 102,607 people in 1950.
- How does Iceland rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Iceland ranks 169th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas 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 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.