Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iceland
Iceland: Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 was 94.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
94.2%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
30th
of 238 countries
All-time high
94.2%
in 2025
All-time low
0.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iceland, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2023); United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 94.2% for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iceland peaked at 94.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
Iceland ranks 30th of 238 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.4% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 1.2% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 3.6% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 6.0% | +69.0% |
| 1720 | 8.5% | +40.8% |
| 1730 | 11.0% | +29.0% |
| 1740 | 13.5% | +22.5% |
| 1750 | 15.9% | +18.3% |
| 1760 | 18.4% | +15.5% |
| 1770 | 20.9% | +13.4% |
| 1780 | 23.3% | +11.8% |
| 1790 | 25.8% | +10.6% |
| 1800 | 28.3% | +9.6% |
| 1810 | 30.7% | +8.7% |
| 1820 | 33.2% | +8.0% |
| 1830 | 35.7% | +7.4% |
| 1840 | 38.1% | +6.9% |
| 1850 | 40.6% | +6.5% |
| 1860 | 43.1% | +6.1% |
| 1870 | 45.5% | +5.7% |
| 1880 | 48.0% | +5.4% |
| 1890 | 50.5% | +5.1% |
| 1900 | 52.9% | +4.9% |
| 1910 | 55.4% | +4.7% |
| 1920 | 57.9% | +4.5% |
| 1930 | 59.1% | +2.1% |
| 1940 | 60.6% | +2.5% |
| 1950 | 71.9% | +18.7% |
| 1951 | 74.4% | +3.4% |
| 1952 | 74.8% | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 75.7% | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 76.5% | +1.2% |
| 1955 | 77.0% | +0.6% |
| 1956 | 77.4% | +0.5% |
| 1957 | 77.9% | +0.7% |
| 1958 | 78.7% | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 79.7% | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 80.4% | +0.8% |
| 1961 | 81.0% | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 81.5% | +0.7% |
| 1963 | 82.0% | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 82.7% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 83.2% | +0.6% |
| 1966 | 83.5% | +0.4% |
| 1967 | 83.9% | +0.4% |
| 1968 | 84.4% | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 84.8% | +0.4% |
| 1970 | 85.0% | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 85.3% | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 85.7% | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 86.2% | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 86.5% | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 86.9% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 87.2% | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 87.4% | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 87.7% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 87.9% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 88.1% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 88.3% | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 88.6% | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 88.9% | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 89.1% | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 89.3% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 89.6% | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 89.8% | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 90.1% | +0.3% |
| 1989 | 90.4% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 90.6% | +0.2% |
| 1991 | 90.9% | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 91.1% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 91.3% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 91.4% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 91.6% | +0.2% |
| 1996 | 91.8% | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 92.0% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 91.7% | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 91.8% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 92.0% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 92.0% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 92.2% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 92.3% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 92.4% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 92.4% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 92.2% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 92.4% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 93.1% | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 93.4% | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 93.5% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 93.4% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 93.5% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 93.6% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 93.6% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 93.7% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 93.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 93.8% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 93.9% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 94.0% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 94.1% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 94.2% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 94.2% | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 94.2% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 94.2% | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 94.2% | +0.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 94.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 81.3%, 1.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 94.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69.6%, 1.4× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urban areas 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 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.4% | 1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1 |
| 1700s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1710s | 6.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 1 |
| 1730s | 11.0% | 11.0% | 11.0% | 1 |
| 1740s | 13.5% | 13.5% | 13.5% | 1 |
| 1750s | 15.9% | 15.9% | 15.9% | 1 |
| 1760s | 18.4% | 18.4% | 18.4% | 1 |
| 1770s | 20.9% | 20.9% | 20.9% | 1 |
| 1780s | 23.3% | 23.3% | 23.3% | 1 |
| 1790s | 25.8% | 25.8% | 25.8% | 1 |
| 1800s | 28.3% | 28.3% | 28.3% | 1 |
| 1810s | 30.7% | 30.7% | 30.7% | 1 |
| 1820s | 33.2% | 33.2% | 33.2% | 1 |
| 1830s | 35.7% | 35.7% | 35.7% | 1 |
| 1840s | 38.1% | 38.1% | 38.1% | 1 |
| 1850s | 40.6% | 40.6% | 40.6% | 1 |
| 1860s | 43.1% | 43.1% | 43.1% | 1 |
| 1870s | 45.5% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 1 |
| 1880s | 48.0% | 48.0% | 48.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 50.5% | 50.5% | 50.5% | 1 |
| 1900s | 52.9% | 52.9% | 52.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 55.4% | 55.4% | 55.4% | 1 |
| 1920s | 57.9% | 57.9% | 57.9% | 1 |
| 1930s | 59.1% | 59.1% | 59.1% | 1 |
| 1940s | 60.6% | 60.6% | 60.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 76.4% | 71.9% | 79.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 82.7% | 80.4% | 84.8% | 10 |
| 1970s | 86.6% | 85.0% | 87.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 89.2% | 88.1% | 90.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 91.4% | 90.6% | 92.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 92.4% | 92.0% | 93.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 93.7% | 93.4% | 94.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 94.2% | 94.1% | 94.2% | 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 share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iceland?
- Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 in Iceland was 94.2% in 2025, 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 share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 94.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Iceland rank for share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050?
- Iceland ranks 30th out of 238 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050 rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Share of population living in urban areas projected to 2050. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, combining UN estimates with modeled historical data.