Iceland Population
Europe & Central Asia · 176th most populous · High income
Population right now (estimate)
396,963
The population of Iceland is about 396,963 as of 22 October 2026 (estimate), and 396 thousand for 2026 as a whole — 0.00% of the world's people.
Iceland is ranked 176th of 217 by population. The population is still growing, by about 0.91% a year. By 2050 it is projected to reach about 423 thousand. That is 2.3 times its 1960 population of 176 thousand. It is sparsely populated, with only 3.9 people per square kilometre. 94% of people live in cities (2025).
Population 2026
396 thousand
Yearly change
+0.91%
World rank
176th
Share of world
0.00%
Density
4/km²
Land area
100,830 km²
Life expectancy
82.8 yrs
Births per woman
1.56
GDP per capita
$98,323
GDP
$38.6B
Population of Iceland, 1960–2050
Iceland population by year
| Year | Population | Yearly change | Density (per km²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 175,574 | — | 2 |
| 1970 | 204,438 | +0.53% | 2 |
| 1980 | 228,138 | +1.06% | 2 |
| 1990 | 254,826 | +0.78% | 3 |
| 2000 | 281,205 | +1.38% | 3 |
| 2010 | 318,041 | −0.14% | 3 |
| 2020 | 366,463 | +1.64% | 4 |
| 2024 | 386,506 | +0.22% | 4 |
| 2026proj. | 395,967 | +0.91% | 4 |
| 2030proj. | 406,805 | +0.56% | 4 |
| 2040proj. | 419,958 | +0.18% | 4 |
| 2050proj. | 422,949 | +0.00% | 4 |
Iceland vs Bangladesh
Bangladesh (178 million) has 449 times as many people as Iceland. Bangladesh is 347.9 times more densely populated.
Iceland population: questions and answers
What is the population of Iceland in 2026?
About 395,967 (396 thousand), based on World Bank projections.
Is Iceland's population growing?
Yes, by about 0.91% a year (2026).
What is the population density of Iceland?
About 4 people per km², with a land area of 100,830 km².
What will the population of Iceland be in 2050?
About 423 thousand on World Bank projections.
What is the capital of Iceland?
Reykjavík.
What is the life expectancy in Iceland?
82.8 years at birth (2024).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22. Live figures are mathematical estimates interpolated between the World Bank's mid-year values, not real-time counts.