Population, per square kilometre in Iceland
Iceland: Population, per square kilometre was 3.9 units per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
3.9 units per square kilometre
Change on year
up 3.0%
World rank
183rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
3.9 units per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
1.79 units per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Population, per square kilometre in Iceland, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in units per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, population, per square kilometre in Iceland stood at 3.9 units per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population, per square kilometre in Iceland peaked at 3.9 units per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.79 units per square kilometre, in 1961.
Iceland ranks 183rd of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Population, per square kilometre in Iceland, year by year
| Year | units per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.79 units per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 1.82 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 1963 | 1.85 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1964 | 1.89 units per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 1.92 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1966 | 1.95 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1967 | 1.98 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1968 | 2.01 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 2.03 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 1970 | 2.04 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 2.06 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 2.09 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 2.12 units per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1974 | 2.15 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 2.17 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 2.2 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 2.21 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 2.23 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 2.25 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 2.28 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 2.3 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 2.33 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 2.36 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 2.39 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 2.41 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 2.43 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 2.45 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 2.49 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 2.52 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 2.54 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 2.57 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 2.6 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 2.63 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 2.65 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 2.67 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 2.68 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 2.7 units per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 2.73 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 2.77 units per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 2.81 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 2.84 units per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 2.87 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 2.89 units per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 2.91 units per square kilometre | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 2.96 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 3.03 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 3.11 units per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 3.17 units per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 3.18 units per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 3.17 units per square kilometre | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 3.18 units per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 3.2 units per square kilometre | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 3.23 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 3.27 units per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 3.3 units per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 3.35 units per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 3.43 units per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 3.5 units per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 3.58 units per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 3.63 units per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 3.69 units per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 3.79 units per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 3.9 units per square kilometre | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.91 units per square kilometre | 1.79 units per square kilometre | 2.03 units per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.15 units per square kilometre | 2.04 units per square kilometre | 2.25 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.4 units per square kilometre | 2.28 units per square kilometre | 2.52 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.66 units per square kilometre | 2.54 units per square kilometre | 2.77 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.98 units per square kilometre | 2.81 units per square kilometre | 3.18 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.32 units per square kilometre | 3.17 units per square kilometre | 3.58 units per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.75 units per square kilometre | 3.63 units per square kilometre | 3.9 units per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 180 Libya 4.15 units per square kilometre compare
- 181 Suriname 3.92 units per square kilometre compare
- 182 Guyana 3.91 units per square kilometre compare
- 184 Namibia 3.6 units per square kilometre compare
- 185 Australia 3.46 units per square kilometre compare
- 186 Mongolia 2.23 units per square kilometre compare
More gender data for Iceland
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 69.14 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.228 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 2,155 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 2,290 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 2,184 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 2,324 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 2,211 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 2,349 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 2,353 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 2,500 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population, per square kilometre in Iceland?
- Population, per square kilometre in Iceland was 3.9 units per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest population, per square kilometre recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.9 units per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest population, per square kilometre recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.79 units per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Iceland rank for population, per square kilometre?
- Iceland ranks 183rd out of 186 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population, per square kilometre rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Population, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Population ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Population International Monetary Fund
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Population divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.