Sex ratio by age in Iceland
Iceland: Sex ratio by age was 45.95 males per 100 females in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
45.95 males per 100 females
Change on year
up 28.0%
World rank
33rd
of 212 countries
All-time high
50 males per 100 females
in 1970
All-time low
0 males per 100 females
in 1951
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Sex ratio by age in Iceland, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in males per 100 females.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sex ratio by age in Iceland is 45.95 males per 100 females, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 28.0% on the previous year and up 77.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sex ratio by age in Iceland peaked at 50 males per 100 females in 1970 and was at its lowest, 0 males per 100 females, in 1951.
Iceland ranks 33rd of 212 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Sex ratio by age in Iceland, year by year
| Year | males per 100 females | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 20 males per 100 females | — |
| 1951 | 0 males per 100 females | -100.0% |
| 1952 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1953 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1954 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1955 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1956 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1957 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1958 | 25 males per 100 females | — |
| 1959 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0 males per 100 females | -100.0% |
| 1968 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1969 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1970 | 50 males per 100 females | — |
| 1971 | 50 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0 males per 100 females | -100.0% |
| 1973 | 0 males per 100 females | — |
| 1974 | 50 males per 100 females | — |
| 1975 | 33.33 males per 100 females | -33.3% |
| 1976 | 25 males per 100 females | -25.0% |
| 1977 | 25 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 20 males per 100 females | -20.0% |
| 1979 | 16.67 males per 100 females | -16.7% |
| 1980 | 28.57 males per 100 females | +71.4% |
| 1981 | 28.57 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 28.57 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 14.29 males per 100 females | -50.0% |
| 1984 | 25 males per 100 females | +75.0% |
| 1985 | 20 males per 100 females | -20.0% |
| 1986 | 27.27 males per 100 females | +36.4% |
| 1987 | 36.36 males per 100 females | +33.3% |
| 1988 | 33.33 males per 100 females | -8.3% |
| 1989 | 30.77 males per 100 females | -7.7% |
| 1990 | 28.57 males per 100 females | -7.1% |
| 1991 | 31.25 males per 100 females | +9.4% |
| 1992 | 38.89 males per 100 females | +24.4% |
| 1993 | 44.44 males per 100 females | +14.3% |
| 1994 | 44.44 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 42.11 males per 100 females | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 40 males per 100 females | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 45 males per 100 females | +12.5% |
| 1998 | 50 males per 100 females | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 40 males per 100 females | -20.0% |
| 2000 | 33.33 males per 100 females | -16.7% |
| 2001 | 33.33 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 31.82 males per 100 females | -4.5% |
| 2003 | 36.36 males per 100 females | +14.3% |
| 2004 | 36.36 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 29.17 males per 100 females | -19.8% |
| 2006 | 29.17 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 28 males per 100 females | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 28 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 28 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 28 males per 100 females | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 24 males per 100 females | -14.3% |
| 2012 | 26.92 males per 100 females | +12.2% |
| 2013 | 25.93 males per 100 females | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 24.14 males per 100 females | -6.9% |
| 2015 | 22.58 males per 100 females | -6.5% |
| 2016 | 19.35 males per 100 females | -14.3% |
| 2017 | 21.88 males per 100 females | +13.0% |
| 2018 | 23.53 males per 100 females | +7.6% |
| 2019 | 22.86 males per 100 females | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 24.32 males per 100 females | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 27.5 males per 100 females | +13.1% |
| 2022 | 35.9 males per 100 females | +30.5% |
| 2023 | 45.95 males per 100 females | +28.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 45.95 males per 100 females is above the median for high income countries, which is 21.34 males per 100 females, 2.2× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 45.95 males per 100 females is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20 males per 100 females, 2.3× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Sex ratio by age 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | -100.0% | 20 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females |
| 1967 | -100.0% | 25 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females |
| 1972 | -100.0% | 50 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females |
| 1984 | +75.0% | 14.29 males per 100 females | 25 males per 100 females |
| 1980 | +71.4% | 16.67 males per 100 females | 28.57 males per 100 females |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 25 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1960s | 17.5 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 25 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1970s | 27 males per 100 females | 0 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1980s | 27.27 males per 100 females | 14.29 males per 100 females | 36.36 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.47 males per 100 females | 28.57 males per 100 females | 50 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.35 males per 100 females | 28 males per 100 females | 36.36 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.92 males per 100 females | 19.35 males per 100 females | 28 males per 100 females | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.42 males per 100 females | 24.32 males per 100 females | 45.95 males per 100 females | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 31 Cuba 49.83 males per 100 females compare
- 32 Mauritius 47.5 males per 100 females compare
- 34 Monaco 45.08 males per 100 females compare
- 35 South Africa 43.81 males per 100 females compare
- 36 Madagascar 43.75 males per 100 females 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)
- Population 345.21 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 345.21 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7736 % 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is sex ratio by age in Iceland?
- Sex ratio by age in Iceland was 45.95 males per 100 females in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest sex ratio by age recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 50 males per 100 females in 1970.
- What is the lowest sex ratio by age recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 males per 100 females in 1951.
- How does Iceland rank for sex ratio by age?
- Iceland ranks 33rd out of 212 countries with data for 2023.
- Is sex ratio by age rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Sex ratio by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of males per 100 females at age 100+.