Iceland birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Iceland has a birth rate of 11 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.59 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Iceland was 4.29 children per woman — 2.7 times higher than in 2023.

Iceland birth rate statistics:

Iceland is ranked 132/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 145/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Iceland is 28.8 — it was 24 in 1990.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31, a change from 28 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 78.5 in 1960 to 3.37 in 2023.
23.7% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.1% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Iceland by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.59	127
2022	1.59	133
2021	1.82	112
2020	1.72	122
2019	1.74	125
2018	1.71	136
2017	1.71	141
2016	1.74	137
2015	1.8	133
2014	1.93	125
2013	1.93	126
2012	2.04	117
2011	2.02	119
2010	2.2	109
2009	2.23	109
2008	2.15	117
2007	2.09	119
2006	2.08	120
2005	2.05	120
2004	2.04	122
2003	1.99	129
2002	1.93	137
2001	1.95	136
2000	2.08	128
1999	1.99	136
1998	2.05	131
1997	2.04	135
1996	2.12	134
1995	2.08	139
1994	2.14	139
1993	2.22	138
1992	2.21	142
1991	2.18	143
1990	2.3	144
1989	2.19	147
1988	2.26	144
1987	2.06	156
1986	1.92	162
1985	1.93	162
1984	2.08	155
1983	2.24	147
1982	2.27	148
1981	2.33	146
1980	2.48	142
1979	2.49	143
1978	2.35	152
1977	2.31	153
1976	2.52	150
1975	2.65	149
1974	2.66	151
1973	2.94	144
1972	3.09	145
1971	2.92	152
1970	2.81	154
1969	2.99	152
1968	3.06	152
1967	3.28	150
1966	3.59	146
1965	3.73	145
1964	3.88	144
1963	3.99	145
1962	3.98	144
1961	3.88	144
1960	4.29	142

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Iceland was 1.59 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 2011. In 1993, the fertility rate was 2.22 — a 28.4% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	1,697	4,242	2,545
2022	1,719	4,393	2,674
2021	2,534	4,880	2,346
2020	2,199	4,507	2,308
2019	2,163	4,434	2,271
2018	1,975	4,232	2,257
2017	1,854	4,086	2,232
2016	1,711	4,025	2,314
2015	1,952	4,135	2,183
2014	2,324	4,386	2,062
2013	2,169	4,338	2,169
2012	2,566	4,522	1,956
2011	2,521	4,498	1,977
2010	2,862	4,897	2,035
2009	3,026	5,032	2,006
2008	2,825	4,824	1,999
2007	2,617	4,548	1,931
2006	2,491	4,404	1,913
2005	2,433	4,272	1,839
2004	2,425	4,235	1,810
2003	2,317	4,140	1,823
2002	2,243	4,054	1,811
2001	2,365	4,103	1,738
2000	2,475	4,302	1,827
1999	2,192	4,105	1,913
1998	2,357	4,165	1,808
1997	2,305	4,148	1,843
1996	2,447	4,329	1,882
1995	2,354	4,279	1,925
1994	2,713	4,442	1,729
1993	2,875	4,615	1,740
1992	2,898	4,620	1,722
1991	2,733	4,537	1,804
1990	3,058	4,765	1,707
1989	2,832	4,551	1,719
1988	2,847	4,670	1,823
1987	2,360	4,081	1,721
1986	2,384	3,988	1,604
1985	2,221	3,862	1,641
1984	2,539	4,119	1,580
1983	2,702	4,360	1,658
1982	2,736	4,326	1,590
1981	2,677	4,338	1,661
1980	2,966	4,517	1,551
1979	2,980	4,469	1,489
1978	2,727	4,157	1,430
1977	2,551	3,992	1,441
1976	2,951	4,293	1,342
1975	2,965	4,381	1,416
1974	2,776	4,282	1,506
1973	3,121	4,607	1,486
1972	3,241	4,684	1,443
1971	2,782	4,286	1,504
1970	2,576	4,027	1,451
1969	2,766	4,209	1,443
1968	2,841	4,231	1,390
1967	3,021	4,412	1,391
1966	3,305	4,693	1,388
1965	3,442	4,730	1,288
1964	3,459	4,781	1,322
1963	3,490	4,826	1,336
1962	3,465	4,705	1,240
1961	3,312	4,565	1,253
1960	3,758	4,916	1,158

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Iceland (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.57% annually. On average, 2,012 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.44% — 1,697 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Iceland ranks 138/196 for absolute natural population change and 123/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Iceland compared to other countries

	Iceland	Rank
Fertility rate	1.59	127/196
Birth rate	11	132/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+1,697	138/196
Natural population change rate	+0.44%	123/196
Population growth	+0.22%	155/197
Age at first childbirth	28.8 years	33/137
Average age at childbearing	31 years	39/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	2.72	183/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	67.1	144/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	20.4	110/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	23.7%	121/196
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	97.4%	102/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.003%	183/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.13%	184/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.19%	189/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.26%	181/192
Life expectancy	83.3 years	18/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	22.5	2.72	67.1	20.4
2025	22.9	2.85	68.3	20.6
2024	23.2	3.15	69.7	20.7
2023	23.1	3.33	71.1	20.6
2022	23.2	3.55	73.7	20.7
2021	26.5	4.21	84.2	23.3
2020	25.1	4.38	78.5	22
2019	25.1	4.85	79	21.9
2018	24.2	5.35	78.7	20.7
2017	23.7	5.92	78.6	20.3
2016	24.1	6.62	79.8	20.7
2015	25.1	7.48	84.2	21.3
2014	26.7	8.05	90.9	22.5
2013	26.8	8.54	90.9	22.9
2012	28.4	10.8	96.6	23.8
2011	28.5	11.3	96	23.9
2010	31.1	12.7	104.8	26
2009	32.1	14.2	108.5	26.2
2008	30.8	14.3	108.1	24.7
2007	29.4	14	105.8	23.6
2006	29.1	13.4	104.7	23.5
2005	28.7	13.4	104.8	22.8
2004	29	13.8	104.2	23.2
2003	28.8	16.4	101.8	22.7
2002	28.3	18.4	98.6	22.1
2001	28.7	20.2	102.4	21.8
2000	30.5	22.9	109.6	23.3
1999	29.5	23.8	106.1	22.5
1998	30.4	24.5	109.1	23.3
1997	30.7	23.2	109.1	23.8
1996	32.2	21.9	112.5	25.5
1995	32.3	22.8	112	25.2
1994	33.6	23.7	116.5	25.8
1993	35.2	24.6	122.9	26.4
1992	35.5	27.5	123.3	26
1991	35.3	31	123.4	25.1
1990	37.6	33.3	131.1	25.5
1989	36.6	33	128.5	23.6
1988	37.2	38.6	131.8	22.9
1987	34.2	38.9	122.5	20
1986	32.1	38.3	115.2	18.2
1985	32.4	36.3	115.5	18.6
1984	34.6	39.2	124.9	19.7
1983	37.1	42.4	135.7	20.6
1982	37.4	47.4	137	20.2
1981	38	49.2	137.9	20.9
1980	40.1	54.4	145.5	21.9
1979	40	54.6	147.8	21.4
1978	37.6	55.9	140.2	19
1977	36.8	56.5	138.2	18.4
1976	39.5	59.8	151.3	19.8
1975	40.5	63	157.4	20.5
1974	40.1	65.2	158.5	20.2
1973	43.7	69	175.1	22.6
1972	44.9	73.7	180.6	23.8
1971	41.8	70.7	170.5	22.6
1970	40.2	73	160.8	22.6
1969	42.1	78.6	167.9	24.9
1968	42.4	77	174.2	26.3
1967	44.8	82.1	183.6	29.4
1966	48.3	88.8	196.4	33.3
1965	49.5	85.4	203.5	35.8
1964	51	83.9	211.4	37.8
1963	52.4	82.4	221.5	39.2
1962	52.2	79.7	217.1	40.4
1961	51.2	79.2	211.2	40
1960	56	80.8	226.2	44.5

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Iceland by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 0.78% will be to women under age 20, 42.2% to women ages 20-29, and 57% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 7.18%, 58.8%, and 34%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Iceland	World
2100	11.8%	16.5%
2099	11.8%	16.6%
2098	11.8%	16.6%
2097	11.8%	16.7%
2096	11.9%	16.8%
2095	11.9%	16.8%
2094	11.9%	16.9%
2093	11.9%	17%
2092	11.9%	17%
2091	11.9%	17.1%
2090	11.9%	17.2%
2089	11.9%	17.2%
2088	11.9%	17.3%
2087	11.9%	17.4%
2086	11.9%	17.4%
2085	11.9%	17.5%
2084	11.9%	17.5%
2083	11.9%	17.6%
2082	11.9%	17.7%
2081	11.9%	17.7%
2080	11.9%	17.8%
2079	12%	17.8%
2078	12%	17.9%
2077	12%	17.9%
2076	12%	18%
2075	12.1%	18%
2074	12.1%	18.1%
2073	12.1%	18.2%
2072	12.2%	18.2%
2071	12.2%	18.3%
2070	12.3%	18.3%
2069	12.4%	18.4%
2068	12.4%	18.5%
2067	12.5%	18.6%
2066	12.6%	18.6%
2065	12.6%	18.7%
2064	12.7%	18.8%
2063	12.8%	18.9%
2062	12.8%	19.1%
2061	12.9%	19.2%
2060	13%	19.3%
2059	13%	19.4%
2058	13.1%	19.5%
2057	13.2%	19.6%
2056	13.2%	19.8%
2055	13.3%	19.9%
2054	13.4%	20%
2053	13.4%	20.1%
2052	13.5%	20.2%
2051	13.6%	20.3%
2050	13.7%	20.4%
2049	13.8%	20.5%
2048	13.8%	20.6%
2047	14%	20.7%
2046	14.1%	20.8%
2045	14.2%	20.9%
2044	14.3%	20.9%
2043	14.4%	21%
2042	14.6%	21.1%
2041	14.8%	21.2%
2040	14.9%	21.2%
2039	15.1%	21.3%
2038	15.3%	21.4%
2037	15.5%	21.5%
2036	15.8%	21.6%
2035	16%	21.8%
2034	16.2%	22%
2033	16.4%	22.2%
2032	16.5%	22.4%
2031	16.6%	22.7%
2030	16.7%	23%
2029	16.9%	23.3%
2028	17%	23.6%
2027	17.2%	23.9%
2026	17.4%	24.2%
2025	17.6%	24.6%
2024	17.8%	24.7%
2023	18.1%	25%
2022	18.4%	25.3%
2021	18.6%	25.6%
2020	18.7%	25.8%
2019	18.9%	26%
2018	19.2%	26.2%
2017	19.6%	26.4%
2016	19.9%	26.5%
2015	20.2%	26.6%
2014	20.4%	26.8%
2013	20.6%	26.9%
2012	20.7%	27%
2011	20.8%	27.1%
2010	20.9%	27.3%
2009	20.9%	27.5%
2008	20.9%	27.6%
2007	21.1%	27.9%
2006	21.5%	28.1%
2005	22.1%	28.5%
2004	22.5%	28.8%
2003	22.8%	29.2%
2002	23%	29.6%
2001	23.2%	30%
2000	23.3%	30.4%
1999	23.4%	30.8%
1998	23.6%	31.1%
1997	23.9%	31.5%
1996	24.1%	31.8%
1995	24.4%	32.1%
1994	24.7%	32.3%
1993	24.8%	32.5%
1992	24.8%	32.7%
1991	24.8%	32.9%
1990	25%	33%
1989	25%	33.2%
1988	25.2%	33.4%
1987	25.6%	33.6%
1986	25.9%	33.8%
1985	26.2%	34%
1984	26.5%	34.3%
1983	26.7%	34.6%
1982	26.9%	34.9%
1981	27.2%	35.2%
1980	27.5%	35.5%
1979	27.9%	35.9%
1978	28.4%	36.3%
1977	29%	36.7%
1976	29.5%	36.9%
1975	30.1%	37.1%
1974	30.7%	37.2%
1973	31.2%	37.3%
1972	31.6%	37.5%
1971	32.1%	37.6%
1970	32.6%	37.7%
1969	33.2%	37.8%
1968	33.6%	37.9%
1967	34%	38%
1966	34.3%	38%
1965	34.5%	38%
1964	34.7%	38%
1963	34.9%	37.8%
1962	34.9%	37.6%
1961	35%	37.5%
1960	34.9%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Iceland was 34.9% in 1960, 24.8% in 1992, and 17.8% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Iceland.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	3	197
2022	5	203
2021	5	242
2020	12	211
2019	4	207
2018	4	211
2017	3	215
2016	3	220
2015	4	228
2014	4	231
2013	4	235
2012	4	239
2011	4	247
2010	5	253
2009	5	258
2008	4	264
2007	5	269
2006	5	276
2005	5	283
2004	6	291
2003	6	301
2002	7	311
2001	6	321
2000	7	328
1999	7	340
1998	8	360
1997	8	358
1996	7	366
1995	13	371
1994	9	382
1993	10	389
1992	12	395
1991	11	395
1990	13	391
1989	14	401
1988	11	414
1987	13	429
1986	15	438
1985	11	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Iceland was 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.003% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 57.1% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Iceland	World
2023	0.26%	2.49%
2022	0.26%	2.59%
2021	0.27%	2.66%
2020	0.27%	2.75%
2019	0.27%	2.86%
2018	0.27%	2.97%
2017	0.26%	3.11%
2016	0.26%	3.22%
2015	0.26%	3.35%
2014	0.26%	3.48%
2013	0.26%	3.61%
2012	0.26%	3.77%
2011	0.27%	3.97%
2010	0.27%	4.11%
2009	0.27%	4.31%
2008	0.28%	4.5%
2007	0.29%	4.7%
2006	0.3%	4.92%
2005	0.31%	5.16%
2004	0.33%	5.43%
2003	0.34%	5.65%
2002	0.36%	5.94%
2001	0.38%	6.21%
2000	0.4%	6.48%
1999	0.42%	6.75%
1998	0.45%	7.05%
1997	0.47%	7.28%
1996	0.49%	7.52%
1995	0.52%	7.76%
1994	0.54%	7.98%
1993	0.56%	8.19%
1992	0.58%	8.46%
1991	0.61%	8.66%
1990	0.63%	8.81%
1989	0.65%	9.02%
1988	0.67%	9.31%
1987	0.7%	9.47%
1986	0.73%	9.81%
1985	0.75%	10.1%
1984	0.79%	10.4%
1983	0.83%	10.6%
1982	0.87%	10.8%
1981	0.92%	11%
1980	0.97%	11.4%
1979	1.03%	11.7%
1978	1.09%	12.2%
1977	1.15%	12.6%
1976	1.22%	13%
1975	1.29%	13.4%
1974	1.35%	13.8%
1973	1.41%	14.1%
1972	1.48%	14.5%
1971	1.54%	15.1%
1970	1.6%	15.2%
1969	1.66%	15.4%
1968	1.72%	15.6%
1967	1.79%	15.9%
1966	1.85%	16.1%
1965	1.92%	16.4%
1964	1.97%	16.6%
1963	2.02%	16.5%
1962	2.07%	16.7%
1961	2.11%	17%
1960	2.14%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/iceland | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Iceland was 2.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.26% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.