Fertility & birth rates in Iceland and United States

Fertility rate in Iceland vs United States by year

Chart Table

Iceland

United States

1x

Year	Fertility rate
	Iceland	United States
2023	1.59	1.62
2022	1.59	1.66
2021	1.82	1.66
2020	1.72	1.64
2019	1.74	1.71
2018	1.71	1.73
2017	1.71	1.77
2016	1.74	1.82
2015	1.8	1.84
2014	1.93	1.86
2013	1.93	1.86
2012	2.04	1.88
2011	2.02	1.89
2010	2.2	1.93
2009	2.23	2
2008	2.15	2.07
2007	2.09	2.12
2006	2.08	2.11
2005	2.05	2.06
2004	2.04	2.05
2003	1.99	2.05
2002	1.93	2.02
2001	1.95	2.03
2000	2.08	2.06
1999	1.99	2.01
1998	2.05	2
1997	2.04	1.97
1996	2.12	1.98
1995	2.08	1.98
1994	2.14	2
1993	2.22	2.02
1992	2.21	2.05
1991	2.18	2.06
1990	2.3	2.08
1989	2.19	2.01
1988	2.26	1.93
1987	2.06	1.87
1986	1.92	1.84
1985	1.93	1.84
1984	2.08	1.81
1983	2.24	1.8
1982	2.27	1.83
1981	2.33	1.81
1980	2.48	1.84
1979	2.49	1.81
1978	2.35	1.76
1977	2.31	1.79
1976	2.52	1.74
1975	2.65	1.77
1974	2.66	1.84
1973	2.94	1.88
1972	3.09	2.01
1971	2.92	2.27
1970	2.81	2.48
1969	2.99	2.46
1968	3.06	2.46
1967	3.28	2.56
1966	3.59	2.72
1965	3.73	2.91
1964	3.88	3.19
1963	3.99	3.32
1962	3.98	3.46
1961	3.88	3.62
1960	4.29	3.65

According to the latest available data on birth rates, the fertility rate in Iceland was 1.59 children per woman in 2023, compared to 1.62 in the United States in 2023. The replacement level is considered to be 2.1 children per woman.

Check Iceland vs the United States population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

Natural population change by year

Chart Table

Iceland

United States

1x

Year	Natural population change
	Iceland	United States
2023	1,697	502,372
2022	1,719	399,926
2021	2,534	199,137
2020	2,199	208,862
2019	2,163	887,476
2018	1,975	955,022
2017	1,854	1,028,037
2016	1,711	1,197,627
2015	1,952	1,270,126
2014	2,324	1,357,281
2013	2,169	1,322,711
2012	2,566	1,411,822
2011	2,521	1,441,697
2010	2,862	1,548,182
2009	3,026	1,717,920
2008	2,825	1,794,154
2007	2,617	1,897,757
2006	2,491	1,849,955
2005	2,433	1,684,445
2004	2,425	1,698,271
2003	2,317	1,653,615
2002	2,243	1,581,938
2001	2,365	1,595,826
2000	2,475	1,664,758
1999	2,192	1,564,050
1998	2,357	1,573,857
1997	2,305	1,501,014
1996	2,447	1,510,137
1995	2,354	1,546,031
1994	2,713	1,633,302
1993	2,875	1,717,685
1992	2,898	1,875,328
1991	2,733	1,926,543
1990	3,058	2,026,068
1989	2,832	1,875,826
1988	2,847	1,735,943
1987	2,360	1,720,252
1986	2,384	1,656,917
1985	2,221	1,689,258
1984	2,539	1,627,192
1983	2,702	1,636,544
1982	2,736	1,714,317
1981	2,677	1,652,153
1980	2,966	1,608,450
1979	2,980	1,597,894
1978	2,727	1,402,283
1977	2,551	1,431,556
1976	2,951	1,264,604
1975	2,965	1,252,644
1974	2,776	1,218,968
1973	3,121	1,165,499
1972	3,241	1,301,355
1971	2,782	1,640,519
1970	2,576	1,824,965
1969	2,766	1,702,487
1968	2,841	1,565,507
1967	3,021	1,669,181
1966	3,305	1,749,387
1965	3,442	1,943,030
1964	3,459	2,245,099
1963	3,490	2,289,826
1962	3,465	2,406,337
1961	3,312	2,571,681
1960	3,758	2,565,530

The chart above illustrates the comparison of the absolute yearly changes in population resulting from births and deaths.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was +0.44% in Iceland and +0.15% in the United States.

For the past 10 years, the annual natural population change has been +0.57% in Iceland and +0.25% in the United States.

Birth rate in Iceland vs United States by year

Chart Table

Iceland

United States

Annual births per 1,000 people

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 people
	Iceland	United States
2023	11	10.7
2022	11.5	11
2021	13.1	11
2020	12.3	10.9
2019	12.3	11.4
2018	12	11.6
2017	11.9	11.8
2016	12	12.2
2015	12.5	12.4
2014	13.4	12.5
2013	13.4	12.4
2012	14.1	12.6
2011	14.1	12.7
2010	15.4	13
2009	15.8	13.5
2008	15.2	14
2007	14.6	14.3
2006	14.5	14.3
2005	14.4	14
2004	14.5	14
2003	14.3	14.1
2002	14.1	14
2001	14.4	14.1
2000	15.3	14.4
1999	14.8	14.2
1998	15.2	14.3
1997	15.3	14.2
1996	16.1	14.4
1995	16	14.6
1994	16.7	15
1993	17.5	15.4
1992	17.7	15.8
1991	17.6	16.2
1990	18.7	16.7
1989	18	16.4
1988	18.7	16
1987	16.6	15.7
1986	16.4	15.6
1985	16	15.8
1984	17.2	15.6
1983	18.4	15.6
1982	18.5	15.9
1981	18.8	15.8
1980	19.8	15.9
1979	19.8	15.6
1978	18.6	15
1977	18	15.1
1976	19.5	14.6
1975	20.1	14.6
1974	19.9	14.8
1973	21.7	14.8
1972	22.4	15.6
1971	20.8	17.2
1970	19.7	18.4
1969	20.7	17.9
1968	21	17.6
1967	22.2	17.8
1966	24	18.4
1965	24.6	19.4
1964	25.3	21.1
1963	26	21.7
1962	25.8	22.4
1961	25.5	23.3
1960	28	23.7

The latest reported birth rate per 1,000 people in 2023 was 11 in Iceland and 10.7 in the United States, compared with 28 and 23.7, respectively, in 1960.

Children 0-14 years as share of population

Chart Table

Iceland

Factual

UN forecast

United States

Factual

UN forecast

1x

Year	Young
	Iceland	United States
2100	11.8%	14.4%
2099	11.8%	14.4%
2098	11.8%	14.4%
2097	11.8%	14.4%
2096	11.9%	14.4%
2095	11.9%	14.5%
2094	11.9%	14.5%
2093	11.9%	14.5%
2092	11.9%	14.5%
2091	11.9%	14.6%
2090	11.9%	14.6%
2089	11.9%	14.7%
2088	11.9%	14.7%
2087	11.9%	14.7%
2086	11.9%	14.8%
2085	11.9%	14.8%
2084	11.9%	14.8%
2083	11.9%	14.9%
2082	11.9%	14.9%
2081	11.9%	14.9%
2080	11.9%	14.9%
2079	12%	14.9%
2078	12%	14.9%
2077	12%	14.9%
2076	12%	14.9%
2075	12.1%	14.9%
2074	12.1%	14.9%
2073	12.1%	14.9%
2072	12.2%	14.9%
2071	12.2%	14.9%
2070	12.3%	14.9%
2069	12.4%	14.9%
2068	12.4%	14.9%
2067	12.5%	14.9%
2066	12.6%	14.9%
2065	12.6%	15%
2064	12.7%	15%
2063	12.8%	15%
2062	12.8%	15.1%
2061	12.9%	15.1%
2060	13%	15.2%
2059	13%	15.3%
2058	13.1%	15.4%
2057	13.2%	15.5%
2056	13.2%	15.5%
2055	13.3%	15.6%
2054	13.4%	15.7%
2053	13.4%	15.8%
2052	13.5%	15.8%
2051	13.6%	15.9%
2050	13.7%	15.9%
2049	13.8%	16%
2048	13.8%	16%
2047	14%	16%
2046	14.1%	16%
2045	14.2%	16%
2044	14.3%	16%
2043	14.4%	16%
2042	14.6%	16%
2041	14.8%	15.9%
2040	14.9%	15.9%
2039	15.1%	15.9%
2038	15.3%	15.9%
2037	15.5%	15.9%
2036	15.8%	15.9%
2035	16%	15.9%
2034	16.2%	15.9%
2033	16.4%	16%
2032	16.5%	16.1%
2031	16.6%	16.2%
2030	16.7%	16.3%
2029	16.9%	16.5%
2028	17%	16.6%
2027	17.2%	16.8%
2026	17.4%	17%
2025	17.6%	17.2%
2024	17.8%	17.3%
2023	18.1%	17.6%
2022	18.4%	17.9%
2021	18.6%	18.1%
2020	18.7%	18.4%
2019	18.9%	18.6%
2018	19.2%	18.8%
2017	19.6%	18.9%
2016	19.9%	19.1%
2015	20.2%	19.2%
2014	20.4%	19.3%
2013	20.6%	19.4%
2012	20.7%	19.5%
2011	20.8%	19.6%
2010	20.9%	19.7%
2009	20.9%	19.8%
2008	20.9%	19.9%
2007	21.1%	20%
2006	21.5%	20.2%
2005	22.1%	20.3%
2004	22.5%	20.5%
2003	22.8%	20.7%
2002	23%	20.9%
2001	23.2%	21%
2000	23.3%	21.2%
1999	23.4%	21.3%
1998	23.6%	21.4%
1997	23.9%	21.5%
1996	24.1%	21.7%
1995	24.4%	21.8%
1994	24.7%	21.9%
1993	24.8%	21.9%
1992	24.8%	21.8%
1991	24.8%	21.7%
1990	25%	21.6%
1989	25%	21.5%
1988	25.2%	21.3%
1987	25.6%	21.3%
1986	25.9%	21.3%
1985	26.2%	21.5%
1984	26.5%	21.7%
1983	26.7%	21.8%
1982	26.9%	22%
1981	27.2%	22.1%
1980	27.5%	22.4%
1979	27.9%	22.8%
1978	28.4%	23.2%
1977	29%	23.8%
1976	29.5%	24.4%
1975	30.1%	25.2%
1974	30.7%	25.9%
1973	31.2%	26.6%
1972	31.6%	27.4%
1971	32.1%	28%
1970	32.6%	28.6%
1969	33.2%	29%
1968	33.6%	29.5%
1967	34%	30%
1966	34.3%	30.4%
1965	34.5%	30.7%
1964	34.7%	30.9%
1963	34.9%	31.1%
1962	34.9%	31.3%
1961	35%	31.4%
1960	34.9%	31.3%

Children aged 0-14 make up 17.8% of the population in Iceland and 17.3% in the United States in 2024, compared to 25% and 21.6% respectively in 1990.

Demographics of Iceland and the United States compared.

Maternal mortality chart: Iceland vs United States

Chart Table

Iceland

United States

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
	Iceland	United States
2023	3	17
2022	5	20
2021	5	31
2020	12	22
2019	4	18
2018	4	18
2017	3	18
2016	3	18
2015	4	17
2014	4	17
2013	4	16
2012	4	16
2011	4	15
2010	5	15
2009	5	15
2008	4	14
2007	5	13
2006	5	13
2005	5	13
2004	6	13
2003	6	13
2002	7	13
2001	6	13
2000	7	12
1999	7	12
1998	8	11
1997	8	11
1996	7	11
1995	13	12
1994	9	11
1993	10	12
1992	12	11
1991	11	12
1990	13	12
1989	14	12
1988	11	12
1987	13	11
1986	15	11
1985	11	11

The maternal mortality rate, which is the probability of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, is 3 deaths per 100,000 live births in Iceland, compared to 17 deaths in the United States.

U.S. figures are less comparable to other countries, because reporting changes between 2003 and 2018 doubled the number of maternal deaths captured in official records without an actual doubling in mortality, and coding was revised again in 2018.

Under-five mortality rates

Chart Table

Iceland

United States

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
	Iceland	United States
2023	0.26%	0.65%
2022	0.26%	0.65%
2021	0.27%	0.65%
2020	0.27%	0.65%
2019	0.27%	0.65%
2018	0.27%	0.65%
2017	0.26%	0.66%
2016	0.26%	0.67%
2015	0.26%	0.68%
2014	0.26%	0.68%
2013	0.26%	0.69%
2012	0.26%	0.7%
2011	0.27%	0.72%
2010	0.27%	0.73%
2009	0.27%	0.75%
2008	0.28%	0.76%
2007	0.29%	0.77%
2006	0.3%	0.79%
2005	0.31%	0.8%
2004	0.33%	0.81%
2003	0.34%	0.81%
2002	0.36%	0.82%
2001	0.38%	0.83%
2000	0.4%	0.84%
1999	0.42%	0.86%
1998	0.45%	0.87%
1997	0.47%	0.89%
1996	0.49%	0.92%
1995	0.52%	0.95%
1994	0.54%	0.98%
1993	0.56%	1.01%
1992	0.58%	1.05%
1991	0.61%	1.09%
1990	0.63%	1.12%
1989	0.65%	1.16%
1988	0.67%	1.19%
1987	0.7%	1.21%
1986	0.73%	1.24%
1985	0.75%	1.27%
1984	0.79%	1.3%
1983	0.83%	1.34%
1982	0.87%	1.39%
1981	0.92%	1.44%
1980	0.97%	1.5%
1979	1.03%	1.56%
1978	1.09%	1.63%
1977	1.15%	1.71%
1976	1.22%	1.79%
1975	1.29%	1.88%
1974	1.35%	1.97%
1973	1.41%	2.06%
1972	1.48%	2.15%
1971	1.54%	2.24%
1970	1.6%	2.32%
1969	1.66%	2.41%
1968	1.72%	2.49%
1967	1.79%	2.57%
1966	1.85%	2.64%
1965	1.92%	2.71%
1964	1.97%	2.77%
1963	2.02%	2.83%
1962	2.07%	2.89%
1961	2.11%	2.95%
1960	2.14%	3.01%

The chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five is 0.26% in Iceland and 0.65% in the United States. Above is a chart with historical data on under-five mortality rates.