Skip to content

Population in Iceland compared to Ireland: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 392,404 in 2025 vs 5,484,367 people in Ireland in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 398,674 people compared to 5,562,212 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • Ireland's population is 14 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 122nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.66% per year vs +1.5% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 399K (31.2% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.56M (30.2% growth).

Iceland vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Ireland
2100 360,144 5,500,499
2099 361,926 5,525,011
2098 363,730 5,548,986
2097 365,557 5,572,279
2096 367,453 5,595,064
2095 369,353 5,615,877
2094 371,260 5,636,027
2093 373,227 5,655,870
2092 375,333 5,675,151
2091 377,423 5,694,092
2090 379,430 5,713,009
2089 381,438 5,730,546
2088 383,627 5,747,238
2087 385,798 5,762,650
2086 387,894 5,776,705
2085 390,003 5,791,049
2084 392,060 5,805,074
2083 394,128 5,818,867
2082 396,088 5,831,653
2081 398,124 5,842,944
2080 400,156 5,855,351
2079 402,122 5,870,572
2078 403,988 5,885,866
2077 405,922 5,901,647
2076 407,624 5,917,991
2075 409,218 5,934,408
2074 410,690 5,951,970
2073 412,079 5,969,385
2072 413,583 5,986,721
2071 414,926 6,003,888
2070 416,204 6,021,481
2069 417,368 6,038,378
2068 418,437 6,054,840
2067 419,588 6,070,805
2066 420,609 6,086,691
2065 421,634 6,101,966
2064 422,508 6,116,867
2063 423,391 6,129,790
2062 424,311 6,141,729
2061 425,017 6,154,062
2060 425,795 6,167,032
2059 426,421 6,179,602
2058 426,989 6,189,124
2057 427,546 6,196,781
2056 428,007 6,199,786
2055 428,399 6,204,376
2054 428,619 6,205,225
2053 428,812 6,205,444
2052 429,004 6,203,350
2051 428,983 6,200,637
2050 429,028 6,195,469
2049 428,993 6,187,289
2048 428,917 6,175,872
2047 428,806 6,163,776
2046 428,615 6,150,911
2045 428,387 6,134,927
2044 427,939 6,116,643
2043 427,281 6,097,627
2042 426,616 6,076,713
2041 425,912 6,052,462
2040 425,083 6,027,054
2039 424,104 6,002,204
2038 422,997 5,974,917
2037 421,786 5,946,606
2036 420,429 5,918,275
2035 418,926 5,889,854
2034 417,406 5,858,952
2033 415,689 5,826,337
2032 413,829 5,791,225
2031 411,715 5,754,845
2030 409,349 5,717,377
2029 406,777 5,676,731
2028 403,748 5,632,552
2027 400,455 5,585,925
2026 396,793 5,537,167
2025 392,404 5,484,367
2024 386,506 5,395,790
2023 385,663 5,311,538
2022 382,003 5,212,836
2021 372,520 5,110,585
2020 366,463 5,039,747
2019 360,563 4,976,456
2018 352,721 4,898,022
2017 343,400 4,827,445
2016 335,439 4,762,722
2015 330,815 4,701,957
2014 327,386 4,657,740
2013 323,764 4,623,816
2012 320,716 4,599,533
2011 319,014 4,580,084
2010 318,041 4,560,155
2009 318,499 4,535,375
2008 317,414 4,489,544
2007 311,566 4,398,942
2006 303,782 4,273,591
2005 296,734 4,159,914
2004 292,074 4,070,262
2003 289,521 3,996,521
2002 287,523 3,931,947
2001 284,968 3,866,243
2000 281,205 3,805,174
1999 277,381 3,754,786
1998 274,047 3,712,696
1997 271,128 3,674,171
1996 268,916 3,637,510
1995 267,468 3,608,841
1994 266,021 3,590,386
1993 263,725 3,576,261
1992 261,057 3,558,430
1991 257,797 3,534,235
1990 254,826 3,513,974
1989 252,852 3,511,009
1988 249,740 3,524,949
1987 245,859 3,540,057
1986 243,180 3,539,690
1985 241,405 3,538,082
1984 239,511 3,532,423
1983 236,977 3,510,600
1982 233,860 3,485,800
1981 230,755 3,453,000
1980 228,138 3,412,800
1979 225,735 3,373,750
1978 223,537 3,329,100
1977 221,799 3,282,200
1976 220,154 3,238,050
1975 217,979 3,189,550
1974 215,209 3,137,500
1973 212,317 3,085,950
1972 209,137 3,036,850
1971 206,098 2,992,050
1970 204,438 2,957,250
1969 203,369 2,932,650
1968 201,488 2,915,550
1967 198,751 2,902,450
1966 195,570 2,888,800
1965 192,286 2,877,300
1964 188,983 2,866,550
1963 185,653 2,852,650
1962 182,378 2,836,050
1961 179,029 2,824,400
1960 175,574 2,828,600

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 63,235 people (a 18.9% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 799,490 people (a 16.8% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and ranked 122nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Iceland's population will grow by 7.61% to 429,028 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of Ireland will increase by 11.4% to 6,195,469 people and rank change from 122nd to 118th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 429K people compared to the peak of 6.21M people in 2053 for Ireland.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Ireland
2100 -0.49% -0.44%
2099 -0.5% -0.43%
2098 -0.5% -0.42%
2097 -0.52% -0.41%
2096 -0.51% -0.37%
2095 -0.51% -0.36%
2094 -0.53% -0.35%
2093 -0.56% -0.34%
2092 -0.55% -0.33%
2091 -0.53% -0.33%
2090 -0.53% -0.31%
2089 -0.57% -0.29%
2088 -0.56% -0.27%
2087 -0.54% -0.24%
2086 -0.54% -0.25%
2085 -0.52% -0.24%
2084 -0.52% -0.24%
2083 -0.49% -0.22%
2082 -0.51% -0.19%
2081 -0.51% -0.21%
2080 -0.49% -0.26%
2079 -0.46% -0.26%
2078 -0.48% -0.27%
2077 -0.42% -0.28%
2076 -0.39% -0.28%
2075 -0.36% -0.3%
2074 -0.34% -0.29%
2073 -0.36% -0.29%
2072 -0.32% -0.29%
2071 -0.31% -0.29%
2070 -0.28% -0.28%
2069 -0.26% -0.27%
2068 -0.27% -0.26%
2067 -0.24% -0.26%
2066 -0.24% -0.25%
2065 -0.21% -0.24%
2064 -0.21% -0.21%
2063 -0.22% -0.19%
2062 -0.17% -0.2%
2061 -0.18% -0.21%
2060 -0.15% -0.2%
2059 -0.13% -0.15%
2058 -0.13% -0.12%
2057 -0.11% -0.05%
2056 -0.09% -0.07%
2055 -0.05% -0.01%
2054 -0.05% -0.004%
2053 -0.04% 0.03%
2052 0.005% 0.04%
2051 -0.01% 0.08%
2050 0.008% 0.13%
2049 0.02% 0.18%
2048 0.03% 0.2%
2047 0.04% 0.21%
2046 0.05% 0.26%
2045 0.1% 0.3%
2044 0.15% 0.31%
2043 0.16% 0.34%
2042 0.17% 0.4%
2041 0.2% 0.42%
2040 0.23% 0.41%
2039 0.26% 0.46%
2038 0.29% 0.48%
2037 0.32% 0.48%
2036 0.36% 0.48%
2035 0.36% 0.53%
2034 0.41% 0.56%
2033 0.45% 0.61%
2032 0.51% 0.63%
2031 0.58% 0.66%
2030 0.63% 0.72%
2029 0.75% 0.78%
2028 0.82% 0.83%
2027 0.92% 0.88%
2026 1.12% 0.96%
2025 1.53% 1.64%
2024 0.22% 1.59%
2023 0.96% 1.89%
2022 2.55% 2%
2021 1.65% 1.41%
2020 1.64% 1.27%
2019 2.22% 1.6%
2018 2.71% 1.46%
2017 2.37% 1.36%
2016 1.4% 1.29%
2015 1.05% 0.95%
2014 1.12% 0.73%
2013 0.95% 0.53%
2012 0.53% 0.42%
2011 0.31% 0.44%
2010 -0.14% 0.55%
2009 0.34% 1.02%
2008 1.88% 2.06%
2007 2.56% 2.93%
2006 2.38% 2.73%
2005 1.6% 2.2%
2004 0.88% 1.85%
2003 0.69% 1.64%
2002 0.9% 1.7%
2001 1.34% 1.6%
2000 1.38% 1.34%
1999 1.22% 1.13%
1998 1.08% 1.05%
1997 0.82% 1.01%
1996 0.54% 0.79%
1995 0.54% 0.51%
1994 0.87% 0.39%
1993 1.02% 0.5%
1992 1.26% 0.68%
1991 1.17% 0.58%
1990 0.78% 0.08%
1989 1.25% -0.4%
1988 1.58% -0.43%
1987 1.1% 0.01%
1986 0.74% 0.05%
1985 0.79% 0.16%
1984 1.07% 0.62%
1983 1.33% 0.71%
1982 1.35% 0.95%
1981 1.15% 1.18%
1980 1.06% 1.16%
1979 0.98% 1.34%
1978 0.78% 1.43%
1977 0.75% 1.36%
1976 1% 1.52%
1975 1.29% 1.66%
1974 1.36% 1.67%
1973 1.52% 1.62%
1972 1.47% 1.5%
1971 0.81% 1.18%
1970 0.53% 0.84%
1969 0.93% 0.59%
1968 1.38% 0.45%
1967 1.63% 0.47%
1966 1.71% 0.4%
1965 1.75% 0.38%
1964 1.79% 0.49%
1963 1.8% 0.59%
1962 1.87% 0.41%
1961 1.97% -0.15%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/ireland | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iceland grew by 1.53%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.64%.

Live population counters

Iceland Ireland
Current population
398674
5562212
Population rank 173/197 122/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.07%
One net population change
1.49 hours
5.95 minutes
One birth every
2.02 hours
9.74 minutes
One death every
3.33 hours
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +16 +243
Annual growth/decline +5,898 +88,577
Annual growth/decline rate +1.53% +1.64%
Population growth rate rank 70/197 64/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +35,417
Net migration rank 56/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 35,417
2024 1,700 3,543 18,885 39,059
2023 1,736 4,630 19,652 43,873
2022 1,719 6,535 19,287 93,535
2021 2,534 4,911 26,064 27,419
2020 2,199 2,498 23,687 15,746
2019 2,163 5,030 28,365 29,663
2018 1,975 6,638 29,878 33,387
2017 1,854 8,348 31,379 28,883
2016 1,711 4,128 33,339 18,967
2015 1,952 1,499 35,265 13,376
2014 2,324 1,139 37,728 448
2013 2,169 1,666 39,302 -12,309
2012 2,566 -277 42,775 -22,411
2011 2,521 -1,393 45,801 -26,529
2010 2,862 -2,055 47,426 -26,974
2009 3,026 -4,785 47,168 -18,524
2008 2,825 1,138 46,691 18,979
2007 2,617 5,254 43,109 76,465
2006 2,491 5,300 36,752 94,513
2005 2,433 3,925 33,279 63,983
2004 2,425 610 33,376 49,102
2003 2,317 -204 32,372 32,220
2002 2,243 -333 31,062 34,286
2001 2,365 867 27,837 39,220
2000 2,475 1,877 23,592 31,298
1999 2,192 1,165 21,402 23,592
1998 2,357 1,014 22,277 16,615
1997 2,305 225 21,311 17,425
1996 2,447 -511 18,915 9,959
1995 2,354 -1,354 16,601 10,019
1994 2,713 -804 17,234 -3,118
1993 2,875 -194 17,166 -3,762
1992 2,898 -225 20,283 1,335
1991 2,733 1,145 21,206 4,944
1990 3,058 -971 21,787 -8,203
1989 2,832 -994 20,012 -28,752
1988 2,847 1,572 22,912 -44,020
1987 2,360 944 26,904 -38,426
1986 2,384 -335 27,963 -21,139
1985 2,221 -628 29,013 -16,178
1984 2,539 -328 31,791 -15,549
1983 2,702 170 34,053 -15,043
1982 2,736 616 38,344 -14,464
1981 2,677 157 39,364 -10,834
1980 2,966 -629 40,612 -2,876
1979 2,980 -572 38,798 1,486
1978 2,727 -781 36,288 15,543
1977 2,551 -1,079 35,448 14,505
1976 2,951 -1,181 33,676 14,200
1975 2,965 -388 34,128 13,828
1974 2,776 209 34,199 13,482
1973 3,121 -310 34,562 13,164
1972 3,241 362 34,316 12,858
1971 2,782 -231 35,606 5,851
1970 2,576 -1,754 30,756 -8,892
1969 2,766 -1,414 29,326 -10,250
1968 2,841 -448 27,697 -11,132
1967 3,021 47 29,895 -11,708
1966 3,305 39 26,866 -11,858
1965 3,442 -194 30,500 -14,016
1964 3,459 -67 31,532 -15,640
1963 3,490 -113 29,667 -16,615
1962 3,465 -228 28,077 -17,438
1961 3,312 164 25,137 -22,237
1960 3,758 -269 28,286 -38,492

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/ireland | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 29% of the population change in Iceland is from natural causes (a gain of 19,543 people) and 71% is from migration (a gain of 47,760 people). In Ireland 43.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 265,801 people) and 56.4% is from migration (a gain of 343,908 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/ireland | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.