The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 5,395,790 people in Ireland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 5,518,360 in Ireland.
Population statistics:
- Ireland's population is 13.9 times bigger than Iceland's.
- Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 121st.
- 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 +1.63% per year vs +1.41% in Ireland.
- Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.52M (29.1% growth).
Iceland vs Ireland: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Iceland
|
Ireland
|
|
| 2100 | 359,553 | 5,468,791 |
| 2099 | 361,331 | 5,493,162 |
| 2098 | 363,133 | 5,516,999 |
| 2097 | 364,957 | 5,540,157 |
| 2096 | 366,850 | 5,562,811 |
| 2095 | 368,746 | 5,583,505 |
| 2094 | 370,650 | 5,603,538 |
| 2093 | 372,614 | 5,623,266 |
| 2092 | 374,717 | 5,642,437 |
| 2091 | 376,803 | 5,661,268 |
| 2090 | 378,807 | 5,680,076 |
| 2089 | 380,812 | 5,697,512 |
| 2088 | 382,997 | 5,714,108 |
| 2087 | 385,164 | 5,729,431 |
| 2086 | 387,257 | 5,743,405 |
| 2085 | 389,362 | 5,757,666 |
| 2084 | 391,416 | 5,771,610 |
| 2083 | 393,481 | 5,785,324 |
| 2082 | 395,438 | 5,798,037 |
| 2081 | 397,470 | 5,809,262 |
| 2080 | 399,499 | 5,821,598 |
| 2079 | 401,462 | 5,836,731 |
| 2078 | 403,324 | 5,851,937 |
| 2077 | 405,255 | 5,867,627 |
| 2076 | 406,954 | 5,883,876 |
| 2075 | 408,546 | 5,900,200 |
| 2074 | 410,015 | 5,917,659 |
| 2073 | 411,402 | 5,934,975 |
| 2072 | 412,903 | 5,952,211 |
| 2071 | 414,245 | 5,969,279 |
| 2070 | 415,521 | 5,986,770 |
| 2069 | 416,683 | 6,003,570 |
| 2068 | 417,749 | 6,019,937 |
| 2067 | 418,899 | 6,035,810 |
| 2066 | 419,918 | 6,051,604 |
| 2065 | 420,941 | 6,066,791 |
| 2064 | 421,814 | 6,081,606 |
| 2063 | 422,695 | 6,094,455 |
| 2062 | 423,614 | 6,106,325 |
| 2061 | 424,319 | 6,118,587 |
| 2060 | 425,096 | 6,131,482 |
| 2059 | 425,721 | 6,143,979 |
| 2058 | 426,288 | 6,153,447 |
| 2057 | 426,844 | 6,161,059 |
| 2056 | 427,304 | 6,164,047 |
| 2055 | 427,695 | 6,168,611 |
| 2054 | 427,915 | 6,169,455 |
| 2053 | 428,108 | 6,169,673 |
| 2052 | 428,300 | 6,167,591 |
| 2051 | 428,278 | 6,164,894 |
| 2050 | 428,323 | 6,159,756 |
| 2049 | 428,289 | 6,151,623 |
| 2048 | 428,213 | 6,140,272 |
| 2047 | 428,102 | 6,128,245 |
| 2046 | 427,911 | 6,115,454 |
| 2045 | 427,683 | 6,099,562 |
| 2044 | 427,236 | 6,081,384 |
| 2043 | 426,580 | 6,062,477 |
| 2042 | 425,915 | 6,041,683 |
| 2041 | 425,212 | 6,017,573 |
| 2040 | 424,385 | 5,992,311 |
| 2039 | 423,407 | 5,967,604 |
| 2038 | 422,302 | 5,940,474 |
| 2037 | 421,094 | 5,912,327 |
| 2036 | 419,738 | 5,884,159 |
| 2035 | 418,238 | 5,855,902 |
| 2034 | 416,721 | 5,825,178 |
| 2033 | 415,006 | 5,792,751 |
| 2032 | 413,150 | 5,757,842 |
| 2031 | 411,039 | 5,721,671 |
| 2030 | 408,677 | 5,684,420 |
| 2029 | 406,109 | 5,644,008 |
| 2028 | 403,085 | 5,600,083 |
| 2027 | 399,797 | 5,553,725 |
| 2026 | 396,141 | 5,505,248 |
| 2025 | 391,759 | 5,452,752 |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
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 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth).
Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and still ranked 121st now.
The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Iceland's population will grow by 7.85% to 428,323 people and will still be ranked 173rd. The population of Ireland will increase by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people and rank change from 121st to 119th.
Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 6.17M people in 2053 for Ireland.
Population growth rate by year
| 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 | 1.36% | 1.06% |
| 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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/iceland/ireland | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.59%.
Live population counters
|
Iceland
|
Ireland
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
397129
|
5518360
|
| Population rank | 173/197 | 121/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.005% | 0.07% |
| One net population change |
10.4 hours
|
6.24 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.07 hours
|
9.61 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.44 hours
|
15 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2 | +231 |
| Annual growth/decline | +843 | +84,252 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.22% | +1.59% |
| Population growth rate rank | 155/197 | 68/197 |
| 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
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
Ireland
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 2,709 | - | 35,417 |
| 2024 | - | 3,543 | - | 39,059 |
| 2023 | 1,697 | 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 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/iceland/ireland | CC BY
Over the last 10 years, 30.7% of the population change in Iceland is from natural causes (a gain of 20,128 people) and 69.3% is from migration (a gain of 45,356 people). In Ireland 48.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 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
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Population differences between Iceland and Ireland
|
Iceland
|
Ireland
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.3 years | 82.9 years |
| Average age | 38.8 years | 39.4 years |
| Median age | 37.1 years | 39.7 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 49.5:50.5 |
| Fertility rate | 1.59 births per woman | 1.5 births per woman |
| Population density | 10.2 ppl/mi² | 207 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).
GeoRank.org/population/iceland/ireland | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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