The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.
Population statistics:
- Japan's population is 309 times bigger than Iceland's.
- Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
- The countries together account for 1.48% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 1.48% for Japan.
- For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
- Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).
Iceland vs Japan: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Iceland
|
Japan
|
|
| 2100 | 359,553 | 76,978,998 |
| 2099 | 361,331 | 77,363,458 |
| 2098 | 363,133 | 77,742,445 |
| 2097 | 364,957 | 78,118,375 |
| 2096 | 366,850 | 78,498,614 |
| 2095 | 368,746 | 78,875,245 |
| 2094 | 370,650 | 79,250,325 |
| 2093 | 372,614 | 79,628,057 |
| 2092 | 374,717 | 80,007,967 |
| 2091 | 376,803 | 80,383,529 |
| 2090 | 378,807 | 80,760,724 |
| 2089 | 380,812 | 81,140,553 |
| 2088 | 382,997 | 81,521,696 |
| 2087 | 385,164 | 81,908,373 |
| 2086 | 387,257 | 82,304,497 |
| 2085 | 389,362 | 82,709,534 |
| 2084 | 391,416 | 83,123,058 |
| 2083 | 393,481 | 83,544,006 |
| 2082 | 395,438 | 83,980,325 |
| 2081 | 397,470 | 84,429,305 |
| 2080 | 399,499 | 84,899,768 |
| 2079 | 401,462 | 85,387,247 |
| 2078 | 403,324 | 85,897,934 |
| 2077 | 405,255 | 86,434,291 |
| 2076 | 406,954 | 86,993,007 |
| 2075 | 408,546 | 87,577,777 |
| 2074 | 410,015 | 88,190,392 |
| 2073 | 411,402 | 88,834,763 |
| 2072 | 412,903 | 89,499,356 |
| 2071 | 414,245 | 90,184,464 |
| 2070 | 415,521 | 90,899,136 |
| 2069 | 416,683 | 91,625,421 |
| 2068 | 417,749 | 92,367,969 |
| 2067 | 418,899 | 93,113,499 |
| 2066 | 419,918 | 93,869,240 |
| 2065 | 420,941 | 94,633,430 |
| 2064 | 421,814 | 95,391,433 |
| 2063 | 422,695 | 96,148,081 |
| 2062 | 423,614 | 96,902,907 |
| 2061 | 424,319 | 97,654,031 |
| 2060 | 425,096 | 98,400,894 |
| 2059 | 425,721 | 99,144,216 |
| 2058 | 426,288 | 99,868,968 |
| 2057 | 426,844 | 100,585,601 |
| 2056 | 427,304 | 101,295,868 |
| 2055 | 427,695 | 101,989,736 |
| 2054 | 427,915 | 102,683,462 |
| 2053 | 428,108 | 103,359,083 |
| 2052 | 428,300 | 104,036,901 |
| 2051 | 428,278 | 104,706,698 |
| 2050 | 428,323 | 105,377,283 |
| 2049 | 428,289 | 106,053,011 |
| 2048 | 428,213 | 106,731,207 |
| 2047 | 428,102 | 107,419,237 |
| 2046 | 427,911 | 108,115,358 |
| 2045 | 427,683 | 108,820,982 |
| 2044 | 427,236 | 109,529,333 |
| 2043 | 426,580 | 110,245,586 |
| 2042 | 425,915 | 110,968,174 |
| 2041 | 425,212 | 111,704,629 |
| 2040 | 424,385 | 112,438,759 |
| 2039 | 423,407 | 113,175,948 |
| 2038 | 422,302 | 113,915,783 |
| 2037 | 421,094 | 114,662,374 |
| 2036 | 419,738 | 115,410,956 |
| 2035 | 418,238 | 116,162,381 |
| 2034 | 416,721 | 116,911,001 |
| 2033 | 415,006 | 117,652,676 |
| 2032 | 413,150 | 118,393,188 |
| 2031 | 411,039 | 119,127,425 |
| 2030 | 408,677 | 119,856,131 |
| 2029 | 406,109 | 120,574,242 |
| 2028 | 403,085 | 121,287,543 |
| 2027 | 399,797 | 121,989,133 |
| 2026 | 396,141 | 122,677,250 |
| 2025 | 391,759 | 123,339,586 |
| 2024 | 386,506 | 123,975,371 |
| 2023 | 385,663 | 124,516,650 |
| 2022 | 382,003 | 125,124,989 |
| 2021 | 372,520 | 125,681,593 |
| 2020 | 366,463 | 126,261,000 |
| 2019 | 360,563 | 126,633,000 |
| 2018 | 352,721 | 126,811,000 |
| 2017 | 343,400 | 126,972,000 |
| 2016 | 335,439 | 127,076,000 |
| 2015 | 330,815 | 127,141,000 |
| 2014 | 327,386 | 127,276,000 |
| 2013 | 323,764 | 127,445,000 |
| 2012 | 320,716 | 127,629,000 |
| 2011 | 319,014 | 127,833,000 |
| 2010 | 318,041 | 128,070,000 |
| 2009 | 318,499 | 128,047,000 |
| 2008 | 317,414 | 128,063,000 |
| 2007 | 311,566 | 128,001,000 |
| 2006 | 303,782 | 127,854,000 |
| 2005 | 296,734 | 127,773,000 |
| 2004 | 292,074 | 127,761,000 |
| 2003 | 289,521 | 127,718,000 |
| 2002 | 287,523 | 127,445,000 |
| 2001 | 284,968 | 127,149,000 |
| 2000 | 281,205 | 126,843,000 |
| 1999 | 277,381 | 126,631,000 |
| 1998 | 274,047 | 126,400,000 |
| 1997 | 271,128 | 126,057,000 |
| 1996 | 268,916 | 125,757,000 |
| 1995 | 267,468 | 125,472,000 |
| 1994 | 266,021 | 125,178,000 |
| 1993 | 263,725 | 124,829,000 |
| 1992 | 261,057 | 124,425,000 |
| 1991 | 257,797 | 123,964,000 |
| 1990 | 254,826 | 123,478,000 |
| 1989 | 252,852 | 123,069,000 |
| 1988 | 249,740 | 122,578,000 |
| 1987 | 245,859 | 122,069,000 |
| 1986 | 243,180 | 121,482,000 |
| 1985 | 241,405 | 120,837,000 |
| 1984 | 239,511 | 120,083,000 |
| 1983 | 236,977 | 119,307,000 |
| 1982 | 233,860 | 118,480,000 |
| 1981 | 230,755 | 117,661,000 |
| 1980 | 228,138 | 116,807,000 |
| 1979 | 225,735 | 115,890,000 |
| 1978 | 223,537 | 114,913,000 |
| 1977 | 221,799 | 113,872,000 |
| 1976 | 220,154 | 112,775,000 |
| 1975 | 217,979 | 111,573,000 |
| 1974 | 215,209 | 110,162,000 |
| 1973 | 212,317 | 108,707,000 |
| 1972 | 209,137 | 107,188,000 |
| 1971 | 206,098 | 105,697,000 |
| 1970 | 204,438 | 103,403,000 |
| 1969 | 203,369 | 102,219,000 |
| 1968 | 201,488 | 101,011,000 |
| 1967 | 198,751 | 99,879,000 |
| 1966 | 195,570 | 98,851,000 |
| 1965 | 192,286 | 97,952,000 |
| 1964 | 188,983 | 96,903,000 |
| 1963 | 185,653 | 95,900,000 |
| 1962 | 182,378 | 94,933,000 |
| 1961 | 179,029 | 94,055,000 |
| 1960 | 175,574 | 93,216,000 |
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/japan | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).
Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.
Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
Japan
|
|
| 2100 | -0.49% | -0.5% |
| 2099 | -0.5% | -0.49% |
| 2098 | -0.5% | -0.48% |
| 2097 | -0.52% | -0.48% |
| 2096 | -0.51% | -0.48% |
| 2095 | -0.51% | -0.47% |
| 2094 | -0.53% | -0.47% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | -0.47% |
| 2092 | -0.55% | -0.47% |
| 2091 | -0.53% | -0.47% |
| 2090 | -0.53% | -0.47% |
| 2089 | -0.57% | -0.47% |
| 2088 | -0.56% | -0.47% |
| 2087 | -0.54% | -0.48% |
| 2086 | -0.54% | -0.49% |
| 2085 | -0.52% | -0.5% |
| 2084 | -0.52% | -0.5% |
| 2083 | -0.49% | -0.52% |
| 2082 | -0.51% | -0.53% |
| 2081 | -0.51% | -0.55% |
| 2080 | -0.49% | -0.57% |
| 2079 | -0.46% | -0.59% |
| 2078 | -0.48% | -0.62% |
| 2077 | -0.42% | -0.64% |
| 2076 | -0.39% | -0.67% |
| 2075 | -0.36% | -0.69% |
| 2074 | -0.34% | -0.73% |
| 2073 | -0.36% | -0.74% |
| 2072 | -0.32% | -0.76% |
| 2071 | -0.31% | -0.79% |
| 2070 | -0.28% | -0.79% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | -0.8% |
| 2068 | -0.27% | -0.8% |
| 2067 | -0.24% | -0.81% |
| 2066 | -0.24% | -0.81% |
| 2065 | -0.21% | -0.79% |
| 2064 | -0.21% | -0.79% |
| 2063 | -0.22% | -0.78% |
| 2062 | -0.17% | -0.77% |
| 2061 | -0.18% | -0.76% |
| 2060 | -0.15% | -0.75% |
| 2059 | -0.13% | -0.73% |
| 2058 | -0.13% | -0.71% |
| 2057 | -0.11% | -0.7% |
| 2056 | -0.09% | -0.68% |
| 2055 | -0.05% | -0.68% |
| 2054 | -0.05% | -0.65% |
| 2053 | -0.04% | -0.65% |
| 2052 | 0.005% | -0.64% |
| 2051 | -0.01% | -0.64% |
| 2050 | 0.008% | -0.64% |
| 2049 | 0.02% | -0.64% |
| 2048 | 0.03% | -0.64% |
| 2047 | 0.04% | -0.64% |
| 2046 | 0.05% | -0.65% |
| 2045 | 0.1% | -0.65% |
| 2044 | 0.15% | -0.65% |
| 2043 | 0.16% | -0.65% |
| 2042 | 0.17% | -0.66% |
| 2041 | 0.2% | -0.65% |
| 2040 | 0.23% | -0.65% |
| 2039 | 0.26% | -0.65% |
| 2038 | 0.29% | -0.65% |
| 2037 | 0.32% | -0.65% |
| 2036 | 0.36% | -0.65% |
| 2035 | 0.36% | -0.64% |
| 2034 | 0.41% | -0.63% |
| 2033 | 0.45% | -0.63% |
| 2032 | 0.51% | -0.62% |
| 2031 | 0.58% | -0.61% |
| 2030 | 0.63% | -0.6% |
| 2029 | 0.75% | -0.59% |
| 2028 | 0.82% | -0.58% |
| 2027 | 0.92% | -0.56% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | -0.54% |
| 2025 | 1.36% | -0.51% |
| 2024 | 0.22% | -0.43% |
| 2023 | 0.96% | -0.49% |
| 2022 | 2.55% | -0.44% |
| 2021 | 1.65% | -0.46% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | -0.29% |
| 2019 | 2.22% | -0.14% |
| 2018 | 2.71% | -0.13% |
| 2017 | 2.37% | -0.08% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | -0.05% |
| 2015 | 1.05% | -0.11% |
| 2014 | 1.12% | -0.13% |
| 2013 | 0.95% | -0.14% |
| 2012 | 0.53% | -0.16% |
| 2011 | 0.31% | -0.19% |
| 2010 | -0.14% | 0.02% |
| 2009 | 0.34% | -0.01% |
| 2008 | 1.88% | 0.05% |
| 2007 | 2.56% | 0.11% |
| 2006 | 2.38% | 0.06% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | 0.009% |
| 2004 | 0.88% | 0.03% |
| 2003 | 0.69% | 0.21% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | 0.23% |
| 2001 | 1.34% | 0.24% |
| 2000 | 1.38% | 0.17% |
| 1999 | 1.22% | 0.18% |
| 1998 | 1.08% | 0.27% |
| 1997 | 0.82% | 0.24% |
| 1996 | 0.54% | 0.23% |
| 1995 | 0.54% | 0.23% |
| 1994 | 0.87% | 0.28% |
| 1993 | 1.02% | 0.32% |
| 1992 | 1.26% | 0.37% |
| 1991 | 1.17% | 0.39% |
| 1990 | 0.78% | 0.33% |
| 1989 | 1.25% | 0.4% |
| 1988 | 1.58% | 0.42% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | 0.48% |
| 1986 | 0.74% | 0.53% |
| 1985 | 0.79% | 0.63% |
| 1984 | 1.07% | 0.65% |
| 1983 | 1.33% | 0.7% |
| 1982 | 1.35% | 0.7% |
| 1981 | 1.15% | 0.73% |
| 1980 | 1.06% | 0.79% |
| 1979 | 0.98% | 0.85% |
| 1978 | 0.78% | 0.91% |
| 1977 | 0.75% | 0.97% |
| 1976 | 1% | 1.08% |
| 1975 | 1.29% | 1.28% |
| 1974 | 1.36% | 1.34% |
| 1973 | 1.52% | 1.42% |
| 1972 | 1.47% | 1.41% |
| 1971 | 0.81% | 2.22% |
| 1970 | 0.53% | 1.16% |
| 1969 | 0.93% | 1.2% |
| 1968 | 1.38% | 1.13% |
| 1967 | 1.63% | 1.04% |
| 1966 | 1.71% | 0.92% |
| 1965 | 1.75% | 1.08% |
| 1964 | 1.79% | 1.05% |
| 1963 | 1.8% | 1.02% |
| 1962 | 1.87% | 0.93% |
| 1961 | 1.97% | 0.9% |
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/japan | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.
Live population counters
|
Iceland
|
Japan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
397129
|
122677250
|
| Population rank | 173/197 | 12/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.005% | 1.48% |
| One net population change |
10.4 hours
|
58.3 seconds
|
| One birth every |
2.07 hours
|
42.2 seconds
|
| One death every |
3.44 hours
|
19.5 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2 | -1,483 |
| Annual growth/decline | +843 | -541,279 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.22% | -0.43% |
| Population growth rate rank | 155/197 | 185/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.24 hours
|
3.75 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +2,709 | +140,579 |
| Net migration rank | 56/196 | 10/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 98,818 | 3,409,529 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 130/195 | 19/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.1% | 2.8% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 23/195 | 120/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
Japan
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 2,709 | - | 140,579 |
| 2024 | - | 3,543 | - | 153,357 |
| 2023 | 1,697 | 4,630 | -871,617 | 175,003 |
| 2022 | 1,719 | 6,535 | -825,825 | 175,003 |
| 2021 | 2,534 | 4,911 | -640,976 | -34,996 |
| 2020 | 2,199 | 2,498 | -542,923 | 42,001 |
| 2019 | 2,163 | 5,030 | -531,858 | 318,190 |
| 2018 | 1,975 | 6,638 | -456,520 | 320,601 |
| 2017 | 1,854 | 8,348 | -406,310 | 322,564 |
| 2016 | 1,711 | 4,128 | -343,106 | 314,732 |
| 2015 | 1,952 | 1,499 | -292,424 | 168,896 |
| 2014 | 2,324 | 1,139 | -267,279 | 58,109 |
| 2013 | 2,169 | 1,666 | -242,146 | 66,449 |
| 2012 | 2,566 | -277 | -229,733 | 67,904 |
| 2011 | 2,521 | -1,393 | -204,533 | 97,720 |
| 2010 | 2,862 | -2,055 | -128,070 | 131,860 |
| 2009 | 3,026 | -4,785 | -76,828 | 125,450 |
| 2008 | 2,825 | 1,138 | -51,225 | 142,605 |
| 2007 | 2,617 | 5,254 | -25,600 | 138,024 |
| 2006 | 2,491 | 5,300 | 12,785 | 130,065 |
| 2005 | 2,433 | 3,925 | -25,554 | 113,017 |
| 2004 | 2,425 | 610 | 76,656 | 69,014 |
| 2003 | 2,317 | -204 | 114,946 | 74,875 |
| 2002 | 2,243 | -333 | 178,423 | 60,864 |
| 2001 | 2,365 | 867 | 203,438 | 59,563 |
| 2000 | 2,475 | 1,877 | 228,317 | 23,468 |
| 1999 | 2,192 | 1,165 | 202,610 | 56,901 |
| 1998 | 2,357 | 1,014 | 265,440 | 45,912 |
| 1997 | 2,305 | 225 | 277,325 | 43,366 |
| 1996 | 2,447 | -511 | 314,392 | 25,030 |
| 1995 | 2,354 | -1,354 | 276,039 | 87,714 |
| 1994 | 2,713 | -804 | 363,017 | 154,214 |
| 1993 | 2,875 | -194 | 312,073 | 168,836 |
| 1992 | 2,898 | -225 | 360,833 | 170,878 |
| 1991 | 2,733 | 1,145 | 396,685 | 161,331 |
| 1990 | 3,058 | -971 | 407,478 | 124,582 |
| 1989 | 2,832 | -994 | 467,662 | 31,202 |
| 1988 | 2,847 | 1,572 | 527,085 | 51,154 |
| 1987 | 2,360 | 944 | 598,138 | 28,001 |
| 1986 | 2,384 | -335 | 631,706 | 27,987 |
| 1985 | 2,221 | -628 | 676,687 | -141,323 |
| 1984 | 2,539 | -328 | 756,523 | -273,686 |
| 1983 | 2,702 | 170 | 775,495 | -269,755 |
| 1982 | 2,736 | 616 | 805,664 | -288,550 |
| 1981 | 2,677 | 157 | 811,861 | -278,525 |
| 1980 | 2,966 | -629 | 864,372 | -92,314 |
| 1979 | 2,980 | -572 | 950,298 | -57,692 |
| 1978 | 2,727 | -781 | 1,011,234 | -47,996 |
| 1977 | 2,551 | -1,079 | 1,070,397 | -49,082 |
| 1976 | 2,951 | -1,181 | 1,127,750 | -34,976 |
| 1975 | 2,965 | -388 | 1,204,989 | 107 |
| 1974 | 2,776 | 209 | 1,332,960 | -10,145 |
| 1973 | 3,121 | -310 | 1,391,449 | -34,674 |
| 1972 | 3,241 | 362 | 1,372,006 | -73,980 |
| 1971 | 2,782 | -231 | 1,331,782 | -107,778 |
| 1970 | 2,576 | -1,754 | 1,230,496 | 33,731 |
| 1969 | 2,766 | -1,414 | 1,195,962 | 49,447 |
| 1968 | 2,841 | -448 | 1,191,930 | 43,593 |
| 1967 | 3,021 | 47 | 1,258,475 | 29,632 |
| 1966 | 3,305 | 39 | 682,072 | 68,934 |
| 1965 | 3,442 | -194 | 1,126,448 | -50,667 |
| 1964 | 3,459 | -67 | 1,046,553 | -100,696 |
| 1963 | 3,490 | -113 | 987,770 | -100,742 |
| 1962 | 3,465 | -228 | 901,864 | -57,075 |
| 1961 | 3,312 | 164 | 893,522 | -58,882 |
| 1960 | 3,758 | -269 | 894,874 | -150,371 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/iceland/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).
As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Iceland and Japan
|
Iceland
|
Japan
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.3 years | 85.1 years |
| Average age | 38.8 years | 48.3 years |
| Median age | 37.1 years | 50.4 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 48.8:51.2 |
| Fertility rate | 1.59 births per woman | 1.2 births per woman |
| Population density | 10.2 ppl/mi² | 872 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/japan | 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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