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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 392,404 in 2025 vs 579,704 people in Malta in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 398,674 people compared to 586,345 in Malta.

Population statistics:

  • Malta's population is 1.47 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Malta is the 167th.
  • The countries together account for 0.01% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.007% for Malta.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.66% per year vs +2.68% in Malta.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 399K (31.2% growth), while Malta has grown from 405K to 586K (44.7% growth).

Iceland vs Malta: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Malta
2100 360,144 385,935
2099 361,926 389,134
2098 363,730 392,349
2097 365,557 395,676
2096 367,453 399,078
2095 369,353 402,765
2094 371,260 406,545
2093 373,227 410,348
2092 375,333 414,228
2091 377,423 418,324
2090 379,430 422,539
2089 381,438 426,802
2088 383,627 431,058
2087 385,798 435,593
2086 387,894 440,311
2085 390,003 444,985
2084 392,060 449,785
2083 394,128 454,721
2082 396,088 459,549
2081 398,124 464,574
2080 400,156 469,503
2079 402,122 474,408
2078 403,988 479,266
2077 405,922 484,147
2076 407,624 489,066
2075 409,218 493,650
2074 410,690 498,129
2073 412,079 502,551
2072 413,583 506,905
2071 414,926 511,168
2070 416,204 515,276
2069 417,368 519,370
2068 418,437 523,386
2067 419,588 527,196
2066 420,609 530,842
2065 421,634 534,346
2064 422,508 537,672
2063 423,391 540,800
2062 424,311 543,938
2061 425,017 546,831
2060 425,795 549,661
2059 426,421 552,414
2058 426,989 554,917
2057 427,546 557,274
2056 428,007 559,707
2055 428,399 562,109
2054 428,619 564,244
2053 428,812 566,461
2052 429,004 568,738
2051 428,983 571,060
2050 429,028 573,186
2049 428,993 575,026
2048 428,917 576,946
2047 428,806 579,015
2046 428,615 580,778
2045 428,387 582,504
2044 427,939 584,119
2043 427,281 585,724
2042 426,616 587,136
2041 425,912 588,589
2040 425,083 589,860
2039 424,104 591,157
2038 422,997 592,353
2037 421,786 593,277
2036 420,429 594,028
2035 418,926 594,615
2034 417,406 595,017
2033 415,689 594,907
2032 413,829 594,310
2031 411,715 593,505
2030 409,349 592,412
2029 406,777 591,100
2028 403,748 589,420
2027 400,455 587,406
2026 396,793 585,225
2025 392,404 579,704
2024 386,506 568,847
2023 385,663 552,747
2022 382,003 531,113
2021 372,520 518,150
2020 366,463 515,490
2019 360,563 503,912
2018 352,721 483,903
2017 343,400 467,106
2016 335,439 454,505
2015 330,815 444,220
2014 327,386 433,481
2013 323,764 424,810
2012 320,716 420,028
2011 319,014 416,268
2010 318,041 414,508
2009 318,499 412,477
2008 317,414 409,379
2007 311,566 406,724
2006 303,782 405,308
2005 296,734 403,834
2004 292,074 401,268
2003 289,521 398,582
2002 287,523 395,969
2001 284,968 393,028
2000 281,205 390,087
1999 277,381 387,578
1998 274,047 385,287
1997 271,128 382,791
1996 268,916 379,905
1995 267,468 377,419
1994 266,021 374,797
1993 263,725 371,308
1992 261,057 367,618
1991 257,797 363,845
1990 254,826 354,170
1989 252,852 350,722
1988 249,740 347,325
1987 245,859 344,485
1986 243,180 342,121
1985 241,405 336,452
1984 239,511 330,593
1983 236,977 330,524
1982 233,860 325,898
1981 230,755 318,982
1980 228,138 316,645
1979 225,735 313,342
1978 223,537 310,182
1977 221,799 306,970
1976 220,154 305,774
1975 217,979 304,222
1974 215,209 301,996
1973 212,317 302,200
1972 209,137 302,450
1971 206,098 302,700
1970 204,438 302,650
1969 203,369 304,300
1968 201,488 307,900
1967 198,751 311,550
1966 195,570 315,200
1965 192,286 318,800
1964 188,983 321,250
1963 185,653 322,550
1962 182,378 323,900
1961 179,029 325,250
1960 175,574 326,550

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/malta | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Malta gained 49,197 people (a 12.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 63,235 people (a 18.9% growth), while Malta's population increased by 131,840 people (a 29% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Malta was ranked 168th in 2006 and ranked 167th 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 Malta will decrease by 2.24% to 573,186 people and will still be ranked 167th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 429K people compared to the peak of 595K people in 2034 for Malta.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Malta
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Malta
2100 -0.49% -0.82%
2099 -0.5% -0.82%
2098 -0.5% -0.84%
2097 -0.52% -0.85%
2096 -0.51% -0.92%
2095 -0.51% -0.93%
2094 -0.53% -0.93%
2093 -0.56% -0.94%
2092 -0.55% -0.98%
2091 -0.53% -1%
2090 -0.53% -1%
2089 -0.57% -0.99%
2088 -0.56% -1.04%
2087 -0.54% -1.07%
2086 -0.54% -1.05%
2085 -0.52% -1.07%
2084 -0.52% -1.09%
2083 -0.49% -1.05%
2082 -0.51% -1.08%
2081 -0.51% -1.05%
2080 -0.49% -1.03%
2079 -0.46% -1.01%
2078 -0.48% -1.01%
2077 -0.42% -1.01%
2076 -0.39% -0.93%
2075 -0.36% -0.9%
2074 -0.34% -0.88%
2073 -0.36% -0.86%
2072 -0.32% -0.83%
2071 -0.31% -0.8%
2070 -0.28% -0.79%
2069 -0.26% -0.77%
2068 -0.27% -0.72%
2067 -0.24% -0.69%
2066 -0.24% -0.66%
2065 -0.21% -0.62%
2064 -0.21% -0.58%
2063 -0.22% -0.58%
2062 -0.17% -0.53%
2061 -0.18% -0.51%
2060 -0.15% -0.5%
2059 -0.13% -0.45%
2058 -0.13% -0.42%
2057 -0.11% -0.43%
2056 -0.09% -0.43%
2055 -0.05% -0.38%
2054 -0.05% -0.39%
2053 -0.04% -0.4%
2052 0.005% -0.41%
2051 -0.01% -0.37%
2050 0.008% -0.32%
2049 0.02% -0.33%
2048 0.03% -0.36%
2047 0.04% -0.3%
2046 0.05% -0.3%
2045 0.1% -0.28%
2044 0.15% -0.27%
2043 0.16% -0.24%
2042 0.17% -0.25%
2041 0.2% -0.22%
2040 0.23% -0.22%
2039 0.26% -0.2%
2038 0.29% -0.16%
2037 0.32% -0.13%
2036 0.36% -0.1%
2035 0.36% -0.07%
2034 0.41% 0.02%
2033 0.45% 0.1%
2032 0.51% 0.14%
2031 0.58% 0.18%
2030 0.63% 0.22%
2029 0.75% 0.29%
2028 0.82% 0.34%
2027 0.92% 0.37%
2026 1.12% 0.95%
2025 1.53% 1.91%
2024 0.22% 2.91%
2023 0.96% 4.07%
2022 2.55% 2.5%
2021 1.65% 0.52%
2020 1.64% 2.3%
2019 2.22% 4.13%
2018 2.71% 3.6%
2017 2.37% 2.77%
2016 1.4% 2.32%
2015 1.05% 2.48%
2014 1.12% 2.04%
2013 0.95% 1.14%
2012 0.53% 0.9%
2011 0.31% 0.42%
2010 -0.14% 0.49%
2009 0.34% 0.76%
2008 1.88% 0.65%
2007 2.56% 0.35%
2006 2.38% 0.37%
2005 1.6% 0.64%
2004 0.88% 0.67%
2003 0.69% 0.66%
2002 0.9% 0.75%
2001 1.34% 0.75%
2000 1.38% 0.65%
1999 1.22% 0.59%
1998 1.08% 0.65%
1997 0.82% 0.76%
1996 0.54% 0.66%
1995 0.54% 0.7%
1994 0.87% 0.94%
1993 1.02% 1%
1992 1.26% 1.04%
1991 1.17% 2.73%
1990 0.78% 0.98%
1989 1.25% 0.98%
1988 1.58% 0.82%
1987 1.1% 0.69%
1986 0.74% 1.68%
1985 0.79% 1.77%
1984 1.07% 0.02%
1983 1.33% 1.42%
1982 1.35% 2.17%
1981 1.15% 0.74%
1980 1.06% 1.05%
1979 0.98% 1.02%
1978 0.78% 1.05%
1977 0.75% 0.39%
1976 1% 0.51%
1975 1.29% 0.74%
1974 1.36% -0.07%
1973 1.52% -0.08%
1972 1.47% -0.08%
1971 0.81% 0.02%
1970 0.53% -0.54%
1969 0.93% -1.17%
1968 1.38% -1.17%
1967 1.63% -1.16%
1966 1.71% -1.13%
1965 1.75% -0.76%
1964 1.79% -0.4%
1963 1.8% -0.42%
1962 1.87% -0.42%
1961 1.97% -0.4%

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/malta | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Iceland grew by 1.53%, while Malta's population grew by 1.91%.

Live population counters

Iceland Malta
Current population
398674
586345
Population rank 173/197 167/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.007%
One net population change
1.49 hours
48.5 minutes
One birth every
2.02 hours
2 hours
One death every
3.33 hours
2.11 hours
Daily growth/decline +16 +30
Annual growth/decline +5,898 +10,857
Annual growth/decline rate +1.53% +1.91%
Population growth rate rank 70/197 52/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
1.7 hours
Annual migration change +2,709 +5,161
Net migration rank 56/196 52/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 199,466
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 112/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 37%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 15/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Malta
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Malta
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 5,161
2024 1,700 3,543 228 6,323
2023 1,736 4,630 442 6,591
2022 1,719 6,535 54 2,480
2021 2,534 4,911 259 4,638
2020 2,199 2,498 361 6,904
2019 2,163 5,030 655 20,302
2018 1,975 6,638 774 16,961
2017 1,854 8,348 747 14,372
2016 1,711 4,128 1,091 8,624
2015 1,952 1,499 888 9,588
2014 2,324 1,139 910 9,192
2013 2,169 1,666 807 861
2012 2,566 -277 714 911
2011 2,521 -1,393 916 999
2010 2,862 -2,055 871 741
2009 3,026 -4,785 825 836
2008 2,825 1,138 777 869
2007 2,617 5,254 691 926
2006 2,491 5,300 568 997
2005 2,433 3,925 727 1,626
2004 2,425 610 883 1,662
2003 2,317 -204 917 1,626
2002 2,243 -333 911 1,821
2001 2,365 867 1,061 1,678
2000 2,475 1,877 1,482 1,591
1999 2,192 1,165 1,357 1,463
1998 2,357 1,014 1,656 1,260
1997 2,305 225 1,991 1,003
1996 2,447 -511 2,279 1,142
1995 2,354 -1,354 1,887 1,306
1994 2,713 -804 2,136 1,136
1993 2,875 -194 2,451 1,006
1992 2,898 -225 2,573 737
1991 2,733 1,145 2,438 763
1990 3,058 -971 2,621 568
1989 2,832 -994 2,981 248
1988 2,847 1,572 2,813 164
1987 2,360 944 2,412 295
1986 2,384 -335 2,395 464
1985 2,221 -628 2,590 -428
1984 2,539 -328 2,678 -558
1983 2,702 170 2,512 -740
1982 2,736 616 2,835 -1,059
1981 2,677 157 2,233 -548
1980 2,966 -629 2,375 -886
1979 2,980 -572 2,852 -1,311
1978 2,727 -781 2,389 -1,302
1977 2,551 -1,079 2,916 -1,598
1976 2,951 -1,181 2,721 -1,641
1975 2,965 -388 2,829 -1,742
1974 2,776 209 2,687 -1,597
1973 3,121 -310 2,327 -1,549
1972 3,241 362 2,480 -1,316
1971 2,782 -231 2,482 -1,327
1970 2,576 -1,754 2,270 -1,123
1969 2,766 -1,414 2,069 -827
1968 2,841 -448 2,247 -753
1967 3,021 47 2,306 -4,073
1966 3,305 39 2,458 -4,318
1965 3,442 -194 2,646 -4,329
1964 3,459 -67 3,630 -4,768
1963 3,490 -113 3,709 -4,773
1962 3,465 -228 4,664 -5,360
1961 3,312 164 4,748 -5,099
1960 3,758 -269 5,747 -5,540

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

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/malta | 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 Malta 5.38% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,499 people) and 94.6% is from migration (a gain of 96,783 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 199,466 people or 37% in Malta.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Malta
City Population
St. Paul's Bay 40.2K
Mosta 25.5K
Birkirkara 24.4K
Naxxar 18.1K
Zabbar 18K
Sliema 16.9K
San Gwann 16.1K
Marsaskala 15.6K
Gzira 8.03K
Valletta 6.44K

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/malta | CC BY

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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)

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