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Population in Iceland compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • The Netherlands' population is 46 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.23% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Iceland vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Netherlands
2100 359,553 17,359,081
2099 361,331 17,392,412
2098 363,133 17,425,508
2097 364,957 17,459,827
2096 366,850 17,495,124
2095 368,746 17,532,593
2094 370,650 17,571,051
2093 372,614 17,610,792
2092 374,717 17,649,611
2091 376,803 17,688,532
2090 378,807 17,730,570
2089 380,812 17,770,380
2088 382,997 17,809,825
2087 385,164 17,845,820
2086 387,257 17,885,001
2085 389,362 17,921,302
2084 391,416 17,957,639
2083 393,481 17,994,232
2082 395,438 18,029,404
2081 397,470 18,063,233
2080 399,499 18,093,703
2079 401,462 18,124,294
2078 403,324 18,152,738
2077 405,255 18,181,372
2076 406,954 18,206,864
2075 408,546 18,227,791
2074 410,015 18,245,652
2073 411,402 18,263,765
2072 412,903 18,280,443
2071 414,245 18,295,700
2070 415,521 18,311,141
2069 416,683 18,326,509
2068 417,749 18,341,711
2067 418,899 18,356,770
2066 419,918 18,374,904
2065 420,941 18,396,018
2064 421,814 18,417,894
2063 422,695 18,441,434
2062 423,614 18,464,922
2061 424,319 18,492,436
2060 425,096 18,520,315
2059 425,721 18,548,786
2058 426,288 18,577,700
2057 426,844 18,608,370
2056 427,304 18,638,918
2055 427,695 18,666,514
2054 427,915 18,692,598
2053 428,108 18,718,268
2052 428,300 18,741,740
2051 428,278 18,768,309
2050 428,323 18,789,481
2049 428,289 18,809,886
2048 428,213 18,827,655
2047 428,102 18,844,635
2046 427,911 18,855,920
2045 427,683 18,867,286
2044 427,236 18,877,101
2043 426,580 18,882,735
2042 425,915 18,885,839
2041 425,212 18,885,255
2040 424,385 18,879,571
2039 423,407 18,870,248
2038 422,302 18,855,512
2037 421,094 18,837,172
2036 419,738 18,811,873
2035 418,238 18,783,312
2034 416,721 18,750,125
2033 415,006 18,708,101
2032 413,150 18,662,054
2031 411,039 18,609,452
2030 408,677 18,549,634
2029 406,109 18,481,269
2028 403,085 18,404,195
2027 399,797 18,320,644
2026 396,141 18,227,403
2025 391,759 18,118,662
2024 386,506 17,993,485
2023 385,663 17,877,117
2022 382,003 17,700,982
2021 372,520 17,533,044
2020 366,463 17,441,500
2019 360,563 17,344,874
2018 352,721 17,231,624
2017 343,400 17,131,296
2016 335,439 17,030,314
2015 330,815 16,939,923
2014 327,386 16,865,008
2013 323,764 16,804,432
2012 320,716 16,754,962
2011 319,014 16,693,074
2010 318,041 16,615,394
2009 318,499 16,530,388
2008 317,414 16,445,593
2007 311,566 16,381,696
2006 303,782 16,346,101
2005 296,734 16,319,868
2004 292,074 16,281,779
2003 289,521 16,225,302
2002 287,523 16,148,929
2001 284,968 16,046,180
2000 281,205 15,925,513
1999 277,381 15,812,088
1998 274,047 15,707,209
1997 271,128 15,610,650
1996 268,916 15,530,498
1995 267,468 15,459,006
1994 266,021 15,382,838
1993 263,725 15,290,368
1992 261,057 15,184,166
1991 257,797 15,069,798
1990 254,826 14,951,510
1989 252,852 14,848,907
1988 249,740 14,760,094
1987 245,859 14,665,037
1986 243,180 14,572,278
1985 241,405 14,491,632
1984 239,511 14,424,211
1983 236,977 14,367,070
1982 233,860 14,312,690
1981 230,755 14,247,208
1980 228,138 14,149,800
1979 225,735 14,038,270
1978 223,537 13,941,700
1977 221,799 13,856,185
1976 220,154 13,774,037
1975 217,979 13,666,335
1974 215,209 13,545,056
1973 212,317 13,439,322
1972 209,137 13,328,593
1971 206,098 13,194,497
1970 204,438 13,038,526
1969 203,369 12,877,984
1968 201,488 12,729,721
1967 198,751 12,598,201
1966 195,570 12,456,251
1965 192,286 12,294,732
1964 188,983 12,127,120
1963 185,653 11,965,966
1962 182,378 11,805,689
1961 179,029 11,638,712
1960 175,574 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Netherlands
2100 -0.49% -0.19%
2099 -0.5% -0.19%
2098 -0.5% -0.2%
2097 -0.52% -0.2%
2096 -0.51% -0.21%
2095 -0.51% -0.22%
2094 -0.53% -0.23%
2093 -0.56% -0.22%
2092 -0.55% -0.22%
2091 -0.53% -0.24%
2090 -0.53% -0.22%
2089 -0.57% -0.22%
2088 -0.56% -0.2%
2087 -0.54% -0.22%
2086 -0.54% -0.2%
2085 -0.52% -0.2%
2084 -0.52% -0.2%
2083 -0.49% -0.2%
2082 -0.51% -0.19%
2081 -0.51% -0.17%
2080 -0.49% -0.17%
2079 -0.46% -0.16%
2078 -0.48% -0.16%
2077 -0.42% -0.14%
2076 -0.39% -0.11%
2075 -0.36% -0.1%
2074 -0.34% -0.1%
2073 -0.36% -0.09%
2072 -0.32% -0.08%
2071 -0.31% -0.08%
2070 -0.28% -0.08%
2069 -0.26% -0.08%
2068 -0.27% -0.08%
2067 -0.24% -0.1%
2066 -0.24% -0.11%
2065 -0.21% -0.12%
2064 -0.21% -0.13%
2063 -0.22% -0.13%
2062 -0.17% -0.15%
2061 -0.18% -0.15%
2060 -0.15% -0.15%
2059 -0.13% -0.16%
2058 -0.13% -0.16%
2057 -0.11% -0.16%
2056 -0.09% -0.15%
2055 -0.05% -0.14%
2054 -0.05% -0.14%
2053 -0.04% -0.13%
2052 0.005% -0.14%
2051 -0.01% -0.11%
2050 0.008% -0.11%
2049 0.02% -0.09%
2048 0.03% -0.09%
2047 0.04% -0.06%
2046 0.05% -0.06%
2045 0.1% -0.05%
2044 0.15% -0.03%
2043 0.16% -0.02%
2042 0.17% 0.003%
2041 0.2% 0.03%
2040 0.23% 0.05%
2039 0.26% 0.08%
2038 0.29% 0.1%
2037 0.32% 0.13%
2036 0.36% 0.15%
2035 0.36% 0.18%
2034 0.41% 0.22%
2033 0.45% 0.25%
2032 0.51% 0.28%
2031 0.58% 0.32%
2030 0.63% 0.37%
2029 0.75% 0.42%
2028 0.82% 0.46%
2027 0.92% 0.51%
2026 1.12% 0.6%
2025 1.36% 0.7%
2024 0.22% 0.65%
2023 0.96% 1%
2022 2.55% 0.96%
2021 1.65% 0.52%
2020 1.64% 0.56%
2019 2.22% 0.66%
2018 2.71% 0.59%
2017 2.37% 0.59%
2016 1.4% 0.53%
2015 1.05% 0.44%
2014 1.12% 0.36%
2013 0.95% 0.3%
2012 0.53% 0.37%
2011 0.31% 0.47%
2010 -0.14% 0.51%
2009 0.34% 0.52%
2008 1.88% 0.39%
2007 2.56% 0.22%
2006 2.38% 0.16%
2005 1.6% 0.23%
2004 0.88% 0.35%
2003 0.69% 0.47%
2002 0.9% 0.64%
2001 1.34% 0.76%
2000 1.38% 0.72%
1999 1.22% 0.67%
1998 1.08% 0.62%
1997 0.82% 0.52%
1996 0.54% 0.46%
1995 0.54% 0.5%
1994 0.87% 0.6%
1993 1.02% 0.7%
1992 1.26% 0.76%
1991 1.17% 0.79%
1990 0.78% 0.69%
1989 1.25% 0.6%
1988 1.58% 0.65%
1987 1.1% 0.64%
1986 0.74% 0.56%
1985 0.79% 0.47%
1984 1.07% 0.4%
1983 1.33% 0.38%
1982 1.35% 0.46%
1981 1.15% 0.69%
1980 1.06% 0.79%
1979 0.98% 0.69%
1978 0.78% 0.62%
1977 0.75% 0.6%
1976 1% 0.79%
1975 1.29% 0.9%
1974 1.36% 0.79%
1973 1.52% 0.83%
1972 1.47% 1.02%
1971 0.81% 1.2%
1970 0.53% 1.25%
1969 0.93% 1.16%
1968 1.38% 1.04%
1967 1.63% 1.14%
1966 1.71% 1.31%
1965 1.75% 1.38%
1964 1.79% 1.35%
1963 1.8% 1.36%
1962 1.87% 1.43%
1961 1.97% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Iceland Netherlands
Current population
397129
18252623
Population rank 173/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.22%
One net population change
10.4 hours
4.52 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
3.2 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +319
Annual growth/decline +843 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 121/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +104,681
Net migration rank 56/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 104,681
2024 - 3,543 - 121,628
2023 1,697 4,630 -5,363 144,558
2022 1,719 6,535 -1,770 224,472
2021 2,534 4,911 7,014 106,416
2020 2,199 2,498 0 67,598
2019 2,163 5,030 17,345 109,003
2018 1,975 6,638 15,508 87,197
2017 1,854 8,348 18,844 86,332
2016 1,711 4,128 23,843 88,743
2015 1,952 1,499 23,716 55,585
2014 2,324 1,139 35,417 36,591
2013 2,169 1,666 30,248 19,973
2012 2,566 -277 35,186 14,861
2011 2,521 -1,393 45,072 31,224
2010 2,862 -2,055 48,184 33,703
2009 3,026 -4,785 51,244 39,832
2008 2,825 1,138 49,337 32,406
2007 2,617 5,254 49,145 -304
2006 2,491 5,300 49,038 -25,401
2005 2,433 3,925 50,592 -22,496
2004 2,425 610 56,987 -9,230
2003 2,317 -204 58,411 7,937
2002 2,243 -333 59,751 28,824
2001 2,365 867 62,580 56,096
2000 2,475 1,877 66,887 59,308
1999 2,192 1,165 60,086 47,179
1998 2,357 1,014 61,258 52,058
1997 2,305 225 56,198 31,302
1996 2,447 -511 51,251 21,792
1995 2,354 -1,354 54,106 15,056
1994 2,713 -804 61,532 20,193
1993 2,875 -194 58,103 44,514
1992 2,898 -225 66,811 50,148
1991 2,733 1,145 69,321 51,670
1990 3,058 -971 68,777 53,564
1989 2,832 -994 59,396 31,165
1988 2,847 1,572 61,993 31,026
1987 2,360 944 64,526 39,559
1986 2,384 -335 59,746 30,380
1985 2,221 -628 55,069 27,356
1984 2,539 -328 54,812 12,902
1983 2,702 170 51,722 11,007
1982 2,736 616 54,388 7,644
1981 2,677 157 62,688 17,643
1980 2,966 -629 66,504 54,010
1979 2,980 -572 63,172 42,772
1978 2,727 -781 61,344 26,639
1977 2,551 -1,079 63,739 19,809
1976 2,951 -1,181 63,361 18,774
1975 2,965 -388 64,232 68,569
1974 2,776 209 75,853 31,645
1973 3,121 -310 84,668 18,705
1972 3,241 362 101,297 17,470
1971 2,782 -231 116,112 32,756
1970 2,576 -1,754 129,082 32,438
1969 2,766 -1,414 139,082 21,850
1968 2,841 -448 132,389 7,243
1967 3,021 47 138,580 -10,673
1966 3,305 39 138,265 20,740
1965 3,442 -194 146,308 19,444
1964 3,459 -67 157,653 15,014
1963 3,490 -113 154,361 -21
1962 3,465 -228 153,474 18,024
1961 3,312 164 159,450 8,258
1960 3,758 -269 151,623 -13,235

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

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/netherlands | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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