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Population in Iceland compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 13.5 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Iceland vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland New Zealand
2100 359,553 5,918,837
2099 361,331 5,923,132
2098 363,133 5,927,206
2097 364,957 5,930,263
2096 366,850 5,932,907
2095 368,746 5,934,847
2094 370,650 5,936,183
2093 372,614 5,938,804
2092 374,717 5,939,085
2091 376,803 5,940,665
2090 378,807 5,941,752
2089 380,812 5,944,871
2088 382,997 5,945,635
2087 385,164 5,948,586
2086 387,257 5,951,745
2085 389,362 5,955,275
2084 391,416 5,959,115
2083 393,481 5,963,613
2082 395,438 5,966,943
2081 397,470 5,968,511
2080 399,499 5,971,082
2079 401,462 5,972,331
2078 403,324 5,972,928
2077 405,255 5,971,804
2076 406,954 5,971,386
2075 408,546 5,970,985
2074 410,015 5,969,834
2073 411,402 5,968,506
2072 412,903 5,964,548
2071 414,245 5,964,493
2070 415,521 5,963,811
2069 416,683 5,962,551
2068 417,749 5,960,918
2067 418,899 5,958,438
2066 419,918 5,954,539
2065 420,941 5,950,378
2064 421,814 5,946,851
2063 422,695 5,944,910
2062 423,614 5,940,838
2061 424,319 5,939,601
2060 425,096 5,936,094
2059 425,721 5,931,426
2058 426,288 5,925,816
2057 426,844 5,919,823
2056 427,304 5,913,287
2055 427,695 5,904,352
2054 427,915 5,894,795
2053 428,108 5,884,875
2052 428,300 5,876,162
2051 428,278 5,864,176
2050 428,323 5,852,896
2049 428,289 5,844,165
2048 428,213 5,833,178
2047 428,102 5,822,035
2046 427,911 5,809,860
2045 427,683 5,795,785
2044 427,236 5,780,884
2043 426,580 5,764,579
2042 425,915 5,746,528
2041 425,212 5,727,253
2040 424,385 5,708,874
2039 423,407 5,690,018
2038 422,302 5,669,959
2037 421,094 5,650,253
2036 419,738 5,630,126
2035 418,238 5,609,155
2034 416,721 5,588,315
2033 415,006 5,565,507
2032 413,150 5,542,488
2031 411,039 5,517,391
2030 408,677 5,491,320
2029 406,109 5,462,926
2028 403,085 5,432,752
2027 399,797 5,399,898
2026 396,141 5,364,771
2025 391,759 5,327,462
2024 386,506 5,287,500
2023 385,663 5,200,000
2022 382,003 5,081,700
2021 372,520 5,084,600
2020 366,463 5,072,400
2019 360,563 4,970,300
2018 352,721 4,900,600
2017 343,400 4,813,600
2016 335,439 4,714,100
2015 330,815 4,609,400
2014 327,386 4,516,500
2013 323,764 4,442,100
2012 320,716 4,408,100
2011 319,014 4,384,000
2010 318,041 4,350,700
2009 318,499 4,302,600
2008 317,414 4,259,800
2007 311,566 4,223,800
2006 303,782 4,184,600
2005 296,734 4,133,900
2004 292,074 4,087,500
2003 289,521 4,027,200
2002 287,523 3,948,500
2001 284,968 3,880,500
2000 281,205 3,857,700
1999 277,381 3,835,100
1998 274,047 3,815,000
1997 271,128 3,781,300
1996 268,916 3,732,000
1995 267,468 3,673,400
1994 266,021 3,620,000
1993 263,725 3,572,200
1992 261,057 3,531,700
1991 257,797 3,495,100
1990 254,826 3,329,800
1989 252,852 3,299,200
1988 249,740 3,283,400
1987 245,859 3,274,400
1986 243,180 3,246,300
1985 241,405 3,247,100
1984 239,511 3,227,100
1983 236,977 3,199,300
1982 233,860 3,156,100
1981 230,755 3,124,900
1980 228,138 3,112,900
1979 225,735 3,109,000
1978 223,537 3,121,200
1977 221,799 3,120,200
1976 220,154 3,110,500
1975 217,979 3,083,100
1974 215,209 3,023,700
1973 212,317 2,961,300
1972 209,137 2,903,900
1971 206,098 2,853,000
1970 204,438 2,810,700
1969 203,369 2,772,800
1968 201,488 2,748,100
1967 198,751 2,724,100
1966 195,570 2,675,900
1965 192,286 2,628,400
1964 188,983 2,585,400
1963 185,653 2,531,800
1962 182,378 2,482,000
1961 179,029 2,419,700
1960 175,574 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland New Zealand
2100 -0.49% -0.07%
2099 -0.5% -0.07%
2098 -0.5% -0.05%
2097 -0.52% -0.04%
2096 -0.51% -0.03%
2095 -0.51% -0.02%
2094 -0.53% -0.04%
2093 -0.56% -0.005%
2092 -0.55% -0.03%
2091 -0.53% -0.02%
2090 -0.53% -0.05%
2089 -0.57% -0.01%
2088 -0.56% -0.05%
2087 -0.54% -0.05%
2086 -0.54% -0.06%
2085 -0.52% -0.06%
2084 -0.52% -0.08%
2083 -0.49% -0.06%
2082 -0.51% -0.03%
2081 -0.51% -0.04%
2080 -0.49% -0.02%
2079 -0.46% -0.01%
2078 -0.48% 0.02%
2077 -0.42% 0.007%
2076 -0.39% 0.007%
2075 -0.36% 0.02%
2074 -0.34% 0.02%
2073 -0.36% 0.07%
2072 -0.32% 0.001%
2071 -0.31% 0.01%
2070 -0.28% 0.02%
2069 -0.26% 0.03%
2068 -0.27% 0.04%
2067 -0.24% 0.07%
2066 -0.24% 0.07%
2065 -0.21% 0.06%
2064 -0.21% 0.03%
2063 -0.22% 0.07%
2062 -0.17% 0.02%
2061 -0.18% 0.06%
2060 -0.15% 0.08%
2059 -0.13% 0.09%
2058 -0.13% 0.1%
2057 -0.11% 0.11%
2056 -0.09% 0.15%
2055 -0.05% 0.16%
2054 -0.05% 0.17%
2053 -0.04% 0.15%
2052 0.005% 0.2%
2051 -0.01% 0.19%
2050 0.008% 0.15%
2049 0.02% 0.19%
2048 0.03% 0.19%
2047 0.04% 0.21%
2046 0.05% 0.24%
2045 0.1% 0.26%
2044 0.15% 0.28%
2043 0.16% 0.31%
2042 0.17% 0.34%
2041 0.2% 0.32%
2040 0.23% 0.33%
2039 0.26% 0.35%
2038 0.29% 0.35%
2037 0.32% 0.36%
2036 0.36% 0.37%
2035 0.36% 0.37%
2034 0.41% 0.41%
2033 0.45% 0.42%
2032 0.51% 0.45%
2031 0.58% 0.47%
2030 0.63% 0.52%
2029 0.75% 0.56%
2028 0.82% 0.61%
2027 0.92% 0.65%
2026 1.12% 0.7%
2025 1.36% 0.76%
2024 0.22% 1.68%
2023 0.96% 2.33%
2022 2.55% -0.06%
2021 1.65% 0.24%
2020 1.64% 2.05%
2019 2.22% 1.42%
2018 2.71% 1.81%
2017 2.37% 2.11%
2016 1.4% 2.27%
2015 1.05% 2.06%
2014 1.12% 1.67%
2013 0.95% 0.77%
2012 0.53% 0.55%
2011 0.31% 0.77%
2010 -0.14% 1.12%
2009 0.34% 1%
2008 1.88% 0.85%
2007 2.56% 0.94%
2006 2.38% 1.23%
2005 1.6% 1.14%
2004 0.88% 1.5%
2003 0.69% 1.99%
2002 0.9% 1.75%
2001 1.34% 0.59%
2000 1.38% 0.59%
1999 1.22% 0.53%
1998 1.08% 0.89%
1997 0.82% 1.32%
1996 0.54% 1.6%
1995 0.54% 1.48%
1994 0.87% 1.34%
1993 1.02% 1.15%
1992 1.26% 1.05%
1991 1.17% 4.96%
1990 0.78% 0.93%
1989 1.25% 0.48%
1988 1.58% 0.27%
1987 1.1% 0.87%
1986 0.74% -0.02%
1985 0.79% 0.62%
1984 1.07% 0.87%
1983 1.33% 1.37%
1982 1.35% 1%
1981 1.15% 0.39%
1980 1.06% 0.13%
1979 0.98% -0.39%
1978 0.78% 0.03%
1977 0.75% 0.31%
1976 1% 0.89%
1975 1.29% 1.96%
1974 1.36% 2.11%
1973 1.52% 1.98%
1972 1.47% 1.78%
1971 0.81% 1.5%
1970 0.53% 1.37%
1969 0.93% 0.9%
1968 1.38% 0.88%
1967 1.63% 1.8%
1966 1.71% 1.81%
1965 1.75% 1.66%
1964 1.79% 2.12%
1963 1.8% 2.01%
1962 1.87% 2.57%
1961 1.97% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Iceland New Zealand
Current population
397129
5374272
Population rank 173/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.06%
One net population change
10.4 hours
6.01 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
9.31 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +240
Annual growth/decline +843 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 65/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +17,403
Net migration rank 56/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 17,403
2024 - 3,543 - 18,766
2023 1,697 4,630 18,876 21,404
2022 1,719 6,535 20,123 21,404
2021 2,534 4,911 23,644 -14,944
2020 2,199 2,498 24,905 42,124
2019 2,163 5,030 25,299 69,770
2018 1,975 6,638 24,797 59,139
2017 1,854 8,348 26,282 68,349
2016 1,711 4,128 28,237 75,512
2015 1,952 1,499 29,408 70,870
2014 2,324 1,139 26,196 57,974
2013 2,169 1,666 29,096 26,385
2012 2,566 -277 31,077 -1,015
2011 2,521 -1,393 31,302 -2,196
2010 2,862 -2,055 35,458 6,722
2009 3,026 -4,785 33,560 12,700
2008 2,825 1,138 35,143 4,804
2007 2,617 5,254 35,480 3,053
2006 2,491 5,300 30,924 14,542
2005 2,433 3,925 30,674 19,212
2004 2,425 610 29,634 24,521
2003 2,317 -204 28,150 42,456
2002 2,243 -333 25,941 48,195
2001 2,365 867 27,939 17,793
2000 2,475 1,877 29,897 -6,604
1999 2,192 1,165 28,916 -7,634
1998 2,357 1,014 29,146 -1,387
1997 2,305 225 30,137 12,040
1996 2,447 -511 28,997 25,169
1995 2,354 -1,354 29,828 26,743
1994 2,713 -804 30,372 20,420
1993 2,875 -194 31,685 12,638
1992 2,898 -225 32,067 6,460
1991 2,733 1,145 33,518 31,156
1990 3,058 -971 33,298 70,432
1989 2,832 -994 30,749 -8,818
1988 2,847 1,572 29,846 -17,005
1987 2,360 944 27,603 -7,631
1986 2,384 -335 25,549 -10,234
1985 2,221 -628 24,126 -13,462
1984 2,539 -328 26,043 -901
1983 2,702 170 24,315 11,464
1982 2,736 616 24,207 7,982
1981 2,677 157 25,374 -7,606
1980 2,966 -629 23,658 -15,423
1979 2,980 -572 26,675 -26,694
1978 2,727 -781 26,156 -28,783
1977 2,551 -1,079 28,020 -22,697
1976 2,951 -1,181 29,456 -9,138
1975 2,965 -388 31,355 13,196
1974 2,776 209 33,896 27,580
1973 3,121 -310 35,239 28,261
1972 3,241 362 38,244 17,779
1971 2,782 -231 40,000 7,547
1970 2,576 -1,754 37,101 4,511
1969 2,766 -1,414 38,098 -5,212
1968 2,841 -448 37,594 -11,853
1967 3,021 47 37,974 -2,289
1966 3,305 39 36,151 9,161
1965 3,442 -194 36,982 9,245
1964 3,459 -67 39,375 9,806
1963 3,490 -113 42,027 10,226
1962 3,465 -228 42,865 12,697
1961 3,312 164 43,482 10,689
1960 3,758 -269 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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