The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 26,498,823 people in North Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 26,659,144 in North Korea.
Population statistics:
- North Korea's population is 67.1 times bigger than Iceland's.
- Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
- The countries together account for 0.33% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.32% for North Korea.
- For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +0.41% in North Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.7% growth).
Iceland vs North Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Iceland
|
North Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 359,553 | 19,604,631 |
| 2099 | 361,331 | 19,733,548 |
| 2098 | 363,133 | 19,862,949 |
| 2097 | 364,957 | 19,993,288 |
| 2096 | 366,850 | 20,124,518 |
| 2095 | 368,746 | 20,256,401 |
| 2094 | 370,650 | 20,388,156 |
| 2093 | 372,614 | 20,520,253 |
| 2092 | 374,717 | 20,652,961 |
| 2091 | 376,803 | 20,785,785 |
| 2090 | 378,807 | 20,918,305 |
| 2089 | 380,812 | 21,050,580 |
| 2088 | 382,997 | 21,182,325 |
| 2087 | 385,164 | 21,314,047 |
| 2086 | 387,257 | 21,445,329 |
| 2085 | 389,362 | 21,575,835 |
| 2084 | 391,416 | 21,705,777 |
| 2083 | 393,481 | 21,835,029 |
| 2082 | 395,438 | 21,964,199 |
| 2081 | 397,470 | 22,092,862 |
| 2080 | 399,499 | 22,220,948 |
| 2079 | 401,462 | 22,348,577 |
| 2078 | 403,324 | 22,475,755 |
| 2077 | 405,255 | 22,602,817 |
| 2076 | 406,954 | 22,729,499 |
| 2075 | 408,546 | 22,856,369 |
| 2074 | 410,015 | 22,983,784 |
| 2073 | 411,402 | 23,111,441 |
| 2072 | 412,903 | 23,239,261 |
| 2071 | 414,245 | 23,367,583 |
| 2070 | 415,521 | 23,496,136 |
| 2069 | 416,683 | 23,625,538 |
| 2068 | 417,749 | 23,755,136 |
| 2067 | 418,899 | 23,884,879 |
| 2066 | 419,918 | 24,015,027 |
| 2065 | 420,941 | 24,144,985 |
| 2064 | 421,814 | 24,274,257 |
| 2063 | 422,695 | 24,402,439 |
| 2062 | 423,614 | 24,529,941 |
| 2061 | 424,319 | 24,656,350 |
| 2060 | 425,096 | 24,780,911 |
| 2059 | 425,721 | 24,903,037 |
| 2058 | 426,288 | 25,023,260 |
| 2057 | 426,844 | 25,140,523 |
| 2056 | 427,304 | 25,255,342 |
| 2055 | 427,695 | 25,366,397 |
| 2054 | 427,915 | 25,474,292 |
| 2053 | 428,108 | 25,578,870 |
| 2052 | 428,300 | 25,679,963 |
| 2051 | 428,278 | 25,777,639 |
| 2050 | 428,323 | 25,871,673 |
| 2049 | 428,289 | 25,962,167 |
| 2048 | 428,213 | 26,048,593 |
| 2047 | 428,102 | 26,131,429 |
| 2046 | 427,911 | 26,210,487 |
| 2045 | 427,683 | 26,286,208 |
| 2044 | 427,236 | 26,358,331 |
| 2043 | 426,580 | 26,427,062 |
| 2042 | 425,915 | 26,491,482 |
| 2041 | 425,212 | 26,552,564 |
| 2040 | 424,385 | 26,609,557 |
| 2039 | 423,407 | 26,661,815 |
| 2038 | 422,302 | 26,708,400 |
| 2037 | 421,094 | 26,749,134 |
| 2036 | 419,738 | 26,783,304 |
| 2035 | 418,238 | 26,810,026 |
| 2034 | 416,721 | 26,828,912 |
| 2033 | 415,006 | 26,839,229 |
| 2032 | 413,150 | 26,840,944 |
| 2031 | 411,039 | 26,832,957 |
| 2030 | 408,677 | 26,814,812 |
| 2029 | 406,109 | 26,787,117 |
| 2028 | 403,085 | 26,749,227 |
| 2027 | 399,797 | 26,701,444 |
| 2026 | 396,141 | 26,643,460 |
| 2025 | 391,759 | 26,575,953 |
| 2024 | 386,506 | 26,498,823 |
| 2023 | 385,663 | 26,418,204 |
| 2022 | 382,003 | 26,328,845 |
| 2021 | 372,520 | 26,232,534 |
| 2020 | 366,463 | 26,136,312 |
| 2019 | 360,563 | 26,037,632 |
| 2018 | 352,721 | 25,931,147 |
| 2017 | 343,400 | 25,817,709 |
| 2016 | 335,439 | 25,698,326 |
| 2015 | 330,815 | 25,575,350 |
| 2014 | 327,386 | 25,451,262 |
| 2013 | 323,764 | 25,329,451 |
| 2012 | 320,716 | 25,211,728 |
| 2011 | 319,014 | 25,097,874 |
| 2010 | 318,041 | 24,987,258 |
| 2009 | 318,499 | 24,878,332 |
| 2008 | 317,414 | 24,764,618 |
| 2007 | 311,566 | 24,646,383 |
| 2006 | 303,782 | 24,524,507 |
| 2005 | 296,734 | 24,396,433 |
| 2004 | 292,074 | 24,254,943 |
| 2003 | 289,521 | 24,090,380 |
| 2002 | 287,523 | 23,943,973 |
| 2001 | 284,968 | 23,815,358 |
| 2000 | 281,205 | 23,665,910 |
| 1999 | 277,381 | 23,497,599 |
| 1998 | 274,047 | 23,311,564 |
| 1997 | 271,128 | 23,110,830 |
| 1996 | 268,916 | 22,895,746 |
| 1995 | 267,468 | 22,669,304 |
| 1994 | 266,021 | 22,393,975 |
| 1993 | 263,725 | 22,073,352 |
| 1992 | 261,057 | 21,750,911 |
| 1991 | 257,797 | 21,428,638 |
| 1990 | 254,826 | 21,112,137 |
| 1989 | 252,852 | 20,804,367 |
| 1988 | 249,740 | 20,503,161 |
| 1987 | 245,859 | 20,205,483 |
| 1986 | 243,180 | 19,910,855 |
| 1985 | 241,405 | 19,620,388 |
| 1984 | 239,511 | 19,335,043 |
| 1983 | 236,977 | 19,054,034 |
| 1982 | 233,860 | 18,776,357 |
| 1981 | 230,755 | 18,501,295 |
| 1980 | 228,138 | 18,236,786 |
| 1979 | 225,735 | 17,983,470 |
| 1978 | 223,537 | 17,735,995 |
| 1977 | 221,799 | 17,492,798 |
| 1976 | 220,154 | 17,243,450 |
| 1975 | 217,979 | 16,971,055 |
| 1974 | 215,209 | 16,673,121 |
| 1973 | 212,317 | 16,350,367 |
| 1972 | 209,137 | 15,975,069 |
| 1971 | 206,098 | 15,572,457 |
| 1970 | 204,438 | 15,172,775 |
| 1969 | 203,369 | 14,767,615 |
| 1968 | 201,488 | 14,365,596 |
| 1967 | 198,751 | 13,958,350 |
| 1966 | 195,570 | 13,569,094 |
| 1965 | 192,286 | 13,219,369 |
| 1964 | 188,983 | 12,889,770 |
| 1963 | 185,653 | 12,567,057 |
| 1962 | 182,378 | 12,262,882 |
| 1961 | 179,029 | 11,990,713 |
| 1960 | 175,574 | 11,722,953 |
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/north-korea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 960,818 people (a 3.74% growth).
Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 2.95% to 25,871,673 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.
Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
North Korea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.49% | -0.65% |
| 2099 | -0.5% | -0.65% |
| 2098 | -0.5% | -0.65% |
| 2097 | -0.52% | -0.65% |
| 2096 | -0.51% | -0.65% |
| 2095 | -0.51% | -0.65% |
| 2094 | -0.53% | -0.64% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | -0.64% |
| 2092 | -0.55% | -0.64% |
| 2091 | -0.53% | -0.63% |
| 2090 | -0.53% | -0.63% |
| 2089 | -0.57% | -0.62% |
| 2088 | -0.56% | -0.62% |
| 2087 | -0.54% | -0.61% |
| 2086 | -0.54% | -0.6% |
| 2085 | -0.52% | -0.6% |
| 2084 | -0.52% | -0.59% |
| 2083 | -0.49% | -0.59% |
| 2082 | -0.51% | -0.58% |
| 2081 | -0.51% | -0.58% |
| 2080 | -0.49% | -0.57% |
| 2079 | -0.46% | -0.57% |
| 2078 | -0.48% | -0.56% |
| 2077 | -0.42% | -0.56% |
| 2076 | -0.39% | -0.56% |
| 2075 | -0.36% | -0.55% |
| 2074 | -0.34% | -0.55% |
| 2073 | -0.36% | -0.55% |
| 2072 | -0.32% | -0.55% |
| 2071 | -0.31% | -0.55% |
| 2070 | -0.28% | -0.55% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | -0.55% |
| 2068 | -0.27% | -0.54% |
| 2067 | -0.24% | -0.54% |
| 2066 | -0.24% | -0.54% |
| 2065 | -0.21% | -0.53% |
| 2064 | -0.21% | -0.53% |
| 2063 | -0.22% | -0.52% |
| 2062 | -0.17% | -0.51% |
| 2061 | -0.18% | -0.5% |
| 2060 | -0.15% | -0.49% |
| 2059 | -0.13% | -0.48% |
| 2058 | -0.13% | -0.47% |
| 2057 | -0.11% | -0.45% |
| 2056 | -0.09% | -0.44% |
| 2055 | -0.05% | -0.42% |
| 2054 | -0.05% | -0.41% |
| 2053 | -0.04% | -0.39% |
| 2052 | 0.005% | -0.38% |
| 2051 | -0.01% | -0.36% |
| 2050 | 0.008% | -0.35% |
| 2049 | 0.02% | -0.33% |
| 2048 | 0.03% | -0.32% |
| 2047 | 0.04% | -0.3% |
| 2046 | 0.05% | -0.29% |
| 2045 | 0.1% | -0.27% |
| 2044 | 0.15% | -0.26% |
| 2043 | 0.16% | -0.24% |
| 2042 | 0.17% | -0.23% |
| 2041 | 0.2% | -0.21% |
| 2040 | 0.23% | -0.2% |
| 2039 | 0.26% | -0.17% |
| 2038 | 0.29% | -0.15% |
| 2037 | 0.32% | -0.13% |
| 2036 | 0.36% | -0.1% |
| 2035 | 0.36% | -0.07% |
| 2034 | 0.41% | -0.04% |
| 2033 | 0.45% | -0.006% |
| 2032 | 0.51% | 0.03% |
| 2031 | 0.58% | 0.07% |
| 2030 | 0.63% | 0.1% |
| 2029 | 0.75% | 0.14% |
| 2028 | 0.82% | 0.18% |
| 2027 | 0.92% | 0.22% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | 0.25% |
| 2025 | 1.36% | 0.29% |
| 2024 | 0.22% | 0.31% |
| 2023 | 0.96% | 0.34% |
| 2022 | 2.55% | 0.37% |
| 2021 | 1.65% | 0.37% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | 0.38% |
| 2019 | 2.22% | 0.41% |
| 2018 | 2.71% | 0.44% |
| 2017 | 2.37% | 0.46% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | 0.48% |
| 2015 | 1.05% | 0.49% |
| 2014 | 1.12% | 0.48% |
| 2013 | 0.95% | 0.47% |
| 2012 | 0.53% | 0.45% |
| 2011 | 0.31% | 0.44% |
| 2010 | -0.14% | 0.44% |
| 2009 | 0.34% | 0.46% |
| 2008 | 1.88% | 0.48% |
| 2007 | 2.56% | 0.5% |
| 2006 | 2.38% | 0.52% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | 0.58% |
| 2004 | 0.88% | 0.68% |
| 2003 | 0.69% | 0.61% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | 0.54% |
| 2001 | 1.34% | 0.63% |
| 2000 | 1.38% | 0.72% |
| 1999 | 1.22% | 0.8% |
| 1998 | 1.08% | 0.87% |
| 1997 | 0.82% | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 0.54% | 1% |
| 1995 | 0.54% | 1.23% |
| 1994 | 0.87% | 1.45% |
| 1993 | 1.02% | 1.48% |
| 1992 | 1.26% | 1.5% |
| 1991 | 1.17% | 1.5% |
| 1990 | 0.78% | 1.48% |
| 1989 | 1.25% | 1.47% |
| 1988 | 1.58% | 1.47% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | 1.48% |
| 1986 | 0.74% | 1.48% |
| 1985 | 0.79% | 1.48% |
| 1984 | 1.07% | 1.47% |
| 1983 | 1.33% | 1.48% |
| 1982 | 1.35% | 1.49% |
| 1981 | 1.15% | 1.45% |
| 1980 | 1.06% | 1.41% |
| 1979 | 0.98% | 1.4% |
| 1978 | 0.78% | 1.39% |
| 1977 | 0.75% | 1.45% |
| 1976 | 1% | 1.61% |
| 1975 | 1.29% | 1.79% |
| 1974 | 1.36% | 1.97% |
| 1973 | 1.52% | 2.35% |
| 1972 | 1.47% | 2.59% |
| 1971 | 0.81% | 2.63% |
| 1970 | 0.53% | 2.74% |
| 1969 | 0.93% | 2.8% |
| 1968 | 1.38% | 2.92% |
| 1967 | 1.63% | 2.87% |
| 1966 | 1.71% | 2.65% |
| 1965 | 1.75% | 2.56% |
| 1964 | 1.79% | 2.57% |
| 1963 | 1.8% | 2.48% |
| 1962 | 1.87% | 2.27% |
| 1961 | 1.97% | 2.28% |
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/north-korea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.31%.
Live population counters
|
Iceland
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
397129
|
26659144
|
| Population rank | 173/197 | 57/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.005% | 0.32% |
| One net population change |
10.4 hours
|
6.52 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.07 hours
|
1.54 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.44 hours
|
2.05 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2 | +221 |
| Annual growth/decline | +843 | +80,619 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.22% | +0.31% |
| Population growth rate rank | 155/197 | 150/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.24 hours
|
3.15 hours
|
| Annual migration change | +2,709 | -2,787 |
| Net migration rank | 56/196 | 104/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 98,818 | 50,439 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 130/195 | 150/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.1% | 0.2% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 23/195 | 189/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
North Korea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 2,709 | - | -2,787 |
| 2024 | - | 3,543 | - | -2,473 |
| 2023 | 1,697 | 4,630 | 86,203 | -1,997 |
| 2022 | 1,719 | 6,535 | 96,495 | -1,997 |
| 2021 | 2,534 | 4,911 | 99,710 | -1,585 |
| 2020 | 2,199 | 2,498 | 95,920 | -1,585 |
| 2019 | 2,163 | 5,030 | 106,208 | -3,142 |
| 2018 | 1,975 | 6,638 | 113,164 | -3,225 |
| 2017 | 1,854 | 8,348 | 120,181 | -3,224 |
| 2016 | 1,711 | 4,128 | 125,048 | -3,222 |
| 2015 | 1,952 | 1,499 | 127,365 | -3,208 |
| 2014 | 2,324 | 1,139 | 127,078 | -3,042 |
| 2013 | 2,169 | 1,666 | 122,519 | -2,933 |
| 2012 | 2,566 | -277 | 118,773 | -2,919 |
| 2011 | 2,521 | -1,393 | 114,798 | -2,957 |
| 2010 | 2,862 | -2,055 | 112,443 | -3,053 |
| 2009 | 3,026 | -4,785 | 111,530 | -3,058 |
| 2008 | 2,825 | 1,138 | 122,015 | -3,051 |
| 2007 | 2,617 | 5,254 | 120,521 | -3,021 |
| 2006 | 2,491 | 5,300 | 129,171 | -2,948 |
| 2005 | 2,433 | 3,925 | 132,765 | -2,861 |
| 2004 | 2,425 | 610 | 155,838 | -2,758 |
| 2003 | 2,317 | -204 | 178,775 | -2,717 |
| 2002 | 2,243 | -333 | 119,504 | -2,763 |
| 2001 | 2,365 | 867 | 143,321 | -2,884 |
| 2000 | 2,475 | 1,877 | 161,591 | -3,142 |
| 1999 | 2,192 | 1,165 | 181,613 | -3,443 |
| 1998 | 2,357 | 1,014 | 197,589 | -3,706 |
| 1997 | 2,305 | 225 | 211,325 | -3,745 |
| 1996 | 2,447 | -511 | 226,095 | -3,512 |
| 1995 | 2,354 | -1,354 | 233,381 | -3,094 |
| 1994 | 2,713 | -804 | 320,861 | -517 |
| 1993 | 2,875 | -194 | 320,880 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2,898 | -225 | 324,002 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2,733 | 1,145 | 320,551 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3,058 | -971 | 312,460 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2,832 | -994 | 303,078 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2,847 | 1,572 | 299,305 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2,360 | 944 | 296,030 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2,384 | -335 | 293,227 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2,221 | -628 | 287,714 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2,539 | -328 | 282,987 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2,702 | 170 | 279,046 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2,736 | 616 | 276,332 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2,677 | 157 | 273,800 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2,966 | -629 | 255,206 | 0 |
| 1979 | 2,980 | -572 | 251,409 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2,727 | -781 | 243,533 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2,551 | -1,079 | 242,870 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2,951 | -1,181 | 255,841 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2,965 | -388 | 288,966 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2,776 | 209 | 306,902 | 0 |
| 1973 | 3,121 | -310 | 338,600 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3,241 | 362 | 411,997 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2,782 | -231 | 393,220 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2,576 | -1,754 | 406,129 | 0 |
| 1969 | 2,766 | -1,414 | 404,189 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2,841 | -448 | 399,837 | 0 |
| 1967 | 3,021 | 47 | 414,632 | 0 |
| 1966 | 3,305 | 39 | 363,882 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3,442 | -194 | 335,587 | 0 |
| 1964 | 3,459 | -67 | 323,623 | 0 |
| 1963 | 3,490 | -113 | 321,805 | 0 |
| 1962 | 3,465 | -228 | 286,534 | 0 |
| 1961 | 3,312 | 164 | 257,788 | 0 |
| 1960 | 3,758 | -269 | 277,717 | 0 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/iceland/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,097,372 people) and 2.33% is from migration (a loss of 26,227 people).
As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Iceland
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Reykjavik | 139K |
| Kopavogur | 40K |
| Hafnarfjorur | 31.5K |
| Keflavik | 23.3K |
| Akureyri | 20K |
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Pyongyang | 2.86M |
| Hamhung | 769K |
| Chongjin | 668K |
| Sunchon | 437K |
| Nampo | 367K |
| Wonsan | 363K |
| Sinuiju | 359K |
| Tanchon | 346K |
| Kaechon | 320K |
| Kaesong | 308K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Iceland and North Korea
|
Iceland
|
North Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.3 years | 74 years |
| Average age | 38.8 years | 38 years |
| Median age | 37.1 years | 37.3 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 49.5:50.5 |
| Fertility rate | 1.59 births per woman | 1.78 births per woman |
| Population density | 10.2 ppl/mi² | 573 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/north-korea | 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)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.