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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 5,572,279 people in Norway in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 5,671,119 in Norway.

Population statistics:

  • Norway's population is 14.3 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Norway is the 119th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.07% for Norway.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +0.85% in Norway.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Norway has grown from 4.66M to 5.67M (21.7% growth).

Iceland vs Norway: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Norway
2100 359,553 5,441,855
2099 361,331 5,454,583
2098 363,133 5,466,669
2097 364,957 5,478,174
2096 366,850 5,490,010
2095 368,746 5,502,418
2094 370,650 5,514,598
2093 372,614 5,527,174
2092 374,717 5,539,172
2091 376,803 5,551,172
2090 378,807 5,564,044
2089 380,812 5,576,715
2088 382,997 5,590,047
2087 385,164 5,604,159
2086 387,257 5,617,935
2085 389,362 5,631,413
2084 391,416 5,645,116
2083 393,481 5,658,044
2082 395,438 5,670,485
2081 397,470 5,682,427
2080 399,499 5,694,199
2079 401,462 5,705,317
2078 403,324 5,715,984
2077 405,255 5,726,145
2076 406,954 5,735,898
2075 408,546 5,745,619
2074 410,015 5,755,683
2073 411,402 5,765,642
2072 412,903 5,775,295
2071 414,245 5,784,119
2070 415,521 5,793,594
2069 416,683 5,802,341
2068 417,749 5,811,630
2067 418,899 5,821,550
2066 419,918 5,831,535
2065 420,941 5,841,333
2064 421,814 5,851,085
2063 422,695 5,860,548
2062 423,614 5,869,700
2061 424,319 5,877,754
2060 425,096 5,885,488
2059 425,721 5,892,036
2058 426,288 5,897,922
2057 426,844 5,904,330
2056 427,304 5,910,291
2055 427,695 5,915,286
2054 427,915 5,919,312
2053 428,108 5,922,325
2052 428,300 5,923,483
2051 428,278 5,923,938
2050 428,323 5,923,557
2049 428,289 5,922,138
2048 428,213 5,919,215
2047 428,102 5,916,146
2046 427,911 5,912,426
2045 427,683 5,907,334
2044 427,236 5,902,175
2043 426,580 5,896,614
2042 425,915 5,889,741
2041 425,212 5,881,692
2040 424,385 5,873,512
2039 423,407 5,864,063
2038 422,302 5,853,639
2037 421,094 5,842,734
2036 419,738 5,830,991
2035 418,238 5,818,882
2034 416,721 5,805,966
2033 415,006 5,792,030
2032 413,150 5,777,062
2031 411,039 5,760,828
2030 408,677 5,743,814
2029 406,109 5,725,891
2028 403,085 5,706,765
2027 399,797 5,686,336
2026 396,141 5,665,477
2025 391,759 5,626,258
2024 386,506 5,572,279
2023 385,663 5,519,601
2022 382,003 5,457,127
2021 372,520 5,408,320
2020 366,463 5,379,475
2019 360,563 5,347,896
2018 352,721 5,311,916
2017 343,400 5,276,968
2016 335,439 5,234,519
2015 330,815 5,188,607
2014 327,386 5,137,232
2013 323,764 5,079,623
2012 320,716 5,018,573
2011 319,014 4,953,088
2010 318,041 4,889,252
2009 318,499 4,828,726
2008 317,414 4,768,212
2007 311,566 4,709,153
2006 303,782 4,660,677
2005 296,734 4,623,291
2004 292,074 4,591,910
2003 289,521 4,564,855
2002 287,523 4,538,159
2001 284,968 4,513,751
2000 281,205 4,490,967
1999 277,381 4,461,913
1998 274,047 4,431,464
1997 271,128 4,405,157
1996 268,916 4,381,336
1995 267,468 4,359,184
1994 266,021 4,336,613
1993 263,725 4,311,991
1992 261,057 4,286,401
1991 257,797 4,261,732
1990 254,826 4,241,473
1989 252,852 4,226,901
1988 249,740 4,209,488
1987 245,859 4,186,905
1986 243,180 4,167,354
1985 241,405 4,152,516
1984 239,511 4,140,099
1983 236,977 4,128,432
1982 233,860 4,114,787
1981 230,755 4,099,702
1980 228,138 4,085,620
1979 225,735 4,072,517
1978 223,537 4,058,671
1977 221,799 4,043,205
1976 220,154 4,026,152
1975 217,979 4,007,313
1974 215,209 3,985,258
1973 212,317 3,960,612
1972 209,137 3,933,004
1971 206,098 3,903,039
1970 204,438 3,875,763
1969 203,369 3,847,707
1968 201,488 3,816,486
1967 198,751 3,784,539
1966 195,570 3,753,012
1965 192,286 3,723,168
1964 188,983 3,694,339
1963 185,653 3,666,537
1962 182,378 3,638,918
1961 179,029 3,609,800
1960 175,574 3,581,239

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/norway | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Norway gained 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Norway's population increased by 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Norway was ranked 116th in 2006 and ranked 119th 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 Norway will increase by 4.45% to 5,923,557 people and rank change from 119th to 121st.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 5.92M people in 2051 for Norway.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Norway
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Norway
2100 -0.49% -0.23%
2099 -0.5% -0.22%
2098 -0.5% -0.21%
2097 -0.52% -0.22%
2096 -0.51% -0.23%
2095 -0.51% -0.22%
2094 -0.53% -0.23%
2093 -0.56% -0.22%
2092 -0.55% -0.22%
2091 -0.53% -0.23%
2090 -0.53% -0.23%
2089 -0.57% -0.24%
2088 -0.56% -0.25%
2087 -0.54% -0.25%
2086 -0.54% -0.24%
2085 -0.52% -0.24%
2084 -0.52% -0.23%
2083 -0.49% -0.22%
2082 -0.51% -0.21%
2081 -0.51% -0.21%
2080 -0.49% -0.19%
2079 -0.46% -0.19%
2078 -0.48% -0.18%
2077 -0.42% -0.17%
2076 -0.39% -0.17%
2075 -0.36% -0.17%
2074 -0.34% -0.17%
2073 -0.36% -0.17%
2072 -0.32% -0.15%
2071 -0.31% -0.16%
2070 -0.28% -0.15%
2069 -0.26% -0.16%
2068 -0.27% -0.17%
2067 -0.24% -0.17%
2066 -0.24% -0.17%
2065 -0.21% -0.17%
2064 -0.21% -0.16%
2063 -0.22% -0.16%
2062 -0.17% -0.14%
2061 -0.18% -0.13%
2060 -0.15% -0.11%
2059 -0.13% -0.1%
2058 -0.13% -0.11%
2057 -0.11% -0.1%
2056 -0.09% -0.08%
2055 -0.05% -0.07%
2054 -0.05% -0.05%
2053 -0.04% -0.02%
2052 0.005% -0.008%
2051 -0.01% 0.006%
2050 0.008% 0.02%
2049 0.02% 0.05%
2048 0.03% 0.05%
2047 0.04% 0.06%
2046 0.05% 0.09%
2045 0.1% 0.09%
2044 0.15% 0.09%
2043 0.16% 0.12%
2042 0.17% 0.14%
2041 0.2% 0.14%
2040 0.23% 0.16%
2039 0.26% 0.18%
2038 0.29% 0.19%
2037 0.32% 0.2%
2036 0.36% 0.21%
2035 0.36% 0.22%
2034 0.41% 0.24%
2033 0.45% 0.26%
2032 0.51% 0.28%
2031 0.58% 0.3%
2030 0.63% 0.31%
2029 0.75% 0.34%
2028 0.82% 0.36%
2027 0.92% 0.37%
2026 1.12% 0.7%
2025 1.36% 0.97%
2024 0.22% 0.95%
2023 0.96% 1.14%
2022 2.55% 0.9%
2021 1.65% 0.54%
2020 1.64% 0.59%
2019 2.22% 0.68%
2018 2.71% 0.66%
2017 2.37% 0.81%
2016 1.4% 0.88%
2015 1.05% 1%
2014 1.12% 1.13%
2013 0.95% 1.22%
2012 0.53% 1.32%
2011 0.31% 1.31%
2010 -0.14% 1.25%
2009 0.34% 1.27%
2008 1.88% 1.25%
2007 2.56% 1.04%
2006 2.38% 0.81%
2005 1.6% 0.68%
2004 0.88% 0.59%
2003 0.69% 0.59%
2002 0.9% 0.54%
2001 1.34% 0.51%
2000 1.38% 0.65%
1999 1.22% 0.69%
1998 1.08% 0.6%
1997 0.82% 0.54%
1996 0.54% 0.51%
1995 0.54% 0.52%
1994 0.87% 0.57%
1993 1.02% 0.6%
1992 1.26% 0.58%
1991 1.17% 0.48%
1990 0.78% 0.34%
1989 1.25% 0.41%
1988 1.58% 0.54%
1987 1.1% 0.47%
1986 0.74% 0.36%
1985 0.79% 0.3%
1984 1.07% 0.28%
1983 1.33% 0.33%
1982 1.35% 0.37%
1981 1.15% 0.34%
1980 1.06% 0.32%
1979 0.98% 0.34%
1978 0.78% 0.38%
1977 0.75% 0.42%
1976 1% 0.47%
1975 1.29% 0.55%
1974 1.36% 0.62%
1973 1.52% 0.7%
1972 1.47% 0.77%
1971 0.81% 0.7%
1970 0.53% 0.73%
1969 0.93% 0.82%
1968 1.38% 0.84%
1967 1.63% 0.84%
1966 1.71% 0.8%
1965 1.75% 0.78%
1964 1.79% 0.76%
1963 1.8% 0.76%
1962 1.87% 0.81%
1961 1.97% 0.8%

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/norway | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Norway's population grew by 0.95%.

Live population counters

Iceland Norway
Current population
397129
5671119
Population rank 173/197 119/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.07%
One net population change
10.4 hours
9.98 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
10.1 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
12.1 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +144
Annual growth/decline +843 +52,678
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +0.95%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 105/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
17.7 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +29,798
Net migration rank 56/196 29/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 1,012,404
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 60/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 18.2%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 33/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Norway
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Norway
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 29,798
2024 - 3,543 - 44,356
2023 1,697 4,630 8,280 53,806
2022 1,719 6,535 5,457 58,040
2021 2,534 4,911 14,062 19,804
2020 2,199 2,498 12,372 11,277
2019 2,163 5,030 13,904 25,707
2018 1,975 6,638 14,342 18,473
2017 1,854 8,348 15,831 21,657
2016 1,711 4,128 17,797 26,417
2015 1,952 1,499 18,160 30,242
2014 2,324 1,139 18,494 38,522
2013 2,169 1,666 17,779 40,690
2012 2,566 -277 18,066 47,883
2011 2,521 -1,393 18,822 47,454
2010 2,862 -2,055 20,046 42,865
2009 3,026 -4,785 20,280 39,316
2008 2,825 1,138 19,073 44,002
2007 2,617 5,254 16,482 40,111
2006 2,491 5,300 17,244 24,054
2005 2,433 3,925 15,719 18,588
2004 2,425 610 15,612 13,412
2003 2,317 -204 14,151 11,389
2002 2,243 -333 10,892 17,279
2001 2,365 867 13,090 7,906
2000 2,475 1,877 15,269 9,805
1999 2,192 1,165 14,278 19,147
1998 2,357 1,014 14,181 13,519
1997 2,305 225 15,418 9,744
1996 2,447 -511 17,087 5,671
1995 2,354 -1,354 14,821 6,343
1994 2,713 -804 16,045 7,580
1993 2,875 -194 12,936 12,567
1992 2,898 -225 15,431 10,218
1991 2,733 1,145 16,194 7,949
1990 3,058 -971 14,845 1,818
1989 2,832 -994 13,949 -1,730
1988 2,847 1,572 12,207 10,380
1987 2,360 944 9,212 13,907
1986 2,384 -335 8,751 7,616
1985 2,221 -628 6,644 6,725
1984 2,539 -328 7,452 3,856
1983 2,702 170 7,844 4,120
1982 2,736 616 9,875 5,749
1981 2,677 157 9,020 6,010
1980 2,966 -629 9,806 3,763
1979 2,980 -572 10,181 2,839
1978 2,727 -781 11,364 3,823
1977 2,551 -1,079 11,321 4,845
1976 2,951 -1,181 13,286 4,779
1975 2,965 -388 16,430 3,312
1974 2,776 209 20,324 4,425
1973 3,121 -310 21,387 3,414
1972 3,241 362 24,777 5,603
1971 2,782 -231 26,541 3,031
1970 2,576 -1,754 25,968 -1,034
1969 2,766 -1,414 28,858 2,230
1968 2,841 -448 29,387 1,761
1967 3,021 47 30,276 2,460
1966 3,305 39 31,150 -888
1965 3,442 -194 31,275 -1,525
1964 3,459 -67 30,293 -1,571
1963 3,490 -113 26,766 1,061
1962 3,465 -228 28,020 655
1961 3,312 164 29,239 1,437
1960 3,758 -269 29,366 -1,427

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

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/norway | 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 Norway 31.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 1,012,404 people or 18.2% in Norway.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K

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/norway | 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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