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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Iceland's population is 22.5 times bigger than Palau's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 0.005% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).

Iceland vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Palau
2100 359,553 11,152
2099 361,331 11,216
2098 363,133 11,281
2097 364,957 11,352
2096 366,850 11,417
2095 368,746 11,485
2094 370,650 11,549
2093 372,614 11,616
2092 374,717 11,682
2091 376,803 11,753
2090 378,807 11,829
2089 380,812 11,907
2088 382,997 11,968
2087 385,164 12,040
2086 387,257 12,109
2085 389,362 12,171
2084 391,416 12,251
2083 393,481 12,316
2082 395,438 12,382
2081 397,470 12,457
2080 399,499 12,537
2079 401,462 12,608
2078 403,324 12,681
2077 405,255 12,758
2076 406,954 12,838
2075 408,546 12,914
2074 410,015 13,007
2073 411,402 13,091
2072 412,903 13,161
2071 414,245 13,252
2070 415,521 13,338
2069 416,683 13,430
2068 417,749 13,525
2067 418,899 13,621
2066 419,918 13,723
2065 420,941 13,818
2064 421,814 13,920
2063 422,695 14,025
2062 423,614 14,136
2061 424,319 14,251
2060 425,096 14,358
2059 425,721 14,479
2058 426,288 14,589
2057 426,844 14,718
2056 427,304 14,837
2055 427,695 14,961
2054 427,915 15,084
2053 428,108 15,206
2052 428,300 15,332
2051 428,278 15,453
2050 428,323 15,562
2049 428,289 15,682
2048 428,213 15,797
2047 428,102 15,912
2046 427,911 16,024
2045 427,683 16,132
2044 427,236 16,245
2043 426,580 16,339
2042 425,915 16,445
2041 425,212 16,549
2040 424,385 16,631
2039 423,407 16,727
2038 422,302 16,805
2037 421,094 16,895
2036 419,738 16,964
2035 418,238 17,042
2034 416,721 17,118
2033 415,006 17,190
2032 413,150 17,250
2031 411,039 17,330
2030 408,677 17,398
2029 406,109 17,457
2028 403,085 17,527
2027 399,797 17,576
2026 396,141 17,629
2025 391,759 17,672
2024 386,506 17,695
2023 385,663 17,727
2022 382,003 17,759
2021 372,520 17,783
2020 366,463 17,792
2019 360,563 17,798
2018 352,721 17,814
2017 343,400 17,812
2016 335,439 17,797
2015 330,815 17,770
2014 327,386 17,715
2013 323,764 17,648
2012 320,716 17,765
2011 319,014 18,078
2010 318,041 18,396
2009 318,499 18,709
2008 317,414 19,009
2007 311,566 19,302
2006 303,782 19,593
2005 296,734 19,819
2004 292,074 19,820
2003 289,521 19,659
2002 287,523 19,503
2001 284,968 19,352
2000 281,205 19,178
1999 277,381 18,901
1998 274,047 18,524
1997 271,128 18,108
1996 268,916 17,654
1995 267,468 17,195
1994 266,021 16,770
1993 263,725 16,372
1992 261,057 15,989
1991 257,797 15,614
1990 254,826 15,259
1989 252,852 14,945
1988 249,740 14,645
1987 245,859 14,334
1986 243,180 14,024
1985 241,405 13,688
1984 239,511 13,337
1983 236,977 13,006
1982 233,860 12,694
1981 230,755 12,402
1980 228,138 12,271
1979 225,735 12,337
1978 223,537 12,440
1977 221,799 12,525
1976 220,154 12,598
1975 217,979 12,655
1974 215,209 12,687
1973 212,317 12,552
1972 209,137 12,194
1971 206,098 11,759
1970 204,438 11,368
1969 203,369 11,159
1968 201,488 11,080
1967 198,751 10,988
1966 195,570 10,805
1965 192,286 10,547
1964 188,983 10,292
1963 185,653 10,037
1962 182,378 9,793
1961 179,029 9,555
1960 175,574 9,328

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/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.2K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Palau
2100 -0.49% -0.57%
2099 -0.5% -0.58%
2098 -0.5% -0.62%
2097 -0.52% -0.57%
2096 -0.51% -0.59%
2095 -0.51% -0.55%
2094 -0.53% -0.58%
2093 -0.56% -0.56%
2092 -0.55% -0.6%
2091 -0.53% -0.65%
2090 -0.53% -0.65%
2089 -0.57% -0.51%
2088 -0.56% -0.6%
2087 -0.54% -0.57%
2086 -0.54% -0.51%
2085 -0.52% -0.65%
2084 -0.52% -0.53%
2083 -0.49% -0.53%
2082 -0.51% -0.6%
2081 -0.51% -0.64%
2080 -0.49% -0.56%
2079 -0.46% -0.58%
2078 -0.48% -0.6%
2077 -0.42% -0.62%
2076 -0.39% -0.59%
2075 -0.36% -0.71%
2074 -0.34% -0.64%
2073 -0.36% -0.53%
2072 -0.32% -0.69%
2071 -0.31% -0.65%
2070 -0.28% -0.68%
2069 -0.26% -0.7%
2068 -0.27% -0.7%
2067 -0.24% -0.74%
2066 -0.24% -0.69%
2065 -0.21% -0.73%
2064 -0.21% -0.75%
2063 -0.22% -0.78%
2062 -0.17% -0.81%
2061 -0.18% -0.74%
2060 -0.15% -0.84%
2059 -0.13% -0.75%
2058 -0.13% -0.88%
2057 -0.11% -0.81%
2056 -0.09% -0.83%
2055 -0.05% -0.81%
2054 -0.05% -0.8%
2053 -0.04% -0.82%
2052 0.005% -0.78%
2051 -0.01% -0.7%
2050 0.008% -0.76%
2049 0.02% -0.73%
2048 0.03% -0.72%
2047 0.04% -0.7%
2046 0.05% -0.67%
2045 0.1% -0.7%
2044 0.15% -0.57%
2043 0.16% -0.64%
2042 0.17% -0.63%
2041 0.2% -0.49%
2040 0.23% -0.57%
2039 0.26% -0.46%
2038 0.29% -0.53%
2037 0.32% -0.41%
2036 0.36% -0.46%
2035 0.36% -0.44%
2034 0.41% -0.42%
2033 0.45% -0.35%
2032 0.51% -0.46%
2031 0.58% -0.39%
2030 0.63% -0.34%
2029 0.75% -0.4%
2028 0.82% -0.28%
2027 0.92% -0.3%
2026 1.12% -0.24%
2025 1.36% -0.13%
2024 0.22% -0.18%
2023 0.96% -0.18%
2022 2.55% -0.13%
2021 1.65% -0.05%
2020 1.64% -0.03%
2019 2.22% -0.09%
2018 2.71% 0.01%
2017 2.37% 0.08%
2016 1.4% 0.15%
2015 1.05% 0.31%
2014 1.12% 0.38%
2013 0.95% -0.66%
2012 0.53% -1.73%
2011 0.31% -1.73%
2010 -0.14% -1.67%
2009 0.34% -1.58%
2008 1.88% -1.52%
2007 2.56% -1.49%
2006 2.38% -1.14%
2005 1.6% -0.005%
2004 0.88% 0.82%
2003 0.69% 0.8%
2002 0.9% 0.78%
2001 1.34% 0.91%
2000 1.38% 1.47%
1999 1.22% 2.04%
1998 1.08% 2.3%
1997 0.82% 2.57%
1996 0.54% 2.67%
1995 0.54% 2.53%
1994 0.87% 2.43%
1993 1.02% 2.4%
1992 1.26% 2.4%
1991 1.17% 2.33%
1990 0.78% 2.1%
1989 1.25% 2.05%
1988 1.58% 2.17%
1987 1.1% 2.21%
1986 0.74% 2.45%
1985 0.79% 2.63%
1984 1.07% 2.54%
1983 1.33% 2.46%
1982 1.35% 2.35%
1981 1.15% 1.07%
1980 1.06% -0.53%
1979 0.98% -0.83%
1978 0.78% -0.68%
1977 0.75% -0.58%
1976 1% -0.45%
1975 1.29% -0.25%
1974 1.36% 1.08%
1973 1.52% 2.94%
1972 1.47% 3.7%
1971 0.81% 3.44%
1970 0.53% 1.87%
1969 0.93% 0.71%
1968 1.38% 0.84%
1967 1.63% 1.69%
1966 1.71% 2.45%
1965 1.75% 2.48%
1964 1.79% 2.54%
1963 1.8% 2.49%
1962 1.87% 2.49%
1961 1.97% 2.43%

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/palau | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Iceland Palau
Current population
397129
17629
Population rank 173/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.0002%
One net population change
10.4 hours
1.63 weeks
One birth every
2.07 hours
1.89 days
One death every
3.44 hours
1.8 days
Daily growth/decline +2 +0
Annual growth/decline +843 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 175/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change +2,709 -16
Net migration rank 56/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - -16
2024 - 3,543 - -14
2023 1,697 4,630 -10 -19
2022 1,719 6,535 -7 -20
2021 2,534 4,911 -3 -21
2020 2,199 2,498 8 0
2019 2,163 5,030 23 -46
2018 1,975 6,638 29 -35
2017 1,854 8,348 43 -33
2016 1,711 4,128 53 -35
2015 1,952 1,499 55 -11
2014 2,324 1,139 73 -7
2013 2,169 1,666 88 -28
2012 2,566 -277 86 -387
2011 2,521 -1,393 83 -405
2010 2,862 -2,055 81 -392
2009 3,026 -4,785 81 -382
2008 2,825 1,138 79 -378
2007 2,617 5,254 80 -372
2006 2,491 5,300 79 -365
2005 2,433 3,925 80 -250
2004 2,425 610 83 79
2003 2,317 -204 86 71
2002 2,243 -333 88 67
2001 2,365 867 88 65
2000 2,475 1,877 85 120
1999 2,192 1,165 100 243
1998 2,357 1,014 116 280
1997 2,305 225 140 297
1996 2,447 -511 166 312
1995 2,354 -1,354 186 258
1994 2,713 -804 195 211
1993 2,875 -194 196 193
1992 2,898 -225 183 193
1991 2,733 1,145 175 193
1990 3,058 -971 181 156
1989 2,832 -994 185 113
1988 2,847 1,572 183 126
1987 2,360 944 182 125
1986 2,384 -335 182 135
1985 2,221 -628 181 179
1984 2,539 -328 181 157
1983 2,702 170 176 144
1982 2,736 616 170 132
1981 2,677 157 161 120
1980 2,966 -629 165 -179
1979 2,980 -572 176 -291
1978 2,727 -781 193 -285
1977 2,551 -1,079 213 -292
1976 2,951 -1,181 236 -296
1975 2,965 -388 249 -296
1974 2,776 209 256 -282
1973 3,121 -310 268 22
1972 3,241 362 280 147
1971 2,782 -231 287 156
1970 2,576 -1,754 286 54
1969 2,766 -1,414 283 -209
1968 2,841 -448 275 -194
1967 3,021 47 266 -150
1966 3,305 39 268 -18
1965 3,442 -194 275 -16
1964 3,459 -67 284 -27
1963 3,490 -113 291 -41
1962 3,465 -228 296 -54
1961 3,312 164 298 -65
1960 3,758 -269 296 -70

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

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

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/palau | 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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