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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 14,256,567 people in Rwanda in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 14,975,051 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Rwanda's population is 37.7 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.19% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +2.31% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15M (61% growth).

Iceland vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Rwanda
2100 359,553 33,092,520
2099 361,331 32,987,847
2098 363,133 32,907,335
2097 364,957 32,832,706
2096 366,850 32,747,490
2095 368,746 32,615,044
2094 370,650 32,529,590
2093 372,614 32,396,544
2092 374,717 32,274,083
2091 376,803 32,171,077
2090 378,807 32,068,626
2089 380,812 31,872,593
2088 382,997 31,726,882
2087 385,164 31,533,364
2086 387,257 31,379,315
2085 389,362 31,235,000
2084 391,416 31,092,940
2083 393,481 30,917,707
2082 395,438 30,733,578
2081 397,470 30,557,819
2080 399,499 30,367,298
2079 401,462 30,176,627
2078 403,324 29,997,866
2077 405,255 29,800,561
2076 406,954 29,627,021
2075 408,546 29,423,503
2074 410,015 29,225,643
2073 411,402 29,007,777
2072 412,903 28,780,763
2071 414,245 28,560,382
2070 415,521 28,316,533
2069 416,683 28,103,541
2068 417,749 27,854,906
2067 418,899 27,591,747
2066 419,918 27,355,659
2065 420,941 27,084,704
2064 421,814 26,821,315
2063 422,695 26,543,184
2062 423,614 26,296,132
2061 424,319 25,985,356
2060 425,096 25,712,904
2059 425,721 25,437,446
2058 426,288 25,106,242
2057 426,844 24,837,928
2056 427,304 24,566,784
2055 427,695 24,266,669
2054 427,915 23,976,914
2053 428,108 23,690,426
2052 428,300 23,406,346
2051 428,278 23,099,207
2050 428,323 22,800,250
2049 428,289 22,484,698
2048 428,213 22,157,938
2047 428,102 21,834,786
2046 427,911 21,540,566
2045 427,683 21,215,262
2044 427,236 20,902,695
2043 426,580 20,535,605
2042 425,915 20,201,608
2041 425,212 19,832,577
2040 424,385 19,463,015
2039 423,407 19,096,860
2038 422,302 18,761,626
2037 421,094 18,421,864
2036 419,738 18,116,691
2035 418,238 17,753,910
2034 416,721 17,421,234
2033 415,006 17,089,349
2032 413,150 16,811,505
2031 411,039 16,485,559
2030 408,677 16,167,916
2029 406,109 15,858,862
2028 403,085 15,544,959
2027 399,797 15,207,733
2026 396,141 14,888,776
2025 391,759 14,560,205
2024 386,506 14,256,567
2023 385,663 13,954,471
2022 382,003 13,651,030
2021 372,520 13,355,260
2020 366,463 13,065,837
2019 360,563 12,776,103
2018 352,721 12,487,996
2017 343,400 12,202,060
2016 335,439 11,919,183
2015 330,815 11,640,022
2014 327,386 11,364,757
2013 323,764 11,093,340
2012 320,716 10,829,901
2011 319,014 10,573,733
2010 318,041 10,317,553
2009 318,499 10,060,432
2008 317,414 9,804,269
2007 311,566 9,549,933
2006 303,782 9,299,246
2005 296,734 9,054,528
2004 292,074 8,816,844
2003 289,521 8,586,875
2002 287,523 8,400,180
2001 284,968 8,287,094
2000 281,205 8,213,931
1999 277,381 8,147,912
1998 274,047 8,081,681
1997 271,128 7,755,238
1996 268,916 6,708,764
1995 267,468 5,674,118
1994 266,021 6,792,352
1993 263,725 7,981,132
1992 261,057 7,683,266
1991 257,797 7,526,966
1990 254,826 7,375,307
1989 252,852 7,184,706
1988 249,740 6,968,071
1987 245,859 6,749,493
1986 243,180 6,531,881
1985 241,405 6,317,228
1984 239,511 6,107,627
1983 236,977 5,905,311
1982 233,860 5,711,549
1981 230,755 5,527,230
1980 228,138 5,353,259
1979 225,735 5,189,541
1978 223,537 5,035,171
1977 221,799 4,888,240
1976 220,154 4,745,954
1975 217,979 4,607,728
1974 215,209 4,474,228
1973 212,317 4,345,047
1972 209,137 4,220,335
1971 206,098 4,100,044
1970 204,438 3,980,669
1969 203,369 3,861,271
1968 201,488 3,744,010
1967 198,751 3,629,577
1966 195,570 3,521,626
1965 192,286 3,423,210
1964 188,983 3,334,834
1963 185,653 3,258,890
1962 182,378 3,186,025
1961 179,029 3,106,779
1960 175,574 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,055,868 people (a 25.6% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 52.3% to 22,800,250 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Rwanda
2100 -0.49% 0.32%
2099 -0.5% 0.24%
2098 -0.5% 0.23%
2097 -0.52% 0.26%
2096 -0.51% 0.41%
2095 -0.51% 0.26%
2094 -0.53% 0.41%
2093 -0.56% 0.38%
2092 -0.55% 0.32%
2091 -0.53% 0.32%
2090 -0.53% 0.62%
2089 -0.57% 0.46%
2088 -0.56% 0.61%
2087 -0.54% 0.49%
2086 -0.54% 0.46%
2085 -0.52% 0.46%
2084 -0.52% 0.57%
2083 -0.49% 0.6%
2082 -0.51% 0.58%
2081 -0.51% 0.63%
2080 -0.49% 0.63%
2079 -0.46% 0.6%
2078 -0.48% 0.66%
2077 -0.42% 0.59%
2076 -0.39% 0.69%
2075 -0.36% 0.68%
2074 -0.34% 0.75%
2073 -0.36% 0.79%
2072 -0.32% 0.77%
2071 -0.31% 0.86%
2070 -0.28% 0.76%
2069 -0.26% 0.89%
2068 -0.27% 0.95%
2067 -0.24% 0.86%
2066 -0.24% 1%
2065 -0.21% 0.98%
2064 -0.21% 1.05%
2063 -0.22% 0.94%
2062 -0.17% 1.2%
2061 -0.18% 1.06%
2060 -0.15% 1.08%
2059 -0.13% 1.32%
2058 -0.13% 1.08%
2057 -0.11% 1.1%
2056 -0.09% 1.24%
2055 -0.05% 1.21%
2054 -0.05% 1.21%
2053 -0.04% 1.21%
2052 0.005% 1.33%
2051 -0.01% 1.31%
2050 0.008% 1.4%
2049 0.02% 1.47%
2048 0.03% 1.48%
2047 0.04% 1.37%
2046 0.05% 1.53%
2045 0.1% 1.5%
2044 0.15% 1.79%
2043 0.16% 1.65%
2042 0.17% 1.86%
2041 0.2% 1.9%
2040 0.23% 1.92%
2039 0.26% 1.79%
2038 0.29% 1.84%
2037 0.32% 1.68%
2036 0.36% 2.04%
2035 0.36% 1.91%
2034 0.41% 1.94%
2033 0.45% 1.65%
2032 0.51% 1.98%
2031 0.58% 1.96%
2030 0.63% 1.95%
2029 0.75% 2.02%
2028 0.82% 2.22%
2027 0.92% 2.14%
2026 1.12% 2.26%
2025 1.36% 2.13%
2024 0.22% 2.16%
2023 0.96% 2.22%
2022 2.55% 2.21%
2021 1.65% 2.22%
2020 1.64% 2.27%
2019 2.22% 2.31%
2018 2.71% 2.34%
2017 2.37% 2.37%
2016 1.4% 2.4%
2015 1.05% 2.42%
2014 1.12% 2.45%
2013 0.95% 2.43%
2012 0.53% 2.42%
2011 0.31% 2.48%
2010 -0.14% 2.56%
2009 0.34% 2.61%
2008 1.88% 2.66%
2007 2.56% 2.7%
2006 2.38% 2.7%
2005 1.6% 2.7%
2004 0.88% 2.68%
2003 0.69% 2.22%
2002 0.9% 1.36%
2001 1.34% 0.89%
2000 1.38% 0.81%
1999 1.22% 0.82%
1998 1.08% 4.21%
1997 0.82% 15.6%
1996 0.54% 18.2%
1995 0.54% -16.5%
1994 0.87% -14.9%
1993 1.02% 3.88%
1992 1.26% 2.08%
1991 1.17% 2.06%
1990 0.78% 2.65%
1989 1.25% 3.11%
1988 1.58% 3.24%
1987 1.1% 3.33%
1986 0.74% 3.4%
1985 0.79% 3.43%
1984 1.07% 3.43%
1983 1.33% 3.39%
1982 1.35% 3.33%
1981 1.15% 3.25%
1980 1.06% 3.15%
1979 0.98% 3.07%
1978 0.78% 3.01%
1977 0.75% 3%
1976 1% 3%
1975 1.29% 2.98%
1974 1.36% 2.97%
1973 1.52% 2.96%
1972 1.47% 2.93%
1971 0.81% 3%
1970 0.53% 3.09%
1969 0.93% 3.13%
1968 1.38% 3.15%
1967 1.63% 3.07%
1966 1.71% 2.87%
1965 1.75% 2.65%
1964 1.79% 2.33%
1963 1.8% 2.29%
1962 1.87% 2.55%
1961 1.97% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.16%.

Live population counters

Iceland Rwanda
Current population
397129
14975051
Population rank 173/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.18%
One net population change
10.4 hours
1.74 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
1.33 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
6.35 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +828
Annual growth/decline +843 +302,096
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +2.16%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 45/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
1.4 hours
Annual migration change +2,709 +6,282
Net migration rank 56/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 6,282
2024 - 3,543 - -15,582
2023 1,697 4,630 312,762 -9,001
2022 1,719 6,535 312,145 -9,001
2021 2,534 4,911 309,895 -21,492
2020 2,199 2,498 312,692 -22,251
2019 2,163 5,030 313,525 -24,492
2018 1,975 6,638 312,512 -25,323
2017 1,854 8,348 310,323 -25,634
2016 1,711 4,128 305,549 -24,474
2015 1,952 1,499 299,114 -21,862
2014 2,324 1,139 292,779 -19,505
2013 2,169 1,666 286,331 -16,779
2012 2,566 -277 282,584 -25,260
2011 2,521 -1,393 282,922 -27,915
2010 2,862 -2,055 286,848 -29,501
2009 3,026 -4,785 287,034 -30,128
2008 2,825 1,138 287,334 -31,913
2007 2,617 5,254 285,791 -32,537
2006 2,491 5,300 282,149 -34,008
2005 2,433 3,925 275,121 -33,830
2004 2,425 610 265,273 -31,214
2003 2,317 -204 251,243 -25,355
2002 2,243 -333 239,036 -91,518
2001 2,365 867 230,845 -152,197
2000 2,475 1,877 221,276 -153,588
1999 2,192 1,165 210,518 -146,162
1998 2,357 1,014 197,185 -129,089
1997 2,305 225 174,687 410,106
1996 2,447 -511 140,455 1,367,700
1995 2,354 -1,354 121,137 439,995
1994 2,713 -804 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 2,875 -194 183,926 236,110
1992 2,898 -225 188,025 -12,334
1991 2,733 1,145 196,431 -59,519
1990 3,058 -971 207,895 -41,483
1989 2,832 -994 217,632 -2,826
1988 2,847 1,572 223,759 -5,285
1987 2,360 944 225,744 -7,062
1986 2,384 -335 225,526 -8,982
1985 2,221 -628 223,794 -11,031
1984 2,539 -328 219,337 -12,899
1983 2,702 170 212,750 -14,560
1982 2,736 616 205,147 -15,818
1981 2,677 157 195,769 -16,453
1980 2,966 -629 184,988 -16,359
1979 2,980 -572 174,477 -15,669
1978 2,727 -781 163,779 -13,838
1977 2,551 -1,079 155,011 -11,084
1976 2,951 -1,181 147,665 -7,027
1975 2,965 -388 140,596 -4,791
1974 2,776 209 135,743 -4,535
1973 3,121 -310 131,021 -3,862
1972 3,241 362 126,403 -4,156
1971 2,782 -231 122,567 -4,230
1970 2,576 -1,754 119,273 1,149
1969 2,766 -1,414 115,394 2,983
1968 2,841 -448 111,422 4,728
1967 3,021 47 108,053 4,655
1966 3,305 39 105,128 -1,930
1965 3,442 -194 103,422 -9,774
1964 3,459 -67 102,562 -19,458
1963 3,490 -113 94,296 -25,524
1962 3,465 -228 102,548 -25,594
1961 3,312 164 102,051 -20,508
1960 3,758 -269 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 93.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,081,296 people) and 6.18% is from migration (a loss of 203,035 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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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