The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 64,007,187 people in South Africa in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 65,683,993 in South Africa.
Population statistics:
- South Africa's population is 165.4 times bigger than Iceland's.
- Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
- The countries together account for 0.8% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.79% for South Africa.
- For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +1.44% in South Africa.
- Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.7M (31.4% growth).
Iceland vs South Africa: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Iceland
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | 359,553 | 94,767,727 |
| 2099 | 361,331 | 94,556,931 |
| 2098 | 363,133 | 94,349,546 |
| 2097 | 364,957 | 94,158,472 |
| 2096 | 366,850 | 93,960,605 |
| 2095 | 368,746 | 93,752,736 |
| 2094 | 370,650 | 93,527,902 |
| 2093 | 372,614 | 93,300,398 |
| 2092 | 374,717 | 93,074,837 |
| 2091 | 376,803 | 92,826,204 |
| 2090 | 378,807 | 92,594,033 |
| 2089 | 380,812 | 92,355,184 |
| 2088 | 382,997 | 92,112,914 |
| 2087 | 385,164 | 91,866,024 |
| 2086 | 387,257 | 91,614,165 |
| 2085 | 389,362 | 91,385,350 |
| 2084 | 391,416 | 91,139,318 |
| 2083 | 393,481 | 90,877,425 |
| 2082 | 395,438 | 90,615,359 |
| 2081 | 397,470 | 90,345,492 |
| 2080 | 399,499 | 90,071,835 |
| 2079 | 401,462 | 89,801,998 |
| 2078 | 403,324 | 89,526,224 |
| 2077 | 405,255 | 89,249,206 |
| 2076 | 406,954 | 88,986,114 |
| 2075 | 408,546 | 88,713,215 |
| 2074 | 410,015 | 88,428,616 |
| 2073 | 411,402 | 88,149,885 |
| 2072 | 412,903 | 87,866,246 |
| 2071 | 414,245 | 87,540,177 |
| 2070 | 415,521 | 87,209,425 |
| 2069 | 416,683 | 86,901,512 |
| 2068 | 417,749 | 86,588,742 |
| 2067 | 418,899 | 86,268,392 |
| 2066 | 419,918 | 85,935,310 |
| 2065 | 420,941 | 85,604,376 |
| 2064 | 421,814 | 85,244,950 |
| 2063 | 422,695 | 84,875,503 |
| 2062 | 423,614 | 84,503,237 |
| 2061 | 424,319 | 84,132,885 |
| 2060 | 425,096 | 83,748,999 |
| 2059 | 425,721 | 83,354,923 |
| 2058 | 426,288 | 82,947,675 |
| 2057 | 426,844 | 82,538,045 |
| 2056 | 427,304 | 82,127,477 |
| 2055 | 427,695 | 81,698,196 |
| 2054 | 427,915 | 81,255,867 |
| 2053 | 428,108 | 80,818,632 |
| 2052 | 428,300 | 80,367,409 |
| 2051 | 428,278 | 79,886,672 |
| 2050 | 428,323 | 79,411,977 |
| 2049 | 428,289 | 78,925,493 |
| 2048 | 428,213 | 78,437,677 |
| 2047 | 428,102 | 77,922,211 |
| 2046 | 427,911 | 77,397,298 |
| 2045 | 427,683 | 76,879,838 |
| 2044 | 427,236 | 76,357,155 |
| 2043 | 426,580 | 75,827,709 |
| 2042 | 425,915 | 75,291,615 |
| 2041 | 425,212 | 74,748,408 |
| 2040 | 424,385 | 74,205,530 |
| 2039 | 423,407 | 73,663,047 |
| 2038 | 422,302 | 73,105,930 |
| 2037 | 421,094 | 72,532,742 |
| 2036 | 419,738 | 71,956,247 |
| 2035 | 418,238 | 71,362,555 |
| 2034 | 416,721 | 70,762,815 |
| 2033 | 415,006 | 70,153,205 |
| 2032 | 413,150 | 69,527,410 |
| 2031 | 411,039 | 68,890,002 |
| 2030 | 408,677 | 68,245,372 |
| 2029 | 406,109 | 67,573,179 |
| 2028 | 403,085 | 66,884,377 |
| 2027 | 399,797 | 66,190,258 |
| 2026 | 396,141 | 65,496,277 |
| 2025 | 391,759 | 64,770,314 |
| 2024 | 386,506 | 64,007,187 |
| 2023 | 385,663 | 63,212,384 |
| 2022 | 382,003 | 62,378,410 |
| 2021 | 372,520 | 61,502,603 |
| 2020 | 366,463 | 60,562,381 |
| 2019 | 360,563 | 59,587,885 |
| 2018 | 352,721 | 58,613,001 |
| 2017 | 343,400 | 57,635,162 |
| 2016 | 335,439 | 57,259,551 |
| 2015 | 330,815 | 56,723,537 |
| 2014 | 327,386 | 55,594,838 |
| 2013 | 323,764 | 54,678,791 |
| 2012 | 320,716 | 53,782,567 |
| 2011 | 319,014 | 52,995,205 |
| 2010 | 318,041 | 52,344,051 |
| 2009 | 318,499 | 51,728,516 |
| 2008 | 317,414 | 51,114,599 |
| 2007 | 311,566 | 50,528,584 |
| 2006 | 303,782 | 49,998,277 |
| 2005 | 296,734 | 49,490,033 |
| 2004 | 292,074 | 48,991,421 |
| 2003 | 289,521 | 48,500,348 |
| 2002 | 287,523 | 48,019,415 |
| 2001 | 284,968 | 47,566,800 |
| 2000 | 281,205 | 47,159,719 |
| 1999 | 277,381 | 46,730,335 |
| 1998 | 274,047 | 46,223,880 |
| 1997 | 271,128 | 45,666,838 |
| 1996 | 268,916 | 45,123,018 |
| 1995 | 267,468 | 44,541,554 |
| 1994 | 266,021 | 44,004,139 |
| 1993 | 263,725 | 43,297,156 |
| 1992 | 261,057 | 42,443,509 |
| 1991 | 257,797 | 41,687,898 |
| 1990 | 254,826 | 40,746,268 |
| 1989 | 252,852 | 39,628,575 |
| 1988 | 249,740 | 38,480,649 |
| 1987 | 245,859 | 37,326,190 |
| 1986 | 243,180 | 36,180,515 |
| 1985 | 241,405 | 35,042,093 |
| 1984 | 239,511 | 33,892,788 |
| 1983 | 236,977 | 32,739,304 |
| 1982 | 233,860 | 31,615,339 |
| 1981 | 230,755 | 30,541,044 |
| 1980 | 228,138 | 29,518,857 |
| 1979 | 225,735 | 28,634,162 |
| 1978 | 223,537 | 27,869,507 |
| 1977 | 221,799 | 27,118,952 |
| 1976 | 220,154 | 26,395,450 |
| 1975 | 217,979 | 25,690,940 |
| 1974 | 215,209 | 24,989,108 |
| 1973 | 212,317 | 24,294,263 |
| 1972 | 209,137 | 23,609,456 |
| 1971 | 206,098 | 22,942,143 |
| 1970 | 204,438 | 22,279,984 |
| 1969 | 203,369 | 21,614,676 |
| 1968 | 201,488 | 20,957,287 |
| 1967 | 198,751 | 20,314,066 |
| 1966 | 195,570 | 19,690,087 |
| 1965 | 192,286 | 19,089,380 |
| 1964 | 188,983 | 18,511,361 |
| 1963 | 185,653 | 17,954,564 |
| 1962 | 182,378 | 17,418,522 |
| 1961 | 179,029 | 16,908,035 |
| 1960 | 175,574 | 16,440,172 |
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/south-africa | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,424,442 people (a 14.7% growth).
Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.9% to 79,411,977 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.
Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 94.8M people in 2100 for South Africa.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
South Africa
|
|
| 2100 | -0.49% | 0.22% |
| 2099 | -0.5% | 0.22% |
| 2098 | -0.5% | 0.2% |
| 2097 | -0.52% | 0.21% |
| 2096 | -0.51% | 0.22% |
| 2095 | -0.51% | 0.24% |
| 2094 | -0.53% | 0.24% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | 0.24% |
| 2092 | -0.55% | 0.27% |
| 2091 | -0.53% | 0.25% |
| 2090 | -0.53% | 0.26% |
| 2089 | -0.57% | 0.26% |
| 2088 | -0.56% | 0.27% |
| 2087 | -0.54% | 0.27% |
| 2086 | -0.54% | 0.25% |
| 2085 | -0.52% | 0.27% |
| 2084 | -0.52% | 0.29% |
| 2083 | -0.49% | 0.29% |
| 2082 | -0.51% | 0.3% |
| 2081 | -0.51% | 0.3% |
| 2080 | -0.49% | 0.3% |
| 2079 | -0.46% | 0.31% |
| 2078 | -0.48% | 0.31% |
| 2077 | -0.42% | 0.3% |
| 2076 | -0.39% | 0.31% |
| 2075 | -0.36% | 0.32% |
| 2074 | -0.34% | 0.32% |
| 2073 | -0.36% | 0.32% |
| 2072 | -0.32% | 0.37% |
| 2071 | -0.31% | 0.38% |
| 2070 | -0.28% | 0.35% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | 0.36% |
| 2068 | -0.27% | 0.37% |
| 2067 | -0.24% | 0.39% |
| 2066 | -0.24% | 0.39% |
| 2065 | -0.21% | 0.42% |
| 2064 | -0.21% | 0.44% |
| 2063 | -0.22% | 0.44% |
| 2062 | -0.17% | 0.44% |
| 2061 | -0.18% | 0.46% |
| 2060 | -0.15% | 0.47% |
| 2059 | -0.13% | 0.49% |
| 2058 | -0.13% | 0.5% |
| 2057 | -0.11% | 0.5% |
| 2056 | -0.09% | 0.53% |
| 2055 | -0.05% | 0.54% |
| 2054 | -0.05% | 0.54% |
| 2053 | -0.04% | 0.56% |
| 2052 | 0.005% | 0.6% |
| 2051 | -0.01% | 0.6% |
| 2050 | 0.008% | 0.62% |
| 2049 | 0.02% | 0.62% |
| 2048 | 0.03% | 0.66% |
| 2047 | 0.04% | 0.68% |
| 2046 | 0.05% | 0.67% |
| 2045 | 0.1% | 0.68% |
| 2044 | 0.15% | 0.7% |
| 2043 | 0.16% | 0.71% |
| 2042 | 0.17% | 0.73% |
| 2041 | 0.2% | 0.73% |
| 2040 | 0.23% | 0.74% |
| 2039 | 0.26% | 0.76% |
| 2038 | 0.29% | 0.79% |
| 2037 | 0.32% | 0.8% |
| 2036 | 0.36% | 0.83% |
| 2035 | 0.36% | 0.85% |
| 2034 | 0.41% | 0.87% |
| 2033 | 0.45% | 0.9% |
| 2032 | 0.51% | 0.93% |
| 2031 | 0.58% | 0.94% |
| 2030 | 0.63% | 0.99% |
| 2029 | 0.75% | 1.03% |
| 2028 | 0.82% | 1.05% |
| 2027 | 0.92% | 1.06% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | 1.12% |
| 2025 | 1.36% | 1.19% |
| 2024 | 0.22% | 1.26% |
| 2023 | 0.96% | 1.34% |
| 2022 | 2.55% | 1.42% |
| 2021 | 1.65% | 1.55% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | 1.64% |
| 2019 | 2.22% | 1.66% |
| 2018 | 2.71% | 1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.37% | 0.66% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | 0.94% |
| 2015 | 1.05% | 2.03% |
| 2014 | 1.12% | 1.68% |
| 2013 | 0.95% | 1.67% |
| 2012 | 0.53% | 1.49% |
| 2011 | 0.31% | 1.24% |
| 2010 | -0.14% | 1.19% |
| 2009 | 0.34% | 1.2% |
| 2008 | 1.88% | 1.16% |
| 2007 | 2.56% | 1.06% |
| 2006 | 2.38% | 1.03% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | 1.02% |
| 2004 | 0.88% | 1.01% |
| 2003 | 0.69% | 1% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | 0.95% |
| 2001 | 1.34% | 0.86% |
| 2000 | 1.38% | 0.92% |
| 1999 | 1.22% | 1.1% |
| 1998 | 1.08% | 1.22% |
| 1997 | 0.82% | 1.21% |
| 1996 | 0.54% | 1.31% |
| 1995 | 0.54% | 1.22% |
| 1994 | 0.87% | 1.63% |
| 1993 | 1.02% | 2.01% |
| 1992 | 1.26% | 1.81% |
| 1991 | 1.17% | 2.31% |
| 1990 | 0.78% | 2.82% |
| 1989 | 1.25% | 2.98% |
| 1988 | 1.58% | 3.09% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | 3.17% |
| 1986 | 0.74% | 3.25% |
| 1985 | 0.79% | 3.39% |
| 1984 | 1.07% | 3.52% |
| 1983 | 1.33% | 3.56% |
| 1982 | 1.35% | 3.52% |
| 1981 | 1.15% | 3.46% |
| 1980 | 1.06% | 3.09% |
| 1979 | 0.98% | 2.74% |
| 1978 | 0.78% | 2.77% |
| 1977 | 0.75% | 2.74% |
| 1976 | 1% | 2.74% |
| 1975 | 1.29% | 2.81% |
| 1974 | 1.36% | 2.86% |
| 1973 | 1.52% | 2.9% |
| 1972 | 1.47% | 2.91% |
| 1971 | 0.81% | 2.97% |
| 1970 | 0.53% | 3.08% |
| 1969 | 0.93% | 3.14% |
| 1968 | 1.38% | 3.17% |
| 1967 | 1.63% | 3.17% |
| 1966 | 1.71% | 3.15% |
| 1965 | 1.75% | 3.12% |
| 1964 | 1.79% | 3.1% |
| 1963 | 1.8% | 3.08% |
| 1962 | 1.87% | 3.02% |
| 1961 | 1.97% | 2.85% |
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/south-africa | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.26%.
Live population counters
|
Iceland
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
397129
|
65683993
|
| Population rank | 173/197 | 24/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.005% | 0.79% |
| One net population change |
10.4 hours
|
39.7 seconds
|
| One birth every |
2.07 hours
|
26.6 seconds
|
| One death every |
3.44 hours
|
54 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2 | +2,178 |
| Annual growth/decline | +843 | +794,803 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.22% | +1.26% |
| Population growth rate rank | 155/197 | 85/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.24 hours
|
3.6 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +2,709 | +146,370 |
| Net migration rank | 56/196 | 9/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 98,818 | 2,631,100 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 130/195 | 28/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.1% | 4.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 23/195 | 105/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
South Africa
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 2,709 | - | 146,370 |
| 2024 | - | 3,543 | - | 166,972 |
| 2023 | 1,697 | 4,630 | 602,793 | 228,222 |
| 2022 | 1,719 | 6,535 | 603,636 | 233,284 |
| 2021 | 2,534 | 4,911 | 456,411 | 458,246 |
| 2020 | 2,199 | 2,498 | 595,873 | 369,901 |
| 2019 | 2,163 | 5,030 | 652,130 | 331,124 |
| 2018 | 1,975 | 6,638 | 648,319 | 318,260 |
| 2017 | 1,854 | 8,348 | 645,975 | 343,146 |
| 2016 | 1,711 | 4,128 | 641,365 | -879,235 |
| 2015 | 1,952 | 1,499 | 668,771 | 641,150 |
| 2014 | 2,324 | 1,139 | 674,754 | 272,697 |
| 2013 | 2,169 | 1,666 | 652,427 | 232,230 |
| 2012 | 2,566 | -277 | 643,723 | 264,091 |
| 2011 | 2,521 | -1,393 | 601,708 | 65,166 |
| 2010 | 2,862 | -2,055 | 566,834 | 68,563 |
| 2009 | 3,026 | -4,785 | 554,115 | 41,528 |
| 2008 | 2,825 | 1,138 | 595,332 | 36,869 |
| 2007 | 2,617 | 5,254 | 503,567 | 36,339 |
| 2006 | 2,491 | 5,300 | 487,584 | 33,159 |
| 2005 | 2,433 | 3,925 | 464,464 | 31,286 |
| 2004 | 2,425 | 610 | 442,540 | 58,924 |
| 2003 | 2,317 | -204 | 415,018 | 65,604 |
| 2002 | 2,243 | -333 | 430,926 | 50,313 |
| 2001 | 2,365 | 867 | 484,801 | -60,793 |
| 2000 | 2,475 | 1,877 | 526,963 | -136,794 |
| 1999 | 2,192 | 1,165 | 594,643 | -126,011 |
| 1998 | 2,357 | 1,014 | 627,027 | -82,722 |
| 1997 | 2,305 | 225 | 667,969 | -98,181 |
| 1996 | 2,447 | -511 | 710,868 | -193,007 |
| 1995 | 2,354 | -1,354 | 743,488 | -98,403 |
| 1994 | 2,713 | -804 | 698,609 | -268,849 |
| 1993 | 2,875 | -194 | 789,220 | 194,977 |
| 1992 | 2,898 | -225 | 794,415 | -71,342 |
| 1991 | 2,733 | 1,145 | 827,296 | -39,131 |
| 1990 | 3,058 | -971 | 835,421 | 259,718 |
| 1989 | 2,832 | -994 | 884,629 | 255,605 |
| 1988 | 2,847 | 1,572 | 909,221 | 246,382 |
| 1987 | 2,360 | 944 | 922,330 | 231,009 |
| 1986 | 2,384 | -335 | 903,644 | 234,378 |
| 1985 | 2,221 | -628 | 893,889 | 244,940 |
| 1984 | 2,539 | -328 | 869,011 | 290,789 |
| 1983 | 2,702 | 170 | 837,013 | 310,172 |
| 1982 | 2,736 | 616 | 807,550 | 293,195 |
| 1981 | 2,677 | 157 | 767,833 | 279,985 |
| 1980 | 2,966 | -629 | 738,415 | 258,127 |
| 1979 | 2,980 | -572 | 716,541 | 56,323 |
| 1978 | 2,727 | -781 | 694,341 | 62,121 |
| 1977 | 2,551 | -1,079 | 680,929 | 63,739 |
| 1976 | 2,951 | -1,181 | 675,011 | 27,333 |
| 1975 | 2,965 | -388 | 667,862 | 38,809 |
| 1974 | 2,776 | 209 | 658,438 | 38,518 |
| 1973 | 3,121 | -310 | 651,596 | 41,125 |
| 1972 | 3,241 | 362 | 638,754 | 38,163 |
| 1971 | 2,782 | -231 | 624,761 | 32,961 |
| 1970 | 2,576 | -1,754 | 605,102 | 61,514 |
| 1969 | 2,766 | -1,414 | 590,794 | 73,225 |
| 1968 | 2,841 | -448 | 571,841 | 78,932 |
| 1967 | 3,021 | 47 | 553,741 | 81,932 |
| 1966 | 3,305 | 39 | 534,862 | 77,417 |
| 1965 | 3,442 | -194 | 506,632 | 82,514 |
| 1964 | 3,459 | -67 | 490,606 | 76,298 |
| 1963 | 3,490 | -113 | 473,821 | 72,844 |
| 1962 | 3,465 | -228 | 455,634 | 69,771 |
| 1961 | 3,312 | 164 | 437,851 | 57,728 |
| 1960 | 3,758 | -269 | 421,263 | 18,891 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/iceland/south-africa | 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 South Africa 72.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,190,027 people) and 27.2% is from migration (a gain of 2,316,795 people).
As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.
Biggest cities by population
|
Iceland
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Reykjavik | 139K |
| Kopavogur | 40K |
| Hafnarfjorur | 31.5K |
| Keflavik | 23.3K |
| Akureyri | 20K |
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Johannesburg | 4.8M |
| Cape Town | 3.78M |
| Soweto | 1.27M |
| Pietermaritzburg | 839K |
| Pretoria | 742K |
| Durban | 595K |
| Rustenburg | 550K |
| Randburg | 337K |
| Port Elizabeth | 312K |
| East London | 267K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Iceland and South Africa
|
Iceland
|
South Africa
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.3 years | 66.7 years |
| Average age | 38.8 years | 31.1 years |
| Median age | 37.1 years | 29.5 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 48.7:51.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.59 births per woman | 2.22 births per woman |
| Population density | 10.2 ppl/mi² | 139.8 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/south-africa | 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)
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