The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 130.1 times bigger than Iceland's.
- Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
- The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.62% for South Korea.
- For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).
Iceland vs South Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Iceland
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 359,553 | 22,012,503 |
| 2099 | 361,331 | 22,335,528 |
| 2098 | 363,133 | 22,668,719 |
| 2097 | 364,957 | 23,009,661 |
| 2096 | 366,850 | 23,360,151 |
| 2095 | 368,746 | 23,722,747 |
| 2094 | 370,650 | 24,093,391 |
| 2093 | 372,614 | 24,473,038 |
| 2092 | 374,717 | 24,860,975 |
| 2091 | 376,803 | 25,255,379 |
| 2090 | 378,807 | 25,655,577 |
| 2089 | 380,812 | 26,060,945 |
| 2088 | 382,997 | 26,470,073 |
| 2087 | 385,164 | 26,884,813 |
| 2086 | 387,257 | 27,301,913 |
| 2085 | 389,362 | 27,723,736 |
| 2084 | 391,416 | 28,147,480 |
| 2083 | 393,481 | 28,578,182 |
| 2082 | 395,438 | 29,012,953 |
| 2081 | 397,470 | 29,456,022 |
| 2080 | 399,499 | 29,901,880 |
| 2079 | 401,462 | 30,352,062 |
| 2078 | 403,324 | 30,809,176 |
| 2077 | 405,255 | 31,273,700 |
| 2076 | 406,954 | 31,744,480 |
| 2075 | 408,546 | 32,221,226 |
| 2074 | 410,015 | 32,706,020 |
| 2073 | 411,402 | 33,196,556 |
| 2072 | 412,903 | 33,696,490 |
| 2071 | 414,245 | 34,203,935 |
| 2070 | 415,521 | 34,719,324 |
| 2069 | 416,683 | 35,241,850 |
| 2068 | 417,749 | 35,762,799 |
| 2067 | 418,899 | 36,292,307 |
| 2066 | 419,918 | 36,826,655 |
| 2065 | 420,941 | 37,368,086 |
| 2064 | 421,814 | 37,916,439 |
| 2063 | 422,695 | 38,469,051 |
| 2062 | 423,614 | 39,028,473 |
| 2061 | 424,319 | 39,584,621 |
| 2060 | 425,096 | 40,149,830 |
| 2059 | 425,721 | 40,712,514 |
| 2058 | 426,288 | 41,277,134 |
| 2057 | 426,844 | 41,833,887 |
| 2056 | 427,304 | 42,377,427 |
| 2055 | 427,695 | 42,909,302 |
| 2054 | 427,915 | 43,427,254 |
| 2053 | 428,108 | 43,938,741 |
| 2052 | 428,300 | 44,441,106 |
| 2051 | 428,278 | 44,923,604 |
| 2050 | 428,323 | 45,385,311 |
| 2049 | 428,289 | 45,832,153 |
| 2048 | 428,213 | 46,258,529 |
| 2047 | 428,102 | 46,668,898 |
| 2046 | 427,911 | 47,056,404 |
| 2045 | 427,683 | 47,433,205 |
| 2044 | 427,236 | 47,797,411 |
| 2043 | 426,580 | 48,144,730 |
| 2042 | 425,915 | 48,478,991 |
| 2041 | 425,212 | 48,806,273 |
| 2040 | 424,385 | 49,115,658 |
| 2039 | 423,407 | 49,412,830 |
| 2038 | 422,302 | 49,694,340 |
| 2037 | 421,094 | 49,957,504 |
| 2036 | 419,738 | 50,200,702 |
| 2035 | 418,238 | 50,426,000 |
| 2034 | 416,721 | 50,632,962 |
| 2033 | 415,006 | 50,821,090 |
| 2032 | 413,150 | 50,987,020 |
| 2031 | 411,039 | 51,134,940 |
| 2030 | 408,677 | 51,267,908 |
| 2029 | 406,109 | 51,385,868 |
| 2028 | 403,085 | 51,486,791 |
| 2027 | 399,797 | 51,576,746 |
| 2026 | 396,141 | 51,649,918 |
| 2025 | 391,759 | 51,710,062 |
| 2024 | 386,506 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 385,663 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 382,003 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 372,520 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 366,463 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 360,563 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 352,721 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 343,400 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 335,439 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 330,815 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 327,386 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 323,764 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 320,716 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 319,014 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 318,041 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 318,499 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 317,414 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 311,566 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 303,782 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 296,734 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 292,074 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 289,521 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 287,523 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 284,968 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 281,205 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 277,381 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 274,047 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 271,128 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 268,916 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 267,468 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 266,021 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 263,725 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 261,057 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 257,797 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 254,826 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 252,852 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 249,740 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 245,859 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 243,180 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 241,405 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 239,511 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 236,977 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 233,860 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 230,755 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 228,138 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 225,735 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 223,537 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 221,799 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 220,154 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 217,979 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 215,209 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 212,317 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 209,137 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 206,098 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 204,438 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 203,369 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 201,488 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 198,751 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 195,570 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 192,286 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 188,983 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 185,653 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 182,378 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 179,029 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 175,574 | 25,012,374 |
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-korea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).
Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.
Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.49% | -1.45% |
| 2099 | -0.5% | -1.47% |
| 2098 | -0.5% | -1.48% |
| 2097 | -0.52% | -1.5% |
| 2096 | -0.51% | -1.53% |
| 2095 | -0.51% | -1.54% |
| 2094 | -0.53% | -1.55% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | -1.56% |
| 2092 | -0.55% | -1.56% |
| 2091 | -0.53% | -1.56% |
| 2090 | -0.53% | -1.56% |
| 2089 | -0.57% | -1.55% |
| 2088 | -0.56% | -1.54% |
| 2087 | -0.54% | -1.53% |
| 2086 | -0.54% | -1.52% |
| 2085 | -0.52% | -1.51% |
| 2084 | -0.52% | -1.51% |
| 2083 | -0.49% | -1.5% |
| 2082 | -0.51% | -1.5% |
| 2081 | -0.51% | -1.49% |
| 2080 | -0.49% | -1.48% |
| 2079 | -0.46% | -1.48% |
| 2078 | -0.48% | -1.49% |
| 2077 | -0.42% | -1.48% |
| 2076 | -0.39% | -1.48% |
| 2075 | -0.36% | -1.48% |
| 2074 | -0.34% | -1.48% |
| 2073 | -0.36% | -1.48% |
| 2072 | -0.32% | -1.48% |
| 2071 | -0.31% | -1.48% |
| 2070 | -0.28% | -1.48% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | -1.46% |
| 2068 | -0.27% | -1.46% |
| 2067 | -0.24% | -1.45% |
| 2066 | -0.24% | -1.45% |
| 2065 | -0.21% | -1.45% |
| 2064 | -0.21% | -1.44% |
| 2063 | -0.22% | -1.43% |
| 2062 | -0.17% | -1.4% |
| 2061 | -0.18% | -1.41% |
| 2060 | -0.15% | -1.38% |
| 2059 | -0.13% | -1.37% |
| 2058 | -0.13% | -1.33% |
| 2057 | -0.11% | -1.28% |
| 2056 | -0.09% | -1.24% |
| 2055 | -0.05% | -1.19% |
| 2054 | -0.05% | -1.16% |
| 2053 | -0.04% | -1.13% |
| 2052 | 0.005% | -1.07% |
| 2051 | -0.01% | -1.02% |
| 2050 | 0.008% | -0.97% |
| 2049 | 0.02% | -0.92% |
| 2048 | 0.03% | -0.88% |
| 2047 | 0.04% | -0.82% |
| 2046 | 0.05% | -0.79% |
| 2045 | 0.1% | -0.76% |
| 2044 | 0.15% | -0.72% |
| 2043 | 0.16% | -0.69% |
| 2042 | 0.17% | -0.67% |
| 2041 | 0.2% | -0.63% |
| 2040 | 0.23% | -0.6% |
| 2039 | 0.26% | -0.57% |
| 2038 | 0.29% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 0.32% | -0.48% |
| 2036 | 0.36% | -0.45% |
| 2035 | 0.36% | -0.41% |
| 2034 | 0.41% | -0.37% |
| 2033 | 0.45% | -0.33% |
| 2032 | 0.51% | -0.29% |
| 2031 | 0.58% | -0.26% |
| 2030 | 0.63% | -0.23% |
| 2029 | 0.75% | -0.2% |
| 2028 | 0.82% | -0.17% |
| 2027 | 0.92% | -0.14% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | -0.12% |
| 2025 | 1.36% | -0.08% |
| 2024 | 0.22% | 0.07% |
| 2023 | 0.96% | 0.08% |
| 2022 | 2.55% | -0.19% |
| 2021 | 1.65% | -0.13% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | 0.14% |
| 2019 | 2.22% | 0.35% |
| 2018 | 2.71% | 0.43% |
| 2017 | 2.37% | 0.28% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | 0.4% |
| 2015 | 1.05% | 0.53% |
| 2014 | 1.12% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 0.95% | 0.46% |
| 2012 | 0.53% | 0.53% |
| 2011 | 0.31% | 0.77% |
| 2010 | -0.14% | 0.5% |
| 2009 | 0.34% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 1.88% | 0.76% |
| 2007 | 2.56% | 0.51% |
| 2006 | 2.38% | 0.53% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | 0.21% |
| 2004 | 0.88% | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 0.69% | 0.52% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | 0.58% |
| 2001 | 1.34% | 0.77% |
| 2000 | 1.38% | 0.84% |
| 1999 | 1.22% | 0.71% |
| 1998 | 1.08% | 0.72% |
| 1997 | 0.82% | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 0.54% | 0.96% |
| 1995 | 0.54% | 1.01% |
| 1994 | 0.87% | 1.01% |
| 1993 | 1.02% | 1.02% |
| 1992 | 1.26% | 1.04% |
| 1991 | 1.17% | 0.99% |
| 1990 | 0.78% | 0.99% |
| 1989 | 1.25% | 0.99% |
| 1988 | 1.58% | 0.98% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | 0.99% |
| 1986 | 0.74% | 1% |
| 1985 | 0.79% | 0.99% |
| 1984 | 1.07% | 1.24% |
| 1983 | 1.33% | 1.49% |
| 1982 | 1.35% | 1.56% |
| 1981 | 1.15% | 1.57% |
| 1980 | 1.06% | 1.57% |
| 1979 | 0.98% | 1.53% |
| 1978 | 0.78% | 1.53% |
| 1977 | 0.75% | 1.57% |
| 1976 | 1% | 1.61% |
| 1975 | 1.29% | 1.7% |
| 1974 | 1.36% | 1.73% |
| 1973 | 1.52% | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 1.47% | 1.89% |
| 1971 | 0.81% | 1.99% |
| 1970 | 0.53% | 2.21% |
| 1969 | 0.93% | 2.29% |
| 1968 | 1.38% | 2.35% |
| 1967 | 1.63% | 2.36% |
| 1966 | 1.71% | 2.55% |
| 1965 | 1.75% | 2.57% |
| 1964 | 1.79% | 2.65% |
| 1963 | 1.8% | 2.82% |
| 1962 | 1.87% | 2.9% |
| 1961 | 1.97% | 3.01% |
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-korea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.
Live population counters
|
Iceland
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
397129
|
51649918
|
| Population rank | 173/197 | 31/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.005% | 0.62% |
| One net population change |
10.4 hours
|
13.7 minutes
|
| One birth every |
2.07 hours
|
2.26 minutes
|
| One death every |
3.44 hours
|
1.69 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2 | +105 |
| Annual growth/decline | +843 | +38,446 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.22% | +0.07% |
| Population growth rate rank | 155/197 | 160/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.24 hours
|
8.02 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +2,709 | +65,731 |
| Net migration rank | 56/196 | 20/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 98,818 | 1,811,507 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 130/195 | 40/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.1% | 3.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 23/195 | 111/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
South Korea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 2,709 | - | 65,731 |
| 2024 | - | 3,543 | - | 75,963 |
| 2023 | 1,697 | 4,630 | -77,569 | 87,800 |
| 2022 | 1,719 | 6,535 | -124,014 | 87,800 |
| 2021 | 2,534 | 4,911 | -56,947 | -16,778 |
| 2020 | 2,199 | 2,498 | -31,101 | 112,631 |
| 2019 | 2,163 | 5,030 | 10,353 | 128,622 |
| 2018 | 1,975 | 6,638 | 30,951 | 118,220 |
| 2017 | 1,854 | 8,348 | 71,907 | 104,029 |
| 2016 | 1,711 | 4,128 | 122,923 | 91,568 |
| 2015 | 1,952 | 1,499 | 163,248 | 276,427 |
| 2014 | 2,324 | 1,139 | 167,464 | 308,037 |
| 2013 | 2,169 | 1,666 | 166,415 | 301,926 |
| 2012 | 2,566 | -277 | 215,859 | 281,866 |
| 2011 | 2,521 | -1,393 | 214,728 | 269,958 |
| 2010 | 2,862 | -2,055 | 213,083 | 52,042 |
| 2009 | 3,026 | -4,785 | 197,231 | 5,308 |
| 2008 | 2,825 | 1,138 | 215,841 | -19,630 |
| 2007 | 2,617 | 5,254 | 248,286 | -42,293 |
| 2006 | 2,491 | 5,300 | 203,441 | -28,434 |
| 2005 | 2,433 | 3,925 | 187,920 | -47,821 |
| 2004 | 2,425 | 610 | 225,988 | -42,549 |
| 2003 | 2,317 | -204 | 244,251 | -31,994 |
| 2002 | 2,243 | -333 | 247,752 | -18,105 |
| 2001 | 2,365 | 867 | 312,643 | -28,006 |
| 2000 | 2,475 | 1,877 | 390,167 | -84,960 |
| 1999 | 2,192 | 1,165 | 368,272 | -107,448 |
| 1998 | 2,357 | 1,014 | 393,436 | -98,044 |
| 1997 | 2,305 | 225 | 422,773 | -109,130 |
| 1996 | 2,447 | -511 | 446,142 | -115,705 |
| 1995 | 2,354 | -1,354 | 468,967 | -208,491 |
| 1994 | 2,713 | -804 | 473,200 | -208,309 |
| 1993 | 2,875 | -194 | 477,302 | -222,802 |
| 1992 | 2,898 | -225 | 494,352 | -265,849 |
| 1991 | 2,733 | 1,145 | 467,594 | -270,754 |
| 1990 | 3,058 | -971 | 411,546 | 79,294 |
| 1989 | 2,832 | -994 | 403,266 | 186,120 |
| 1988 | 2,847 | 1,572 | 399,297 | 192,534 |
| 1987 | 2,360 | 944 | 378,758 | 198,057 |
| 1986 | 2,384 | -335 | 395,651 | 189,782 |
| 1985 | 2,221 | -628 | 416,219 | 97,949 |
| 1984 | 2,539 | -328 | 436,384 | 101,394 |
| 1983 | 2,702 | 170 | 514,844 | 102,167 |
| 1982 | 2,736 | 616 | 605,626 | 48,638 |
| 1981 | 2,677 | 157 | 631,189 | 18,442 |
| 1980 | 2,966 | -629 | 583,294 | -148,341 |
| 1979 | 2,980 | -572 | 623,068 | -139,566 |
| 1978 | 2,727 | -781 | 499,084 | -85,721 |
| 1977 | 2,551 | -1,079 | 578,947 | -90,737 |
| 1976 | 2,951 | -1,181 | 530,558 | -92,314 |
| 1975 | 2,965 | -388 | 603,300 | -52,332 |
| 1974 | 2,776 | 209 | 673,030 | 27,005 |
| 1973 | 3,121 | -310 | 699,115 | 35,779 |
| 1972 | 3,241 | 362 | 740,469 | 25,382 |
| 1971 | 2,782 | -231 | 789,185 | -6,326 |
| 1970 | 2,576 | -1,754 | 747,987 | -27,999 |
| 1969 | 2,766 | -1,414 | 694,227 | -21,175 |
| 1968 | 2,841 | -448 | 684,487 | -16,868 |
| 1967 | 3,021 | 47 | 692,169 | -16,484 |
| 1966 | 3,305 | 39 | 623,534 | -16,688 |
| 1965 | 3,442 | -194 | 641,090 | -146,386 |
| 1964 | 3,459 | -67 | 655,501 | -102,284 |
| 1963 | 3,490 | -113 | 685,824 | -80,226 |
| 1962 | 3,465 | -228 | 712,590 | -94,606 |
| 1961 | 3,312 | 164 | 730,173 | -93,179 |
| 1960 | 3,758 | -269 | 728,010 | 47,245 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/iceland/south-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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).
As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Iceland
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Reykjavik | 139K |
| Kopavogur | 40K |
| Hafnarfjorur | 31.5K |
| Keflavik | 23.3K |
| Akureyri | 20K |
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Seoul | 9.67M |
| Busan | 3.45M |
| Incheon | 3.05M |
| Daegu | 2.38M |
| Daejeon | 1.48M |
| Gwangju | 1.41M |
| Suwon | 1.23M |
| Ulsan | 1.13M |
| Yongin | 1.08M |
| Goyang | 1.06M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Iceland and South Korea
|
Iceland
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.3 years | 84.6 years |
| Average age | 38.8 years | 44.8 years |
| Median age | 37.1 years | 46.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.59 births per woman | 0.72 births per woman |
| Population density | 10.2 ppl/mi² | 1,371 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-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)
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