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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 48,848,840 people in Spain in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 48,806,901 in Spain.

Population statistics:

  • Spain's population is 122.9 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Spain is the 32nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.59% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.59% for Spain.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +0.43% in Spain.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Spain has grown from 44.4M to 48.8M (9.93% growth).

Iceland vs Spain: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Spain
2100 359,553 33,862,981
2099 361,331 34,039,965
2098 363,133 34,215,187
2097 364,957 34,387,116
2096 366,850 34,552,002
2095 368,746 34,719,411
2094 370,650 34,882,039
2093 372,614 35,044,043
2092 374,717 35,204,657
2091 376,803 35,366,895
2090 378,807 35,535,838
2089 380,812 35,707,942
2088 382,997 35,877,681
2087 385,164 36,043,209
2086 387,257 36,210,710
2085 389,362 36,386,207
2084 391,416 36,564,622
2083 393,481 36,749,680
2082 395,438 36,936,644
2081 397,470 37,133,976
2080 399,499 37,337,517
2079 401,462 37,551,557
2078 403,324 37,771,135
2077 405,255 38,002,963
2076 406,954 38,249,247
2075 408,546 38,506,040
2074 410,015 38,777,715
2073 411,402 39,056,249
2072 412,903 39,348,447
2071 414,245 39,642,346
2070 415,521 39,949,413
2069 416,683 40,256,590
2068 417,749 40,575,543
2067 418,899 40,893,798
2066 419,918 41,218,263
2065 420,941 41,543,254
2064 421,814 41,878,338
2063 422,695 42,208,320
2062 423,614 42,542,893
2061 424,319 42,874,096
2060 425,096 43,191,452
2059 425,721 43,506,737
2058 426,288 43,809,907
2057 426,844 44,112,668
2056 427,304 44,415,689
2055 427,695 44,691,749
2054 427,915 44,958,971
2053 428,108 45,223,225
2052 428,300 45,470,541
2051 428,278 45,695,307
2050 428,323 45,911,520
2049 428,289 46,127,777
2048 428,213 46,322,244
2047 428,102 46,510,152
2046 427,911 46,687,914
2045 427,683 46,858,778
2044 427,236 47,016,278
2043 426,580 47,158,325
2042 425,915 47,301,091
2041 425,212 47,434,593
2040 424,385 47,563,236
2039 423,407 47,685,343
2038 422,302 47,798,797
2037 421,094 47,910,899
2036 419,738 48,020,350
2035 418,238 48,124,430
2034 416,721 48,220,051
2033 415,006 48,311,842
2032 413,150 48,402,470
2031 411,039 48,495,278
2030 408,677 48,579,920
2029 406,109 48,648,699
2028 403,085 48,707,969
2027 399,797 48,758,200
2026 396,141 48,806,901
2025 391,759 48,838,057
2024 386,506 48,848,840
2023 385,663 48,352,528
2022 382,003 47,786,102
2021 372,520 47,443,821
2020 366,463 47,359,424
2019 360,563 47,118,501
2018 352,721 46,782,011
2017 343,400 46,571,232
2016 335,439 46,458,139
2015 330,815 46,422,303
2014 327,386 46,460,733
2013 323,764 46,604,197
2012 320,716 46,773,055
2011 319,014 46,742,697
2010 318,041 46,576,897
2009 318,499 46,362,946
2008 317,414 45,954,106
2007 311,566 45,226,803
2006 303,782 44,397,319
2005 296,734 43,653,155
2004 292,074 42,921,895
2003 289,521 42,187,645
2002 287,523 41,431,558
2001 284,968 40,850,412
2000 281,205 40,567,864
1999 277,381 40,386,875
1998 274,047 40,223,509
1997 271,128 40,057,389
1996 268,916 39,889,852
1995 267,468 39,724,050
1994 266,021 39,549,108
1993 263,725 39,361,262
1992 261,057 39,157,685
1991 257,797 38,966,376
1990 254,826 38,867,322
1989 252,852 38,827,764
1988 249,740 38,766,939
1987 245,859 38,684,815
1986 243,180 38,584,624
1985 241,405 38,469,512
1984 239,511 38,330,364
1983 236,977 38,171,525
1982 233,860 37,986,012
1981 230,755 37,758,631
1980 228,138 37,491,165
1979 225,735 37,191,330
1978 223,537 36,864,898
1977 221,799 36,511,638
1976 220,154 36,137,812
1975 217,979 35,757,900
1974 215,209 35,373,335
1973 212,317 34,988,947
1972 209,137 34,604,469
1971 206,098 34,224,490
1970 204,438 33,814,531
1969 203,369 33,441,054
1968 201,488 33,113,134
1967 198,751 32,682,947
1966 195,570 32,283,194
1965 192,286 31,954,292
1964 188,983 31,609,195
1963 185,653 31,296,651
1962 182,378 31,023,366
1961 179,029 30,739,250
1960 175,574 30,455,000

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/spain | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Spain gained 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Spain's population increased by 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Spain was ranked 28th in 2006 and ranked 32nd 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 Spain will decrease by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people and rank change from 32nd to 47th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Spain
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Spain
2100 -0.49% -0.52%
2099 -0.5% -0.51%
2098 -0.5% -0.5%
2097 -0.52% -0.48%
2096 -0.51% -0.48%
2095 -0.51% -0.47%
2094 -0.53% -0.46%
2093 -0.56% -0.46%
2092 -0.55% -0.46%
2091 -0.53% -0.48%
2090 -0.53% -0.48%
2089 -0.57% -0.47%
2088 -0.56% -0.46%
2087 -0.54% -0.46%
2086 -0.54% -0.48%
2085 -0.52% -0.49%
2084 -0.52% -0.5%
2083 -0.49% -0.51%
2082 -0.51% -0.53%
2081 -0.51% -0.55%
2080 -0.49% -0.57%
2079 -0.46% -0.58%
2078 -0.48% -0.61%
2077 -0.42% -0.64%
2076 -0.39% -0.67%
2075 -0.36% -0.7%
2074 -0.34% -0.71%
2073 -0.36% -0.74%
2072 -0.32% -0.74%
2071 -0.31% -0.77%
2070 -0.28% -0.76%
2069 -0.26% -0.79%
2068 -0.27% -0.78%
2067 -0.24% -0.79%
2066 -0.24% -0.78%
2065 -0.21% -0.8%
2064 -0.21% -0.78%
2063 -0.22% -0.79%
2062 -0.17% -0.77%
2061 -0.18% -0.73%
2060 -0.15% -0.72%
2059 -0.13% -0.69%
2058 -0.13% -0.69%
2057 -0.11% -0.68%
2056 -0.09% -0.62%
2055 -0.05% -0.59%
2054 -0.05% -0.58%
2053 -0.04% -0.54%
2052 0.005% -0.49%
2051 -0.01% -0.47%
2050 0.008% -0.47%
2049 0.02% -0.42%
2048 0.03% -0.4%
2047 0.04% -0.38%
2046 0.05% -0.36%
2045 0.1% -0.33%
2044 0.15% -0.3%
2043 0.16% -0.3%
2042 0.17% -0.28%
2041 0.2% -0.27%
2040 0.23% -0.26%
2039 0.26% -0.24%
2038 0.29% -0.23%
2037 0.32% -0.23%
2036 0.36% -0.22%
2035 0.36% -0.2%
2034 0.41% -0.19%
2033 0.45% -0.19%
2032 0.51% -0.19%
2031 0.58% -0.17%
2030 0.63% -0.14%
2029 0.75% -0.12%
2028 0.82% -0.1%
2027 0.92% -0.1%
2026 1.12% -0.06%
2025 1.36% -0.02%
2024 0.22% 1.03%
2023 0.96% 1.19%
2022 2.55% 0.72%
2021 1.65% 0.18%
2020 1.64% 0.51%
2019 2.22% 0.72%
2018 2.71% 0.45%
2017 2.37% 0.24%
2016 1.4% 0.08%
2015 1.05% -0.08%
2014 1.12% -0.31%
2013 0.95% -0.36%
2012 0.53% 0.06%
2011 0.31% 0.36%
2010 -0.14% 0.46%
2009 0.34% 0.89%
2008 1.88% 1.61%
2007 2.56% 1.87%
2006 2.38% 1.7%
2005 1.6% 1.7%
2004 0.88% 1.74%
2003 0.69% 1.82%
2002 0.9% 1.42%
2001 1.34% 0.7%
2000 1.38% 0.45%
1999 1.22% 0.41%
1998 1.08% 0.41%
1997 0.82% 0.42%
1996 0.54% 0.42%
1995 0.54% 0.44%
1994 0.87% 0.48%
1993 1.02% 0.52%
1992 1.26% 0.49%
1991 1.17% 0.25%
1990 0.78% 0.1%
1989 1.25% 0.16%
1988 1.58% 0.21%
1987 1.1% 0.26%
1986 0.74% 0.3%
1985 0.79% 0.36%
1984 1.07% 0.42%
1983 1.33% 0.49%
1982 1.35% 0.6%
1981 1.15% 0.71%
1980 1.06% 0.81%
1979 0.98% 0.89%
1978 0.78% 0.97%
1977 0.75% 1.03%
1976 1% 1.06%
1975 1.29% 1.09%
1974 1.36% 1.1%
1973 1.52% 1.11%
1972 1.47% 1.11%
1971 0.81% 1.21%
1970 0.53% 1.12%
1969 0.93% 0.99%
1968 1.38% 1.32%
1967 1.63% 1.24%
1966 1.71% 1.03%
1965 1.75% 1.09%
1964 1.79% 1%
1963 1.8% 0.88%
1962 1.87% 0.92%
1961 1.97% 0.93%

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/spain | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Spain's population grew by 1.03%.

Live population counters

Iceland Spain
Current population
397129
48806901
Population rank 173/197 32/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.59%
One net population change
10.4 hours
1.06 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
1.62 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
1.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +1,360
Annual growth/decline +843 +496,312
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +1.03%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 100/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
5.45 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +96,630
Net migration rank 56/196 17/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 8,870,527
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 6/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 18.5%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 32/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Spain
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Spain
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 96,630
2024 - 3,543 - 111,674
2023 1,697 4,630 -111,211 119,099
2022 1,719 6,535 -133,801 299,779
2021 2,534 4,911 -113,865 144,385
2020 2,199 2,498 -151,551 236,854
2019 2,163 5,030 -56,542 464,783
2018 1,975 6,638 -56,139 337,467
2017 1,854 8,348 -32,600 201,135
2016 1,711 4,128 0 106,474
2015 1,952 1,499 -4,642 -1,979
2014 2,324 1,139 32,522 -97,870
2013 2,169 1,666 37,284 -250,741
2012 2,566 -277 51,450 -153,486
2011 2,521 -1,393 84,137 60,761
2010 2,862 -2,055 102,469 69,406
2009 3,026 -4,785 106,635 129,557
2008 2,825 1,138 133,267 434,135
2007 2,617 5,254 108,545 772,317
2006 2,491 5,300 110,994 659,720
2005 2,433 3,925 78,576 629,803
2004 2,425 610 85,844 661,158
2003 2,317 -204 54,844 658,428
2002 2,243 -333 53,861 737,880
2001 2,365 867 44,936 181,307
2000 2,475 1,877 36,512 176,269
1999 2,192 1,165 8,077 178,559
1998 2,357 1,014 4,022 182,926
1997 2,305 225 20,028 165,345
1996 2,447 -511 11,967 162,704
1995 2,354 -1,354 15,889 162,434
1994 2,713 -804 31,639 160,407
1993 2,875 -194 47,234 160,907
1992 2,898 -225 62,652 177,544
1991 2,733 1,145 58,450 122,841
1990 3,058 -971 66,075 -30,684
1989 2,832 -994 81,538 -25,892
1988 2,847 1,572 100,794 -17,663
1987 2,360 944 116,054 -12,681
1986 2,384 -335 131,188 -13,540
1985 2,221 -628 146,184 -589
1984 2,539 -328 172,487 2,754
1983 2,702 170 183,223 1,241
1982 2,736 616 231,714 -7,384
1981 2,677 157 237,879 2,563
1980 2,966 -629 281,184 20,166
1979 2,980 -572 312,407 -5,929
1978 2,727 -781 339,157 -2,504
1977 2,551 -1,079 361,465 -1,332
1976 2,951 -1,181 375,834 2,804
1975 2,965 -388 371,882 -218
1974 2,776 209 396,182 105,838
1973 3,121 -310 374,381 8,624
1972 3,241 362 391,030 7,935
1971 2,782 -231 369,625 7,363
1970 2,576 -1,754 378,723 -60,580
1969 2,766 -1,414 367,851 -49,956
1968 2,841 -448 387,423 -46,088
1967 3,021 47 402,001 -42,344
1966 3,305 39 397,084 -41,467
1965 3,442 -194 405,819 -42,476
1964 3,459 -67 429,885 -41,461
1963 3,490 -113 394,338 -44,446
1962 3,465 -228 384,690 -45,211
1961 3,312 164 396,537 -46,517
1960 3,758 -269 398,960 -154,869

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

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/spain | 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 Spain 25.8% is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 8,870,527 people or 18.5% in Spain.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K

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/spain | 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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