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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 9,005,582 people in Switzerland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 9,107,866 in Switzerland.

Population statistics:

  • Switzerland's population is 22.9 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while Switzerland is the 100th.
  • The countries together account for 0.11% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.11% for Switzerland.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +0.98% in Switzerland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while Switzerland has grown from 7.48M to 9.11M (21.7% growth).

Iceland vs Switzerland: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland Switzerland
2100 359,553 9,234,296
2099 361,331 9,226,472
2098 363,133 9,220,109
2097 364,957 9,212,728
2096 366,850 9,208,997
2095 368,746 9,203,477
2094 370,650 9,199,095
2093 372,614 9,196,672
2092 374,717 9,194,082
2091 376,803 9,191,145
2090 378,807 9,189,122
2089 380,812 9,188,754
2088 382,997 9,190,102
2087 385,164 9,189,763
2086 387,257 9,191,494
2085 389,362 9,195,728
2084 391,416 9,199,983
2083 393,481 9,204,908
2082 395,438 9,210,695
2081 397,470 9,217,065
2080 399,499 9,223,475
2079 401,462 9,230,920
2078 403,324 9,237,649
2077 405,255 9,245,300
2076 406,954 9,250,248
2075 408,546 9,255,753
2074 410,015 9,266,455
2073 411,402 9,275,439
2072 412,903 9,283,185
2071 414,245 9,292,913
2070 415,521 9,303,843
2069 416,683 9,311,935
2068 417,749 9,320,335
2067 418,899 9,327,741
2066 419,918 9,339,455
2065 420,941 9,351,481
2064 421,814 9,362,413
2063 422,695 9,372,441
2062 423,614 9,383,258
2061 424,319 9,395,036
2060 425,096 9,403,920
2059 425,721 9,414,241
2058 426,288 9,422,560
2057 426,844 9,428,212
2056 427,304 9,435,441
2055 427,695 9,443,890
2054 427,915 9,451,268
2053 428,108 9,456,389
2052 428,300 9,456,418
2051 428,278 9,456,395
2050 428,323 9,454,544
2049 428,289 9,451,083
2048 428,213 9,444,091
2047 428,102 9,437,061
2046 427,911 9,430,954
2045 427,683 9,425,155
2044 427,236 9,418,152
2043 426,580 9,410,763
2042 425,915 9,400,808
2041 425,212 9,393,857
2040 424,385 9,382,662
2039 423,407 9,373,984
2038 422,302 9,365,030
2037 421,094 9,354,254
2036 419,738 9,342,450
2035 418,238 9,328,907
2034 416,721 9,312,054
2033 415,006 9,294,881
2032 413,150 9,276,221
2031 411,039 9,253,034
2030 408,677 9,228,188
2029 406,109 9,201,743
2028 403,085 9,170,620
2027 399,797 9,135,740
2026 396,141 9,097,532
2025 391,759 9,053,983
2024 386,506 9,005,582
2023 385,663 8,888,822
2022 382,003 8,777,088
2021 372,520 8,704,546
2020 366,463 8,638,167
2019 360,563 8,575,280
2018 352,721 8,514,329
2017 343,400 8,451,840
2016 335,439 8,373,338
2015 330,815 8,282,396
2014 327,386 8,188,649
2013 323,764 8,089,346
2012 320,716 7,996,861
2011 319,014 7,912,398
2010 318,041 7,824,909
2009 318,499 7,743,831
2008 317,414 7,647,675
2007 311,566 7,551,117
2006 303,782 7,483,934
2005 296,734 7,437,115
2004 292,074 7,389,625
2003 289,521 7,339,001
2002 287,523 7,284,753
2001 284,968 7,229,854
2000 281,205 7,184,250
1999 277,381 7,143,991
1998 274,047 7,110,001
1997 271,128 7,088,906
1996 268,916 7,071,850
1995 267,468 7,040,687
1994 266,021 6,993,795
1993 263,725 6,938,265
1992 261,057 6,875,364
1991 257,797 6,799,978
1990 254,826 6,715,519
1989 252,852 6,646,912
1988 249,740 6,593,386
1987 245,859 6,545,106
1986 243,180 6,504,124
1985 241,405 6,470,365
1984 239,511 6,441,865
1983 236,977 6,418,773
1982 233,860 6,391,309
1981 230,755 6,354,074
1980 228,138 6,319,408
1979 225,735 6,294,365
1978 223,537 6,281,738
1977 221,799 6,281,174
1976 220,154 6,302,504
1975 217,979 6,338,632
1974 215,209 6,341,405
1973 212,317 6,307,347
1972 209,137 6,260,956
1971 206,098 6,213,399
1970 204,438 6,180,877
1969 203,369 6,136,387
1968 201,488 6,067,714
1967 198,751 5,991,785
1966 195,570 5,918,002
1965 192,286 5,856,472
1964 188,983 5,789,228
1963 185,653 5,694,247
1962 182,378 5,573,815
1961 179,029 5,434,294
1960 175,574 5,327,827

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/switzerland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while Switzerland gained 889,404 people (a 11.9% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while Switzerland's population increased by 734,528 people (a 8.77% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. Switzerland was ranked 96th in 2006 and ranked 100th 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 Switzerland will increase by 3.81% to 9,454,544 people and rank change from 100th to 103rd.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 9.46M people in 2052 for Switzerland.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
Switzerland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland Switzerland
2100 -0.49% 0.08%
2099 -0.5% 0.07%
2098 -0.5% 0.08%
2097 -0.52% 0.04%
2096 -0.51% 0.06%
2095 -0.51% 0.05%
2094 -0.53% 0.03%
2093 -0.56% 0.03%
2092 -0.55% 0.03%
2091 -0.53% 0.02%
2090 -0.53% 0.004%
2089 -0.57% -0.01%
2088 -0.56% 0.004%
2087 -0.54% -0.02%
2086 -0.54% -0.05%
2085 -0.52% -0.05%
2084 -0.52% -0.05%
2083 -0.49% -0.06%
2082 -0.51% -0.07%
2081 -0.51% -0.07%
2080 -0.49% -0.08%
2079 -0.46% -0.07%
2078 -0.48% -0.08%
2077 -0.42% -0.05%
2076 -0.39% -0.06%
2075 -0.36% -0.12%
2074 -0.34% -0.1%
2073 -0.36% -0.08%
2072 -0.32% -0.1%
2071 -0.31% -0.12%
2070 -0.28% -0.09%
2069 -0.26% -0.09%
2068 -0.27% -0.08%
2067 -0.24% -0.13%
2066 -0.24% -0.13%
2065 -0.21% -0.12%
2064 -0.21% -0.11%
2063 -0.22% -0.12%
2062 -0.17% -0.13%
2061 -0.18% -0.09%
2060 -0.15% -0.11%
2059 -0.13% -0.09%
2058 -0.13% -0.06%
2057 -0.11% -0.08%
2056 -0.09% -0.09%
2055 -0.05% -0.08%
2054 -0.05% -0.05%
2053 -0.04% -0%
2052 0.005% 0%
2051 -0.01% 0.02%
2050 0.008% 0.04%
2049 0.02% 0.07%
2048 0.03% 0.07%
2047 0.04% 0.06%
2046 0.05% 0.06%
2045 0.1% 0.07%
2044 0.15% 0.08%
2043 0.16% 0.11%
2042 0.17% 0.07%
2041 0.2% 0.12%
2040 0.23% 0.09%
2039 0.26% 0.1%
2038 0.29% 0.12%
2037 0.32% 0.13%
2036 0.36% 0.15%
2035 0.36% 0.18%
2034 0.41% 0.18%
2033 0.45% 0.2%
2032 0.51% 0.25%
2031 0.58% 0.27%
2030 0.63% 0.29%
2029 0.75% 0.34%
2028 0.82% 0.38%
2027 0.92% 0.42%
2026 1.12% 0.48%
2025 1.36% 0.54%
2024 0.22% 1.31%
2023 0.96% 1.27%
2022 2.55% 0.83%
2021 1.65% 0.77%
2020 1.64% 0.73%
2019 2.22% 0.72%
2018 2.71% 0.74%
2017 2.37% 0.94%
2016 1.4% 1.1%
2015 1.05% 1.14%
2014 1.12% 1.23%
2013 0.95% 1.16%
2012 0.53% 1.07%
2011 0.31% 1.12%
2010 -0.14% 1.05%
2009 0.34% 1.26%
2008 1.88% 1.28%
2007 2.56% 0.9%
2006 2.38% 0.63%
2005 1.6% 0.64%
2004 0.88% 0.69%
2003 0.69% 0.74%
2002 0.9% 0.76%
2001 1.34% 0.63%
2000 1.38% 0.56%
1999 1.22% 0.48%
1998 1.08% 0.3%
1997 0.82% 0.24%
1996 0.54% 0.44%
1995 0.54% 0.67%
1994 0.87% 0.8%
1993 1.02% 0.91%
1992 1.26% 1.11%
1991 1.17% 1.26%
1990 0.78% 1.03%
1989 1.25% 0.81%
1988 1.58% 0.74%
1987 1.1% 0.63%
1986 0.74% 0.52%
1985 0.79% 0.44%
1984 1.07% 0.36%
1983 1.33% 0.43%
1982 1.35% 0.59%
1981 1.15% 0.55%
1980 1.06% 0.4%
1979 0.98% 0.2%
1978 0.78% 0.009%
1977 0.75% -0.34%
1976 1% -0.57%
1975 1.29% -0.04%
1974 1.36% 0.54%
1973 1.52% 0.74%
1972 1.47% 0.77%
1971 0.81% 0.53%
1970 0.53% 0.73%
1969 0.93% 1.13%
1968 1.38% 1.27%
1967 1.63% 1.25%
1966 1.71% 1.05%
1965 1.75% 1.16%
1964 1.79% 1.67%
1963 1.8% 2.16%
1962 1.87% 2.57%
1961 1.97% 2%

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/switzerland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while Switzerland's population grew by 1.31%.

Live population counters

Iceland Switzerland
Current population
397129
9107866
Population rank 173/197 100/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.11%
One net population change
10.4 hours
4.5 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
6.57 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
7.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +320
Annual growth/decline +843 +116,760
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +1.31%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 81/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
14.1 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +37,253
Net migration rank 56/196 25/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 2,773,840
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 27/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 31.1%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 17/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
Switzerland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland Switzerland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 37,253
2024 - 3,543 - 40,099
2023 1,697 4,630 8,000 45,098
2022 1,719 6,535 7,899 96,424
2021 2,534 4,911 18,279 50,665
2020 2,199 2,498 9,502 55,523
2019 2,163 5,030 18,008 44,517
2018 1,975 6,638 20,434 41,253
2017 1,854 8,348 20,284 45,658
2016 1,711 4,128 22,608 71,009
2015 1,952 1,499 19,050 71,876
2014 2,324 1,139 21,290 78,122
2013 2,169 1,666 17,797 83,823
2012 2,566 -277 18,393 67,840
2011 2,521 -1,393 18,990 67,194
2010 2,862 -2,055 17,997 76,388
2009 3,026 -4,785 15,487 69,324
2008 2,825 1,138 15,295 94,430
2007 2,617 5,254 13,592 72,475
2006 2,491 5,300 12,723 37,308
2005 2,433 3,925 11,899 33,203
2004 2,425 610 13,302 39,484
2003 2,317 -204 8,807 42,567
2002 2,243 -333 10,199 49,650
2001 2,365 867 10,845 35,420
2000 2,475 1,877 15,806 24,463
1999 2,192 1,165 16,431 25,599
1998 2,357 1,014 16,353 11,325
1997 2,305 225 17,722 -1,939
1996 2,447 -511 19,801 -131
1995 2,354 -1,354 19,010 25,343
1994 2,713 -804 20,982 30,274
1993 2,875 -194 21,509 40,267
1992 2,898 -225 24,064 42,014
1991 2,733 1,145 23,800 69,738
1990 3,058 -971 20,146 58,428
1989 2,832 -994 19,941 34,432
1988 2,847 1,572 21,099 34,602
1987 2,360 944 15,708 27,081
1986 2,384 -335 16,261 23,242
1985 2,221 -628 14,882 14,402
1984 2,539 -328 16,105 12,532
1983 2,702 170 12,837 5,663
1982 2,736 616 15,339 21,929
1981 2,677 157 13,979 24,229
1980 2,966 -629 14,535 17,841
1979 2,980 -572 14,477 4,262
1978 2,727 -781 13,820 -6,552
1977 2,551 -1,079 16,959 -22,516
1976 2,951 -1,181 17,017 -54,255
1975 2,965 -388 22,820 -58,187
1974 2,776 209 27,902 2,008
1973 3,121 -310 30,906 8,158
1972 3,241 362 35,061 19,991
1971 2,782 -231 38,523 2,636
1970 2,576 -1,754 42,648 -18,326
1969 2,766 -1,414 44,182 20,754
1968 2,841 -448 47,328 25,828
1967 3,021 47 52,128 27,697
1966 3,305 39 53,854 14,979
1965 3,442 -194 56,222 -1,351
1964 3,459 -67 59,050 21,455
1963 3,490 -113 52,956 58,415
1962 3,465 -228 49,050 82,798
1961 3,312 164 48,365 101,278
1960 3,758 -269 42,090 22,313

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

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/switzerland | 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 Switzerland 21.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 165,354 people) and 78.4% is from migration (a gain of 600,145 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 2,773,840 people or 31.1% in Switzerland.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
Switzerland
City Population
Zurich 449K
Geneva 209K
Basel 176K
Bern 146K
Lausanne 145K
Winterthur 110K
Lucerne 86.2K
St. Gallen 78.9K
Lugano 63.5K
Biel/Bienne 55.9K

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/switzerland | 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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