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Population in Iceland compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 29.4 times bigger than Iceland's.
  • Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.15% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% growth).

Iceland vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Iceland
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Iceland UAE
2100 359,553 26,368,750
2099 361,331 26,130,374
2098 363,133 25,894,010
2097 364,957 25,660,062
2096 366,850 25,427,961
2095 368,746 25,197,670
2094 370,650 24,968,891
2093 372,614 24,741,434
2092 374,717 24,515,086
2091 376,803 24,289,496
2090 378,807 24,064,404
2089 380,812 23,839,033
2088 382,997 23,613,963
2087 385,164 23,388,786
2086 387,257 23,163,641
2085 389,362 22,938,169
2084 391,416 22,711,804
2083 393,481 22,484,154
2082 395,438 22,255,625
2081 397,470 22,026,183
2080 399,499 21,796,073
2079 401,462 21,565,118
2078 403,324 21,333,574
2077 405,255 21,101,274
2076 406,954 20,868,733
2075 408,546 20,636,203
2074 410,015 20,404,044
2073 411,402 20,171,659
2072 412,903 19,940,853
2071 414,245 19,710,934
2070 415,521 19,483,026
2069 416,683 19,256,572
2068 417,749 19,032,681
2067 418,899 18,811,331
2066 419,918 18,593,017
2065 420,941 18,377,364
2064 421,814 18,164,584
2063 422,695 17,955,352
2062 423,614 17,749,596
2061 424,319 17,547,827
2060 425,096 17,349,620
2059 425,721 17,153,273
2058 426,288 16,959,263
2057 426,844 16,767,893
2056 427,304 16,579,195
2055 427,695 16,392,558
2054 427,915 16,207,309
2053 428,108 16,024,789
2052 428,300 15,844,357
2051 428,278 15,665,362
2050 428,323 15,487,008
2049 428,289 15,309,031
2048 428,213 15,132,784
2047 428,102 14,958,209
2046 427,911 14,788,046
2045 427,683 14,620,902
2044 427,236 14,454,466
2043 426,580 14,289,021
2042 425,915 14,124,515
2041 425,212 13,961,010
2040 424,385 13,798,651
2039 423,407 13,637,499
2038 422,302 13,477,450
2037 421,094 13,319,346
2036 419,738 13,163,073
2035 418,238 13,009,160
2034 416,721 12,857,729
2033 415,006 12,709,520
2032 413,150 12,564,906
2031 411,039 12,424,286
2030 408,677 12,288,186
2029 406,109 12,148,661
2028 403,085 11,999,549
2027 399,797 11,831,082
2026 396,141 11,632,806
2025 391,759 11,367,504
2024 386,506 10,986,400
2023 385,663 10,483,751
2022 382,003 10,074,977
2021 372,520 9,575,152
2020 366,463 9,401,038
2019 360,563 9,445,785
2018 352,721 9,346,701
2017 343,400 9,223,225
2016 335,439 8,935,095
2015 330,815 8,505,237
2014 327,386 8,059,440
2013 323,764 7,693,031
2012 320,716 7,391,448
2011 319,014 7,104,538
2010 318,041 6,869,838
2009 318,499 6,707,058
2008 317,414 6,302,664
2007 311,566 5,624,635
2006 303,782 5,009,100
2005 296,734 4,664,790
2004 292,074 4,428,967
2003 289,521 4,192,457
2002 287,523 3,956,826
2001 284,968 3,723,590
2000 281,205 3,493,575
1999 277,381 3,266,009
1998 274,047 3,040,421
1997 271,128 2,817,410
1996 268,916 2,597,564
1995 267,468 2,434,662
1994 266,021 2,328,188
1993 263,725 2,222,093
1992 261,057 2,114,730
1991 257,797 2,006,626
1990 254,826 1,898,220
1989 252,852 1,789,851
1988 249,740 1,681,788
1987 245,859 1,574,244
1986 243,180 1,467,383
1985 241,405 1,377,911
1984 239,511 1,305,996
1983 236,977 1,235,305
1982 233,860 1,166,370
1981 230,755 1,099,855
1980 228,138 1,015,700
1979 225,735 912,010
1978 223,537 809,274
1977 221,799 710,209
1976 220,154 615,866
1975 217,979 542,856
1974 215,209 489,087
1973 212,317 436,399
1972 209,137 385,014
1971 206,098 335,027
1970 204,438 286,536
1969 203,369 239,660
1968 201,488 199,416
1967 198,751 179,700
1966 195,570 173,976
1965 192,286 167,103
1964 188,983 159,692
1963 185,653 152,211
1962 182,378 144,946
1961 179,029 137,989
1960 175,574 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% growth).

Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 26.4M people in 2100 for the United Arab Emirates.

Population growth rate by year

Iceland
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Iceland UAE
2100 -0.49% 0.91%
2099 -0.5% 0.91%
2098 -0.5% 0.91%
2097 -0.52% 0.91%
2096 -0.51% 0.91%
2095 -0.51% 0.92%
2094 -0.53% 0.92%
2093 -0.56% 0.92%
2092 -0.55% 0.93%
2091 -0.53% 0.94%
2090 -0.53% 0.95%
2089 -0.57% 0.95%
2088 -0.56% 0.96%
2087 -0.54% 0.97%
2086 -0.54% 0.98%
2085 -0.52% 1%
2084 -0.52% 1.01%
2083 -0.49% 1.03%
2082 -0.51% 1.04%
2081 -0.51% 1.06%
2080 -0.49% 1.07%
2079 -0.46% 1.09%
2078 -0.48% 1.1%
2077 -0.42% 1.11%
2076 -0.39% 1.13%
2075 -0.36% 1.14%
2074 -0.34% 1.15%
2073 -0.36% 1.16%
2072 -0.32% 1.17%
2071 -0.31% 1.17%
2070 -0.28% 1.18%
2069 -0.26% 1.18%
2068 -0.27% 1.18%
2067 -0.24% 1.17%
2066 -0.24% 1.17%
2065 -0.21% 1.17%
2064 -0.21% 1.17%
2063 -0.22% 1.16%
2062 -0.17% 1.15%
2061 -0.18% 1.14%
2060 -0.15% 1.14%
2059 -0.13% 1.14%
2058 -0.13% 1.14%
2057 -0.11% 1.14%
2056 -0.09% 1.14%
2055 -0.05% 1.14%
2054 -0.05% 1.14%
2053 -0.04% 1.14%
2052 0.005% 1.14%
2051 -0.01% 1.15%
2050 0.008% 1.16%
2049 0.02% 1.16%
2048 0.03% 1.17%
2047 0.04% 1.15%
2046 0.05% 1.14%
2045 0.1% 1.15%
2044 0.15% 1.16%
2043 0.16% 1.16%
2042 0.17% 1.17%
2041 0.2% 1.18%
2040 0.23% 1.18%
2039 0.26% 1.19%
2038 0.29% 1.19%
2037 0.32% 1.19%
2036 0.36% 1.18%
2035 0.36% 1.18%
2034 0.41% 1.17%
2033 0.45% 1.15%
2032 0.51% 1.13%
2031 0.58% 1.11%
2030 0.63% 1.15%
2029 0.75% 1.24%
2028 0.82% 1.42%
2027 0.92% 1.7%
2026 1.12% 2.33%
2025 1.36% 3.47%
2024 0.22% 4.79%
2023 0.96% 4.06%
2022 2.55% 5.22%
2021 1.65% 1.85%
2020 1.64% -0.47%
2019 2.22% 1.06%
2018 2.71% 1.34%
2017 2.37% 3.22%
2016 1.4% 5.05%
2015 1.05% 5.53%
2014 1.12% 4.76%
2013 0.95% 4.08%
2012 0.53% 4.04%
2011 0.31% 3.42%
2010 -0.14% 2.43%
2009 0.34% 6.42%
2008 1.88% 12.1%
2007 2.56% 12.3%
2006 2.38% 7.38%
2005 1.6% 5.32%
2004 0.88% 5.64%
2003 0.69% 5.96%
2002 0.9% 6.26%
2001 1.34% 6.58%
2000 1.38% 6.97%
1999 1.22% 7.42%
1998 1.08% 7.92%
1997 0.82% 8.46%
1996 0.54% 6.69%
1995 0.54% 4.57%
1994 0.87% 4.77%
1993 1.02% 5.08%
1992 1.26% 5.39%
1991 1.17% 5.71%
1990 0.78% 6.05%
1989 1.25% 6.43%
1988 1.58% 6.83%
1987 1.1% 7.28%
1986 0.74% 6.49%
1985 0.79% 5.51%
1984 1.07% 5.72%
1983 1.33% 5.91%
1982 1.35% 6.05%
1981 1.15% 8.29%
1980 1.06% 11.4%
1979 0.98% 12.7%
1978 0.78% 13.9%
1977 0.75% 15.3%
1976 1% 13.4%
1975 1.29% 11%
1974 1.36% 12.1%
1973 1.52% 13.3%
1972 1.47% 14.9%
1971 0.81% 16.9%
1970 0.53% 19.6%
1969 0.93% 20.2%
1968 1.38% 11%
1967 1.63% 3.29%
1966 1.71% 4.11%
1965 1.75% 4.64%
1964 1.79% 4.91%
1963 1.8% 5.01%
1962 1.87% 5.04%
1961 1.97% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Iceland UAE
Current population
397129
11686438
Population rank 173/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.005% 0.14%
One net population change
10.4 hours
1.05 minutes
One birth every
2.07 hours
5.13 minutes
One death every
3.44 hours
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline +2 +1,377
Annual growth/decline +843 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate +0.22% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 155/197 3/197
One migration net change every
3.24 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change +2,709 +158,634
Net migration rank 56/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 98,818 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 130/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 25.1% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 23/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Iceland
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Iceland UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 2,709 - 158,634
2024 - 3,543 - 278,439
2023 1,697 4,630 92,698 300,004
2022 1,719 6,535 81,758 322,773
2021 2,534 4,911 76,802 421,663
2020 2,199 2,498 87,871 92,541
2019 2,163 5,030 86,296 -125,186
2018 1,975 6,638 86,840 14,611
2017 1,854 8,348 89,382 34,155
2016 1,711 4,128 87,028 195,317
2015 1,952 1,499 85,044 342,468
2014 2,324 1,139 84,277 360,174
2013 2,169 1,666 82,977 279,269
2012 2,566 -277 78,682 225,921
2011 2,521 -1,393 73,496 215,183
2010 2,862 -2,055 69,907 161,842
2009 3,026 -4,785 66,521 163,643
2008 2,825 1,138 55,426 523,207
2007 2,617 5,254 55,048 722,380
2006 2,491 5,300 54,338 399,306
2005 2,433 3,925 60,046 174,926
2004 2,425 610 60,344 176,319
2003 2,317 -204 59,118 177,237
2002 2,243 -333 55,922 178,988
2001 2,365 867 52,789 178,779
2000 2,475 1,877 49,993 178,469
1999 2,192 1,165 46,198 180,469
1998 2,357 1,014 41,176 183,329
1997 2,305 225 38,207 183,310
1996 2,447 -511 37,886 180,296
1995 2,354 -1,354 38,685 68,938
1994 2,713 -804 42,976 62,352
1993 2,875 -194 41,324 65,545
1992 2,898 -225 42,119 65,739
1991 2,733 1,145 41,409 66,943
1990 3,058 -971 41,339 67,118
1989 2,832 -994 40,148 68,132
1988 2,847 1,572 38,861 68,991
1987 2,360 944 37,741 69,493
1986 2,384 -335 36,829 69,655
1985 2,221 -628 34,855 37,605
1984 2,539 -328 33,250 38,124
1983 2,702 170 31,480 38,536
1982 2,736 616 29,585 38,276
1981 2,677 157 27,560 37,600
1980 2,966 -629 25,005 78,148
1979 2,980 -572 21,987 82,238
1978 2,727 -781 18,879 82,359
1977 2,551 -1,079 15,787 81,111
1976 2,951 -1,181 12,876 78,903
1975 2,965 -388 11,859 42,380
1974 2,776 209 10,835 42,474
1973 3,121 -310 9,822 42,243
1972 3,241 362 8,818 41,888
1971 2,782 -231 7,839 41,425
1970 2,576 -1,754 6,922 40,792
1969 2,766 -1,414 6,138 39,902
1968 2,841 -448 5,588 28,866
1967 3,021 47 5,264 -283
1966 3,305 39 4,955 1,516
1965 3,442 -194 4,675 2,598
1964 3,459 -67 4,410 3,126
1963 3,490 -113 4,157 3,264
1962 3,465 -228 3,901 3,212
1961 3,312 164 3,657 3,141
1960 3,758 -269 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/iceland/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 people).

As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

Biggest cities by population

Iceland
City Population
Reykjavik 139K
Kopavogur 40K
Hafnarfjorur 31.5K
Keflavik 23.3K
Akureyri 20K
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | 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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