The latest officially reported population of Iceland was 386,506 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Iceland's population is 397,129 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.
Population statistics:
- The United Kingdom's population is 176.7 times bigger than Iceland's.
- Iceland is ranked the 173rd most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
- The countries together account for 0.85% of the world: 0.005% for Iceland vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
- For the last 10 years, Iceland has had an average growth rate of +1.63% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
- Since 2006, the population of Iceland has increased from 304K people to 397K (30.7% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).
Iceland vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Iceland
|
United Kingdom
|
|
| 2100 | 359,553 | 74,700,585 |
| 2099 | 361,331 | 74,831,175 |
| 2098 | 363,133 | 74,950,267 |
| 2097 | 364,957 | 75,064,397 |
| 2096 | 366,850 | 75,176,691 |
| 2095 | 368,746 | 75,287,063 |
| 2094 | 370,650 | 75,383,856 |
| 2093 | 372,614 | 75,482,205 |
| 2092 | 374,717 | 75,575,769 |
| 2091 | 376,803 | 75,666,091 |
| 2090 | 378,807 | 75,753,129 |
| 2089 | 380,812 | 75,835,723 |
| 2088 | 382,997 | 75,907,614 |
| 2087 | 385,164 | 75,978,712 |
| 2086 | 387,257 | 76,046,742 |
| 2085 | 389,362 | 76,105,680 |
| 2084 | 391,416 | 76,156,223 |
| 2083 | 393,481 | 76,205,894 |
| 2082 | 395,438 | 76,246,844 |
| 2081 | 397,470 | 76,274,040 |
| 2080 | 399,499 | 76,306,205 |
| 2079 | 401,462 | 76,334,949 |
| 2078 | 403,324 | 76,353,484 |
| 2077 | 405,255 | 76,371,123 |
| 2076 | 406,954 | 76,373,520 |
| 2075 | 408,546 | 76,386,071 |
| 2074 | 410,015 | 76,397,426 |
| 2073 | 411,402 | 76,406,554 |
| 2072 | 412,903 | 76,398,941 |
| 2071 | 414,245 | 76,388,223 |
| 2070 | 415,521 | 76,378,505 |
| 2069 | 416,683 | 76,371,827 |
| 2068 | 417,749 | 76,370,973 |
| 2067 | 418,899 | 76,363,548 |
| 2066 | 419,918 | 76,356,638 |
| 2065 | 420,941 | 76,355,841 |
| 2064 | 421,814 | 76,352,770 |
| 2063 | 422,695 | 76,353,175 |
| 2062 | 423,614 | 76,346,535 |
| 2061 | 424,319 | 76,344,206 |
| 2060 | 425,096 | 76,344,725 |
| 2059 | 425,721 | 76,345,215 |
| 2058 | 426,288 | 76,326,961 |
| 2057 | 426,844 | 76,307,006 |
| 2056 | 427,304 | 76,274,247 |
| 2055 | 427,695 | 76,235,304 |
| 2054 | 427,915 | 76,167,710 |
| 2053 | 428,108 | 76,094,051 |
| 2052 | 428,300 | 76,001,979 |
| 2051 | 428,278 | 75,895,690 |
| 2050 | 428,323 | 75,777,445 |
| 2049 | 428,289 | 75,646,044 |
| 2048 | 428,213 | 75,499,380 |
| 2047 | 428,102 | 75,338,951 |
| 2046 | 427,911 | 75,171,300 |
| 2045 | 427,683 | 74,993,186 |
| 2044 | 427,236 | 74,807,530 |
| 2043 | 426,580 | 74,607,485 |
| 2042 | 425,915 | 74,407,783 |
| 2041 | 425,212 | 74,203,292 |
| 2040 | 424,385 | 73,994,525 |
| 2039 | 423,407 | 73,782,112 |
| 2038 | 422,302 | 73,559,085 |
| 2037 | 421,094 | 73,335,723 |
| 2036 | 419,738 | 73,101,646 |
| 2035 | 418,238 | 72,850,722 |
| 2034 | 416,721 | 72,597,177 |
| 2033 | 415,006 | 72,322,802 |
| 2032 | 413,150 | 72,046,316 |
| 2031 | 411,039 | 71,757,868 |
| 2030 | 408,677 | 71,442,811 |
| 2029 | 406,109 | 71,123,782 |
| 2028 | 403,085 | 70,783,199 |
| 2027 | 399,797 | 70,421,923 |
| 2026 | 396,141 | 70,055,911 |
| 2025 | 391,759 | 69,658,188 |
| 2024 | 386,506 | 69,226,000 |
| 2023 | 385,663 | 68,492,000 |
| 2022 | 382,003 | 67,604,000 |
| 2021 | 372,520 | 66,984,000 |
| 2020 | 366,463 | 66,744,000 |
| 2019 | 360,563 | 66,631,000 |
| 2018 | 352,721 | 66,289,000 |
| 2017 | 343,400 | 65,966,000 |
| 2016 | 335,439 | 65,607,000 |
| 2015 | 330,815 | 65,088,000 |
| 2014 | 327,386 | 64,620,000 |
| 2013 | 323,764 | 64,139,000 |
| 2012 | 320,716 | 63,711,000 |
| 2011 | 319,014 | 63,258,810 |
| 2010 | 318,041 | 62,766,365 |
| 2009 | 318,499 | 62,276,270 |
| 2008 | 317,414 | 61,806,995 |
| 2007 | 311,566 | 61,322,463 |
| 2006 | 303,782 | 60,846,820 |
| 2005 | 296,734 | 60,401,206 |
| 2004 | 292,074 | 59,987,905 |
| 2003 | 289,521 | 59,647,577 |
| 2002 | 287,523 | 59,370,479 |
| 2001 | 284,968 | 59,119,673 |
| 2000 | 281,205 | 58,892,514 |
| 1999 | 277,381 | 58,682,466 |
| 1998 | 274,047 | 58,487,141 |
| 1997 | 271,128 | 58,316,954 |
| 1996 | 268,916 | 58,166,950 |
| 1995 | 267,468 | 58,019,030 |
| 1994 | 266,021 | 57,865,745 |
| 1993 | 263,725 | 57,718,614 |
| 1992 | 261,057 | 57,580,402 |
| 1991 | 257,797 | 57,424,897 |
| 1990 | 254,826 | 57,247,586 |
| 1989 | 252,852 | 57,076,711 |
| 1988 | 249,740 | 56,928,327 |
| 1987 | 245,859 | 56,802,050 |
| 1986 | 243,180 | 56,681,396 |
| 1985 | 241,405 | 56,550,268 |
| 1984 | 239,511 | 56,422,072 |
| 1983 | 236,977 | 56,332,848 |
| 1982 | 233,860 | 56,313,641 |
| 1981 | 230,755 | 56,333,829 |
| 1980 | 228,138 | 56,314,216 |
| 1979 | 225,735 | 56,246,951 |
| 1978 | 223,537 | 56,196,504 |
| 1977 | 221,799 | 56,193,492 |
| 1976 | 220,154 | 56,211,968 |
| 1975 | 217,979 | 56,225,800 |
| 1974 | 215,209 | 56,229,974 |
| 1973 | 212,317 | 56,194,527 |
| 1972 | 209,137 | 56,086,065 |
| 1971 | 206,098 | 55,896,223 |
| 1970 | 204,438 | 55,663,250 |
| 1969 | 203,369 | 55,441,750 |
| 1968 | 201,488 | 55,211,700 |
| 1967 | 198,751 | 54,943,600 |
| 1966 | 195,570 | 54,648,500 |
| 1965 | 192,286 | 54,348,050 |
| 1964 | 188,983 | 54,000,000 |
| 1963 | 185,653 | 53,650,000 |
| 1962 | 182,378 | 53,250,000 |
| 1961 | 179,029 | 52,800,000 |
| 1960 | 175,574 | 52,400,000 |
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/united-kingdom | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Iceland increased by 31,657 people (a 10.4% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Iceland gained 61,690 people (a 18.4% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).
Iceland was ranked 172nd most populous country in 2006 and is 173rd in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.
Iceland is projected to reach its peak in 2050 at 428K people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
United Kingdom
|
|
| 2100 | -0.49% | -0.17% |
| 2099 | -0.5% | -0.16% |
| 2098 | -0.5% | -0.15% |
| 2097 | -0.52% | -0.15% |
| 2096 | -0.51% | -0.15% |
| 2095 | -0.51% | -0.13% |
| 2094 | -0.53% | -0.13% |
| 2093 | -0.56% | -0.12% |
| 2092 | -0.55% | -0.12% |
| 2091 | -0.53% | -0.11% |
| 2090 | -0.53% | -0.11% |
| 2089 | -0.57% | -0.09% |
| 2088 | -0.56% | -0.09% |
| 2087 | -0.54% | -0.09% |
| 2086 | -0.54% | -0.08% |
| 2085 | -0.52% | -0.07% |
| 2084 | -0.52% | -0.07% |
| 2083 | -0.49% | -0.05% |
| 2082 | -0.51% | -0.04% |
| 2081 | -0.51% | -0.04% |
| 2080 | -0.49% | -0.04% |
| 2079 | -0.46% | -0.02% |
| 2078 | -0.48% | -0.02% |
| 2077 | -0.42% | -0.003% |
| 2076 | -0.39% | -0.02% |
| 2075 | -0.36% | -0.01% |
| 2074 | -0.34% | -0.01% |
| 2073 | -0.36% | 0.01% |
| 2072 | -0.32% | 0.01% |
| 2071 | -0.31% | 0.01% |
| 2070 | -0.28% | 0.009% |
| 2069 | -0.26% | 0.001% |
| 2068 | -0.27% | 0.01% |
| 2067 | -0.24% | 0.009% |
| 2066 | -0.24% | 0.001% |
| 2065 | -0.21% | 0.004% |
| 2064 | -0.21% | -0% |
| 2063 | -0.22% | 0.009% |
| 2062 | -0.17% | 0.003% |
| 2061 | -0.18% | -0.001% |
| 2060 | -0.15% | -0.001% |
| 2059 | -0.13% | 0.02% |
| 2058 | -0.13% | 0.03% |
| 2057 | -0.11% | 0.04% |
| 2056 | -0.09% | 0.05% |
| 2055 | -0.05% | 0.09% |
| 2054 | -0.05% | 0.1% |
| 2053 | -0.04% | 0.12% |
| 2052 | 0.005% | 0.14% |
| 2051 | -0.01% | 0.16% |
| 2050 | 0.008% | 0.17% |
| 2049 | 0.02% | 0.19% |
| 2048 | 0.03% | 0.21% |
| 2047 | 0.04% | 0.22% |
| 2046 | 0.05% | 0.24% |
| 2045 | 0.1% | 0.25% |
| 2044 | 0.15% | 0.27% |
| 2043 | 0.16% | 0.27% |
| 2042 | 0.17% | 0.28% |
| 2041 | 0.2% | 0.28% |
| 2040 | 0.23% | 0.29% |
| 2039 | 0.26% | 0.3% |
| 2038 | 0.29% | 0.3% |
| 2037 | 0.32% | 0.32% |
| 2036 | 0.36% | 0.34% |
| 2035 | 0.36% | 0.35% |
| 2034 | 0.41% | 0.38% |
| 2033 | 0.45% | 0.38% |
| 2032 | 0.51% | 0.4% |
| 2031 | 0.58% | 0.44% |
| 2030 | 0.63% | 0.45% |
| 2029 | 0.75% | 0.48% |
| 2028 | 0.82% | 0.51% |
| 2027 | 0.92% | 0.52% |
| 2026 | 1.12% | 0.57% |
| 2025 | 1.36% | 0.62% |
| 2024 | 0.22% | 1.07% |
| 2023 | 0.96% | 1.31% |
| 2022 | 2.55% | 0.93% |
| 2021 | 1.65% | 0.36% |
| 2020 | 1.64% | 0.17% |
| 2019 | 2.22% | 0.52% |
| 2018 | 2.71% | 0.49% |
| 2017 | 2.37% | 0.55% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| 2015 | 1.05% | 0.72% |
| 2014 | 1.12% | 0.75% |
| 2013 | 0.95% | 0.67% |
| 2012 | 0.53% | 0.71% |
| 2011 | 0.31% | 0.78% |
| 2010 | -0.14% | 0.79% |
| 2009 | 0.34% | 0.76% |
| 2008 | 1.88% | 0.79% |
| 2007 | 2.56% | 0.78% |
| 2006 | 2.38% | 0.74% |
| 2005 | 1.6% | 0.69% |
| 2004 | 0.88% | 0.57% |
| 2003 | 0.69% | 0.47% |
| 2002 | 0.9% | 0.42% |
| 2001 | 1.34% | 0.39% |
| 2000 | 1.38% | 0.36% |
| 1999 | 1.22% | 0.33% |
| 1998 | 1.08% | 0.29% |
| 1997 | 0.82% | 0.26% |
| 1996 | 0.54% | 0.25% |
| 1995 | 0.54% | 0.26% |
| 1994 | 0.87% | 0.25% |
| 1993 | 1.02% | 0.24% |
| 1992 | 1.26% | 0.27% |
| 1991 | 1.17% | 0.31% |
| 1990 | 0.78% | 0.3% |
| 1989 | 1.25% | 0.26% |
| 1988 | 1.58% | 0.22% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | 0.21% |
| 1986 | 0.74% | 0.23% |
| 1985 | 0.79% | 0.23% |
| 1984 | 1.07% | 0.16% |
| 1983 | 1.33% | 0.03% |
| 1982 | 1.35% | -0.04% |
| 1981 | 1.15% | 0.03% |
| 1980 | 1.06% | 0.12% |
| 1979 | 0.98% | 0.09% |
| 1978 | 0.78% | 0.005% |
| 1977 | 0.75% | -0.03% |
| 1976 | 1% | -0.02% |
| 1975 | 1.29% | -0.007% |
| 1974 | 1.36% | 0.06% |
| 1973 | 1.52% | 0.19% |
| 1972 | 1.47% | 0.34% |
| 1971 | 0.81% | 0.42% |
| 1970 | 0.53% | 0.4% |
| 1969 | 0.93% | 0.42% |
| 1968 | 1.38% | 0.49% |
| 1967 | 1.63% | 0.54% |
| 1966 | 1.71% | 0.55% |
| 1965 | 1.75% | 0.64% |
| 1964 | 1.79% | 0.65% |
| 1963 | 1.8% | 0.75% |
| 1962 | 1.87% | 0.85% |
| 1961 | 1.97% | 0.76% |
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-kingdom | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Iceland grew by 0.22%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.
Live population counters
|
Iceland
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
397129
|
70154914
|
| Population rank | 173/197 | 22/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.005% | 0.85% |
| One net population change |
10.4 hours
|
43 seconds
|
| One birth every |
2.07 hours
|
45.9 seconds
|
| One death every |
3.44 hours
|
48.4 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +2 | +2,011 |
| Annual growth/decline | +843 | +734,000 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.22% | +1.07% |
| Population growth rate rank | 155/197 | 97/197 |
| One migration net change every |
3.24 hours
|
1.35 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +2,709 | +389,911 |
| Net migration rank | 56/196 | 4/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 98,818 | 11,845,479 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 130/195 | 4/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 25.1% | 17.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 23/195 | 36/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Iceland
|
United Kingdom
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 2,709 | - | 389,911 |
| 2024 | - | 3,543 | - | 417,114 |
| 2023 | 1,697 | 4,630 | 34,589 | 445,523 |
| 2022 | 1,719 | 6,535 | 39,751 | 487,029 |
| 2021 | 2,534 | 4,911 | 30,612 | 462,967 |
| 2020 | 2,199 | 2,498 | -4,272 | 144,221 |
| 2019 | 2,163 | 5,030 | 108,342 | 232,727 |
| 2018 | 1,975 | 6,638 | 119,321 | 259,744 |
| 2017 | 1,854 | 8,348 | 145,125 | 272,311 |
| 2016 | 1,711 | 4,128 | 177,139 | 324,649 |
| 2015 | 1,952 | 1,499 | 175,738 | 347,839 |
| 2014 | 2,324 | 1,139 | 206,784 | 306,091 |
| 2013 | 2,169 | 1,666 | 198,830 | 237,272 |
| 2012 | 2,566 | -277 | 248,473 | 172,088 |
| 2011 | 2,521 | -1,393 | 259,361 | 228,773 |
| 2010 | 2,862 | -2,055 | 251,066 | 274,811 |
| 2009 | 3,026 | -4,785 | 230,422 | 249,639 |
| 2008 | 2,825 | 1,138 | 216,325 | 263,390 |
| 2007 | 2,617 | 5,254 | 196,232 | 309,385 |
| 2006 | 2,491 | 5,300 | 176,455 | 288,923 |
| 2005 | 2,433 | 3,925 | 144,963 | 308,279 |
| 2004 | 2,425 | 610 | 131,974 | 276,077 |
| 2003 | 2,317 | -204 | 89,471 | 211,846 |
| 2002 | 2,243 | -333 | 65,308 | 203,577 |
| 2001 | 2,365 | 867 | 65,032 | 175,133 |
| 2000 | 2,475 | 1,877 | 70,671 | 153,917 |
| 1999 | 2,192 | 1,165 | 64,551 | 152,653 |
| 1998 | 2,357 | 1,014 | 87,730 | 125,541 |
| 1997 | 2,305 | 225 | 99,138 | 59,723 |
| 1996 | 2,447 | -511 | 98,884 | 54,964 |
| 1995 | 2,354 | -1,354 | 87,028 | 61,385 |
| 1994 | 2,713 | -804 | 127,304 | 45,339 |
| 1993 | 2,875 | -194 | 103,893 | 27,403 |
| 1992 | 2,898 | -225 | 149,709 | 17,846 |
| 1991 | 2,733 | 1,145 | 143,562 | 27,601 |
| 1990 | 3,058 | -971 | 154,569 | 57,132 |
| 1989 | 2,832 | -994 | 119,861 | 49,586 |
| 1988 | 2,847 | 1,572 | 136,628 | 13,952 |
| 1987 | 2,360 | 944 | 136,325 | 8,266 |
| 1986 | 2,384 | -335 | 90,690 | 41,836 |
| 1985 | 2,221 | -628 | 79,170 | 83,164 |
| 1984 | 2,539 | -328 | 84,633 | 71,107 |
| 1983 | 2,702 | 170 | 61,966 | 27,063 |
| 1982 | 2,736 | 616 | 56,314 | -61,152 |
| 1981 | 2,677 | 157 | 73,234 | -83,876 |
| 1980 | 2,966 | -629 | 95,734 | -25,187 |
| 1979 | 2,980 | -572 | 61,872 | 11,255 |
| 1978 | 2,727 | -781 | 16,859 | 3,783 |
| 1977 | 2,551 | -1,079 | 0 | -21,636 |
| 1976 | 2,951 | -1,181 | -5,621 | -19,135 |
| 1975 | 2,965 | -388 | 33,735 | -40,241 |
| 1974 | 2,776 | 209 | 67,476 | -65,710 |
| 1973 | 3,121 | -310 | 112,389 | -33,840 |
| 1972 | 3,241 | 362 | 162,650 | -1,406 |
| 1971 | 2,782 | -231 | 257,123 | 1,175 |
| 1970 | 2,576 | -1,754 | 244,918 | -15,254 |
| 1969 | 2,766 | -1,414 | 260,577 | -60,655 |
| 1968 | 2,841 | -448 | 292,622 | -38,852 |
| 1967 | 3,021 | 47 | 346,145 | -39,659 |
| 1966 | 3,305 | 39 | 333,356 | -27,935 |
| 1965 | 3,442 | -194 | 364,132 | -24,955 |
| 1964 | 3,459 | -67 | 405,000 | -23,885 |
| 1963 | 3,490 | -113 | 337,995 | 8,271 |
| 1962 | 3,465 | -228 | 340,800 | 76,443 |
| 1961 | 3,312 | 164 | 311,519 | 52,295 |
| 1960 | 3,758 | -269 | 314,400 | 19,953 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/iceland/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).
As of 2024, 98,818 residents or 25.1% of the population were not native-born in Iceland, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.
Biggest cities by population
|
Iceland
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Reykjavik | 139K |
| Kopavogur | 40K |
| Hafnarfjorur | 31.5K |
| Keflavik | 23.3K |
| Akureyri | 20K |
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| London | 8.8M |
| Birmingham | 1.14M |
| Glasgow | 626K |
| Manchester | 548K |
| Leeds | 536K |
| Sheffield | 518K |
| Liverpool | 513K |
| Edinburgh | 488K |
| Bristol | 472K |
| Cardiff | 384K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Iceland and the United Kingdom
|
Iceland
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 83.3 years | 81.7 years |
| Average age | 38.8 years | 41.4 years |
| Median age | 37.1 years | 41 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 51.2:48.8 | 49.2:50.8 |
| Fertility rate | 1.59 births per woman | 1.56 births per woman |
| Population density | 10.2 ppl/mi² | 750 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/united-kingdom | 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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