Iceland
Among all countries, Iceland stands 1st in human development index. This achievement puts it ahead of the vast majority of countries. Can you guess its other standout statistics?
Iceland is a country in Europe with a population of 364.0K and an area of 103,000 km². Life expectancy is 82.6 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Human Development Index
0.97The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Internet Users (%)
100.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Life Satisfaction
8.13How satisfied people are with their lives, rated on a scale from 0 to 10.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
81.9KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita
$65.6KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Life Expectancy
82.7 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
💰Employment Rate (%)
87.6%The percentage of adults aged 25-64 who are employed.
🚀Human Development Index
0.97The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
🌱Renewable Energy (%)
80.5%The percentage of energy consumption that comes from renewable sources.
📡Internet Users (%)
100.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
🤝Life Satisfaction
8.13How satisfied people are with their lives, rated on a scale from 0 to 10.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #1 globally in employment rate (%)
Employment Rate (%): 87.6%
The percentage of adults aged 25-64 who are employed.
OECD 2024Ranks #1 globally in human development index
Human Development Index: 0.97
The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Ranks #1 globally in renewable energy (%)
Renewable Energy (%): 80.5%
The percentage of energy consumption that comes from renewable sources.
Our World in Data 2023Has one of the highest rates of air pollution (pm2.5)
Air Pollution (PM2.5): 5.11
The average level of fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) that people are exposed to.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #211 in population density
Population Density: 3.82
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Iceland Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Iceland
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althingi, which was established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter-century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but the global financial crisis hit Iceland especially hard in the years after 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, primarily thanks to a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.
- Location
- Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom
- Climate
- temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
- Terrain
- mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
- Natural Resources
- fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
- Natural Hazards
- earthquakes and volcanic activity volcanism: Iceland is situated on top of a hotspot and experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
- Languages
- Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German
- Religions
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 58.6% Roman Catholic 3.8%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.6%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 1.9%, pagan worship 1.5%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.4%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 18.7%, none 7.7% (2024 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)
- Major Cities
- 216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- unitary parliamentary republic
- Capital
- Reykjavik
- Capital Coordinates
- 64 09 N, 21 57 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Name Origin
- Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island in the 10th century, applied the name "Land of Ice," from the local words ís (ice) and land (land)
- Independence
- 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th-century independence movement)
- National Symbols
- gyrfalcon
- National Anthem
- "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
- Overview
- high-income North Atlantic island economy; not an EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA); dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and disruption from volcanic activity; inflation remains above target rate; barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification
- Industries
- tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products
- Agricultural Products
- milk, chicken, lamb/mutton, barley, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
- Export Partners
- Netherlands 27%, Germany 11%, USA 10%, UK 8%, Norway 6% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- aluminum, fish, orthopedic appliances, animal meal, iron alloys (2023)
- Import Partners
- Norway 11%, China 9%, Germany 9%, Netherlands 8%, USA 7% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, cars, carbon-based electronics, aluminum oxide, computers (2023)
- Military Forces
- no regular military forces; the Icelandic National Police, the regional police forces, and the Icelandic Coast Guard fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice (2025)
- Energy Mix
- hydroelectricity: 70.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); geothermal: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally; every household is required to have RUV, which doubles as the emergency broadcast network; 3 privately owned TV stations; 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections; RUV operates 3 national and 4 regional radio stations; 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), broadcasts nationwide; over 20 regional radio stations (2019)
Deep Dive
72 of 136 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Faroe Islands
Isle of Man
Norway
IrelandCountries with Similar GDP
Guyana
Netherlands
Denmark
United Arab EmiratesCompare Iceland with...
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Share something surprising about Iceland!
The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Frequently Asked Questions about Iceland
Iceland has a population of 364.0K, ranking #176 globally by population.
Iceland is located in Europe. It has an area of 103,000 km².
Life expectancy in Iceland is 82.6 years, ranking #27 globally.
Iceland's GDP per capita (PPP) is 81.9K, ranking #13 globally.
Iceland ranks particularly high in Human Development Index (#1), Internet Users (%) (#5), Life Satisfaction (#2).
Iceland has an HDI of 0.972, ranking #1 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Iceland has a population density of 3.8 people per km², ranking #211 globally.
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