Iceland population pyramid 2026
402,329 people in 2026 (projected). Iceland combined a late, high baby boom with long life expectancy, and recent immigration has given it a male surplus of about 15% among adults aged 35–44.
- 2026 population
- 402.3Krank 179 of 237
- Median age
- 36.6 yearsoldest rank 97
- Fertility rate
- 1.49births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older16.3% age 65+
Iceland population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Hover over or tap a bar to see exact values.
Download this population pyramid
Use the publication-ready SVG, create a high-resolution PNG, or download the complete age-by-sex dataset.
The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Iceland age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 17.3% of the population, while 16.3% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 66.4% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Iceland’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 50.6: about 51 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (26.1 children and 24.5 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Iceland’s population pyramid
A long baby boom on a small base
Iceland’s fertility rose after the Second World War to about 4.3 children per woman in 1960, very high for Europe, and stayed around or above replacement until about 2010. Life expectancy was already about 71 in 1950. High fertility and low mortality together gave Iceland an unusually young population for a rich country: the median age was about 24 in 1975. As fertility eased, the 2000 pyramid became almost rectangular from birth to the early forties, close to the stationary type. Since 2010 fertility has fallen to about 1.5, and the bands under 15 are now smaller than those aged 25–39.
Immigration and a male surplus
Iceland lost more people to emigration than it gained before 2000, but net immigration of about 57,000 between 2000 and 2023 has reshaped the working ages. Much of it was linked to construction and later tourism, with Poland the largest source country, and it was interrupted by emigration after the 2008 banking collapse. In 2026 the 30–34 band, born about 1992–96, is about 9% larger than its neighbours, and there are about 114 to 117 men per 100 women at ages 35–44. With only about 400,000 inhabitants, modest migration flows are enough to move individual bands visibly.
Under the medium scenario the population peaks at about 433,000 in 2049, deaths first exceed births around 2045, and the median age rises from about 37 to 45 by 2050. In 2026 Iceland’s structure resembles those of Australia, Chile, New Zealand, Uruguay and Gibraltar.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Iceland’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
Births outnumber deaths in 2026; the medium scenario projects deaths to exceed births from 2045. People aged 65 and older are projected to outnumber children under 15 by 2030.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Iceland is projected to record 4,346 births (about 12 births a day) and 2,683 deaths, a natural increase of 1,663. Net migration adds +2,027 people, ranking #24 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 105,175 births, 50,502 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +56,946. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +17,274 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 84.7 years73.5 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 82.0 years68.6 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 20.8 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 1.1per 1,000 births · 22 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 1.5per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 31.0 yearssex ratio at birth 105.8
Women in Iceland are projected to live 2.7 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 22 to 1.1 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #235 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 31.0 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Iceland
The median age of 36.6 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.49 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 83.3 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 402,329 | #179 | Largest first |
| Median age | 36.6 years | #97 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.49 | #171 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +0.9% | #101 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 83.3 years | #25 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 16.3% | #75 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Iceland
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30–34 | 33,186 | 8.2% | 17.5K / 15.7K |
| 2 | 35–39 | 31,493 | 7.8% | 17K / 14.5K |
| 3 | 25–29 | 29,232 | 7.3% | 14.9K / 14.3K |
| 4 | 40–44 | 27,569 | 6.9% | 14.7K / 12.9K |
| 5 | 20–24 | 26,402 | 6.6% | 13.5K / 13K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Iceland has 206,284 males and 196,045 females. That is 105.2 males per 100 females, ranking #23 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 51.3% of the population and females for 48.7%. There are 10,239 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 94.2 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 105.8 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Iceland has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 142,667 in 1950 to 402,329 in 2026, a change of 182%. Over the same span, median age moved from 25.5 to 36.6 years.
The under-15 share changed from 30.6% to 17.3%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 7.5% to 16.3%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Iceland’s population is projected to grow by about 8%, reaching 432,993 in 2050. The median age changes from 36.6 to 44.9 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 7.6 percentage points to 23.9%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 13.6%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest projected population of 432,998 in 2049. That turning point depends on the medium scenario and may move in later revisions. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 142,667 | 25.5 | 3.85 | 71.0 | 4,103 | 1,122 | +277 | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 175,560 | 24.4 | 4.26 | 74.0 | 4,867 | 1,174 | −269 | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 204,478 | 23.4 | 2.82 | 73.8 | 4,062 | 1,467 | −1,754 | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 228,144 | 25.9 | 2.48 | 76.6 | 4,536 | 1,543 | −629 | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 254,833 | 29.0 | 2.30 | 77.7 | 4,771 | 1,721 | −971 | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 281,280 | 31.9 | 2.07 | 79.5 | 4,279 | 1,835 | +1,877 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 318,158 | 33.9 | 2.19 | 81.6 | 4,924 | 2,035 | −2,055 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 366,614 | 35.6 | 1.72 | 82.7 | 4,486 | 2,315 | +2,498 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 387,558 | 35.8 | 1.54 | 82.7 | 4,347 | 2,612 | +4,630 | +1.6% |
| 2024* | 393,396 | 36.0 | 1.52 | 83.0 | 4,377 | 2,613 | +3,543 | +1.4% |
| 2026* | 402,329 | 36.6 | 1.49 | 83.3 | 4,346 | 2,683 | +2,027 | +0.9% |
| 2030* | 414,348 | 38.1 | 1.48 | 83.9 | 4,225 | 2,869 | +1,039 | +0.6% |
| 2040* | 429,452 | 42.1 | 1.49 | 85.1 | 3,942 | 3,546 | +448 | +0.2% |
| 2050* | 432,993 | 44.9 | 1.51 | 86.3 | 3,734 | 4,104 | +322 | -0.0% |
| 2060* | 429,360 | 47.4 | 1.51 | 87.5 | 3,464 | 4,408 | +165 | -0.2% |
| 2070* | 419,428 | 49.1 | 1.52 | 88.6 | 3,202 | 4,819 | +330 | -0.3% |
| 2080* | 402,850 | 50.6 | 1.53 | 89.7 | 3,035 | 5,298 | +209 | -0.5% |
| 2090* | 381,944 | 51.0 | 1.55 | 90.9 | 2,867 | 5,187 | +285 | -0.5% |
| 2100* | 362,582 | 51.5 | 1.56 | 92.0 | 2,673 | 4,709 | +224 | -0.5% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 11,841 | 11,118 | 22,959 | 5.7% |
| 5–9 | 12,166 | 11,227 | 23,393 | 5.8% |
| 10–14 | 11,866 | 11,437 | 23,303 | 5.8% |
| 15–19 | 13,238 | 12,489 | 25,727 | 6.4% |
| 20–24 | 13,452 | 12,950 | 26,402 | 6.6% |
| 25–29 | 14,941 | 14,291 | 29,232 | 7.3% |
| 30–34 | 17,463 | 15,723 | 33,186 | 8.2% |
| 35–39 | 16,979 | 14,514 | 31,493 | 7.8% |
| 40–44 | 14,657 | 12,912 | 27,569 | 6.9% |
| 45–49 | 13,451 | 12,281 | 25,732 | 6.4% |
| 50–54 | 12,513 | 11,618 | 24,131 | 6.0% |
| 55–59 | 11,088 | 10,672 | 21,760 | 5.4% |
| 60–64 | 10,836 | 11,056 | 21,892 | 5.4% |
| 65–69 | 10,152 | 10,110 | 20,262 | 5.0% |
| 70–74 | 8,363 | 8,492 | 16,855 | 4.2% |
| 75–79 | 6,446 | 6,581 | 13,027 | 3.2% |
| 80–84 | 3,949 | 4,582 | 8,531 | 2.1% |
| 85–89 | 1,902 | 2,456 | 4,358 | 1.1% |
| 90–94 | 777 | 1,153 | 1,930 | 0.5% |
| 95–99 | 185 | 340 | 525 | 0.1% |
| 100+ | 19 | 41 | 60 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Iceland’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Australia97% overlap · median age 38.5
- Chile97% overlap · median age 37.4
- New Zealand96% overlap · median age 38.0
- Uruguay96% overlap · median age 36.7
- Gibraltar96% overlap · median age 38.8
- United States96% overlap · median age 38.7
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Iceland.
Use this chart in your work
Charts and tables may be reused with attribution. Please link to this page and credit the United Nations as the data source.
Embed the population pyramid
Cite this page
APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Iceland Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/iceland/
MLA
“Iceland Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/iceland/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Iceland Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/iceland/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Iceland in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Iceland's population in 2026 is projected at 402,329.
What is the median age in Iceland?
The projected median age in Iceland in 2026 is 36.6 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Iceland?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.49 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Iceland's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 8%, from 402.3K to 433K.
What share of Iceland is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 16.3% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 23.9%.
How many babies are born in Iceland each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 4,346 births and 2,683 deaths in 2026, about 12 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 1,663.
What is life expectancy in Iceland for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 84.7 years for women and 82.0 years for men, a gap of 2.7 years in favour of women.
Does Iceland have more immigrants or emigrants?
Iceland is projected to gain about 2,027 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +56,946.
What is the sex ratio in Iceland?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 105.2 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.