Iceland

Europe & Central Asia·High incomeOECD

Population: 393K; 176th of 217
GDP: $33.5B; 109th of 214 · 2024
GDP per capita: $82,704; 12th of 214 · 2024
Life expectancy: 82.6; 27th of 217
Human development: 0.959; 3rd of 189 · 2021

Benchmarked against

Iceland

Norway

Isle of Man

Channel Islands

Denmark

Default peers are drawn from region, income, and bloc membership — swap in any country you like. The gray tick on each strip is the world median.

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

Area: 103,000 km²
Languages: Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German
Resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Religion

who identifies with what, 2020

world view →

Christian74.9%▼ 6.4pt
Unaffiliated19.8%▲ 4.0pt
Other2.4%▲ 0.9pt
Buddhist1.3%▲ 0.9pt
Muslim1.2%

Religious diversity: 4.65 / 10 · moderate · 65th of 193

Change markers show percentage-point shifts from 2010 to 2020 · Pew Research Center, Religious Composition 2010–2020.

Score card

quartile grades among all countries with data

A · Top quartileB · Above medianC · Below medianD · Bottom quartile

Topic

ISL

NOR

IMN

CHI

GDP

current US$

$33.5B–––

GDP per capita

current US$

–––

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

–––

GDP growth

annual %

–––

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

–––

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

–––

FDI inflows

current US$

$524M–––

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

50%–––

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

4%–––

Industry value added

% of GDP

19.4%–––

Unemployment

% of labor force

–––

Gini index

0–100

–––

Extreme poverty

% below $2.15/day

–––

GDP per capita, long run

2011 int'l $

–––

Human capital index

PWT, schooling × returns

–––

Annual hours worked

hours per worker

1,452–––

Labor share of GDP

share, 0–1

0.617–––

Total factor productivity

level, US = 1

–––

Population

people

393K–––

Population density

people per km²

3.8–––

Urban population

% of total

94%–––

Life expectancy

years at birth

–––

Fertility rate

births per woman

1.6–––

Net migration

people

3,543–––

Population under 15

% of total

17.8%–––

Population 65+

% of total

15.6%–––

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

–––

Health expenditure

% of GDP

9%–––

Physicians

per 1,000 people

–––

Education expenditure

% of GDP

7.1%–––

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

–––

Safe drinking water

% of population

–––

Internet users

% of population

–––

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

–––

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

–––

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

–––

Access to electricity

% of population

–––

Energy use per capita

kWh

160K–––

Electricity per capita

kWh

49.7K–––

Electricity generation

TWh

19.6–––

Renewable electricity

% of generation

–––

Fossil electricity

% of generation

–––

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

–––

CO₂ per capita

t per person

–––

Share of global CO₂

0%–––

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

–––

Top 1% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Top 10% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Bottom 50% income share

% of pre-tax income

–––

Top 1% wealth share

% of net wealth

–––

Gini, pre-tax income

0–1

–––

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Civil liberties

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Political corruption

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Academic freedom

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

–––

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

–––

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

–––

Importance of God

mean, 1–10

4.97–––

Acceptance of homosexuality

justifiable, 1–10

9.03–––

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

7.17–––

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

8.09–––

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

–––

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

1.4%–––

Men make better leaders

agree, 1–4

1.52–––

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

1.8%–––

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

5.4%–––

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

82%–––

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

10%–––

Environment over economy

% choosing environment

75.6%–––

Luck matters more than work

1–10

3.9–––

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

4.65–––

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

19.8%–––

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

–––

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

2.14–––

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

2.19–––

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

2.66–––

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

1.56–––

Importance of democracy

mean, 1–10

9.48–––

National pride

mean, 1–4

3.59–––

Would fight for country

% yes

57.3%–––

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

2.66–––

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

–––

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

–––

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

–––

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

–––

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

–––

Global Peace Index

1–5

–––

Economy & Trade

Output, growth, prices, and openness

theme overview →

GDP

current US$

#109/214

$33.5B2024

GDP per capita

current US$

#12/214

$82,7042024

GDP per capita, PPP

international $

#15/203

$76,667latest

GDP growth

annual %

#185/214

0.5%2024

GNI per capita

Atlas method, US$

#7/207

$78,4802024

Inflation

GDP deflator, annual %

#152/213

5.9%2024

FDI inflows

current US$

#117/201

$524M2024

Merchandise trade

% of GDP

#120/205

50%2024

Agriculture value added

% of GDP

#121/206

4%2024

Industry value added

% of GDP

#138/208

19.4%2024

Unemployment

% of labor force

#54/187

3.5%latest

Gini index

0–100

#13/168

26.6latest

Extreme poverty

% below $2.15/day

#37/168

0.3%latest

GDP per capita, long run

2011 int'l $

#20/165

$42,1462022

Human capital index

PWT, schooling × returns

#38/144

3.282023

Annual hours worked

hours per worker

#122/129

1,4522023

Labor share of GDP

share, 0–1

#20/139

0.6172023

Total factor productivity

level, US = 1

#14/119

0.9082023

People & Society

Population structure, urbanization, and migration

theme overview →

Population

people

#176/217

393Klatest

Population density

people per km²

#212/216

3.8latest

Urban population

% of total

#19/215

94%latest

Life expectancy

years at birth

#27/217

82.6latest

Fertility rate

births per woman

#138/217

1.6latest

Net migration

people

#57/217

3,5432024

Population under 15

% of total

#148/217

17.8%2024

Population 65+

% of total

#62/217

15.6%2024

Health & Education

Longevity, mortality, learning, and public spending

theme overview →

Infant mortality

per 1,000 live births

#8/196

1.9latest

Under-5 mortality

per 1,000 live births

#13/196

2.6latest

Health expenditure

% of GDP

#43/192

9%latest

Physicians

per 1,000 people

#12/195

4.5latest

Education expenditure

% of GDP

#15/199

7.1%latest

Tertiary enrollment

% gross

#19/194

85%latest

Safe drinking water

% of population

#4/139

100%latest

Connectivity

Internet, mobile, and digital infrastructure

theme overview →

Internet users

% of population

#4/210

99.8%latest

Mobile subscriptions

per 100 people

#79/214

123.42023

Fixed broadband

per 100 people

#31/208

37.42023

Secure internet servers

per 1M people

#16/215

84.1K2024

Access to electricity

% of population

#50/215

100%latest

Energy & Climate

Energy use, electricity mix, and emissions

theme overview →

Energy use per capita

kWh

#4/198

160K2024

Electricity per capita

kWh

#1/202

49.7K2024

Electricity generation

TWh

#82/202

19.62024

Renewable electricity

% of generation

#9/202

100%2024

Fossil electricity

% of generation

#5/202

0%2023

CO₂ emissions

Mt per year

#62/204

3.82024

CO₂ per capita

t per person

#181/204

9.72024

Share of global CO₂

#142/204

0%2024

GHG per capita

t CO₂e per person

#172/193

12.92023

Inequality

Who gets what — top and bottom shares of income and wealth, from tax data and national accounts

theme overview →

Top 1% income share

% of pre-tax income

#4/210

0.1%2024

Top 10% income share

% of pre-tax income

#2/210

0.3%2024

Bottom 50% income share

% of pre-tax income

#1/210

0.3%2024

Top 1% wealth share

% of net wealth

#5/210

0.2%2024

Gini, pre-tax income

0–1

#1/210

0.3742024

Governance & Democracy

Democratic institutions, corruption, and rule of law

theme overview →

Electoral democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#26/175

0.8072025

Liberal democracy

V-Dem, 0–1

#25/175

0.722025

Civil liberties

V-Dem, 0–1

#7/175

0.952025

Political corruption

V-Dem, 0–1

#6/175

0.0142025

Academic freedom

V-Dem, 0–1

#63/175

0.7562025

Corruption perceptions

CPI, 0–100

#15/178

742022

Control of corruption

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#18/193

1.572022

Government effectiveness

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#13/193

1.562022

Rule of law

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#11/193

1.72022

Political stability

WGI, −2.5 to 2.5

#6/193

1.262022

Women's political empowerment

V-Dem, 0–1

#34/175

0.8832025

Values & Beliefs

What people hold sacred, permit, and pass on — from 40 years of World Values Survey interviews

theme overview →

Importance of God

mean, 1–10

#94/113

4.972017

Acceptance of homosexuality

justifiable, 1–10

#2/112

9.032017

Acceptance of abortion

justifiable, 1–10

#5/114

7.172017

Acceptance of divorce

justifiable, 1–10

#5/114

8.092017

Bribery seen as justifiable

1–10

#2/114

1.212017

Tax cheating seen as justifiable

1–10

#36/111

1.822017

Men should get jobs first

% agreeing

#113/113

1.4%2017

Men make better leaders

agree, 1–4

#107/109

1.522017

Wouldn't want neighbors of another race

% mentioning

#107/112

1.8%2017

Wouldn't want immigrant neighbors

% mentioning

#100/112

5.4%2017

Children should learn independence

% mentioning

#2/114

82%2017

Children should learn obedience

% mentioning

#108/114

10%2017

Environment over economy

% choosing environment

#7/110

75.6%2017

Luck matters more than work

1–10

#83/109

3.91990

Religious diversity

Pew RDI, 0–10

#65/193

4.652020

Religiously unaffiliated

% of population

#39/193

19.8%2020

Trust & Institutions

Who people trust, and how much faith they place in government, press, and courts

theme overview →

Most people can be trusted

% agreeing

#6/114

63.3%2017

Confidence in government

mean, 1–4

#70/112

2.142017

Confidence in the press

mean, 1–4

#62/113

2.192017

Confidence in courts

mean, 1–4

#40/110

2.662017

Support for a strong leader

good system, 1–4

#106/111

1.562017

Importance of democracy

mean, 1–10

#4/104

9.482017

National pride

mean, 1–4

#49/114

3.592017

Would fight for country

% yes

#87/113

57.3%2017

Interest in politics

mean, 1–4

#18/114

2.662017

Development & Wellbeing

Composite measures of how life is going

theme overview →

Human Development Index

UNDP, 0–1

#3/189

0.9592021

Gender inequality

GII, 0–1

#8/170

0.0432021

Happiness

Cantril ladder, 0–10

#2/164

7.542025

Freedom & control over life

mean, 1–10

#16/113

7.742017

Life satisfaction

mean, 1–10

#6/114

8.062017

Global Peace Index

1–5

#1/158

1.122023

Explore any measure in depth on its own page — try GDP per capita or electoral democracy.