Rural population share — all countries

Rural population share — Iceland

Rural population share in Iceland in 2025 — 5.8%. Ranked 195 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has fallen by 13.9 pp.

2025 5.8% −0 pp vs 2024
World rank 195of 217
Period maximum 19.6%1960
Period minimum 5.8%2025

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Rural population share — Iceland, 1960–20250510152019601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 19.6%1962: 18.5%1964: 17.3%1966: 16.5%1968: 15.6%1970: 15%1972: 14.3%1974: 13.5%1976: 12.8%1978: 12.3%1980: 11.9%1982: 11.4%1984: 10.9%1986: 10.4%1988: 9.9%1990: 9.4%1992: 8.9%1994: 8.6%1996: 8.2%1998: 8.3%2000: 8%2002: 7.8%2004: 7.6%2006: 7.8%2008: 6.9%2010: 6.5%2012: 6.5%2014: 6.4%2016: 6.2%2018: 6.1%2020: 5.9%2022: 5.8%2024: 5.8%2025: 5.8%
Change over the period: −13.9 pp Annual average: -0.21 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Iceland

Iceland 5.8%
World 42.2%
Northern Europe computed 18.1%
High-income countries computed 19.7%
Rural population share — Iceland, by year Iceland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 5.8 −0 pp
2024 5.8 −0 pp
2023 5.8 +0 pp
2022 5.8 +0 pp
2021 5.8 −0.1 pp
2020 5.9 −0.2 pp
2019 6 −0.1 pp
2018 6.1 −0.1 pp
2017 6.2 +0 pp
2016 6.2 −0.1 pp
2015 6.3 −0.1 pp
2014 6.4 −0 pp
2013 6.4 −0.1 pp
2012 6.5 −0.1 pp
2011 6.6 +0 pp
2010 6.5 −0 pp
2009 6.6 −0.4 pp
2008 6.9 −0.7 pp
2007 7.6 −0.2 pp
2006 7.8 +0.2 pp
2005 7.6 +0.1 pp
2004 7.6 −0.1 pp
2003 7.7 −0.2 pp
2002 7.8 −0.1 pp
2001 8 −0.1 pp
2000 8 −0.2 pp
1999 8.2 −0.1 pp
1998 8.3 +0.3 pp
1997 8 −0.2 pp
1996 8.2 −0.2 pp
1995 8.4 −0.2 pp
1994 8.6 −0.2 pp
1993 8.7 −0.2 pp
1992 8.9 −0.2 pp
1991 9.1 −0.3 pp
1990 9.4 −0.2 pp
1989 9.6 −0.3 pp
1988 9.9 −0.3 pp
1987 10.2 −0.3 pp
1986 10.4 −0.2 pp
1985 10.7 −0.2 pp
1984 10.9 −0.2 pp
1983 11.1 −0.3 pp
1982 11.4 −0.3 pp
1981 11.7 −0.3 pp
1980 11.9 −0.2 pp
1979 12.1 −0.2 pp
1978 12.3 −0.2 pp
1977 12.6 −0.3 pp
1976 12.8 −0.3 pp
1975 13.1 −0.4 pp
1974 13.5 −0.3 pp
1973 13.8 −0.5 pp
1972 14.3 −0.4 pp
1971 14.7 −0.3 pp
1970 15 −0.3 pp
1969 15.2 −0.4 pp
1968 15.6 −0.5 pp
1967 16.1 −0.4 pp
1966 16.5 −0.4 pp
1965 16.8 −0.5 pp
1964 17.3 −0.6 pp
1963 18 −0.5 pp
1962 18.5 −0.6 pp
1961 19 −0.6 pp
1960 19.6

About the indicator

The share of population living outside urban settlements, as a percent of the total. It is computed as the difference between total and urban population, and therefore inherits every particularity of national definitions of urban areas.

Source: World Population Prospects (UN), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.