Urban population share — all countries

Urban population share — Iceland

Urban population share in Iceland in 2025 — 94.2%. Ranked 23 in the world out of 217. Since 1960, the indicator has risen by 13.9 pp.

2025 94.2% +0 pp vs 2024
World rank 23of 217
Period maximum 94.2%2025
Period minimum 80.4%1960

Trend over time

1960–2025 · % of population

Urban population share — Iceland, 1960–20258085909519601967197419811988199520022009201620231960: 80.4%1962: 81.5%1964: 82.7%1966: 83.5%1968: 84.4%1970: 85%1972: 85.7%1974: 86.5%1976: 87.2%1978: 87.7%1980: 88.1%1982: 88.6%1984: 89.1%1986: 89.6%1988: 90.1%1990: 90.6%1992: 91.1%1994: 91.4%1996: 91.8%1998: 91.7%2000: 92%2002: 92.2%2004: 92.4%2006: 92.2%2008: 93.1%2010: 93.5%2012: 93.5%2014: 93.6%2016: 93.8%2018: 93.9%2020: 94.1%2022: 94.2%2024: 94.2%2025: 94.2%
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 94.2%
World 57.8%
Northern Europe computed 81.9%
High-income countries computed 80.3%
Urban population share — Iceland, by year Iceland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 94.2 +0 pp
2024 94.2 +0 pp
2023 94.2 −0 pp
2022 94.2 −0 pp
2021 94.2 +0.1 pp
2020 94.1 +0.2 pp
2019 94 +0.1 pp
2018 93.9 +0.1 pp
2017 93.8 −0 pp
2016 93.8 +0.1 pp
2015 93.7 +0.1 pp
2014 93.6 +0 pp
2013 93.6 +0.1 pp
2012 93.5 +0.1 pp
2011 93.4 −0 pp
2010 93.5 +0 pp
2009 93.4 +0.4 pp
2008 93.1 +0.7 pp
2007 92.4 +0.2 pp
2006 92.2 −0.2 pp
2005 92.4 −0.1 pp
2004 92.4 +0.1 pp
2003 92.3 +0.2 pp
2002 92.2 +0.1 pp
2001 92 +0.1 pp
2000 92 +0.2 pp
1999 91.8 +0.1 pp
1998 91.7 −0.3 pp
1997 92 +0.2 pp
1996 91.8 +0.2 pp
1995 91.6 +0.2 pp
1994 91.4 +0.2 pp
1993 91.3 +0.2 pp
1992 91.1 +0.2 pp
1991 90.9 +0.3 pp
1990 90.6 +0.2 pp
1989 90.4 +0.3 pp
1988 90.1 +0.3 pp
1987 89.8 +0.3 pp
1986 89.6 +0.2 pp
1985 89.3 +0.2 pp
1984 89.1 +0.2 pp
1983 88.9 +0.3 pp
1982 88.6 +0.3 pp
1981 88.3 +0.3 pp
1980 88.1 +0.2 pp
1979 87.9 +0.2 pp
1978 87.7 +0.2 pp
1977 87.4 +0.3 pp
1976 87.2 +0.3 pp
1975 86.9 +0.4 pp
1974 86.5 +0.3 pp
1973 86.2 +0.5 pp
1972 85.7 +0.4 pp
1971 85.3 +0.3 pp
1970 85 +0.3 pp
1969 84.8 +0.4 pp
1968 84.4 +0.5 pp
1967 83.9 +0.4 pp
1966 83.5 +0.4 pp
1965 83.2 +0.5 pp
1964 82.7 +0.6 pp
1963 82 +0.5 pp
1962 81.5 +0.6 pp
1961 81 +0.6 pp
1960 80.4

About the indicator

The share of population living in urban settlements, as a percent of the total. One caveat is central: each country sets the criteria for a city itself — in some places it is a settlement of 2,000 residents or more, in others 20,000, in others administrative status. Cross-country comparisons of urbanization are therefore always approximate, while the trend within a single country is informative.

Important: Sharp jumps in individual years are usually explained not by people moving but by changes in the administrative boundaries of cities.

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