Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Iceland
Iceland: Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex was 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
0.403 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 4.3%
World rank
236th
of 236 countries
All-time high
809.22 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1846
All-time low
0.403 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2023
Years of data
186
1838–2023
Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Iceland, 1838–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2023, annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Iceland stood at 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 186 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.3% on the previous year and down 85.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Iceland peaked at 809.22 deaths per 1,000 people in 1846 and was at its lowest, 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2023.
That places Iceland 236th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Iceland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1838 | 368.19 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1839 | 400.98 deaths per 1,000 people | +8.9% |
| 1840 | 362.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -9.6% |
| 1841 | 303.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.2% |
| 1842 | 219.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -27.8% |
| 1843 | 412.19 deaths per 1,000 people | +88.1% |
| 1844 | 252.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -38.6% |
| 1845 | 270.8 deaths per 1,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1846 | 809.22 deaths per 1,000 people | +198.8% |
| 1847 | 455.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -43.7% |
| 1848 | 258.66 deaths per 1,000 people | -43.2% |
| 1849 | 262.06 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1850 | 292.06 deaths per 1,000 people | +11.4% |
| 1851 | 257.67 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.8% |
| 1852 | 245.57 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.7% |
| 1853 | 228.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.0% |
| 1854 | 245.81 deaths per 1,000 people | +7.6% |
| 1855 | 256.12 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1856 | 255.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.2% |
| 1857 | 244.23 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.5% |
| 1858 | 257.86 deaths per 1,000 people | +5.6% |
| 1859 | 342.38 deaths per 1,000 people | +32.8% |
| 1860 | 362.52 deaths per 1,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1861 | 297.04 deaths per 1,000 people | -18.1% |
| 1862 | 391.2 deaths per 1,000 people | +31.7% |
| 1863 | 253.58 deaths per 1,000 people | -35.2% |
| 1864 | 265.33 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.6% |
| 1865 | 239.6 deaths per 1,000 people | -9.7% |
| 1866 | 314.94 deaths per 1,000 people | +31.4% |
| 1867 | 262.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.6% |
| 1868 | 273.63 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.2% |
| 1869 | 350.73 deaths per 1,000 people | +28.2% |
| 1870 | 217.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -38.1% |
| 1871 | 273.45 deaths per 1,000 people | +25.9% |
| 1872 | 449.2 deaths per 1,000 people | +64.3% |
| 1873 | 204.24 deaths per 1,000 people | -54.5% |
| 1874 | 180.55 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.6% |
| 1875 | 186.12 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 1876 | 200.31 deaths per 1,000 people | +7.6% |
| 1877 | 141.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -29.4% |
| 1878 | 181.06 deaths per 1,000 people | +28.0% |
| 1879 | 147.46 deaths per 1,000 people | -18.6% |
| 1880 | 177.81 deaths per 1,000 people | +20.6% |
| 1881 | 279.39 deaths per 1,000 people | +57.1% |
| 1882 | 535.79 deaths per 1,000 people | +91.8% |
| 1883 | 312.46 deaths per 1,000 people | -41.7% |
| 1884 | 145.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -53.6% |
| 1885 | 123.56 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.8% |
| 1886 | 141.71 deaths per 1,000 people | +14.7% |
| 1887 | 165.33 deaths per 1,000 people | +16.7% |
| 1888 | 133.19 deaths per 1,000 people | -19.4% |
| 1889 | 106.32 deaths per 1,000 people | -20.2% |
| 1890 | 242.12 deaths per 1,000 people | +127.7% |
| 1891 | 177.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -26.8% |
| 1892 | 97.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -45.2% |
| 1893 | 82.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -15.2% |
| 1894 | 116.47 deaths per 1,000 people | +41.4% |
| 1895 | 134.65 deaths per 1,000 people | +15.6% |
| 1896 | 97.53 deaths per 1,000 people | -27.6% |
| 1897 | 139.06 deaths per 1,000 people | +42.6% |
| 1898 | 156.49 deaths per 1,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1899 | 83.22 deaths per 1,000 people | -46.8% |
| 1900 | 127.14 deaths per 1,000 people | +52.8% |
| 1901 | 77.46 deaths per 1,000 people | -39.1% |
| 1902 | 119.92 deaths per 1,000 people | +54.8% |
| 1903 | 139.58 deaths per 1,000 people | +16.4% |
| 1904 | 78.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -44.0% |
| 1905 | 99.16 deaths per 1,000 people | +26.9% |
| 1906 | 64.32 deaths per 1,000 people | -35.1% |
| 1907 | 111.86 deaths per 1,000 people | +73.9% |
| 1908 | 164.37 deaths per 1,000 people | +46.9% |
| 1909 | 125.84 deaths per 1,000 people | -23.4% |
| 1910 | 105.6 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.1% |
| 1911 | 77.24 deaths per 1,000 people | -26.9% |
| 1912 | 60.57 deaths per 1,000 people | -21.6% |
| 1913 | 54.08 deaths per 1,000 people | -10.7% |
| 1914 | 76.68 deaths per 1,000 people | +41.8% |
| 1915 | 69.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -9.9% |
| 1916 | 64.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1917 | 47.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -26.9% |
| 1918 | 45.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1919 | 59.94 deaths per 1,000 people | +32.9% |
| 1920 | 90.29 deaths per 1,000 people | +50.6% |
| 1921 | 48.62 deaths per 1,000 people | -46.2% |
| 1922 | 50.16 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.2% |
| 1923 | 42.19 deaths per 1,000 people | -15.9% |
| 1924 | 55.61 deaths per 1,000 people | +31.8% |
| 1925 | 51.53 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.3% |
| 1926 | 50.22 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1927 | 81.16 deaths per 1,000 people | +61.6% |
| 1928 | 40.67 deaths per 1,000 people | -49.9% |
| 1929 | 43.9 deaths per 1,000 people | +7.9% |
| 1930 | 44.88 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1931 | 45.96 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.4% |
| 1932 | 38.23 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.8% |
| 1933 | 38.99 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.0% |
| 1934 | 49.08 deaths per 1,000 people | +25.9% |
| 1935 | 64.45 deaths per 1,000 people | +31.3% |
| 1936 | 41.43 deaths per 1,000 people | -35.7% |
| 1937 | 25.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -38.8% |
| 1938 | 26.32 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.9% |
| 1939 | 29.42 deaths per 1,000 people | +11.8% |
| 1940 | 29.86 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1941 | 25.98 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.0% |
| 1942 | 52.81 deaths per 1,000 people | +103.3% |
| 1943 | 30.63 deaths per 1,000 people | -42.0% |
| 1944 | 39.48 deaths per 1,000 people | +28.9% |
| 1945 | 31.32 deaths per 1,000 people | -20.7% |
| 1946 | 25.28 deaths per 1,000 people | -19.3% |
| 1947 | 21.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1948 | 25.61 deaths per 1,000 people | +21.6% |
| 1949 | 21.84 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.7% |
| 1950 | 24.1 deaths per 1,000 people | +10.3% |
| 1951 | 25.47 deaths per 1,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1952 | 19.36 deaths per 1,000 people | -24.0% |
| 1953 | 18.86 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.6% |
| 1954 | 15.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.2% |
| 1955 | 20.2 deaths per 1,000 people | +27.8% |
| 1956 | 17.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -15.6% |
| 1957 | 12.61 deaths per 1,000 people | -26.0% |
| 1958 | 16.85 deaths per 1,000 people | +33.6% |
| 1959 | 14.93 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.4% |
| 1960 | 9.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -33.4% |
| 1961 | 13.1 deaths per 1,000 people | +31.7% |
| 1962 | 13.87 deaths per 1,000 people | +5.9% |
| 1963 | 18.33 deaths per 1,000 people | +32.2% |
| 1964 | 14.99 deaths per 1,000 people | -18.2% |
| 1965 | 15.32 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 9.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -38.6% |
| 1967 | 12.68 deaths per 1,000 people | +34.9% |
| 1968 | 8.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -36.0% |
| 1969 | 8.36 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 9.1 deaths per 1,000 people | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 12.46 deaths per 1,000 people | +36.9% |
| 1972 | 10.38 deaths per 1,000 people | -16.7% |
| 1973 | 8.09 deaths per 1,000 people | -22.1% |
| 1974 | 8.7 deaths per 1,000 people | +7.6% |
| 1975 | 9.79 deaths per 1,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1976 | 9.26 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 1977 | 9.21 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1978 | 10.9 deaths per 1,000 people | +18.3% |
| 1979 | 6.17 deaths per 1,000 people | -43.4% |
| 1980 | 4.07 deaths per 1,000 people | -34.0% |
| 1981 | 4.74 deaths per 1,000 people | +16.5% |
| 1982 | 6.17 deaths per 1,000 people | +30.2% |
| 1983 | 6.14 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 1984 | 5.26 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1985 | 5.6 deaths per 1,000 people | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 3.12 deaths per 1,000 people | -44.3% |
| 1987 | 8.92 deaths per 1,000 people | +185.9% |
| 1988 | 5.71 deaths per 1,000 people | -36.0% |
| 1989 | 5.37 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 4.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -12.1% |
| 1991 | 5.27 deaths per 1,000 people | +11.7% |
| 1992 | 4.54 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.9% |
| 1993 | 3.04 deaths per 1,000 people | -33.0% |
| 1994 | 2.25 deaths per 1,000 people | -26.0% |
| 1995 | 5.04 deaths per 1,000 people | +124.0% |
| 1996 | 3.37 deaths per 1,000 people | -33.1% |
| 1997 | 2.89 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.2% |
| 1998 | 3.43 deaths per 1,000 people | +18.7% |
| 1999 | 1.91 deaths per 1,000 people | -44.3% |
| 2000 | 1.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -26.2% |
| 2001 | 2.88 deaths per 1,000 people | +104.3% |
| 2002 | 0.99 deaths per 1,000 people | -65.6% |
| 2003 | 1.99 deaths per 1,000 people | +101.0% |
| 2004 | 2.89 deaths per 1,000 people | +45.2% |
| 2005 | 1.94 deaths per 1,000 people | -32.9% |
| 2006 | 1.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -27.8% |
| 2007 | 0.92 deaths per 1,000 people | -34.3% |
| 2008 | 2.17 deaths per 1,000 people | +135.9% |
| 2009 | 1.66 deaths per 1,000 people | -23.5% |
| 2010 | 2.48 deaths per 1,000 people | +49.4% |
| 2011 | 0.44 deaths per 1,000 people | -82.3% |
| 2012 | 1.39 deaths per 1,000 people | +215.9% |
| 2013 | 2.7 deaths per 1,000 people | +94.2% |
| 2014 | 2.78 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 2.4 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.7% |
| 2016 | 0.5 deaths per 1,000 people | -79.2% |
| 2017 | 3.04 deaths per 1,000 people | +508.0% |
| 2018 | 1.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -66.4% |
| 2019 | 0.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -52.9% |
| 2020 | 1.38 deaths per 1,000 people | +187.5% |
| 2021 | 4.03 deaths per 1,000 people | +192.0% |
| 2022 | 0.421 deaths per 1,000 people | -89.6% |
| 2023 | 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.02 deaths per 1,000 people, 10% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.15 deaths per 1,000 people, 13% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +508.0% | 0.5 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.04 deaths per 1,000 people |
| 2012 | +215.9% | 0.44 deaths per 1,000 people | 1.39 deaths per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 384.59 deaths per 1,000 people | 368.19 deaths per 1,000 people | 400.98 deaths per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1840s | 360.63 deaths per 1,000 people | 219.18 deaths per 1,000 people | 809.22 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1850s | 262.59 deaths per 1,000 people | 228.48 deaths per 1,000 people | 342.38 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1860s | 301.13 deaths per 1,000 people | 239.6 deaths per 1,000 people | 391.2 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1870s | 218.1 deaths per 1,000 people | 141.4 deaths per 1,000 people | 449.2 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1880s | 212.06 deaths per 1,000 people | 106.32 deaths per 1,000 people | 535.79 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1890s | 132.62 deaths per 1,000 people | 82.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 242.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1900s | 110.78 deaths per 1,000 people | 64.32 deaths per 1,000 people | 164.37 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1910s | 65.97 deaths per 1,000 people | 45.11 deaths per 1,000 people | 105.6 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 55.44 deaths per 1,000 people | 40.67 deaths per 1,000 people | 90.29 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 40.41 deaths per 1,000 people | 25.34 deaths per 1,000 people | 64.45 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 30.39 deaths per 1,000 people | 21.06 deaths per 1,000 people | 52.81 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 18.52 deaths per 1,000 people | 12.61 deaths per 1,000 people | 25.47 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 12.41 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.33 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.41 deaths per 1,000 people | 6.17 deaths per 1,000 people | 12.46 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.51 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.12 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.92 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.65 deaths per 1,000 people | 1.91 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.27 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.82 deaths per 1,000 people | 0.92 deaths per 1,000 people | 2.89 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.72 deaths per 1,000 people | 0.44 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.04 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.56 deaths per 1,000 people | 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people | 4.03 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 233 San Marino 0.9594 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 234 Cayman Islands 0.9263 deaths per 1,000 people compare
- 235 Estonia 0.7971 deaths per 1,000 people compare
More health data for Iceland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2085)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4982 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.1533 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0283 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1097 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0302 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Iceland?
- Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex in Iceland was 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 809.22 deaths per 1,000 people in 1846.
- What is the lowest annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.403 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023.
- How does Iceland rank for annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex?
- Iceland ranks 236th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 85.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual death rates in people of different ages, by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Death rate, calculated as the number of deaths divided by the average number of people alive during the interval.