Birth rates and death rates in Iceland
Iceland: Birth rates and death rates was 6.74 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
6.74
Change on year
down 9.3%
World rank
144th
of 236 countries
All-time high
7.89
in 1951
All-time low
6.09
in 2001
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Birth rates and death rates in Iceland, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for birth rates and death rates in Iceland is 6.74, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 9.3% on the previous year and up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, birth rates and death rates in Iceland peaked at 7.89 in 1951 and was at its lowest, 6.09, in 2001.
Iceland ranks 144th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 74 years of available data.
Birth rates and death rates in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.86 | — |
| 1951 | 7.89 | +0.3% |
| 1952 | 7.36 | -6.7% |
| 1953 | 7.44 | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 6.89 | -7.4% |
| 1955 | 6.99 | +1.4% |
| 1956 | 7.2 | +3.1% |
| 1957 | 7.08 | -1.8% |
| 1958 | 6.96 | -1.6% |
| 1959 | 7.26 | +4.3% |
| 1960 | 6.68 | -7.9% |
| 1961 | 6.97 | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 6.8 | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 7.12 | +4.7% |
| 1964 | 6.94 | -2.5% |
| 1965 | 6.73 | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 7.17 | +6.6% |
| 1967 | 7.01 | -2.2% |
| 1968 | 6.94 | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 7.19 | +3.6% |
| 1970 | 7.17 | -0.2% |
| 1971 | 7.33 | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 6.98 | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 6.99 | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 7.05 | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 6.53 | -7.4% |
| 1976 | 6.14 | -5.9% |
| 1977 | 6.5 | +5.8% |
| 1978 | 6.39 | -1.6% |
| 1979 | 6.6 | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 6.76 | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 7.24 | +7.0% |
| 1982 | 6.82 | -5.7% |
| 1983 | 7.04 | +3.2% |
| 1984 | 6.66 | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 6.88 | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 6.58 | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 7.07 | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 7.33 | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 6.83 | -6.8% |
| 1990 | 6.75 | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 6.99 | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 6.64 | -5.1% |
| 1993 | 6.68 | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 6.51 | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 7.34 | +12.8% |
| 1996 | 7.04 | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 6.86 | -2.6% |
| 1998 | 6.71 | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 6.91 | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 6.53 | -5.5% |
| 2001 | 6.09 | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 6.38 | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 6.37 | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 6.3 | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 6.24 | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 6.29 | +0.8% |
| 2007 | 6.27 | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 6.32 | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 6.34 | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 6.4 | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 6.28 | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 6.18 | -1.6% |
| 2013 | 6.69 | +8.2% |
| 2014 | 6.31 | -5.7% |
| 2015 | 6.63 | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 6.94 | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 6.53 | -5.9% |
| 2018 | 6.42 | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 6.32 | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 6.31 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 6.29 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 7.43 | +18.1% |
| 2023 | 6.74 | -9.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 6.74 is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.37, 81% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 6.74 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.02, 67% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.29 | 6.89 | 7.89 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.95 | 6.68 | 7.19 | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.77 | 6.14 | 7.33 | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.92 | 6.58 | 7.33 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.84 | 6.51 | 7.34 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.31 | 6.09 | 6.53 | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.47 | 6.18 | 6.94 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.69 | 6.29 | 7.43 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 0 (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 birth rates and death rates in Iceland?
- Birth rates and death rates in Iceland was 6.74 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest birth rates and death rates recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 7.89 in 1951.
- What is the lowest birth rates and death rates recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.09 in 2001.
- How does Iceland rank for birth rates and death rates?
- Iceland ranks 144th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is birth rates and death rates rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Birth rates and death rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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