Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Iceland
Iceland: Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth was 3.52 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
3.52
Change on year
down 25.8%
World rank
204th
of 236 countries
All-time high
10.72
in 1906
All-time low
-2.6
in 1891
Years of data
186
1838–2023
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Iceland, 1838–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Iceland is 3.52, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 25.8% on the previous year and up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Iceland peaked at 10.72 in 1906 and was at its lowest, -2.6, in 1891.
Iceland ranks 204th of 236 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 186 years of available data.
Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1838 | 3.68 | — |
| 1839 | 2.98 | -19.0% |
| 1840 | 1.42 | -52.3% |
| 1841 | 3.34 | +135.2% |
| 1842 | 9.5 | +184.4% |
| 1843 | 5.42 | -42.9% |
| 1844 | 4.2 | -22.5% |
| 1845 | 4.61 | +9.8% |
| 1846 | 0.97 | -79.0% |
| 1847 | 5.99 | +517.5% |
| 1848 | 6.06 | +1.2% |
| 1849 | 5.66 | -6.6% |
| 1850 | 3.09 | -45.4% |
| 1851 | 5.25 | +69.9% |
| 1852 | 3.28 | -37.5% |
| 1853 | 7.21 | +119.8% |
| 1854 | 7.82 | +8.5% |
| 1855 | 5.82 | -25.6% |
| 1856 | 8.18 | +40.5% |
| 1857 | 6.82 | -16.6% |
| 1858 | 3.64 | -46.6% |
| 1859 | 4 | +9.9% |
| 1860 | 3.25 | -18.8% |
| 1861 | 4.27 | +31.4% |
| 1862 | 2.88 | -32.6% |
| 1863 | 7.39 | +156.6% |
| 1864 | 7.52 | +1.8% |
| 1865 | 5.89 | -21.7% |
| 1866 | 3.25 | -44.8% |
| 1867 | 9.93 | +205.5% |
| 1868 | 7.76 | -21.9% |
| 1869 | 4.05 | -47.8% |
| 1870 | 8.12 | +100.5% |
| 1871 | 5.98 | -26.4% |
| 1872 | 1.55 | -74.1% |
| 1873 | 3.83 | +147.1% |
| 1874 | 4.59 | +19.8% |
| 1875 | 7.13 | +55.3% |
| 1876 | 5.77 | -19.1% |
| 1877 | 7.41 | +28.4% |
| 1878 | 6.32 | -14.7% |
| 1879 | 9.71 | +53.6% |
| 1880 | 4.84 | -50.2% |
| 1881 | 3.04 | -37.2% |
| 1882 | 2.07 | -31.9% |
| 1883 | 4.37 | +111.1% |
| 1884 | 6.46 | +47.8% |
| 1885 | 6.46 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 4.44 | -31.3% |
| 1887 | 7.56 | +70.3% |
| 1888 | 8.27 | +9.4% |
| 1889 | 3.91 | -52.7% |
| 1890 | 4.6 | +17.6% |
| 1891 | -2.6 | -156.5% |
| 1892 | 5.68 | -318.5% |
| 1893 | 8.9 | +56.7% |
| 1894 | 8.5 | -4.5% |
| 1895 | 4.19 | -50.7% |
| 1896 | 5.56 | +32.7% |
| 1897 | 4.73 | -14.9% |
| 1898 | 6.97 | +47.4% |
| 1899 | 7.29 | +4.6% |
| 1900 | 5.88 | -19.3% |
| 1901 | 6.87 | +16.8% |
| 1902 | 2.9 | -57.8% |
| 1903 | 2.39 | -17.6% |
| 1904 | 4.7 | +96.7% |
| 1905 | 6.72 | +43.0% |
| 1906 | 10.72 | +59.5% |
| 1907 | 5.24 | -51.1% |
| 1908 | 6.14 | +17.2% |
| 1909 | 1.36 | -77.9% |
| 1910 | 4.02 | +195.6% |
| 1911 | 5.35 | +33.1% |
| 1912 | 6.72 | +25.6% |
| 1913 | 4.68 | -30.4% |
| 1914 | 7.13 | +52.4% |
| 1915 | 5.79 | -18.8% |
| 1916 | 7.99 | +38.0% |
| 1917 | 5.1 | -36.2% |
| 1918 | 3.32 | -34.9% |
| 1919 | 4.04 | +21.7% |
| 1920 | 3.76 | -6.9% |
| 1921 | 7.54 | +100.5% |
| 1922 | 7.78 | +3.2% |
| 1923 | 6.05 | -22.2% |
| 1924 | 7.17 | +18.5% |
| 1925 | 3.02 | -57.9% |
| 1926 | 4.41 | +46.0% |
| 1927 | 4.15 | -5.9% |
| 1928 | 1.12 | -73.0% |
| 1929 | 1.32 | +17.9% |
| 1930 | 4.66 | +253.0% |
| 1931 | 2.54 | -45.5% |
| 1932 | 4.14 | +63.0% |
| 1933 | 5.61 | +35.5% |
| 1934 | 2.78 | -50.4% |
| 1935 | 4.26 | +53.2% |
| 1936 | 7.24 | +70.0% |
| 1937 | 3.71 | -48.8% |
| 1938 | 6.26 | +68.7% |
| 1939 | 4.1 | -34.5% |
| 1940 | 5.89 | +43.7% |
| 1941 | 7.53 | +27.8% |
| 1942 | 3.71 | -50.7% |
| 1943 | 2.89 | -22.1% |
| 1944 | 4.5 | +55.7% |
| 1945 | 3.42 | -24.0% |
| 1946 | 6.31 | +84.5% |
| 1947 | 3.98 | -36.9% |
| 1948 | 0.95 | -76.1% |
| 1949 | 3.6 | +278.9% |
| 1950 | 4.94 | +37.2% |
| 1951 | 3.64 | -26.3% |
| 1952 | 4.79 | +31.5% |
| 1953 | 4.09 | -14.7% |
| 1954 | 4.5 | +10.2% |
| 1955 | 5.15 | +14.3% |
| 1956 | 2.78 | -46.1% |
| 1957 | 3.4 | +22.5% |
| 1958 | 5.07 | +48.9% |
| 1959 | 5.84 | +15.2% |
| 1960 | 3.31 | -43.2% |
| 1961 | 5.41 | +63.3% |
| 1962 | 4.74 | -12.5% |
| 1963 | 5.81 | +22.6% |
| 1964 | 5.41 | -6.9% |
| 1965 | 5.04 | -6.8% |
| 1966 | 6.08 | +20.7% |
| 1967 | 5.39 | -11.4% |
| 1968 | 4.86 | -9.7% |
| 1969 | 5.21 | +7.1% |
| 1970 | 6.56 | +26.0% |
| 1971 | 5.7 | -13.2% |
| 1972 | 4.78 | -16.1% |
| 1973 | 5.93 | +23.9% |
| 1974 | 6.83 | +15.2% |
| 1975 | 6.49 | -4.9% |
| 1976 | 6.1 | -6.0% |
| 1977 | 6.09 | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 5.64 | -7.4% |
| 1979 | 5.3 | -5.9% |
| 1980 | 6.67 | +25.8% |
| 1981 | 6.14 | -8.0% |
| 1982 | 4.89 | -20.3% |
| 1983 | 7.07 | +44.5% |
| 1984 | 5.42 | -23.3% |
| 1985 | 5.33 | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 5.37 | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 4.67 | -13.1% |
| 1988 | 5.32 | +14.1% |
| 1989 | 3.98 | -25.2% |
| 1990 | 5.2 | +30.6% |
| 1991 | 6.21 | +19.4% |
| 1992 | 3.97 | -36.1% |
| 1993 | 3.75 | -5.4% |
| 1994 | 4.12 | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 3.97 | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 4.61 | +16.0% |
| 1997 | 5.28 | +14.6% |
| 1998 | 3.79 | -28.2% |
| 1999 | 3.92 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 3.61 | -7.9% |
| 2001 | 4.63 | +28.1% |
| 2002 | 3.9 | -15.7% |
| 2003 | 3.08 | -21.0% |
| 2004 | 4.01 | +30.0% |
| 2005 | 3.77 | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 3.42 | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 3.51 | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 3.24 | -7.7% |
| 2009 | 3.99 | +23.2% |
| 2010 | 4.13 | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 3.49 | -15.5% |
| 2012 | 2.63 | -24.6% |
| 2013 | 3.02 | +14.7% |
| 2014 | 3.05 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 2.55 | -16.6% |
| 2016 | 3.52 | +38.1% |
| 2017 | 3.21 | -8.7% |
| 2018 | 3.17 | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 3.15 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 3 | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 2.83 | -5.6% |
| 2022 | 4.75 | +68.1% |
| 2023 | 3.52 | -25.8% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 3.52 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.98, 71% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 3.52 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.4, 65% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1847 | +517.5% | 0.97 | 5.99 |
| 1892 | +318.5% | -2.6 | 5.68 |
| 1949 | +278.9% | 0.95 | 3.6 |
| 1930 | +253.0% | 1.32 | 4.66 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1830s | 3.33 | 2.98 | 3.68 | 2 |
| 1840s | 4.72 | 0.97 | 9.5 | 10 |
| 1850s | 5.51 | 3.09 | 8.18 | 10 |
| 1860s | 5.62 | 2.88 | 9.93 | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.04 | 1.55 | 9.71 | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.14 | 2.07 | 8.27 | 10 |
| 1890s | 5.38 | -2.6 | 8.9 | 10 |
| 1900s | 5.29 | 1.36 | 10.72 | 10 |
| 1910s | 5.41 | 3.32 | 7.99 | 10 |
| 1920s | 4.63 | 1.12 | 7.78 | 10 |
| 1930s | 4.53 | 2.54 | 7.24 | 10 |
| 1940s | 4.28 | 0.95 | 7.53 | 10 |
| 1950s | 4.42 | 2.78 | 5.84 | 10 |
| 1960s | 5.13 | 3.31 | 6.08 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5.94 | 4.78 | 6.83 | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.49 | 3.98 | 7.07 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.48 | 3.75 | 6.21 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.72 | 3.08 | 4.63 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.19 | 2.55 | 4.13 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.52 | 2.83 | 4.75 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 201 Equatorial Guinea 3.62 compare
- 202 Northern Mariana Islands 3.61 compare
- 203 Kiribati 3.59 compare
- 205 Liechtenstein 3.48 compare
- 206 Madagascar 3.44 compare
- 207 Sierra Leone 3.44 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)
- 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 difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Iceland?
- Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth in Iceland was 3.52 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 10.72 in 1906.
- What is the lowest difference in female and male life expectancy at birth recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.6 in 1891.
- How does Iceland rank for difference in female and male life expectancy at birth?
- Iceland ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in female and male life expectancy at birth rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. 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 Difference in female and male life expectancy at birth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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