Hospital beds per 1,000 people in Iceland
Iceland: Hospital beds per 1,000 people was 2.83 per 1,000 people in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in Iceland, 1960–2020
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in per 1,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for hospital beds per 1,000 people in Iceland is 2.83 per 1,000 people, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Iceland peaked at 16.7 per 1,000 people in 1990 and was at its lowest, 2.8 per 1,000 people, in 2019.
That places Iceland 67th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Hospital beds per 1,000 people in Iceland, year by year
| Year | per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.8 per 1,000 people | — |
| 1970 | 12.9 per 1,000 people | +31.6% |
| 1980 | 14.8 per 1,000 people | +14.7% |
| 1985 | 15.8 per 1,000 people | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 16.7 per 1,000 people | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 16.3 per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 15.9 per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 14.8 per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1994 | 14.7 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 14.6 per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 4.12 per 1,000 people | -71.8% |
| 2008 | 3.91 per 1,000 people | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 3.7 per 1,000 people | -5.4% |
| 2010 | 3.58 per 1,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 3.29 per 1,000 people | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 3.24 per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 3.22 per 1,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 3.16 per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 3.12 per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 3.13 per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 3.06 per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 2.87 per 1,000 people | -6.2% |
| 2019 | 2.8 per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 2.83 per 1,000 people | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.8 per 1,000 people | 9.8 per 1,000 people | 9.8 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 12.9 per 1,000 people | 12.9 per 1,000 people | 12.9 per 1,000 people | 1 |
| 1980s | 15.3 per 1,000 people | 14.8 per 1,000 people | 15.8 per 1,000 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 15.5 per 1,000 people | 14.6 per 1,000 people | 16.7 per 1,000 people | 6 |
| 2000s | 3.91 per 1,000 people | 3.7 per 1,000 people | 4.12 per 1,000 people | 3 |
| 2010s | 3.15 per 1,000 people | 2.8 per 1,000 people | 3.58 per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.83 per 1,000 people | 2.83 per 1,000 people | 2.83 per 1,000 people | 1 |
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)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,358 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 0 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.085 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.2125 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0901 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Iceland?
- Hospital beds per 1,000 people in Iceland was 2.83 per 1,000 people in 2020, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 16.7 per 1,000 people in 1990.
- What is the lowest hospital beds per 1,000 people recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8 per 1,000 people in 2019.
- How does Iceland rank for hospital beds per 1,000 people?
- Iceland ranks 67th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is hospital beds per 1,000 people rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (WHO) data, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Hospital beds per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases beds for both acute and chronic care are included.