Number of births in thousands (UN DESA) in Iceland
Iceland: Number of births in thousands (UN DESA) was 4.37 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
4.37
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
69th
of 75 countries
All-time high
5.07
in 2009
All-time low
3.89
in 1985
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of births in thousands in Iceland, 1950–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of births in thousands in Iceland is 4.37, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of births in thousands in Iceland peaked at 5.07 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 3.89, in 1985.
That places Iceland 69th out of 75 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Number of births in thousands (UN DESA) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4.1 | — |
| 1951 | 4.03 | -1.7% |
| 1952 | 4.11 | +1.9% |
| 1953 | 4.26 | +3.7% |
| 1954 | 4.29 | +0.7% |
| 1955 | 4.48 | +4.2% |
| 1956 | 4.58 | +2.3% |
| 1957 | 4.66 | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 4.61 | -1.0% |
| 1959 | 4.78 | +3.7% |
| 1960 | 4.87 | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 4.53 | -6.9% |
| 1962 | 4.71 | +3.8% |
| 1963 | 4.81 | +2.2% |
| 1964 | 4.77 | -0.8% |
| 1965 | 4.71 | -1.2% |
| 1966 | 4.67 | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 4.41 | -5.7% |
| 1968 | 4.23 | -4.1% |
| 1969 | 4.24 | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 4.06 | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 4.27 | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 4.65 | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 4.59 | -1.2% |
| 1974 | 4.28 | -6.9% |
| 1975 | 4.37 | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 4.3 | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 4.04 | -6.1% |
| 1978 | 4.17 | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 4.47 | +7.3% |
| 1980 | 4.54 | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 4.35 | -4.1% |
| 1982 | 4.33 | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 4.37 | +0.9% |
| 1984 | 4.12 | -5.7% |
| 1985 | 3.89 | -5.7% |
| 1986 | 3.9 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 4.18 | +7.4% |
| 1988 | 4.62 | +10.4% |
| 1989 | 4.6 | -0.4% |
| 1990 | 4.77 | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 4.53 | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 4.62 | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 4.63 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 4.46 | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 4.31 | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 4.32 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 4.16 | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 4.16 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 4.09 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 4.28 | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 4.09 | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 4.06 | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 4.16 | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 4.24 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 4.25 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 4.37 | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 4.49 | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 4.8 | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 5.07 | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 4.92 | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 4.53 | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 4.54 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 4.33 | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 4.36 | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 4.13 | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 4.01 | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 4 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 4.17 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 4.4 | +5.6% |
| 2020 | 4.49 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 4.82 | +7.4% |
| 2022 | 4.33 | -10.1% |
| 2023 | 4.35 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 4.38 | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 4.37 | -0.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 4.37 is below the median for high income countries, which is 59.8, 7% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 4.37 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 61.36, 7% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.39 | 4.03 | 4.78 | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.59 | 4.23 | 4.87 | 10 |
| 1970s | 4.32 | 4.04 | 4.65 | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.29 | 3.89 | 4.62 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.41 | 4.09 | 4.77 | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.38 | 4.06 | 5.07 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.34 | 4 | 4.92 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.46 | 4.33 | 4.82 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 66 Estonia 10.61 compare
- 67 Montenegro 6.97 compare
- 68 Luxembourg 6.95 compare
- 70 Malta 4.23 compare
- 71 Andorra 0.568 compare
- 72 Liechtenstein 0.371 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 number of births in thousands in Iceland?
- Number of births in thousands in Iceland was 4.37 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest number of births in thousands recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.07 in 2009.
- What is the lowest number of births in thousands recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.89 in 1985.
- How does Iceland rank for number of births in thousands?
- Iceland ranks 69th out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of births in thousands rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Number of births in thousands (UN DESA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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