MigrantoIcelandic Diaspora
23.3K Icelanders live abroad — 6% of the population of Iceland
Icelandic diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 86% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Denmark | 8868 |
| Norway | 8658 |
| Poland | 2546 |
| Brazil | 556 |
| Luxembourg | 477 |
| Australia | 403 |
| Chile | 354 |
| Faroe Islands | 304 |
| Finland | 211 |
| South Africa | 189 |
| Hungary | 175 |
| Greenland | 157 |
| Slovakia | 105 |
| Lithuania | 60 |
| Greece | 56 |
| Latvia | 49 |
| Estonia | 43 |
| Bulgaria | 40 |
| Portugal | 34 |
| Cyprus | 33 |
| Slovenia | 5 |
| Bolivia | 2 |
| Costa Rica | 1 |
| Liechtenstein | 0 |
By region
93% of the diaspora lives in Europe
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Key facts
The Icelandic diaspora in numbers
Most Icelanders abroad live in Denmark
38% of the diaspora lives in Denmark, while the next country accounts for just 37%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 50% to 38%.
1 in 17 people born in Iceland lives abroad
23.3K people born in Iceland now live in other countries — 6.0% of a population of 386.5K.
Icelandic diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 6586 |
| 1995 | 8745 |
| 2000 | 11709 |
| 2005 | 13497 |
| 2010 | 16404 |
| 2015 | 19596 |
| 2020 | 20887 |
| 2024 | 23326 |
Largest communities over time
Icelanders living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Denmark | Norway | Poland | Brazil | Luxembourg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3319 | 2221 | 10 | 5 | 259 |
| 1995 | 4394 | 2601 | 16 | 585 | 273 |
| 2000 | 5782 | 3780 | 26 | 479 | 290 |
| 2005 | 7313 | 3622 | 71 | 520 | 251 |
| 2010 | 8404 | 4849 | 246 | 475 | 215 |
| 2015 | 7839 | 8221 | 634 | 508 | 328 |
| 2020 | 8480 | 7786 | 1563 | 534 | 413 |
| 2024 | 8868 | 8658 | 2546 | 556 | 477 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Icelanders in each country has changed since the selected year
Icelanders among immigrants in other countries
Where Icelanders make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Icelanders live outside Iceland?
Around 23.3K Icelanders live abroad, the world's #175 largest diaspora.
Where do most Icelanders abroad live?
Most Icelanders live in Denmark, Norway and Poland — these three countries account for about 86% of all Icelanders living abroad.
Which country has the largest Icelandic population outside Iceland?
Denmark is home to the largest Icelandic community abroad — 8.9K people, about 38% of all Icelanders living abroad.
What share of the population of Iceland lives abroad?
About 6% of the population of Iceland lives abroad — that's 23.3K out of a total population of 386.5K.
Is the Icelandic diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Icelanders living abroad has grown from 19.6K to 23.3K, about 19%.
Where does the data on the Icelandic diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Iceland who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Iceland
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