Iceland: immigration

How many immigrants come to Iceland each year?

18,674 people moved to Iceland in 2025 and 15,507 left, giving net migration of 3,167, according to Statistics Iceland's migration 2025 release of 19 March 2026. Net migration was 4,044 in 2024 and peaked at 8,660 in 2022.

Foreign citizens made up 14,073 of the immigrants, and Poland was the largest source, with 2,798. More Icelandic citizens left than returned, by 345. Foreign citizens were 17.9% of the population at the end of June 2026, according to the population release.

Official sources: Statistics Iceland: migration 2025 · Statistics Iceland: population in the 2nd quarter 2026

How many asylum seekers does Iceland receive?

Iceland received 1,025 applications for international protection from January to September 2026, according to the Directorate of Immigration's protection statistics for September 2026. There were 1,749 applications in 2025, 1,944 in 2024 and 4,168 in 2023.

The largest groups of applicants were from Ukraine, Venezuela, Palestine and Colombia. Ukrainians can get protection under a separate collective scheme. The report is in Icelandic and is listed on the directorate's statistics page.

Official sources: Directorate of Immigration: protection statistics, September 2026 (PDF, in Icelandic) · Directorate of Immigration: statistics

How many immigrants live in Iceland?

The UN Population Division puts the share of people born abroad in Iceland at 25.1% in 2024. It was 11.8% in 2015. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 11.7%, and Iceland placed 7th highest of 52. Worldwide: 21st of 193.

How many people move to Iceland each year?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in Iceland at 2,709 in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from -4,785 (2009) to 8,348 (2017). Europe & Central Asia median: 158; Iceland is 22nd highest of 52. Worldwide: 55th of 193.

How many refugees are in Iceland?

According to UNHCR, the number of refugees in the country in Iceland was 8,459 in 2025. The peak was 8,715 in 2023 and the low 39 in 2008. Europe & Central Asia median: 62,365; Iceland is 40th highest of 50. Worldwide: 95th of 169.

How many refugees come from Iceland?

UNHCR puts the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Iceland at 0 in 2025. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 49th highest of 49 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 533. World rank, highest first: 186th of 189.

How much are remittances to Iceland?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is 0.7% of GDP. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.4% of GDP (2005) to 1.3% of GDP (2013). Europe & Central Asia median: 1.4% of GDP; Iceland is 32nd highest of 47. Worldwide: 90th of 127.