Regions of Iceland: population and official figures
Iceland is divided into 8 regions. The largest by population is Capital Region with 251,912 people (63.9% of the total); the smallest is Westfjords with 7,341.
Who governs Iceland's regions?
Municipalities (sveitarfélög, 62 in 2026): Municipal council elected every four years (last May 2026); council chooses a mayor or hires a manager (bæjarstjóri/sveitarstjóri). Primary schools, preschools, social services, services for disabled people, planning, local roads, water.
How local power works in Iceland · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 8 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capital Region | 251,912 | 2026 | – |
| 2 | Southern Region | 36,570 | 2026 | – |
| 3 | Northeastern Region | 32,296 | 2026 | – |
| 4 | Southern Peninsula | 29,644 | 2026 | – |
| 5 | Western Region | 17,997 | 2026 | – |
| 6 | Eastern Region | 11,211 | 2026 | – |
| 7 | Northwestern Region | 7,353 | 2026 | – |
| 8 | Westfjords | 7,341 | 2026 | – |
More on Iceland: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands): Population by regions, sex and age 1 January 1998-2026 (table MAN03250; years 2011-2026 saved), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3897c762d7a7…)
- Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands): Register based employment of persons with legal residence in Iceland by month, sex, age, origin and region 2003-2026 (table VIN10012; August and December 2018-2026 saved), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8f0f8986cec…)
- Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands): Income by municipalities and sex 1990-2025, from individual tax returns, thousand ISK (table TEK01002; 2015-2025 saved), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03d347ed3a53…)
- Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands): Census: Educational attainment by sex, age and region 2011 and 2021 (table CEN1301), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3f9c52cb5e55…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.