Southern Region: population and official figures
Southern Region is a region of Iceland, number 2 of 8 by population. The Southern Region had 36,570 residents on 1 January 2026, 9.3% of Iceland's population and 2nd largest of 8 regions.
36,570
21,430
9,799
23.4%
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Southern Region: Tax registers counted 21,430 employed residents of the Southern Region in August 2026, 9.4% of all people in work in Iceland.
- Education in Southern Region: At the 2021 census 23.4% of adults aged 25 and over in the Southern Region had a university or other tertiary degree, 3rd highest of 8 regions (Iceland: 34.6%).
- Poverty and living standards in Southern Region: Taxpayers aged 16 and over living in the Southern Region had an average total income of ISK 9.80 million in 2025, 93% of the national average of ISK 10.54 million and 3rd lowest of 8 regions.
Is the population of Southern Region growing?
The population of the Southern Region grew by 20.0% between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2026 (national change 10.1%), and by 43.4% since 2011.
Source: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands) · saved copyHow old is the population of Southern Region?
Children under 16 made up 18.9% of residents of the Southern Region in 2026 and people aged 65 and over 17.4%, against 18.9% and 16.2% for Iceland as a whole.
Source: Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Islands) · saved copyOther regions of Iceland
- Capital Region 251,912
- Northeastern Region 32,296
- Southern Peninsula 29,644
- Western Region 17,997
- Eastern Region 11,211
- Northwestern Region 7,353
- Westfjords 7,341
Up a level: Iceland · government and power in Iceland
Sources
- 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…)
- 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): 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…)
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