Air passengers in Iceland
Iceland: Air passengers was 4.34 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Iceland, 1970–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for air passengers in Iceland is 4.34 million, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.0% on the previous year and up 66.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Iceland peaked at 7.82 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 457,900, in 1970.
Iceland ranks 65th of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 457,900 | — |
| 1971 | 494,100 | +7.9% |
| 1972 | 545,800 | +10.5% |
| 1973 | 592,800 | +8.6% |
| 1974 | 611,200 | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 590,200 | -3.4% |
| 1976 | 601,500 | +1.9% |
| 1977 | 645,000 | +7.2% |
| 1978 | 688,000 | +6.7% |
| 1979 | 694,000 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 541,500 | -22.0% |
| 1981 | 522,100 | -3.6% |
| 1982 | 574,300 | +10.0% |
| 1983 | 601,400 | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 710,100 | +18.1% |
| 1985 | 778,000 | +9.6% |
| 1986 | 808,400 | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 910,100 | +12.6% |
| 1988 | 844,700 | -7.2% |
| 1989 | 735,900 | -12.9% |
| 1990 | 759,500 | +3.2% |
| 1991 | 772,600 | +1.7% |
| 1992 | 767,100 | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 801,000 | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 1.03 million | +28.7% |
| 1995 | 1.10 million | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 1.24 million | +13.0% |
| 1997 | 1.33 million | +7.7% |
| 1998 | 1.59 million | +19.4% |
| 1999 | 1.35 million | -15.2% |
| 2000 | 1.43 million | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 1.36 million | -5.2% |
| 2002 | 1.20 million | -11.7% |
| 2003 | 1.13 million | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 1.33 million | +17.6% |
| 2005 | 1.53 million | +14.7% |
| 2006 | 1.54 million | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 1.72 million | +12.0% |
| 2008 | 1.42 million | -17.3% |
| 2009 | 1.36 million | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 1.85 million | +35.7% |
| 2011 | 2.15 million | +16.2% |
| 2012 | 2.40 million | +11.6% |
| 2013 | 2.60 million | +8.4% |
| 2014 | 3.04 million | +16.6% |
| 2015 | 4.13 million | +36.2% |
| 2016 | 5.71 million | +38.1% |
| 2017 | 7.24 million | +26.8% |
| 2018 | 7.82 million | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 4.66 million | -40.5% |
| 2020 | 903,927 | -80.6% |
| 2021 | 1.50 million | +65.8% |
| 2022 | 3.71 million | +147.5% |
| 2023 | 4.34 million | +17.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 4.34 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.14 million, 48% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 4.34 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.87 million, 1.1× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +147.5% | 1.50 million | 3.71 million |
| 2020 | -80.6% | 4.66 million | 903,927 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 592,050 | 457,900 | 694,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 702,650 | 522,100 | 910,100 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.07 million | 759,500 | 1.59 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.40 million | 1.13 million | 1.72 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.16 million | 1.85 million | 7.82 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.61 million | 903,927 | 4.34 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More reference data data for Iceland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0288 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0708 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0964 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2576 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.7664 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0005 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Iceland?
- Air passengers in Iceland was 4.34 million in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 7.82 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 457,900 in 1970.
- How does Iceland rank for air passengers?
- Iceland ranks 65th out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 54 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.