Refugees by country of asylum in Iceland
Iceland: Refugees by country of asylum was 7,879 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Iceland, 1990–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 7,879 people for refugees by country of asylum in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.6% on the previous year and up 8,372.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Iceland peaked at 8,715 people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 39 people, in 2008.
That places Iceland 97th out of 183 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Iceland, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 85 people | — |
| 1991 | 141 people | +65.9% |
| 1992 | 154 people | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 160 people | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 160 people | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 197 people | +23.1% |
| 1996 | 232 people | +17.8% |
| 1997 | 252 people | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 286 people | +13.5% |
| 1999 | 245 people | -14.3% |
| 2000 | 235 people | -4.1% |
| 2001 | 204 people | -13.2% |
| 2002 | 197 people | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 226 people | +14.7% |
| 2004 | 226 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 284 people | +25.7% |
| 2006 | 254 people | -10.6% |
| 2007 | 41 people | -83.9% |
| 2008 | 39 people | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 58 people | +48.7% |
| 2010 | 72 people | +24.1% |
| 2011 | 55 people | -23.6% |
| 2012 | 55 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 72 people | +30.9% |
| 2014 | 93 people | +29.2% |
| 2015 | 170 people | +82.8% |
| 2016 | 245 people | +44.1% |
| 2017 | 361 people | +47.3% |
| 2018 | 549 people | +52.1% |
| 2019 | 894 people | +62.8% |
| 2020 | 1,460 people | +63.3% |
| 2021 | 1,830 people | +25.3% |
| 2022 | 5,240 people | +186.3% |
| 2023 | 8,715 people | +66.3% |
| 2024 | 7,879 people | -9.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 7,879 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 78% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 7,879 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 11% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 191.2 people | 85 people | 286 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 176.4 people | 39 people | 284 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 256.6 people | 55 people | 894 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,025 people | 1,460 people | 8,715 people | 5 |
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 refugees by country of asylum in Iceland?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Iceland was 7,879 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 8,715 people in 2023.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 39 people in 2008.
- How does Iceland rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Iceland ranks 97th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8,372.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.