Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland
Iceland: Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments was 695,000 guests in 2021. ▲ Rising
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland, 1998–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in guests.
Analysis
The most recent figure for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland is 695,000 guests, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 43.9% on the previous year and up 169.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland peaked at 695,000 guests in 2021 and was at its lowest, 176,000 guests, in 2001.
Iceland ranks 60th of 96 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland, year by year
| Year | guests | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 192,000 guests | — |
| 1999 | 208,000 guests | +8.3% |
| 2000 | 189,000 guests | -9.1% |
| 2001 | 176,000 guests | -6.9% |
| 2002 | 187,000 guests | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 194,000 guests | +3.7% |
| 2004 | 204,000 guests | +5.2% |
| 2005 | 229,000 guests | +12.3% |
| 2006 | 245,000 guests | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 274,000 guests | +11.8% |
| 2008 | 270,000 guests | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 255,000 guests | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 247,000 guests | -3.1% |
| 2011 | 258,000 guests | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 274,000 guests | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 302,000 guests | +10.2% |
| 2014 | 315,000 guests | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 323,000 guests | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 380,000 guests | +17.6% |
| 2017 | 379,000 guests | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 425,000 guests | +12.1% |
| 2019 | 378,000 guests | -11.1% |
| 2020 | 483,000 guests | +27.8% |
| 2021 | 695,000 guests | +43.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 200,000 guests | 192,000 guests | 208,000 guests | 2 |
| 2000s | 222,300 guests | 176,000 guests | 274,000 guests | 10 |
| 2010s | 328,100 guests | 247,000 guests | 425,000 guests | 10 |
| 2020s | 589,000 guests | 483,000 guests | 695,000 guests | 2 |
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 local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland?
- Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland was 695,000 guests in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 695,000 guests in 2021.
- What is the lowest local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 176,000 guests in 2001.
- How does Iceland rank for local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments?
- Iceland ranks 60th out of 96 countries with data for 2021.
- Is local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 169.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Local vs. foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of domestic visitors who check in to hotels and similar accommodation establishments within their own country.