Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland
Iceland: Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments was 1.27 million guests in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland, 1996–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in guests.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 1.27 million guests for foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in 2021.
The figure is up 79.9% on the previous year and up 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland peaked at 3.20 million guests in 2019 and was at its lowest, 311,000 guests, in 1996.
That places Iceland 64th out of 139 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland, year by year
| Year | guests | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 311,000 guests | — |
| 1997 | 354,000 guests | +13.8% |
| 1998 | 400,000 guests | +13.0% |
| 1999 | 431,000 guests | +7.8% |
| 2000 | 448,000 guests | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 465,000 guests | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 513,000 guests | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 569,000 guests | +10.9% |
| 2004 | 615,000 guests | +8.1% |
| 2005 | 643,000 guests | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 714,000 guests | +11.0% |
| 2007 | 782,000 guests | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 806,000 guests | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 872,000 guests | +8.2% |
| 2010 | 837,000 guests | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 963,000 guests | +15.1% |
| 2012 | 1.12 million guests | +16.0% |
| 2013 | 1.32 million guests | +18.3% |
| 2014 | 1.57 million guests | +19.1% |
| 2015 | 2.08 million guests | +32.4% |
| 2016 | 2.63 million guests | +26.4% |
| 2017 | 2.94 million guests | +11.7% |
| 2018 | 3.15 million guests | +7.2% |
| 2019 | 3.20 million guests | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 708,000 guests | -77.9% |
| 2021 | 1.27 million guests | +79.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 1.27 million guests is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.55 million guests, 50% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 1.27 million guests is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.98 million guests, 43% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -77.9% | 3.20 million guests | 708,000 guests |
| 2021 | +79.9% | 708,000 guests | 1.27 million guests |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 374,000 guests | 311,000 guests | 431,000 guests | 4 |
| 2000s | 642,700 guests | 448,000 guests | 872,000 guests | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.98 million guests | 837,000 guests | 3.20 million guests | 10 |
| 2020s | 991,000 guests | 708,000 guests | 1.27 million guests | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 61 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.34 million guests compare
- 62 Estonia 1.33 million guests compare
- 63 Montenegro 1.30 million guests compare
- 65 Kazakhstan 1.26 million guests
- 66 Belarus 1.19 million guests compare
- 67 El Salvador 1.18 million guests compare
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 foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland?
- Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland was 1.27 million guests in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 3.20 million guests in 2019.
- What is the lowest foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 311,000 guests in 1996.
- How does Iceland rank for foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments?
- Iceland ranks 64th out of 139 countries with data for 2021.
- Is foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of international visitors who check in to hotels and similar accommodation establishments.