Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland

Iceland: Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments was 1.27 million in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
1.27 million
Change on year
up 79.9%
World rank
64th
of 139 countries
All-time high
3.20 million
in 2019
All-time low
311,000
in 1996
Years of data
26
1996–2021

Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland, 1996–2021

01.0M2.0M3.0M1996200820211996: 311.0k1997: 354.0k1998: 400.0k1999: 431.0k2000: 448.0k2001: 465.0k2002: 513.0k2003: 569.0k2004: 615.0k2005: 643.0k2006: 714.0k2007: 782.0k2008: 806.0k2009: 872.0k2010: 837.0k2011: 963.0k2012: 1.1M2013: 1.3M2014: 1.6M2015: 2.1M2016: 2.6M2017: 2.9M2018: 3.1M2019: 3.2M2020: 708.0k2021: 1.3M

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Iceland recorded 1.27 million 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 in 2019 and was at its lowest, 311,000, 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

Annual values for Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland, 1996 to 2021.
Year Value Change
1996 311,000 —
1997 354,000 +13.8%
1998 400,000 +13.0%
1999 431,000 +7.8%
2000 448,000 +3.9%
2001 465,000 +3.8%
2002 513,000 +10.3%
2003 569,000 +10.9%
2004 615,000 +8.1%
2005 643,000 +4.6%
2006 714,000 +11.0%
2007 782,000 +9.5%
2008 806,000 +3.1%
2009 872,000 +8.2%
2010 837,000 -4.0%
2011 963,000 +15.1%
2012 1.12 million +16.0%
2013 1.32 million +18.3%
2014 1.57 million +19.1%
2015 2.08 million +32.4%
2016 2.63 million +26.4%
2017 2.94 million +11.7%
2018 3.15 million +7.2%
2019 3.20 million +1.5%
2020 708,000 -77.9%
2021 1.27 million +79.9%

Iceland compared with similar countries

  • Iceland's 1.27 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.55 million, 50% of the median. (66 countries reporting)
  • Iceland's 1.27 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.98 million, 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.

YearChange FromTo
2020 -77.9% 3.20 million 708,000
2021 +79.9% 708,000 1.27 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 374,000 311,000 431,000 4
2000s 642,700 448,000 872,000 10
2010s 1.98 million 837,000 3.20 million 10
2020s 991,000 708,000 1.27 million 2

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 61 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.34 million compare
  2. 62 Estonia 1.33 million compare
  3. 63 Montenegro 1.30 million compare
  4. 65 Kazakhstan 1.26 million
  5. 66 Belarus 1.19 million compare
  6. 67 El Salvador 1.18 million compare

See the full ranking of 139 places →

More reference data data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

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 in 2021, according to 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 in 2019.
What is the lowest foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 311,000 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 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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Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 15 November 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/foreign-guests-in-hotels-and-similar-establishments/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Foreign guests in hotels and similar establishments
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
139 places, 3,097 data points, 1995–2024
Last refreshed