Arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people in Iceland
Iceland: Arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people was 1,873 arrivals per 1,000 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people in Iceland, 1995–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in arrivals per 1,000 people.
Analysis
In 2021, arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people in Iceland stood at 1,873 arrivals per 1,000 people.
That represents a change of up 41.2% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people in Iceland peaked at 6,642 arrivals per 1,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 710.24 arrivals per 1,000 people, in 1995.
That places Iceland 39th out of 203 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people in Iceland, year by year
| Year | arrivals per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 710.24 arrivals per 1,000 people | — |
| 1996 | 747.3 arrivals per 1,000 people | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 744.85 arrivals per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 846.34 arrivals per 1,000 people | +13.6% |
| 1999 | 947.92 arrivals per 1,000 people | +12.0% |
| 2000 | 1,077 arrivals per 1,000 people | +13.6% |
| 2001 | 1,056 arrivals per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 990.93 arrivals per 1,000 people | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 1,095 arrivals per 1,000 people | +10.5% |
| 2004 | 1,232 arrivals per 1,000 people | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 1,260 arrivals per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 1,389 arrivals per 1,000 people | +10.2% |
| 2007 | 1,556 arrivals per 1,000 people | +12.1% |
| 2008 | 1,581 arrivals per 1,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 1,550 arrivals per 1,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 1,537 arrivals per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 1,774 arrivals per 1,000 people | +15.4% |
| 2012 | 2,098 arrivals per 1,000 people | +18.3% |
| 2013 | 2,493 arrivals per 1,000 people | +18.8% |
| 2014 | 3,044 arrivals per 1,000 people | +22.1% |
| 2015 | 3,895 arrivals per 1,000 people | +27.9% |
| 2016 | 5,340 arrivals per 1,000 people | +37.1% |
| 2017 | 6,477 arrivals per 1,000 people | +21.3% |
| 2018 | 6,642 arrivals per 1,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 5,581 arrivals per 1,000 people | -16.0% |
| 2020 | 1,326 arrivals per 1,000 people | -76.2% |
| 2021 | 1,873 arrivals per 1,000 people | +41.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 1,873 arrivals per 1,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,107 arrivals per 1,000 people, 1.7× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 1,873 arrivals per 1,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 827.31 arrivals per 1,000 people, 2.3× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people 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 | -76.2% | 5,581 arrivals per 1,000 people | 1,326 arrivals per 1,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 799.33 arrivals per 1,000 people | 710.24 arrivals per 1,000 people | 947.92 arrivals per 1,000 people | 5 |
| 2000s | 1,279 arrivals per 1,000 people | 990.93 arrivals per 1,000 people | 1,581 arrivals per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,888 arrivals per 1,000 people | 1,537 arrivals per 1,000 people | 6,642 arrivals per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,600 arrivals per 1,000 people | 1,326 arrivals per 1,000 people | 1,873 arrivals per 1,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 36 Northern Mariana Islands 2,085 arrivals per 1,000 people compare
- 37 Saint Lucia 1,991 arrivals per 1,000 people compare
- 38 Spain 1,957 arrivals per 1,000 people compare
- 40 Guadeloupe 1,770 arrivals per 1,000 people compare
- 41 Puerto Rico 1,712 arrivals per 1,000 people compare
- 42 Saint Kitts and Nevis 1,708 arrivals per 1,000 people 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 arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people in Iceland?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people in Iceland was 1,873 arrivals per 1,000 people in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 6,642 arrivals per 1,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 710.24 arrivals per 1,000 people in 1995.
- How does Iceland rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people?
- Iceland ranks 39th out of 203 countries with data for 2021.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UN Tourism (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Arrivals of tourists from abroad per 1,000 people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of trips by visitors who arrive from abroad and stay overnight, per 1,000 people in the destination country's population.