Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Iceland
Iceland: Arrivals of tourists from abroad was 698,000 arrivals in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Iceland, 1995–2021
Source: UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in arrivals.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arrivals of tourists from abroad in Iceland is 698,000 arrivals, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 43.5% on the previous year and up 23.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arrivals of tourists from abroad in Iceland peaked at 2.34 million arrivals in 2018 and was at its lowest, 190,000 arrivals, in 1995.
Iceland ranks 115th of 203 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Iceland, year by year
| Year | arrivals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 190,000 arrivals | — |
| 1996 | 201,000 arrivals | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 202,000 arrivals | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 232,000 arrivals | +14.9% |
| 1999 | 263,000 arrivals | +13.4% |
| 2000 | 303,000 arrivals | +15.2% |
| 2001 | 301,000 arrivals | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 285,000 arrivals | -5.3% |
| 2003 | 317,000 arrivals | +11.2% |
| 2004 | 360,000 arrivals | +13.6% |
| 2005 | 374,000 arrivals | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 422,000 arrivals | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 485,000 arrivals | +14.9% |
| 2008 | 502,000 arrivals | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 494,000 arrivals | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 489,000 arrivals | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 566,000 arrivals | +15.7% |
| 2012 | 673,000 arrivals | +18.9% |
| 2013 | 807,300 arrivals | +20.0% |
| 2014 | 997,000 arrivals | +23.5% |
| 2015 | 1.29 million arrivals | +29.3% |
| 2016 | 1.79 million arrivals | +39.0% |
| 2017 | 2.23 million arrivals | +24.2% |
| 2018 | 2.34 million arrivals | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 2.01 million arrivals | -14.1% |
| 2020 | 486,300 arrivals | -75.8% |
| 2021 | 698,000 arrivals | +43.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 698,000 arrivals is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.67 million arrivals, 19% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 698,000 arrivals is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.07 million arrivals, 14% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arrivals of tourists from abroad 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 | -75.8% | 2.01 million arrivals | 486,300 arrivals |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 217,600 arrivals | 190,000 arrivals | 263,000 arrivals | 5 |
| 2000s | 384,300 arrivals | 285,000 arrivals | 502,000 arrivals | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.32 million arrivals | 489,000 arrivals | 2.34 million arrivals | 10 |
| 2020s | 592,150 arrivals | 486,300 arrivals | 698,000 arrivals | 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 arrivals of tourists from abroad in Iceland?
- Arrivals of tourists from abroad in Iceland was 698,000 arrivals in 2021, according to UN Tourism (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.34 million arrivals in 2018.
- What is the lowest arrivals of tourists from abroad recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 190,000 arrivals in 1995.
- How does Iceland rank for arrivals of tourists from abroad?
- Iceland ranks 115th out of 203 countries with data for 2021.
- Is arrivals of tourists from abroad rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.3%. 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 Arrivals of tourists from abroad. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Number of trips by visitors who arrive from abroad and stay overnight.