Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Iceland
Iceland: Personal remittances and foreign aid received was 193.32 million current US$ in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Iceland, 1976–2021
Source: World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in current US$.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 193.32 million current US$ for personal remittances and foreign aid received in 2021.
The figure is up 15.5% on the previous year and up 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, personal remittances and foreign aid received in Iceland peaked at 218.97 million current US$ in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1.20 million current US$, in 1982.
That places Iceland 142nd out of 193 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Iceland, year by year
| Year | current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 1.40 million current US$ | — |
| 1977 | 1.70 million current US$ | +21.4% |
| 1978 | 1.80 million current US$ | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 1.70 million current US$ | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 1.50 million current US$ | -11.8% |
| 1981 | 3.10 million current US$ | +106.7% |
| 1982 | 1.20 million current US$ | -61.3% |
| 1983 | 2.30 million current US$ | +91.7% |
| 1984 | 6.80 million current US$ | +195.7% |
| 1985 | 5.10 million current US$ | -25.0% |
| 1986 | 7.60 million current US$ | +49.0% |
| 1987 | 14.70 million current US$ | +93.4% |
| 1988 | 22.40 million current US$ | +52.4% |
| 1989 | 30.20 million current US$ | +34.8% |
| 1990 | 62.26 million current US$ | +106.2% |
| 1991 | 65.32 million current US$ | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 63.82 million current US$ | -2.3% |
| 1993 | 57.87 million current US$ | -9.3% |
| 1994 | 47.51 million current US$ | -17.9% |
| 1995 | 36.24 million current US$ | -23.7% |
| 1996 | 33.30 million current US$ | -8.1% |
| 1997 | 40.94 million current US$ | +23.0% |
| 1998 | 28.93 million current US$ | -29.3% |
| 1999 | 31.12 million current US$ | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 35.75 million current US$ | +14.9% |
| 2001 | 39.35 million current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2002 | 64.77 million current US$ | +64.6% |
| 2003 | 48.98 million current US$ | -24.4% |
| 2004 | 60.96 million current US$ | +24.5% |
| 2005 | 67.00 million current US$ | +9.9% |
| 2006 | 81.47 million current US$ | +21.6% |
| 2007 | 111.47 million current US$ | +36.8% |
| 2008 | 121.29 million current US$ | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 94.84 million current US$ | -21.8% |
| 2010 | 136.62 million current US$ | +44.1% |
| 2011 | 152.12 million current US$ | +11.3% |
| 2012 | 155.73 million current US$ | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 208.61 million current US$ | +34.0% |
| 2014 | 218.97 million current US$ | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 218.24 million current US$ | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 213.16 million current US$ | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 192.47 million current US$ | -9.7% |
| 2018 | 178.68 million current US$ | -7.2% |
| 2019 | 187.89 million current US$ | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 167.37 million current US$ | -10.9% |
| 2021 | 193.32 million current US$ | +15.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 193.32 million current US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 688.87 million current US$, 28% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 193.32 million current US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.43 billion current US$, 8% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +195.7% | 2.30 million current US$ | 6.80 million current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.65 million current US$ | 1.40 million current US$ | 1.80 million current US$ | 4 |
| 1980s | 9.49 million current US$ | 1.20 million current US$ | 30.20 million current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.73 million current US$ | 28.93 million current US$ | 65.32 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.59 million current US$ | 35.75 million current US$ | 121.29 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 186.25 million current US$ | 136.62 million current US$ | 218.97 million current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 180.34 million current US$ | 167.37 million current US$ | 193.32 million current US$ | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 139 Guinea-Bissau 206.11 million current US$ compare
- 140 Mozambique 201.87 million current US$ compare
- 141 Vanuatu 199.83 million current US$ compare
- 143 Sierra Leone 183.79 million current US$ compare
- 144 Ireland 179.85 million current US$ compare
- 145 Burundi 168.00 million current US$ 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 personal remittances and foreign aid received in Iceland?
- Personal remittances and foreign aid received in Iceland was 193.32 million current US$ in 2021, according to World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 218.97 million current US$ in 2014.
- What is the lowest personal remittances and foreign aid received recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.20 million current US$ in 1982.
- How does Iceland rank for personal remittances and foreign aid received?
- Iceland ranks 142nd out of 193 countries with data for 2021.
- Is personal remittances and foreign aid received rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank based on International Monetary Fund balance of payments data (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Personal remittances and foreign aid received. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Remittances are financial transfers from non-residents to residents of a country, such as a worker abroad sending money to family and friends. Foreign aid is measured as official development assistance. Both are measured in current US$.