Share of children living with a single parent in Iceland
Iceland: Share of children living with a single parent was 18.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Share of children living with a single parent in Iceland, 2004–2019
Source: OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children living with a single parent in Iceland is 18.7%, measured in 2019.
The figure is up 5.1% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children living with a single parent in Iceland peaked at 20.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 15.9%, in 2004.
That places Iceland 12th out of 34 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Share of children living with a single parent in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 15.9% | — |
| 2005 | 16.1% | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 17.8% | +10.6% |
| 2007 | 17.4% | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 16.8% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 17.9% | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 20.2% | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 18.7% | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 20.8% | +11.2% |
| 2013 | 19.0% | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 19.6% | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 18.6% | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 17.9% | -3.8% |
| 2017 | 18.7% | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 17.8% | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 18.7% | +5.1% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 18.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.8%, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 18.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.6%, 1.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.0% | 15.9% | 17.9% | 6 |
| 2010s | 19.0% | 17.8% | 20.8% | 10 |
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 share of children living with a single parent in Iceland?
- Share of children living with a single parent in Iceland was 18.7% in 2019, according to OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children living with a single parent recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 20.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest share of children living with a single parent recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.9% in 2004.
- How does Iceland rank for share of children living with a single parent?
- Iceland ranks 12th out of 34 countries with data for 2019.
- Is share of children living with a single parent rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children living with a single parent. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Percentage of children aged 0-17 living with a single parent.