Words by

Rex Beckett

The first quarter of 2010 has seen a small boost in the population, according to Statistics Iceland.
The latest figures show that there has been an increase of 400 citizens since the end of 2009, bringing the total population to 317,900.
This is a good sign. As of January 1st 2010, the population decreased for the first time since 1889. The decline in the population last year was attributed to a record 1725 people moving away from the country and a natural increase, the number of births less deaths, of only 1%.
The latest numbers also show a continuing trend of Icelandic citizens leaving the country, while the foreign population is increasing.