More People Left Iceland In 2024 Than Ever Before

The year 2024 saw the highest number of people leaving Iceland in recorded history, while immigration remained among the highest on record, according to new data published by Statistics Iceland.

A total of 15,745 individuals emigrated from Iceland last year, exceeding the 14,771 departures in 2023. Meanwhile, 19,789 people moved to Iceland in 2024, making it the third-highest year for immigration, following 2023 (21,560) and 2022 (22,209).

Among the 5,132 Icelandic citizens who emigrated in 2024, the majority — 3,615 — relocated to Norway, Denmark, or Sweden, with Denmark being the most popular destination, attracting 2,037 Icelanders. These countries were also the primary sources of returning Icelandic citizens, accounting for 3,304 out of 4,993 Icelandic immigrants, with 1,603 arriving from Denmark.

For foreign nationals leaving Iceland, Poland was the most common destination, with 2,645 of the 10,613 foreign emigrants moving there. Poland was also the leading source of foreign immigration to Iceland, with 3,177 out of 14,796 foreign arrivals being Polish nationals.

As in previous years, the largest age group among both immigrants and emigrants in 2024 was those aged 20–29. Nearly 39% of emigrants and just over 37% of immigrants fell into this age range. Within this group, 25-year-olds made up the largest number of emigrants, with 738 individuals, and also the largest group of immigrants, with 936 individuals.

Read the original report for more information on immigration and emigration trends in Iceland.