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Migration 2011

Declining number of emigrants
Net external migration was -1,404 in 2011 compared with -2,134 in 2010. The number of immigrants was 5,578 in 2011 compared with 5,625 in 2010. At the same time the number of emigrants declined from 7,759 in 2010 to 6,982 in 2011.

In 2004, the levels of external migration went up significantly. For the first five years, 2004-2008, net migration was positive by 15,921 persons. For the past three years, net migration has been below zero for each year, or 8,373 more persons emigrating than immigrating. In spite of a significant outflow, total net external migration in the past eight years has been in a surplus of 6,918 persons.

Norway the most popular country of destination for Icelandic citizens
In 2011, a total of 3,022 Icelandic citizens migrated to Norway, Denmark or Sweden, out of 4,135. Most of them migrated to Norway, or 1,508. These countries were also the major countries of origin for immigrant Icelandic citizens, as 2,113 out of 2,824 immigrants came from these countries. Most of the foreign citizens emigrating from Iceland migrated to Poland, or 1,000 out of 2,857. Poland was also the biggest contributor to immigrants with foreign citizenship, 768 persons out of 2,754 foreign immigrants.

Modal age of the emigrants was 24 years
The most frequent age group among those who emigrated in 2011 was 25–29 years old. The modal age, however, was 24 years. Immigrants were younger than emigrants, the highest number was in the 20–24 year old age group, and the modal age was 23 years. Considering net migration, the age group 30–34 years experienced the highest negative net migration.  

Sex ratio stabilises
A significant change in the sex ratio of international migrants has taken place in recent years. Up until 2003 more females than males migrated every year to Iceland. This changed dramatically between 2004 and 2008 when 4,215 more males than females immigrated to Iceland. In the three years since the trend was reversed with 3,833 more males than females emigrating from Iceland in excess of immigration.

The capital region and the Southwest region receiving
The internal migration in 2011 was characterised by a migration flow to the two regions in the Southwest part of the country from all other regions, mostly from the South, West, Westfjord and Northwest regions. When considering external and internal migration, all regions of the country experienced negative net migration in 2011 except the East.