• Statistical Series
• 20. January 2009
• Vol 94, Issue 4
• ISSN: 1670-4487



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Iceland has experienced strong growth in immigrant population since 1996. In 1996 immigrants were 5,357 (1.8% of the total population) compared with 25,265 (8%) in 2008. Second generation immigrants were 345 in 1996 and 1,558 in 2008. The share of immigrants in Iceland is now comparable to other Nordic countries. On the other hand second generation immigrants are both fewer and younger than in other European countries. Thus, more than three fourths of second generation immigrants are below the age of ten. Only 3,8% of all immigrants are above the age of 65 and 5,7% are children below the age of 15.