Which has higher human rights index, Denmark or Iceland?

Denmark, at 0.959 against 0.95 in Iceland as of 2025.

How many years of comparable data are there for Denmark and Iceland?

126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Human Rights Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Denmark vs Iceland: Human Rights Index

Denmark

0.959

in 2025

Iceland

0.95

in 2025

Denmark rank

3rd

Iceland rank

6th

Human Rights Index over time

Denmark
Iceland

How they compare

Denmark currently reports 0.959 against 0.95 in Iceland, a difference of 0.009.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 126 shared years of data; in 1900 it was Denmark ahead.

Denmark ranks 3rd and Iceland ranks 6th of 176 countries.

Across the 13 decades both report, Denmark averaged higher in 12 and Iceland in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Denmark	Iceland	Difference	Ahead
1900s	0.931	0.893	0.038	Denmark
1910s	0.9316	0.8987	0.0329	Denmark
1920s	0.9375	0.9118	0.0257	Denmark
1930s	0.9342	0.907	0.0272	Denmark
1940s	0.7717	0.914	0.1423	Iceland
1950s	0.9629	0.928	0.0349	Denmark
1960s	0.968	0.9311	0.0369	Denmark
1970s	0.97	0.9328	0.0372	Denmark
1980s	0.97	0.9488	0.0212	Denmark
1990s	0.97	0.9608	0.0092	Denmark
2000s	0.97	0.9617	0.0083	Denmark
2010s	0.9657	0.9568	0.0089	Denmark
2020s	0.9547	0.953	0.0017	Denmark

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher human rights index, Denmark or Iceland?: Denmark, at 0.959 against 0.95 in Iceland as of 2025.
What is the difference in human rights index between Denmark and Iceland?: 0.009, with Denmark ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Denmark and Iceland?: 126 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 2025.
How do Denmark and Iceland rank globally for human rights index?: Denmark ranks 3rd and Iceland ranks 6th of 176 countries.
Where does this data come from?: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as Human Rights Index. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Human Rights Index
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 176 places, 30,202 data points, 1789–2025
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Central estimate of the extent to which people are free from government torture, political killings, and forced labor, they have property rights, and enjoy the freedoms of movement, religion, expression, and association.