Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Iceland
Iceland: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 660 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Iceland, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
The most recent figure for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Iceland is 660, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 38.9% on the previous year and up 315.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Iceland peaked at 2,850 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0, in 2003.
Iceland ranks 106th of 179 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 | — |
| 2001 | 15 | +200.0% |
| 2002 | 13 | -13.3% |
| 2003 | 0 | -100.0% |
| 2004 | 5 | — |
| 2005 | 10 | +100.0% |
| 2006 | 11 | +10.0% |
| 2007 | 12 | +9.1% |
| 2008 | 25 | +108.3% |
| 2009 | 5 | -80.0% |
| 2010 | 25 | +400.0% |
| 2011 | 56 | +124.0% |
| 2012 | 87 | +55.4% |
| 2013 | 267 | +206.9% |
| 2014 | 210 | -21.3% |
| 2015 | 159 | -24.3% |
| 2016 | 324 | +103.8% |
| 2017 | 327 | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 437 | +33.6% |
| 2019 | 365 | -16.5% |
| 2020 | 181 | -50.4% |
| 2021 | 306 | +69.1% |
| 2022 | 981 | +220.6% |
| 2023 | 2,850 | +190.5% |
| 2024 | 1,081 | -62.1% |
| 2025 | 660 | -38.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.1 | 0 | 25 | 10 |
| 2010s | 225.7 | 25 | 437 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,010 | 181 | 2,850 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More social development data for Iceland
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 8,459 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh 1 (2025)
- Democracy lexical 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0216 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Iceland?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Iceland was 660 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 2,850 in 2023.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 2003.
- How does Iceland rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Iceland ranks 106th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 315.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.