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Iceland vs United States: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 194 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Iceland
isl
Leads on 102 of 194 metrics
United States
usa
Leads on 81 of 194 metrics

Summary

United States has 866 times as many people as Iceland (349.13 million vs 403,137). United States's economy is 831 times the size of Iceland's ($32.95 trillion vs $39.63 billion GDP).

Comparing Iceland and United States: United States leads on Irrigated Land (234,782) against Iceland (0.50); Iceland leads on Major Urban Areas Population (216,000 people) against United States (18.94 people); Iceland leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (20,220) against United States (2.17). Across 194 compared metrics, Iceland wins on 102 and United States wins on 81.

  • Communications: 10 metrics compared
  • Economy: 71 metrics compared
  • Energy: 1 metric compared
  • Environment: 12 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 13 metrics compared
  • Health: 28 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 43 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 4 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

10 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Broadband Internet Penetration37.52 %38.86 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration37.52 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants38.86 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)98.21 %ā˜…94.69 %
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)99.83 %ā˜…93.14 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 100% (2023 est.)percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed37.52 Mbps38.86 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score81.36 pointsā˜…65.49 points
Radios260,000ā˜…575
Televisions98,000ā˜…219
Waterwaysnone41,009

Economy

71 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country1.21B $350.60B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars39.63B $32.95T $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)26.11 %ā˜…21.84 %
Apple Import Volume3.66M tonnes76.82M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate99.85 %ā˜…97.02 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)5.4 %ā˜…0.5 %
Coal Revenue00.2ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)7.26 %ā˜…4.1 %
Corporate Tax Rate Trends20 %25.84 %ā˜…
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.5 % of GDP16.9 % of GDPā˜…
Ease of Doing Business Index7992ā˜…
Electricity Consumption17.68ā˜…3.9
Electricity Exports09.7ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels470ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants71ā˜…7
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels09ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables25ā˜…14
Electricity Imports072.72ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity2.77ā˜…1.09
Electricity Production18.17ā˜…4.1
Female Labor Force Participation Rate83.95 %ā˜…68.99 %
Gender Pay Gap Percentage11.75 %ā˜…11.19 %
Gender Wage Gap11.75 %11.19 %ā˜…
Gini Index Coefficient26.641.8ā˜…
Global Cattle Population76,902 millions87.16M millionsā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment14.5ā˜…12.9
Gross National Saving25.8ā˜…18.9
High-Tech Export Percentage36.43 %59.63 %ā˜…
Highest GDP per Capita Countries68,064.69 USD76,931.31 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)-2.3 %3.25 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate5.86 %2.95 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)5.9 %2.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (CPI)5.86 %2.95 %ā˜…
Lowest Average Tariff Rate1.63 %ā˜…1.49 %
Manufacturing Output (US$)2.60B USD2.50T USDā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.3 % of GDP3.42 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption0767.6ā˜…
Natural Gas Exports089.7ā˜…
Natural Gas Imports086.15ā˜…
Natural Gas Production0772.8ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves00
Oil Consumption17,430ā˜…19.15
Oil Exports1,209ā˜…1.92
Oil Imports15,530ā˜…10.27
Oil Production09.69ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves020.68ā˜…
Population Below Poverty Line8.8 peopleā˜…15.1 people
Public Debt80.7ā˜…114.8
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)2.64 %3.45 %ā˜…
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.5 USD2.8 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends-0.7 %ā˜…-1.26 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption20,850ā˜…19.96
Refined Petroleum Products Exports2,530ā˜…5.22
Refined Petroleum Products Imports20,220ā˜…2.18
Refined Petroleum Products Production020.3ā˜…
Remittances0.7ā˜…0
Researchers in R&D per Million6,863.55 researchersā˜…4,937.49 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources00.04ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding2.64 USD3.45 USDā˜…
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.08ā˜…1
Tax Burden (% of GDP)23.16 %10.62 %ā˜…
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)23.16 % of GDPā˜…10.62 % of GDP
Taxes and Other Revenues23.3ā˜…10.6
Top Exporting Countries14.12B USD3.19T USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)-0.52 %1.3 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires1989ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP6.1 %ā˜…2.97 %
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)6.1 %ā˜…2.97 %
Unemployment Rate3.2 %ā˜…4.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate74.93 %61.7 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate8.67 %ā˜…9.34 %

Energy

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Total Coal Reserves0 tonnes2,945.31 tonnesā˜…

Environment

12 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)294,776-14.29Mā˜…
Annual Forest Area Change Rate964 %ā˜…-72,000 %
Average Annual Temperature2.87 Ā°C10.43 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions3.1ā˜…4.8
Continental Shelfedge of continental margin or 200 nm;not specified;
Global Precipitation Distribution1,409.06 mmā˜…810.4 mm
Population DistributionIceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and westlarge urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest
Protected Land Area for Adaptation21.13 sq kmā˜…12.85 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage20.9 %ā˜…12.9 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country24 Cubic meters per year1,383 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources170ā˜…3.07
Total Threatened Mammal Species6 speciesā˜…43 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization0.16 %2.11 %ā˜…
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)23.6694.67ā˜…
Agricultural land18,720 sq. km4.17M sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km100,8309.15Mā˜…
Coastline Length (km)4,970 km19,924 kmā˜…
Dam capacity per capita5,604.12 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land0.5234,782ā˜…

Government

13 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Rule of Law Index by Country96.93 %ā˜…88.3 %
Administrative Divisions64ā˜…50
Corruption Perception Index77 index65 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score77 indexā˜…65 index
Governance Effectiveness Rating83.98ā˜…76.72
Independence14ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score5.927.08ā˜…
Prison Population Rate44 per 100,000ā˜…505 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception7765ā˜…
Public Trust in Government (%)42.5 %ā˜…28 %
Suffrage Participation Rate1818
Trust in National Government42.5 %ā˜…28 %
Women in National Parliaments46.03 %ā˜…28.94 %

Health

28 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water100 %ā˜…97.57 %
Average BMI for Adults27 kg/mĀ²28.8 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Cancer Mortality Rate102.92 per 100,00095.18 per 100,000ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate97 %ā˜…92 %
Dentist Density7.8 per 10,000 peopleā˜…5.9 per 10,000 people
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)7.94ā˜…26.21
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)6.913.7ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders82.81 yearsā˜…78.89 years
Fruit Consumption Per Capita130.14 kg per year169.2 kg per yearā˜…
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.2 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.27 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita7,810.82 USD15,459.46 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score90 scoreā˜…88 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)8.6 % of GDP16.6 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy82.81 yearsā˜…78.89 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate0.1 %NA
Hospital Bed Density2.8 people/sq kmā˜…2.7 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita2.83 beds per 1,000ā˜…2.71 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence3.99 %ā˜…8.26 %
Low Birth Weight Rate3.99 %ā˜…8.26 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)3 %ā˜…17 %
Mean Age at First Birth28.7ā˜…27.5
Nurses and Midwives Density15.64 per 1,000 peopleā˜…13.38 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)21.9 %ā˜…36.2 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending14.69 %10.93 %ā˜…
People Living With HIV/AIDSnote: estimate does not include childrenNA
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)7.68 %14.3 %ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors4.44ā˜…3.68
Underweight Children Under 5NA0.4

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Active Military Personnel0 personnel1.36M personnelā˜…
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)0 %ā˜…3.12 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)01.40Mā˜…

People and Society

43 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Currently married (Percent)47.72 %51.38 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.74ā˜…0.72
Life expectancy at birth84.66 yearsā˜…83.22 years
Median age of population36.28 years38.79 yearsā˜…
Population Change3,714.6 persons2.26M personsā˜…
Population density4.05 per sq. kmā˜…38.15 per sq. km
Total population403,136.5 persons349.13M personsā˜…
Academic Freedom Index0.76ā˜…0.4
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsCC
Beer Consumption per Capita4.22 litersā˜…3.86 liters
Birth Rate (%)12.47 %ā˜…10.75 %
Contraceptive Prevalence RateNA73.9 %
Crude Birth Rate11.2 per 1,000 peopleā˜…10.6 per 1,000 people
Death Rate (%)6.62 %ā˜…8.76 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)7.3 % of GDPā˜…5.4 % of GDP
Egg Consumption per Capita9.94 eggs per year15.59 eggs per yearā˜…
Female population of reproductive age96,725.95 persons78.56M personsā˜…
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)114.63 %ā˜…94.85 %
Firearm Homicides per 100,0000 per 100,000ā˜…4.42 per 100,000
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate37.52 %38.86 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.86 male/femaleā˜…104.75 male/female
Human Development Index0.84ā˜…0.75
Labor Force Participation Rate248,400ā˜…174.17
Learning-adjusted years of school10.48 years11.07 yearsā˜…
Length of paid parental leave for mother288 daysā˜…183.4 days
Major Urban Areas Population216,000 peopleā˜…18.94 people
Mean Male Height (cm)180.49ā˜…177.13
Mean Years of Schooling13.53 yearsā˜…13.32 years
Milk Consumption per Capita202.17 liters226.3 litersā˜…
Old-Age Dependency Ratio23.03 %ā˜…26.8 %
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization76.4 %ā˜…74.52 %
Physician Density4.37 people/sq kmā˜…3.68 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate0.82 %ā˜…0.45 %
Population living in slums0 %0.05 %ā˜…
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio10.14ā˜…14.46
Total deaths2,727.1 personsā˜…2.87M persons
Total fertility rate1.38 per woman1.61 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration2,246.8 persons1.49M personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate0.48 per live birthsā˜…5.52 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate1.55 %ā˜…0.61 %
Urban Population Share 205094.22 %ā˜…80.19 %
Voting Age Population77.68 millionsā˜…62.36 millions
Wine Consumption Per Capita2.23 litersā˜…1.59 liters

Transportation

4 metrics
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)14.35ā˜…2.06
Airports8216,116ā˜…
Civil Air Travel208,252ā˜…
Heliports18,130ā˜…

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita3.22B USD251.65B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡®šŸ‡ø IcelandšŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø United StatesShare
Current Bank Rate7.75 %ā˜…3.75 %

Frequently Asked Questions About Iceland vs United States

Which has a larger population, Iceland or United States?ā–¾

United States. United States has 866 times as many people as Iceland (349.13 million vs 403,137). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Iceland or United States?ā–¾

United States. United States's economy is 831 times the size of Iceland's ($32.95 trillion vs $39.63 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Iceland or United States?ā–¾

They are about equally rich per person: GDP per capita is about $98,298 in Iceland vs $94,373 in United States (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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