Statistics Iceland has released its latest population projections for the country, with the main statistic that Icelanders will number approximately 436,500 on 1st January 2060. The current population of the island is 317,600.

The figure of 436,500 is a medium variant of the projection, but the population could range anywhere from 386,500 to 493,800. The increase is mainly attributed to a high net migration figure, but net migration is predicted to have an overall negative impact on the population until 2012.

Statistics Iceland also predicts a positive change in life expectancy amongst Icelanders, with a projected range of 79.7 to 85.0 years for men, and 83.3 to 87.1 for women. The population is also predicted to age as a whole, in line with other European nations. Presently Iceland enjoys an unusually high birth rate for a European country, and has a younger population compared with other Northern European nations.

Sources: mbl.is, statice.is
Image: úlfhams_víkingur

Labels: Population