Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Iceland
Iceland: Total shortfall from extreme poverty was 219,746 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Iceland, 2003–2019
Source: World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 219,746 international-$ in 2021 prices for total shortfall from extreme poverty in 2019.
The figure is down 66.2% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total shortfall from extreme poverty in Iceland peaked at 650,409 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0 international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2014.
Iceland ranks 112th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Iceland, year by year
| Year | international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 18,844 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2004 | 360,339 international-$ in 2021 prices | +1812.2% |
| 2005 | 55,298 international-$ in 2021 prices | -84.7% |
| 2006 | 300,247 international-$ in 2021 prices | +443.0% |
| 2007 | 117,499 international-$ in 2021 prices | -60.9% |
| 2008 | 175,131 international-$ in 2021 prices | +49.0% |
| 2009 | 220,754 international-$ in 2021 prices | +26.1% |
| 2010 | 368,282 international-$ in 2021 prices | +66.8% |
| 2011 | 357,584 international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 86,456 international-$ in 2021 prices | -75.8% |
| 2013 | 165,236 international-$ in 2021 prices | +91.1% |
| 2014 | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | -100.0% |
| 2015 | 42,421 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2016 | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | -100.0% |
| 2017 | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2018 | 650,409 international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2019 | 219,746 international-$ in 2021 prices | -66.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 219,746 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for high income countries, which is 21.17 million international-$ in 2021 prices, 1% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 219,746 international-$ in 2021 prices is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.37 million international-$ in 2021 prices, 3% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | +1812.2% | 18,844 international-$ in 2021 prices | 360,339 international-$ in 2021 prices |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 178,302 international-$ in 2021 prices | 18,844 international-$ in 2021 prices | 360,339 international-$ in 2021 prices | 7 |
| 2010s | 189,013 international-$ in 2021 prices | 0 international-$ in 2021 prices | 650,409 international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 109 Albania 976,820 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 110 Moldova 493,421 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 111 Malaysia 275,677 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 113 Luxembourg 213,382 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 114 Cyprus 104,217 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 115 Bhutan 7,229 international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More poverty & inequality data for Iceland
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 4 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.54 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 2,430 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -18.09 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 35.57 (2023)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 35.6% (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total shortfall from extreme poverty in Iceland?
- Total shortfall from extreme poverty in Iceland was 219,746 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019, according to World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 650,409 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2018.
- What is the lowest total shortfall from extreme poverty recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 international-$ in 2021 prices in 2014.
- How does Iceland rank for total shortfall from extreme poverty?
- Iceland ranks 112th out of 120 countries with data for 2019.
- Is total shortfall from extreme poverty rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank Poverty and Inequality Platform (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Total shortfall from extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This is the amount of money that would be theoretically needed to lift the income or consumption of all people in poverty up to $3 per day. However, this is not a measure of the actual cost of eliminating poverty, since it does not take into account the costs involved in making the necessary transfers nor any changes in behavior they would bring about.