Iceland
Europe · Northern Europe
World's most peaceful country: raw volcanic nature, very expensive, tiny population.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Iceland's Human Development Index
0.959
Very High human development#3 of 191 countries worldwide, #3 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 99% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Iceland
Iceland is a North Atlantic island of volcanic landscapes, geysers, waterfalls, hot springs, and Northern Lights that has become one of the world's most photographed destinations. The culture is deeply rooted in Norse saga traditions and a close relationship with a nature that is genuinely powerful and unpredictable. The country suits those who love dramatic landscapes and outdoor adventure, though the tourist infrastructure has expanded rapidly and prices reflect that.
- No standing army and hasn't fought a war in over 700 years.
- Lowest crime rate of any country with available data.
- No native land mammals other than the arctic fox — all others were brought by humans.
Quick Facts
Capital
Reykjavik
Language
Icelandic
Currency
kr ISK
Area
100,830 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
347Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
kr1,000,000/mo
~$7,400/mo
Duration
6 months
Renewable
No
Application Fee
~kr12,200
~$90
GDP / Capita
$98K
PPP / Capita
$83K
Inflation
4.1%
Unemployment
3.6%
Innovation (GII)
47.0
GNI / Capita
$89K
Tax Revenue
23.2%
FDI Inflows
-0.5%
Education Spend
7.3%
Cost of Living
97.2
Price Level Index
0th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.834 → 0.959 (+0.125)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Iceland for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Iceland head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Iceland's Human Development Index?
Iceland's Human Development Index is 0.959 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #3 of 191 countries.
Is Iceland safe?
Iceland scores 1.16 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #1 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Iceland?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Iceland at 97.2 (New York = 100); that is #140 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Iceland?
Life expectancy at birth in Iceland is 82.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #21 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Iceland?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Iceland at 195.8, ranked #9 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.