Numbers of foreign visitors
Overnight visitors - All entry points
The total number of foreign overnight visitors to Iceland was just under 700 thousand in 2021, a 44% increase from 2020, when foreign visitors numbered just under half million. This can be seen in the table to the right, 2012-2021.
The graph under the table shows the development graphically over the last 5 years, both the number and the change from the previous year.
- Around 690 thousand came on flights through Keflavík International Airport or 98.5% of the total number of visitors.
- Around 10 thousand visitors came with Norræna through Seyðisfjörður, or around 1.5% of the total.
- Only around 100 came on flights through Reykjavík Airport or Akureyri Airport.
For tourists who come through Keflavík Airport and with
Norræna, you can see the breakdown by nationality. See more detailed information (updated monthly) for Keflavík Airport below.
You can also get the number of Foreign visitors to Iceland 1949-2021 (Excel).
Number of foreign passengers with cruise ships 2021 - all ports
Passengers arriving with cruise ships are counted separately and are not part of the numbers above. The total number of passengers in 2021 was about 19 thousand, a significant increase in passenger numbers from 2020, when they were only about 1.300.
Nationalities - Keflavik Airport
Almost 99% of visitors to Iceland come through Keflavik Airport. The counting of departing passengers at the airport provides additional information on the composition of visitors to Iceland. This is done by manual counting just before the visitors enter the airport security. It´s worth mentioning that, by using this method, all passengers that go through the security check, are included in these numbers. Therefore these figures need to be viewed with a certain caution. It has to be emphasized, though, that most transit passengers are not included in these numbers.*
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Visitors to Iceland through Keflavik Airport, 2003-2023 (Updated monthly)
Year-over-year (YOY):
- 2022 versus 2021
- 2021 versus 2020
- 2020 versus 2019
- 2019 versus 2018
- 2018 versus 2017
- 2017 versus 2016
- 2016 versus 2015
- 2015 versus 2014
- 2014 versus 2013
- 2013 versus 2012
- 2012 versus 2011
- 2011 versus 2010
- 2010 versus 2009