Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 02 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Iceland: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
Iceland is placed 4th of 176 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 68,065 (2025); Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit 54.18 (2025).
Share
Economy & Innovation
4th
of 176 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 68,065GDP per Capita (PPP), 2025GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
- 54.18Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, 2025Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
- —Economic Complexity Index, 2024No reading for this country
- 99.85Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, 2024Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Iceland on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
68,065
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
Iceland: 68,065. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Northern Europe
- 131,338 Ireland
Key 2 of 4
Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Iceland’s is from 2024 · CC BY 4.0
54.18
Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
Higher is better
Iceland: 54.18. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.
- World median
- 35.95
- Best in Northern Europe
- 68.72 Denmark
Key 3 of 4
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
No reading
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Growth Lab at Harvard University publishes no 2024 figure for Iceland, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
- Best in Northern Europe
- 1.246 United Kingdom
Key 4 of 4
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
99.85
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
Iceland: 99.85. Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
- Best in Northern Europe
- 99.85 Iceland
02Over time
Which way Iceland is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
IcelandWorld median
Iceland rose from 50,228 in 2000 to 68,065 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year Iceland World median 2025 68,065 17,265 2024 68,230 18,108 2023 69,268 17,686 2022 66,581 16,933 2021 62,721 16,260 2020 60,617 15,631 2019 65,995 16,761 2018 66,703 16,349 2017 65,463 16,129 2016 64,759 15,512 2015 61,820 14,857 2014 60,199 14,475 2013 59,730 14,681 2012 58,204 14,631 2011 57,838 13,916 2010 57,225 14,101 2009 58,441 13,655 2008 63,964 14,030 2007 64,075 13,755 2006 60,434 12,983 2005 58,549 12,023 2004 55,577 11,608 2003 52,096 11,183 2002 51,288 11,144 2001 51,468 10,907 2000 50,228 10,589
03In context
Iceland beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
Iceland and Northern Europe
Iceland has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 176; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iceland | 4th | 68,065 | 54.18 | — | 99.85 |
 Finland | 5th | 55,735 | 67.66 | 1.146 | 99.84 |
 Denmark | 6th | 72,723 | 68.72 | 1.012 | 98.65 |
 Norway | 14th | 95,173 | 53.86 | 0.726 | 98.56 |
 Sweden | 17th | 63,362 | 44.2 | 1.236 | 98.57 |
 Ireland | 19th | 131,338 | 42.74 | 1.193 | 98.29 |
 Lithuania | 21st | 48,840 | 46.2 | 0.828 | 98.99 |
 United Kingdom | 26th | 53,993 | 30.22 | 1.246 | 99.28 |
 Estonia | 33rd | 41,604 | 34.72 | 0.89 | 98.9 |
 Latvia | 39th | 38,801 | 36.05 | 0.732 | 94.97 |
| Channel Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Faroe Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Isle of Man | not placed | — | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Northern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below Iceland in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Iceland is ahead of the world, and behind
55 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median20
Statistics on which Iceland does better than the middle country measured.
Comprehensive Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 46,4861,032,40946,486▲ Improved since 2010
Iceland: 1,032,409 · world median 46,486 · National comprehensive wealth per person (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 4,276 to 1,246,092; higher is better.
Position 3rd of 150 · derived.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80039,64312,800▲ Improved since 2017
Iceland: 39,643 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 9th of 173 · derived.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6764.7646.67No real change since 2012
Iceland: 64.76 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 16th of 195 · derived.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.955,953701.95No earlier reading
Iceland: 5,953 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.
Position 13th of 145 · derived.
New Business DensityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.18710.862.187▼ Worsened since 2014
Iceland: 10.86 · world median 2.187 · New limited liability companies registered per 1,000 people aged 15–64. World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 26.76; higher is better.
Total Factor Productivity LevelGGDC · 2023 · world median 0.6270.9080.627▲ Improved since 2013
Iceland: 0.908 · world median 0.627 · TFP level at current PPPs (USA = 1). Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.052 to 1.192; higher is better.
Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate)World Bank Group (Prospects Group) · 2020 · world median 27.514.6627.5▼ Worsened since 2010
Iceland: 14.66 · world median 27.5 · Informal output, model estimate (% of official GDP). World Bank Group (Prospects Group), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 7.91 to 60.43; lower is better.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,89042,14612,890No real change since 2012
Iceland: 42,146 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 21st of 166 · derived.
Firms with an International Quality CertificationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 10.426.6210.4No earlier reading
Iceland: 26.62 · world median 10.4 · Firms with an internationally recognised quality certification (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 45.77; higher is better.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0931.065-0.093▼ Worsened since 2015
Iceland: 1.065 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 30th of 209 · derived.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8142.640.814▲ Improved since 2013
Iceland: 2.64 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 14th of 84 · derived.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.7690.485No real change since 2013
Iceland: 0.769 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 29th of 170 · derived.
Global Innovation IndexWorld Intellectual Property Organization · 2025 · world median 28.5247.0228.52▼ Worsened since 2022
Iceland: 47.02 · world median 28.52 · GII score (0–100). World Intellectual Property Organization, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.94 to 65.96; higher is better.
Ranked 24th of 139 by World Intellectual Property Organization.
World Energy Trilemma IndexWorld Energy Council · 2023 · world median 63.876.163.8No earlier reading
Iceland: 76.1 · world median 63.8 · Trilemma score (0–100). World Energy Council, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.7 to 83.2; higher is better.
Ranked 20th of 99 by World Energy Council.
Water-Use EfficiencyFAO · 2023 · world median 16.171.5816.1No real change since 2014
Iceland: 71.58 · world median 16.1 · Value added per cubic metre of freshwater withdrawn (constant US$ per m³). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 1,378; higher is better.
Logistics Performance IndexWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 2.93.62.9No real change since 2014
Iceland: 3.6 · world median 2.9 · LPI score (1–5). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.9 to 4.3; higher is better.
Ranked 26th of 139 by World Bank Group.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1960.4940.19▼ Worsened since 2020
Iceland: 60.49 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 44th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.23117.58106.23▲ Improved since 2012
Iceland: 117.58 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 55th of 195 · derived.
Management Practices IndexWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 52.3956.1252.39No earlier reading
Iceland: 56.12 · world median 52.39 · Management practices index, medium and large firms (0–100). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 28.07 to 69.29; higher is better.
Position 57th of 169 · derived.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8135.3641.81No earlier reading
Iceland: 35.36 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 110th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which Iceland does worse than the middle country measured.
ICT Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 7.4747.3287.474No real change since 2014
Iceland: 7.328 · world median 7.474 · ICT services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 56.25; higher is better.
Position 62nd of 118 · derived.
Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 25.4221.3925.42▼ Worsened since 2014
Iceland: 21.39 · world median 25.42 · Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.377 to 87.15; higher is better.
Position 95th of 170 · derived.
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 2021 · world median 8.3895.6968.389▲ Improved since 2011
Iceland: 5.696 · world median 8.389 · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from -81.62 to 32.18; higher is better.
Position 72nd of 118 · derived.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08102.07106.08▼ Worsened since 2012
Iceland: 102.07 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 123rd of 195 · derived.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9750.380.975▲ Improved since 2014
Iceland: 0.38 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 78th of 119 · derived.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06101.26107.06▼ Worsened since 2012
Iceland: 101.26 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 130th of 194 · derived.
Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.2127.6256.21▲ Improved since 2016
Iceland: 27.62 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.
Ranked 117th of 175 by UNCTAD.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3961.2793.396▼ Worsened since 2015
Iceland: 1.279 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 152nd of 186 · derived.
No better end27
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Price Level of Household ConsumptionGGDC · 2023 · world median 0.5231.3030.523Moved since 2013
Iceland: 1.303 · world median 0.523 · Price level of household consumption (US output price level in 2021 = 1). Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.177 to 65.54.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.952,730657.95No real change since 2019
Iceland: 2,730 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
General Government ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 16.2126.0616.21Moved since 2015
Iceland: 26.06 · world median 16.21 · General government final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 5.445 to 38.94.
Position 8th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Tax Revenue (% of GDP)OECD · 2024 · world median 21.8536.9521.85No real change since 2014
Iceland: 36.95 · world median 21.85 · Total tax revenue, all levels of government (% of GDP). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.11 to 45.18.
Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.23134.4103.23Moved since 2015
Iceland: 134.4 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.
Inflation, GDP DeflatorWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3066.8723.306Moved since 2015
Iceland: 6.872 · world median 3.306 · Annual change in the GDP implicit deflator (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -7.93 to 227.09.
Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.60221.139.602Moved since 2015
Iceland: 21.13 · world median 9.602 · Services exports (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.085 to 166.21.
Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.4640.306Moved since 2015
Iceland: 0.464 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.
Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 22.9326.5722.93Moved since 2015
Iceland: 26.57 · world median 22.93 · Gross capital formation (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.679 to 45.27.
Position 38th of 131 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.1784.4867.17Moved since 2014
Iceland: 84.48 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.
Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 36.3440.1136.34Moved since 2015
Iceland: 40.11 · world median 36.34 · Exports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.103 to 199.76.
Position 61st of 138 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Creative Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 6.1718.0166.171Moved since 2014
Iceland: 8.016 · world median 6.171 · Creative services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.002 to 63.91.
Gross Savings (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 22.062322.06Moved since 2014
Iceland: 23 · world median 22.06 · Gross savings (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -21.13 to 47.82.
Position 67th of 146 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Foreign Value Added Share of Gross ExportsOECD · 2022 · world median 27.4128.4327.41Moved since 2012
Iceland: 28.43 · world median 27.41 · Foreign value added (% of gross exports). OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 4.491 to 66.08.
Trade (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 79.6882.4979.68Moved since 2015
Iceland: 82.49 · world median 79.68 · Exports plus imports (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.382 to 396.65.
Position 67th of 138 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 41.7242.3741.72Moved since 2015
Iceland: 42.37 · world median 41.72 · Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.279 to 196.89.
Position 69th of 138 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2402,0562,240Moved since 2022
Iceland: 2,056 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.7378.69275.73Moved since 2016
Iceland: 78.69 · world median 275.73 · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 397,071.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6.5723.6546.572Moved since 2015
Iceland: 3.654 · world median 6.572 · Agriculture, forestry and fishing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.025 to 47.59.
Position 100th of 158 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Corporate Income Tax RateOECD · 2026 · world median 242024No real change since 2016
Iceland: 20 · world median 24 · Combined statutory corporate income tax rate, central and sub-central government (%). OECD, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 36.13.
Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.661.633.66Moved since 2012
Iceland: 1.63 · world median 3.66 · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 29.52.
Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 11.268.52911.26Moved since 2015
Iceland: 8.529 · world median 11.26 · Manufacturing value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.481 to 43.97.
Position 89th of 132 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2025 · world median 24.6520.0624.65Moved since 2015
Iceland: 20.06 · world median 24.65 · Industry, including construction, value added (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.228 to 75.09.
Position 113th of 158 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 1.9680.6011.968Moved since 2015
Iceland: 0.601 · world median 1.968 · FDI inflows (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -32.97 to 2,221.
Creative Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 1.2350.0811.235Moved since 2014
Iceland: 0.081 · world median 1.235 · Creative goods exports (% of merchandise exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.23.
Household ConsumptionWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 62.0449.6262.04Moved since 2015
Iceland: 49.62 · world median 62.04 · Household and NPISH final consumption expenditure (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 25.21 to 133.34.
Position 112th of 131 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.70801.708No real change since 2011
Iceland: 0 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 179th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Iceland
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2020), Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Complexity Outlook Index, Container Port Traffic (last 2023), Debt Service on External Debt, Economic Complexity Index, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Gini Index (last 2019), Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2019), GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2019), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2019), Interest Payments on External Debt and Palma Ratio (last 2019). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among Iceland’s 16 topics
Economy & Innovation is Iceland’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security1st of 1773/4 keys
- Work & Labour1st of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation4th of 1763/4 keys
- Energy5th of 1653/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience8th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality8th of 1593/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties11th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital14th of 1963/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing15th of 2003/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 19th of 1944/4 keys
- Gender & Equality37th of 1833/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge56th of 1983/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 68th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture70th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade93rd of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 118th of 1863/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders Iceland can most readily be measured against.
1
AustriaWestern Europe
1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
GermanyWestern Europe
3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Austria1st4/4 keysHighest in Northern Europe
Iceland4th3/4 keys
Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Iceland and economy & innovation
On economy & innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
Iceland on economy & innovation: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Iceland rank on economy & innovation?
Iceland is placed 4th of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP), Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit and Account Ownership at a Financial Institution). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for Iceland?
68,065 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for Iceland?
54.18 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.
How have Iceland’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 50,228 in 2000 to 68,065 in 2025.
Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for Iceland?
No current reading is published for Iceland on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Complexity Outlook Index, Container Port Traffic, Debt Service on External Debt, Economic Complexity Index, External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), GNI per Capita (PPP), Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Interest Payments on External Debt and Palma Ratio. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The economy & innovation method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 55 statistics on this page come from 13 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Iceland’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Iceland (banner) — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Germany — dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Iceland: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iceland/economy