Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 12 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Iceland: Mobility & Trade
How connected is a country to the rest of the world?
Iceland is placed 93rd of 177 countries on mobility & trade in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Liner Shipping Connectivity Index 28.72 (2025); Container Import Dwell Time 5 (2024).
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Mobility & Trade
93rd
of 177 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Iceland on mobility & trade — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
28.72
LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)
Higher is better
Ranked 118th of 177 by UNCTAD
Iceland: 28.72. Across the 168 countries in this edition, values run from 4.13 (Turks and Caicos Islands) to 1,313 (China); the world median is 60.84.
- World median
- 60.84
- Best in Northern Europe
- 388.95 United Kingdom
5
Median days a full import container waits in port
Lower is better
Iceland: 5. Across the 156 countries in this edition, values run from 1 (Gibraltar) to 21.6 (Haiti); the world median is 4.4.
- World median
- 4.4
- Best in Northern Europe
- 2.4 Ireland
3.6
LPI score (1–5)
Higher is better
Ranked 26th of 139 by World Bank Group
Iceland: 3.6. Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 1.9 (Afghanistan) to 4.3 (Singapore); the world median is 2.9.
- World median
- 2.9
- Best in Northern Europe
- 4.2 Finland
Key 4 of 4
ICT Goods Exports
UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
0.38
ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports)
Higher is better
Iceland: 0.38. Across the 120 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 61.45 (Hong Kong); the world median is 0.975.
- World median
- 0.975
- Best in Northern Europe
- 8.38 Estonia
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.
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100) · higher is better
IcelandWorld median
Iceland rose from 19.33 in 2006 to 27.62 in 2026; the world median went from 52.25 to 56.21.
Every year’s figures
Year Iceland World median 2026 27.62 56.21 2025 28.72 60.84 2024 27.98 55.22 2023 26.94 54.78 2022 25.83 51.49 2021 23.69 52.64 2020 23.63 47.86 2019 21.24 51.05 2018 21.82 52.03 2017 21.61 49.87 2016 17.09 48.09 2015 18.06 49.13 2014 19.25 48.08 2013 17.70 51.32 2012 16.76 47.44 2011 15.49 50.26 2010 16.33 50.51 2009 16.50 53.04 2008 18.32 51.68 2007 19.36 55.78 2006 19.33 52.25 Logistics Performance Index
LPI score (1–5) · higher is better
IcelandWorld median
Iceland rose from 3.197 in 2010 to 3.6 in 2023; the world median went from 2.746 to 2.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Iceland World median 2023 3.600 2.900 2018 3.225 2.706 2016 3.346 2.734 2014 3.392 2.753 2012 3.395 2.773 2010 3.197 2.746 2007 — 2.529 ICT Goods Exports
ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) · higher is better
IcelandWorld median
Iceland rose from 0.11 in 2000 to 0.38 in 2024; the world median went from 0.43 to 0.975.
Every year’s figures
Year Iceland World median 2024 0.38 0.975000 2023 0.21 0.690000 2022 0.19 0.565000 2021 0.32 0.550000 2020 0.24 0.680000 2019 0.17 0.625000 2018 0.18 0.480000 2017 0.17 0.630000 2016 0.15 0.865000 2015 0.18 0.790000 2014 0.15 0.760000 2013 0.10 0.645000 2012 0.17 0.630000 2011 0.07 0.535000 2010 0.07 0.560000 2009 0.07 0.780000 2008 0.18 0.595000 2007 0.16 0.660000 2006 0.16 0.445000 2005 0.10 0.570000 2004 0.07 0.535000 2003 0.11 0.530000 2002 0.07 0.510000 2001 0.09 0.490000 2000 0.11 0.430000
03In context
Iceland beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 177 countries on mobility & trade, 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 177; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexLSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100) | Container Import Dwell TimeMedian days a full import container waits in port | Logistics Performance IndexLPI score (1–5) | ICT Goods ExportsICT goods exports (% of total goods exports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 United Kingdom | 13th | 388.95 | 3 | 3.7 | 3.43 |
 Denmark | 17th | 93.94 | 2.7 | 4.1 | 3.43 |
 Finland | =30th | 68.32 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 2.06 |
 Sweden | =30th | 120.39 | 4.1 | 4 | 4.9 |
 Ireland | 33rd | 62.68 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 6.59 |
 Estonia | 45th | 29.98 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 8.38 |
 Latvia | =48th | 41.72 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 7.56 |
 Norway | =48th | 52.59 | 2.6 | 3.7 | 0.98 |
 Lithuania | 50th | 82.94 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 4.43 |
| Iceland | 93rd | 28.72 | 5 | 3.6 | 0.38 |
| Channel Islands | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Faroe Islands | not placed | 20.59 | — | — | — |
 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 177.
Placed either side on mobility & trade
The countries immediately above and below Iceland in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Iceland is ahead of the world, and behind
26 more statistics filed under mobility & trade, 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 median1
Statistics on which Iceland does better than the middle country measured.
Freedom of Foreign MovementV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 1.22.0291.2▲ Improved since 2015
Iceland: 2.029 · world median 1.2 · Original latent estimate (≈ −3.6 to +2.9); higher = freer movement. V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -3.642 to 2.727; higher is better.
Position 43rd of 176 · derived.
Behind the world median4
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.
FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2024 · world median 0.0790.1540.079No real change since 2018
Iceland: 0.154 · world median 0.079 · FDI Regulatory Restrictiveness Index (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.567; lower is better.
Position 32nd of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Average Time to Clear Exports Through CustomsWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 4.4567.594.456No earlier reading
Iceland: 7.59 · world median 4.456 · Average time to clear exports through customs (days). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 27.46; lower is better.
Position 49th of 174 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness IndexOECD · 2025 · world median 0.2060.2060.206▼ Worsened since 2015
Iceland: 0.206 · world median 0.206 · Digital STRI (0 = open, 1 = closed). OECD, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.021 to 0.649; lower is better.
Position 65th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end20
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Net Migration RateUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median -0.13311.95-0.133Moved since 2013
Iceland: 11.95 · world median -0.133 · Net migrants per 1,000 population. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from -61.68 to 39.62.
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.
Cereal Import Dependency RatioFAO · 2022 · world median 42.893.142.8Moved since 2015
Iceland: 93.1 · world median 42.8 · Share of the cereal supply that is imported (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from -1,894 to 100.
International Migrants as a Share of PopulationUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 6.08925.126.089Moved since 2015
Iceland: 25.12 · world median 6.089 · International migrants (% of population). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 100.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.27912.695.279Moved since 2013
Iceland: 12.69 · world median 5.279 · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.333 to 1,724.
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.
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.
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.
Refugee Population by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 12,2698,45912,269Moved since 2015
Iceland: 8,459 · world median 12,269 · Refugees under UNHCR's mandate hosted, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 2,655,191.
Asylum-Seekers by Country of AsylumUNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency · 2025 · world median 1,8366601,836Moved since 2015
Iceland: 660 · world median 1,836 · Asylum-seekers awaiting a decision, end of year (people). UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 3,718,945.
International MigrantsUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 223,32398,818223,323Moved since 2015
Iceland: 98,818 · world median 223,323 · International migrants living in the country, mid-year (people). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 246 to 52,375,047.
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.
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.
EmigrantsUN DESA Population Division · 2024 · world median 444,45123,326444,451Moved since 2015
Iceland: 23,326 · world median 444,451 · Migrants from the country living abroad, mid-year (people). UN DESA Population Division, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 313 to 18,533,845.
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.
No current reading for Iceland
Container Port Traffic (last 2023), Cost of Sending Remittances and Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2023). 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
Mobility & Trade among Iceland’s 16 topics
Mobility & Trade is Iceland’s 15th 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 mobility & trade
The three countries placed highest of 177, and the leaders Iceland can most readily be measured against.
1
SingaporeSouth-eastern Asia
1st of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
2
MacauEastern Asia
2nd of 177 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
Hong KongEastern Asia
3rd of 177 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Netherlands4th4/4 keysHighest in Northern Europe
United Kingdom13th4/4 keysThis page
Iceland93rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 177 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 mobility & trade
On mobility & trade
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 mobility & trade
The World’s Safest Airlines for 2025
The eleven safest airlines of 2025, each beside the country it is based in, and the nine things the grading looks at. Three airlines share third place, and the publisher gives an order but no score.
On mobility & trade
The world’s most powerful passports for 2025
Sixteen passports, their mobility scores, and the visa-free, visa-on-arrival and visa-required split behind each. Fourteen share third place while differing in how they reach it.
08Questions
Iceland on mobility & trade: 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 mobility & trade?
Iceland is placed 93rd of 177 countries on Mobility & Trade in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, Container Import Dwell Time, Logistics Performance Index and ICT Goods Exports). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Liner Shipping Connectivity Index figure for Iceland?
28.72 in 2025 (lSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100)), according to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The world median in the same edition was 60.84.
What is the latest Container Import Dwell Time figure for Iceland?
5 in 2024 (median days a full import container waits in port), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 4.4.
How have Iceland’s mobility & trade figures changed?
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index rose from 19.33 in 2006 to 27.62 in 2026; Logistics Performance Index rose from 3.197 in 2010 to 3.6 in 2023; ICT Goods Exports rose from 0.11 in 2000 to 0.38 in 2024.
Which mobility & trade statistics are missing for Iceland?
No current reading is published for Iceland on Container Port Traffic, Cost of Sending Remittances and Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary. 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
Passport strength and freedom of movement for people are not measured with a key, because the data behind passport rankings is not licensed for reuse here. Trade as a share of the economy, remittance costs and student mobility are published here as context.
How the Mobility & Trade 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 mobility & trade method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Liner Shipping Connectivity Index — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Container Import Dwell Time — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Logistics Performance Index — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- ICT Goods Exports — UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), CC BY 3.0 IGO
The other 26 statistics on this page come from 8 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
- Singapore — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
- Macau — Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hong Kong — Base64 and Derivative work by Globe-trotter, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Iceland: Mobility & Trade — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/iceland/mobility