Approximately 1,400 people moved from the country in 2011 in excess of those who moved to the country last year, which indicates that the emigration trend is slowing; in 2010 net migration stood at -2,100 people.
Olso; 1,500 people moved from Iceland to Norway last year. Photo by Páll Stefánsson.
According to Statistics Iceland, 2004 was the first year of a wave of increased migration to and from Iceland and that development is still ongoing, ruv.is reports.
In 2004-2008, net migration was 16,000 but in the past three years, 2009-2011, the trend has been reversed. In that period, almost 8,400 people moved abroad in excess of those moving to Iceland.
In 2011, most emigrants moved to Norway, 1,500 people. The same number of people also moved to Denmark and Sweden combined. Most of the emigrants were aged 24-29 and those who moved to the country 20-24.
In 2011, 986 men left the country in excess of male immigrants, whereas women numbered 418.
Until 2003, there were more female than male immigrants on average but the trend was reversed in 2004-2008 in which period 4,215 more men than women moved to the country.
However, in the past three years 3,833 more men than women moved from the country in excess of immigrants. The gender ratio in Iceland’s population has thus equalized.
Click here to read Statistic Iceland’s report on migration trends and here to read more about Icelanders moving to Norway.
ESA
