Research Database
Last update on 01 sep., 2025
4 Migration
The migration table contains immigration and emigration status at individual level. For each individual, it includes 3 variables, covering the years 1986–2022. Each record represents an individual and can be linked to other tables within the same project using project‑specific pseudoidentifiers. The dataset is subject to ongoing review, validation, and updates to ensure accuracy, consistency, and confidentiality. This dataset informs on the migration status of individuals, to and from Iceland, as well as migration within Iceland. Alternatively, the dataset can be provided on a monthly basis.
Number of records in table: 2,139,746
Number of unique IDs included: 497,094
4.1 Tegund flutnings
Metadata
| Variable ID | MIGRATION_TYPE |
| Heiti IS | Tegund flutnings |
| Name (English) | Type of migration |
| Data type | int |
| Grunnskrá - Primary Register | Þjóðskrá |
| Tegund töflu - Type of table | Einstaklingar |
| Tíðni - Frequency | Árleg |
| Tímabil frá - Time period from | 1986 |
| Lýsing - Description (IS) | Upplýsingar um tegund búferlaflutninga sem skráðir eru, þar með talið milli og innan sveitarfélaga og landsvæða. Innflutningur til Íslands og útflutningur frá Íslandi eru einnig meðtalin. |
| Description | Information about the type of migration movement recorded, including between and within municipalities and regions. Immigration and emigration from Iceland are also included. |
| Kóði - Code (IS) |
1 = flutningur innan sveitafélags (MUNICIP) 2 = flutningur milli sveitafélaga (MUNICIP) 3 = flutningur milli landsvæðia (REGION) 4 = Flutningur til Íslands (IMMIGRATION) 5 = Flutningur frá Íslandi (EMIGRATION) |
| Code |
1 = Transfer within municipality (MUNICIP) 2 = Transfer between municipalities (MUNICIP) 3 = Transfer between regions (REGION) 4 = Immigration to Iceland (IMMIGRATION) 5 = Emigration from Iceland (EMIGRATION) |
Summary
| Total records | Unique migration type values | Records with Missing values |
|---|---|---|
| 2,139,746 | 5 | 0 |
| MIGRATION_TYPE | Number of records |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1,072,843 |
| 2 | 327,865 |
| 3 | 299,821 |
| 4 | 247,246 |
| 5 | 191,961 |
4.2 Fjölda flutnigs
Metadata
| Variable ID | MIGRATION_COUNT |
| Heiti IS | Fjölda flutnigs |
| Name (English) | Number of migration transfers |
| Data type | int |
| Grunnskrá - Primary Register | Þjóðskrá |
| Tegund töflu - Type of table | Einstaklingar |
| Tíðni - Frequency | Árleg |
| Tímabil frá - Time period from | 1986 |
| Lýsing - Description (IS) |
Fram til ársins 1985 var Þjóðskrá aðeins uppfærð einu sinni á ári með viðmiðunardegi 1. desember. Skammtímabúferlaflutningar, bæði inn- og útflutningar, sem áttu sér stað milli viðmiðunardaga voru því ekki skráðir. Margar flutningar sem áttu sér stað milli viðmiðunardaga voru ekki skráðir sérstaklega heldur einungis felldir saman í eina breytingu á lögheimili. Frá og með árinu 1986 eru allir búferlaflutningar skráðir jafnóðum og þeir eiga sér stað. Þar með eru taldir allir flutningar sem eru skráðir fyrir 31. desember ár hvert. |
| Description |
Until 1985 the National Register was only updated once a year with a reference date 1 December. Short term immigrations and emigrations that occurred between the reference dates were thus not noted. Multiple movements that occurred between the reference dates were not recorded but reduced to only one change of address. From 1986 all migration events are recorded as they happen. Included are all migration events that are recorded before 31 December each year |
| Kóði - Code (IS) | |
| Code |
Summary
| Total records | Unique migration count values | Min migration count | Max migration count | Records with Missing values |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,139,746 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
| MIGRATION_COUNT | Number of records |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2,003,944 |
| 2 | 125,274 |
| 3 | 9,485 |
| 4 | 928 |
| 5 | 91 |
| 6 | 6 |
| > 6 | 8 |
| Note: | |
| Migration counts higher than 6 are aggregated in this table |
4.3 Dagsetning flutnings
Metadata
| Variable ID | MIGRATION_YEAR |
| Heiti IS | Dagsetning flutnings |
| Name (English) | Date of migration |
| Data type | varchar |
| Grunnskrá - Primary Register | Þjóðskrá |
| Tegund töflu - Type of table | Einstaklingar |
| Tíðni - Frequency | Árleg |
| Tímabil frá - Time period from | 1986 |
| Lýsing - Description (IS) | Upplýsingar um árið þegar búferlaflutningarnir eiga sér stað. |
| Description | Information about the year when the migration movements takes place. |
| Kóði - Code (IS) | |
| Code |
Summary
| Total records | Min migration year | Max migration year | Records with Missing values |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,139,746 | 1986 | 2022 | 0 |
| MIGRATION_YEAR | Number of records |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 71,697 |
| 2020 | 78,511 |
| 2021 | 74,199 |
| 2022 | 75,947 |
| Note: | |
| Summary displays records from 2019 to 2022. Information available from 1986 to 2022. |