Subsidies and other transfers in Iceland

Iceland: Subsidies and other transfers was 29.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling

Latest (2023)
29.4%
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
102nd
of 152 countries
All-time high
35.5%
in 2020
All-time low
16.2%
in 2008
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Subsidies and other transfers in Iceland, 1990–2023

0102030401990200620231990: 32.8 % of expense1991: 32.5 % of expense1992: 33.8 % of expense1993: 33.3 % of expense1994: 32.1 % of expense1995: 32.4 % of expense1996: 33.4 % of expense1997: 34.1 % of expense1998: 21.7 % of expense1999: 21.7 % of expense2000: 21.9 % of expense2001: 26.3 % of expense2002: 26.8 % of expense2003: 28.6 % of expense2004: 28.6 % of expense2005: 25.6 % of expense2006: 24.2 % of expense2007: 24.8 % of expense2008: 16.2 % of expense2009: 24.2 % of expense2010: 25.5 % of expense2011: 26.5 % of expense2012: 25.8 % of expense2013: 26.1 % of expense2014: 25.7 % of expense2015: 25.2 % of expense2016: 22.7 % of expense2017: 27.6 % of expense2018: 28.6 % of expense2019: 30.5 % of expense2020: 35.5 % of expense2021: 34.1 % of expense2022: 30.1 % of expense2023: 29.4 % of expense

Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of expense.

Analysis

Iceland recorded 29.4% for subsidies and other transfers in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, subsidies and other transfers in Iceland peaked at 35.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 16.2%, in 2008.

Iceland ranks 102nd of 152 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.

Subsidies and other transfers in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense) in Iceland, 1990 to 2023.
Year % of expense Change
1990 32.8%
1991 32.5% -0.7%
1992 33.8% +4.0%
1993 33.3% -1.7%
1994 32.1% -3.4%
1995 32.4% +0.6%
1996 33.4% +3.2%
1997 34.1% +2.1%
1998 21.7% -36.3%
1999 21.7% -0.2%
2000 21.9% +1.0%
2001 26.3% +20.0%
2002 26.8% +2.0%
2003 28.6% +6.8%
2004 28.6% -0.1%
2005 25.6% -10.3%
2006 24.2% -5.4%
2007 24.8% +2.5%
2008 16.2% -34.7%
2009 24.2% +49.1%
2010 25.5% +5.6%
2011 26.5% +3.9%
2012 25.8% -2.7%
2013 26.1% +1.2%
2014 25.7% -1.3%
2015 25.2% -2.0%
2016 22.7% -9.9%
2017 27.6% +21.3%
2018 28.6% +3.8%
2019 30.5% +6.6%
2020 35.5% +16.4%
2021 34.1% -3.9%
2022 30.1% -11.8%
2023 29.4% -2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 30.8% 21.7% 34.1% 10
2000s 24.7% 16.2% 28.6% 10
2010s 26.4% 22.7% 30.5% 10
2020s 32.2% 29.4% 35.5% 4

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 99 Bahrain 30.1% compare
  2. 100 Paraguay 30.1% compare
  3. 101 Palau 29.4% compare
  4. 103 Maldives 28.7% compare
  5. 104 Cape Verde 28.2% compare
  6. 105 Ukraine 27.8% compare

See the full ranking of 192 places →

More public sector data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is subsidies and other transfers in Iceland?
Subsidies and other transfers in Iceland was 29.4% in 2023, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
What is the highest subsidies and other transfers recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 35.5% in 2020.
What is the lowest subsidies and other transfers recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 16.2% in 2008.
How does Iceland rank for subsidies and other transfers?
Iceland ranks 102nd out of 152 countries with data for 2023.
Is subsidies and other transfers rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Subsidies and other transfers in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://public-sector.statizoid.com/stat/subsidies-and-other-transfers-percent-of-expense/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Subsidies and other transfers (% of expense)
Unit
% of expense
Source
Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
192 places, 4,500 data points, 1972–2024
Last refreshed

Subsidies are current unrequited payments that government units, including nonresident government units, make to enterprises on the basis of the levels of their production activities or the quantities or values of the goods or services that they produce, sell, export or import. This indicator is expressed as percentage of total expenses which is any decrease in net worth resulting from a transaction.