World Map › Europe › Iceland
Country
Map of Iceland
Europe · Reykjavík
Iceland spans the North American and Eurasian plates. It has 35 volcanoes active over the last 10,000 years, 13 of which have erupted since 1900. Since 1900, 8 major earthquakes have been recorded. Its exposure to natural hazards is 2.5 out of 10 (INFORM index), a low level. Its overall risk index, which accounts for its ability to cope, is 1.6 out of 10.
- Capital
- Reykjavík
- Population
- 364,260
- Area
- 103,004 km²
- Continent
- Europe
Tectonic Plates
Natural Hazards
Exposure to natural hazards according to the European Commission's INFORM index, from 0 (very low) to 10 (very high), overall and for each type of hazard.
Overall Risk Index
This overall score combines hazard exposure with the vulnerability of the population (1.7 out of 10) and the lack of coping capacity (1.7 out of 10). A highly exposed but well-prepared country therefore gets a low overall score.
People Exposed Each Year
- 553to strong shaking (intensity VI and above)
- 456to destructive shaking (intensity VIII and above)
- 2,718to coastal floods
Overall Risk Index Over Time
Hazard Levels
Hazard level assessed by ThinkHazard! (World Bank, GFDRR), meaning the likelihood of a damaging event, from very low to high.
- EarthquakeHigh
- LandslideHigh
- VolcanoHigh
- Coastal FloodMedium
- WildfireMedium
- TsunamiLow
- Water ScarcityVery Low
- Extreme HeatVery Low
Volcanoes (35)
Volcanoes active over the last 10,000 years; year of the last known eruption.
- Reykjanes 2025
- Fagradalsfjall 2023
- Bardarbunga 2015
- Grímsvötn 2011
- Eyjafjallajökull 2010
- Hekla 2000
- Krafla 1984
- Vestmannaeyjar 1973
- Kverkfjöll 1968
- Askja 1961
- Eldey 1926
- Katla 1918
- Thordarhyrna 1904
- Tjornes Fracture Zone 1868
- Kolbeinsey Ridge 1755
- Oraefajokull 1728
- Torfajökull 1477
- Brennisteinsfjöll 1341
- Krysuvik-Trolladyngja 1340
- Ljósufjöll 960
- Oddnyjarhnjukur-Langjokull 950
- Snaefellsjokull 200
- Hengill 150
- Heidarspordar 300 BCE
- Theistareykir 900 BCE
- Fremrinámar 1,200 BCE
- Prestahnúkur 3,350 BCE
- Grímsnes 3,500 BCE
- Helgrindur ?
- Hrómundartindur ?
Major Earthquakes Since 1900
Earthquakes that caused deaths or significant damage, or of magnitude 7.5 and above (NOAA).
Regions
Regions with volcanoes, major earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones or famous faults.
Tsunamis
2 major tsunamis have reached Iceland since 1900. The deadliest and highest are listed below.
- 1967Tsunami (Iceland) · 75.0 m
- 2014Tsunami (Iceland) · 60.0 m
Tropical Cyclones
4 major tropical cyclones have made landfall in Iceland since 1950. The deadliest and most powerful are listed below.
- 1951Hurricane How · 120 km/h
- 2014Hurricane Cristobal · 93 km/h
- 1969Hurricane Debbie · 83 km/h
- 1973Hurricane Ellen · 52 km/h
Sources : Natural Earth · Wikidata · INFORM Risk Index (1 September 2026 v 0.7.3), Commission européenne, CC BY 4.0 · NOAA NCEI · ThinkHazard!, GFDRR, CC BY · Bird (2003), PB2002 · Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution