Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Iceland instead of California, you would:

Health

live 4.6 years longer

In California, the average life expectancy is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020. In Iceland, that number is 84 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

be 30.2% less likely to be unemployed

In California, 5.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Iceland, that number is 3.6% as of 2023.

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make 20.9% less money

California has a GDP per capita of $84,028 as of 2024, while in Iceland, the GDP per capita is $66,500 as of 2023.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, The World Factbook.

Compare further: California vs. Iceland
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Iceland is 23.7% more expensive than California
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Size Comparison · See true size
California is about 3.9 times bigger than Iceland.
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Iceland: At a glance

Iceland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 100,250 sq km. Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.
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How big is Iceland compared to California? See an in-depth size comparison.

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