Moving to Iceland from Barbados

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Barbados to Iceland — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Barbados to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Barbados to Iceland, based on official data.

Living there in 2015
1 ↓ 50% vs 2010

people born in Barbados live in Iceland · UN DESA

Who's moving to Iceland?

Top countries of origin for Iceland's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Barbados to Iceland.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

BB
15.3
IS
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BB
10.0
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Barbados across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

BB
$1,153
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BB
29.7
IS
45.2

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Barbados leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BB
19.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BB
2.5t
IS
8.5t

Barbados generally does better on environment, though Iceland leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BB
37.6
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BB
87.5%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Barbados across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BB
8.0%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BB
$17,400
IS
$66,500

Iceland generally does better on employment & economy, though Barbados leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BB
78.5 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BB
9.6
IS
1.6

Iceland performs significantly better than Barbados across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Barbados, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Barbados and Iceland. To live, work, or study long-term in Iceland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Iceland's immigration authority.

Barbados passport

Barbados passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Free
Barbados passport holders can enter Iceland without a visa.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Barbados

Visa Free
Iceland passport holders can enter Barbados without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Iceland?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Iceland has 38.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Barbados across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Iceland is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 15.3 in Barbados.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Barbados?

Iceland generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Barbados leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 29.7 in Barbados. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Barbados: 77).

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Barbados, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

BB IS
Population 302,674 357,603
Currency Barbadian Dollar (BBD) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages English Icelandic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +1246 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112