Moving to Iceland from Somalia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Somalia to Iceland? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Somalia to Iceland, and you’d need to navigate life in Icelandic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Reykjavik averages 45°F vs 86°F in Mogadishu, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Somalia to Iceland.

Moved in 2023
49 ↑ 36% vs 2022

people moved from Somalia to Iceland · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Iceland?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Iceland compared to Somalia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SO
20.2
IS
2.4

Iceland performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SO
$52
IS
$6,927
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SO
0.2
IS
45.2

Somalia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SO
64.0
IS
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SO
0.0t
IS
8.5t

Somalia 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

SO
0.7
IS
38.2
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SO
24.5%
IS
0.4%

Iceland performs significantly better than Somalia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SO
19.0%
IS
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SO
$1,500
IS
$66,500

Iceland performs significantly better than Somalia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SO
55.7 yrs
IS
83.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SO
86.5
IS
1.6

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

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Reykjavik Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
45° / 35°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mogadishu Reykjavik
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/24°C) 37°/28°F (3°/-2°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 48°/38°F (9°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/73°F (29°/23°C) 54°/45°F (12°/7°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 39°/31°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Mogadishu Reykjavik
Jan 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C) 35°/27°F (1.9°/-3.0°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 37°/28°F (2.8°/-2.1°C)
Mar 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C) 38°/28°F (3.2°/-2.0°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C) 42°/33°F (5.7°/0.4°C)
May 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C) 49°/38°F (9.4°/3.6°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C) 53°/44°F (11.7°/6.7°C)
Jul 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 56°/47°F (13.3°/8.3°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 55°/46°F (13.0°/7.9°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C) 50°/41°F (10.1°/5.0°C)
Oct 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C) 44°/36°F (6.8°/2.2°C)
Nov 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C) 38°/30°F (3.4°/-1.3°C)
Dec 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C) 36°/27°F (2.2°/-2.8°C)

Data: Icelandic Meteorological Office Icelandic Meteorological Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Somalia 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.

Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Iceland

Visa Required
Somalia passport holders need a visa to enter Iceland.
Iceland passport

Iceland passport holder visiting Somalia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Iceland passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Somalia.

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Iceland: 38.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Iceland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Iceland safe for expats?

Iceland performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Iceland compared to Somalia?

Somalia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Iceland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 45.2 doctors per 10,000 people in Iceland, compared to 0.2 in Somalia. Iceland scores 89 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Somalia: 27).

What's the weather like in Iceland compared to Somalia?

The average high temperature in Reykjavik is 45°F, compared to 86°F in Mogadishu. Reykjavik receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Mogadishu gets 18.7 in.

What language do they speak in Iceland?

The official language in Iceland is Icelandic. In Somalia, the official languages are Arabic and Somali.

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At a Glance

SO IS
Population 12,386,248 357,603
Currency Somali Shilling (SOS) Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Languages Arabic, Somali Icelandic
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +252 +354
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112