Statistics Iceland now presents the results of its Travel Survey for 2023 and the first half of 2024, or from January 2023 to June 2024. People living in Iceland made approximately 1,185,000 trips in the first half of 2024, compared with about 1,251,000 trips in the first half of 2023. The number of trips by residents in the first half of 2024 therefore decreased by 5.2% between years. This includes all overnight trips, both work-related and personal, domestic and non-domestic. The decrease between 2023 and 2024 is primarily due to fewer work-related trips.
The total number of trips in 2023 was about 2,559,000, almost the same as the previous year. However, there are changes in travel patterns between years. Personal domestic trips decreased by 2.3% from 2022, from 1,550,000 to 1,514,000, whereas personal non-domestic increased by 3.9%, from 737,000 to 766,000. At the same time, the number of business trips was relatively unchanged from 2022, or 279,000.
In the first quarter of 2023, the total number of trips increased by 37% from the same quarter of 2022, from 381,000 trips to 522,000. This is in large part explained by the fact that travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic were still in place until the end of February 2022. On the other hand, the total number of trips decreased by 17.4% in the third quarter, from 972,000 to 803,000, which can perhaps be explained by an accumulated need for travel after travel restrictions due to the pandemic were finally lifted.
8.8 trips on average per person in 2023
The number of trips by Icelanders in the first half of 2024 decreased by 5.2% between years, from 1,251,000 trips to 1,185,000. The main reason for this was a 29% decrease in the number of work-related trips, from 162,000 to 114,000. Meanwhile, the number of domestic personal trips decreased by 3.3%, from 725,000 to 701,000, whereas the number of non-domestic personal trips increased by 1.4%, from 365,000 to 370,000.
On average, each person made about 1.7 (2023Q4 and 2024Q1) to 2.7 (2023Q3) trips each quarter. The average number of trips per person was 8.8 in 2023.
There is a marked seasonality in the travel pattern of Icelanders. During the period in question (2023 and the first half of 2024), about 60% of the Icelandic residents made at least one trip in the first and fourth quarters, but about 70% in the second and third quarters.
On average, men made more trips than women during the period (January 2023 – June 2024). However, the proportion of women was higher than that of men in the second quarter of 2024 (52%). The gender difference is in large part accounted for by work trips being more common among men than women.
Statistics Iceland also publishes the number of trips by age, broken down into ten-year intervals. For example, although the number of personal trips abroad decreased from the previous year by 11% in 2023Q3, from 239,000 to 212,000, the number of such trips for 35–44-year-olds increased by 16%, from 39,000 to 45,000. Furthermore, the number of trips for 65–79-year-olds increased by 32%, from about 19,000 to 25,000.
Statistics Iceland began the travel study in 2021. For a large part of the time covered by the study, Icelanders' travel patterns were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath. This should be kept in mind when interpreting the results.
About the data
Data is collected both on the web and by telephone, and the aim is to gather information on both work trips and personal trips, for which the respondents stay at least one night away from home.
Each quarter, the survey is conducted by contacting 1,550 individuals aged 16-79 living in Iceland, asking about their trips in the previous quarter. For the final sample, individuals who were deceased, not found to be Icelandic residents, or not considered as part of the population for other reasons were excluded. The final response rate for the period in question (2023Q1 to 2024Q2) varied from quarter to quarter, in the range between 49%-56%.
The method for estimating the Icelandic population was revised in March 2024. Additionally, information on background variables has improved since last publication. Figures from 2021 onwards have therefore now been updated.
The travel survey uses a methodology based on EU directives on travel statistics so that the results can be compared with the results of comparable surveys in other countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). These are initial findings, and it is hoped that more variables will be added in future publications, such as reasons for not travelling during last quarter, major domestic and non-domestic destinations, and spending during travel. Figures for the second half of 2024 are expected to be released in March 2024.
The travel survey is a sample-based study and this should be considered when interpreting the results. Figures are preliminary and may change in light of further review.