Iceland

Parliament

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes
»

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s)
30 Nov 2024
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
No information available
Timing of election
Early elections
Expected date of next elections
30 Nov 2028
Number of seats at stake
63
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
11
Total number of candidates
1,206
Number of male candidates
638
Number of female candidates
568
Percentage of women candidates
47.1%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
268,422

Results

About the election

The Social Democratic Alliance (SDA), led by Ms. Kristrún Frostadóttir, became the largest party in the 63-member Parliament following the snap elections held in November 2024. The SDA won 15 seats, up from six seats in 2021. Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson's Independence Party (IP) came second, winning 14 seats, down from 16. The SDA formed a coalition government with the Liberal Reform Party (led by Ms. Katrín Gunnarsdóttir) and the People’s Party (led by Ms. Inga Sæland). The coalition jointly holds 36 seats. It is the first time that all governing parties in Iceland have been headed by women.

On 21 December, President Halla Tómasdóttir presented a new government under Ms. Frostadóttir (SDA). At 36, she is the youngest ever Prime Minister of Iceland. She announced that her government would work to cut inflation and interest rates, and hold a referendum on Iceland’s membership of the European Union by 2027. On 4 February 2025, the newly elected Parliament held its first session and elected Ms. Thórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir (SDA) as its new Speaker.

The snap elections in 2024 followed the collapse of the outgoing coalition government in October (see note). Prime Minister Benediktsson (IP) resigned due to a disagreement over the treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers. Key electoral issues in 2024 included migration, energy and housing, and the country’s potential accession to the European Union.

Note:
The coalition government comprised the three largest parties in the outgoing legislature: the Independence Party, the Left-Green Movement, and the Progressive Party. In April 2024, the then Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir (Left-Green) resigned to contest the 2024 presidential election, which she lost. Mr. Benediktsson (IP) succeeded her as Prime Minister in late April.

Number of parties winning seats
6
Percentage of parties winning seats
54.5%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
23.8%
Alternation of power after elections
Yes
Number of parties in government
3
Names of parties in government
Social Democratic Alliance (SDA), Liberal Reform Party, People’s Party (PP)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) 15
Independence Party (IP) 14
Liberal Reform Party 11
People’s Party 10
Center Party 8
Progressive Party (PP) 5
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
34
Number of women elected
29
Percentage of women elected
46.0%
Women Directly Elected
29
Sources

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
34
Total number of women after the election
29
Percentage of women after the election
46.0%
First-term parliamentarians
27
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
42.9%
Date of the first session
04 Feb 2025

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Thorunn Sveinbjarnardottir (Female)
Date of birth: 22 Nov 1965
Political party
Social Democratic Alliance (SDA)
Date of election
04 Feb 2025

Historical data for IPU membership

Export XLS file XLS Export-Grey CSV
Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No