Innflytjandi

Innflytjandi is an Icelandic term used to describe a person who has moved to a country from abroad with the intention of settling there. The word combines inn, meaning in or into, with flytja, meaning to move, and the suffix -andi, which forms an agent noun meaning “one who moves in.” In Icelandic usage, innflytjandi is the standard label for an immigrant who resides in Iceland long-term, as opposed to a short-term visitor or tourist. The plural form is innflytjendur.

In demographic and official contexts, innflytjendur are counted as a separate population group in statistics on immigration and population change. Statistics Iceland and government reports often describe foreign-born residents as part of the immigrant or foreign-born population, sometimes with subcategories by country of origin or year of arrival. The term is generally neutral and descriptive, though it appears within debates on integration, labor markets, and social policy.

Historically, Iceland’s immigrant population has grown since the late 20th century, reflecting broader globalization and labor-mobility trends. Policy discussions concerning innflytjendur focus on language acquisition, access to education and public services, labor rights, and social integration.

See also: Immigration to Iceland, Demographics of Iceland, Immigration policy of Iceland.