Largest Icelandic Population

What is the largest population of Iceland that can be realistically achieved?

For what time period?

Iceland achieved a population of maybe 70,000 nearly a thousand years ago. But after that there were some pretty traumatic events and long term deterioration.
 
For what time period?

Iceland achieved a population of maybe 70,000 nearly a thousand years ago. But after that there were some pretty traumatic events and long term deterioration.

I don't really mind. The country currently has around 300,000 people, so maybe get the population to at least 1 million maybe?
 
If you can butterfly away the 1783 Laki volcanic eruption, you won't have a quarter of the population or more dying of starvation. That's bound to change the demographic figures over time quite a bit.
 

katchen

Banned
The Icelandic People won't be too happy about this.:(
The Russians succeed in occupying Denmark right at the end of World War II. They get troops into Denmark before the Allies can.

This results in two Danish governments being formed. A People's Republic in Copenhagen and a Constitutional Monarchy in Rejkavik. Obviously Iceland does not gain it's independence from Denmark. In fact half the Danish population flees to Sweden from whence they are transported, over 1 million to Iceland and 250,000 to develop Greenland, completely submerging the indigenous Innuit population.:(
 
If this happened, then some of the Danish refugees would go to the Faeroes. The Faeroese wouldn't be happy, either.
The Icelandic People won't be too happy about this.:(
The Russians succeed in occupying Denmark right at the end of World War II. They get troops into Denmark before the Allies can.

This results in two Danish governments being formed. A People's Republic in Copenhagen and a Constitutional Monarchy in Rejkavik. Obviously Iceland does not gain it's independence from Denmark. In fact half the Danish population flees to Sweden from whence they are transported, over 1 million to Iceland and 250,000 to develop Greenland, completely submerging the indigenous Innuit population.:(
 
What you need are better farming techniques that won't erode the soil so badly during the early settlement period. It's hard to build up a population when you're running out of dirt.
 
Iceland is a country where good agricultural land isnt what you grow maize on, or even wheat, but where you can graze cattle!

I would guess that todays population is pretty close to the max possible.
 
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