Comparative Research into Recent Family and Partnership Formation and Dissolution Patterns in Nordic Countries: the case of Iceland

Abstract: The current conjecture towards Nordic fertility rates brings the focus on the state of advancement of the second demographic transition (SDT) in the region. Nordic countries’ SDT developments have been unique as they have not experienced the same low fertility as other countries. Yet, since 2010, Iceland lost nearly a quarter of its fertility and reached an all-time low total fertility rate (TFR) last year in 2018. Other Nordic countries like Norway and Finland recorded their lowest TFR ever in 2018 and 2017 respectively – which warrants the focus of this study. In the framework of the second demographic transition, this thesis aims to reveal and discuss the recent trends and developments of some demographic indicators in the Nordic countries. The work will take a special interest on the Icelandic demographic state, which, comparatively to Scandinavia, has received little attention in the literature. To what extent have Iceland’s demographic behaviours developed alike other Nordic countries? Furthermore, this study will verify if young Icelanders follow Scandinavian demographical developments of the second demographic transition. The thesis uses data gathered from a variety of sources including Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union and official statistical agencies of Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The results present Iceland as an outlier or a leader in the advancement of the SDT. While Icelandic dynamics follow a similar pattern to other Nordic countries, young Icelanders seem to have their unique and own way of entering partnerships and creating families.