Statistics Iceland recently published the results of the 2023 Media and Culture Scale. The data, based on a survey of 3,000 people conducted between November 2022 and May 2023, clearly demonstrates that music is the driving force of Icelandic cultural life, whether measured by consumption, participation, or creation.

Music Consumption

According to the results, nearly all citizens (94%) listen to music, spending an average of 78 minutes a day doing so. Music ranks second only to TV and streaming services, but notably, Icelanders report spending more time listening to music than they spend on social media (66 minutes). Furthermore, 74% of households pay for a music streaming subscription.

Participation and Live Music

Musical practice is incredibly widespread, with 48% of respondents stating they sing or play an instrument as a hobby. Music is thus by far the nation’s most popular cultural pastime.Additionally, 59% of the population attended a concert in the past 12 months. This is the highest participation rate among all arts and cultural events, followed by visits to historical sites (58%) and museums (57%).

Note on the Data

It should be noted that these figures are classified as experimental statistics. Statistics Iceland provides the following statement regarding such publications: "As experimental statistics involve innovations in statistical production, there may be some uncertainty regarding the quality and reliability of the data and methods they are based on. Therefore, all projects falling under experimental statistics are clearly marked with a special label on the Statistics Iceland website."

To explore the research results further, we recommend visiting the Statistics Iceland website

Iceland: A Nation of Music