Reykjavík
Reykjavík ranks 127th in number of biographies on Pantheon, behind Santa Monica, California, Minneapolis, and Vilnius. Memorable people born in Reykjavík include Halldór Laxness, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, and Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. Memorable people who died in Reykjavík include Friðrik Ólafsson, Sveinn Björnsson, and Kristján Jónsson. Reykjavík has been the birth place of many soccer players, and politicians and the death place of many politicians, and writers. Reykjavík is located in Iceland.
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. Reykjavík has a population of around 139,000 as of 2025. The surrounding Capital Region has a population of around 249,000, constituting around 64% of the country's population. Read more on Wikipedia
People
Between 0 and 1998, Reykjavík was the birth place of 89 globally memorable people, including Halldór Laxness, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, and Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. Additionaly, 37 globally memorable people have passed away in Reykjavík including Friðrik Ólafsson, Sveinn Björnsson, and Kristján Jónsson.
People Born in Reykjavík
Go to all RankingsHalldór Laxness
WRITER
1902 - 1998
HPI: 78.54
Rank: 78
Vigdís Finnbogadóttir
POLITICIAN
1930 - Present
HPI: 76.38
Rank: 3
Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
POLITICIAN
1942 - Present
HPI: 72.39
Rank: 28
Halla Margrét Árnadóttir
SINGER
1964 - Present
HPI: 69.34
Rank: 53
Björk
MUSICIAN
1965 - Present
HPI: 68.97
Rank: 61
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson
POLITICIAN
1968 - Present
HPI: 66.28
Rank: 7
Bjarni Benediktsson
POLITICIAN
1908 - 1970
HPI: 66.15
Rank: 75
Friðrik Ólafsson
CHESS PLAYER
1935 - 2025
HPI: 65.92
Rank: 21
Arnaldur Indriðason
WRITER
1961 - Present
HPI: 64.48
Rank: 36
Bjarni Benediktsson
POLITICIAN
1970 - Present
HPI: 64.23
Rank: 50
Geir Haarde
POLITICIAN
1951 - Present
HPI: 62.12
Rank: 4
Steingrímur Hermannsson
POLITICIAN
1928 - 2010
HPI: 61.67
Rank: 73
People Deceased in Reykjavík
Go to all RankingsFriðrik Ólafsson
CHESS PLAYER
1935 - 2025
HPI: 65.92
Rank: 1
Sveinn Björnsson
POLITICIAN
1881 - 1952
HPI: NaN
Rank: 2
Kristján Jónsson
POLITICIAN
1852 - 1926
HPI: NaN
Rank: 3
Einar Arnórsson
POLITICIAN
1880 - 1955
HPI: NaN
Rank: 4
Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval
PAINTER
1885 - 1972
HPI: NaN
Rank: 5
Magnús Guðmundsson
POLITICIAN
1879 - 1937
HPI: NaN
Rank: 6
Sigurður Eggerz
POLITICIAN
1875 - 1945
HPI: NaN
Rank: 7
Hermann Jónasson
POLITICIAN
1896 - 1976
HPI: NaN
Rank: 8
Björn Þórðarson
POLITICIAN
1879 - 1963
HPI: NaN
Rank: 9
Ingólfr Arnarson
EXPLORER
850 - 910
HPI: NaN
Rank: 10
Ásgeir Ásgeirsson
POLITICIAN
1894 - 1972
HPI: NaN
Rank: 11
Ólafur Thors
POLITICIAN
1892 - 1964
HPI: NaN
Rank: 12
Newly Added People Deceased in Reykjavík
Go to all RankingsSveinn Björnsson
POLITICIAN
1881 - 1952
HPI: NaN
Rank: 2
Kristján Jónsson
POLITICIAN
1852 - 1926
HPI: NaN
Rank: 3
Einar Arnórsson
POLITICIAN
1880 - 1955
HPI: NaN
Rank: 4
Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval
PAINTER
1885 - 1972
HPI: NaN
Rank: 5
Magnús Guðmundsson
POLITICIAN
1879 - 1937
HPI: NaN
Rank: 6
Sigurður Eggerz
POLITICIAN
1875 - 1945
HPI: NaN
Rank: 7
Hermann Jónasson
POLITICIAN
1896 - 1976
HPI: NaN
Rank: 8
Björn Þórðarson
POLITICIAN
1879 - 1963
HPI: NaN
Rank: 9
Ingólfr Arnarson
EXPLORER
850 - 910
HPI: NaN
Rank: 10
Ásgeir Ásgeirsson
POLITICIAN
1894 - 1972
HPI: NaN
Rank: 11
Ólafur Thors
POLITICIAN
1892 - 1964
HPI: NaN
Rank: 12
Thor Vilhjálmsson
WRITER
1925 - 2011
HPI: NaN
Rank: 13
Occupations
Most individuals born in present day Reykjavík were soccer players (24), politicians (14), singers (10), writers (9), and actors (8), while most who died were politicians (22), writers (5), chess players (2), painters (1), and explorers (1).
Occupational Trends
Over the past 100 years, soccer players have been the top profession of globally memorable people born in Reykjavík, including Eiður Guðjohnsen, Arnór Guðjohnsen, and Atli Eðvaldsson. Whereas, throughout history, soccer players have been the profession with the most memorable people born in present day Reykjavík, including Eiður Guðjohnsen, Arnór Guðjohnsen, and Atli Eðvaldsson.
Places
Overlapping Lives
Below is a visual represetation of the lifespans of the top 12 globally memorable people born in Reykjavík since 1700.