Over 5% of Iceland's population received welfare services in Reykjavík in 2024
More than 20,000 people received support from Reykjavík City's Department of Welfare last year. This is according to the Department’s newly published annual report. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the City’s welfare services, which support children and families, seniors, disabled individuals, people experiencing homelessness, residents of foreign origin, and others in the community.
A major part of City operations
Welfare services make up a large share of City operations Welfare services accounted for 27% of Reykjavík City’s total operating expenses in 2024, the same as the previous year. While the number of welfare service users has steadily increased in recent years, there was a slight 1.2% decrease between 2023 and 2024.
Digital access to welfare services continues to improve, especially since the launch of the Online Center, which serves as the first point of contact for many users. The Online Center handles applications and provides remote support via phone and video calls. Nearly all welfare applications are now submitted digitally, significantly reducing the need for in-person visits. Still, not all services are digital—centers located in every neighborhood across the city continue to provide in-depth, in-person services, counseling, and support.
In 2024, ...
- 1,878 disabled people
- 6,427 children
- 4,716 seniors
- 3,402 people with refugee status
... received services from Reykjavík City's Department of Welfare.
Growing focus on home-based support
The Department provides a wide range of in-home services for individuals and families. This includes home care, which covers both home support and home nursing. These services are designed to offer personalized assistance and help people remain in their own homes as long as possible. In 2024, 3,384 people received home support and 2,857 received home nursing.
Welfare technology is essential to support independent living at home. The Welfare Technology Living Lab leads the Department’s work on developing, testing, and implementing innovative technology-based solutions. In 2024, 240 people used medication dispensers, and 144 received regular virtual visits through video. Several pilot programs also showed promising results. For example, 25 individuals participated in a project testing remote monitoring for heart failure symptoms, and 83 received digital in-home training with a virtual personal coach.
A diverse team
Delivering this broad range of services requires a strong and diverse staff and in 2024, an average of 3,500 people worked in the Department of Welfare. The team includes young people entering the workforce as well as seasoned professionals with specialized expertise. The department operates 121 workplaces, 78 of which provide 24-hour services.
To explore the full scope of Reykjavík City's welfare efforts, view the complete annual report.