All Fermi answers
Fermi #3 · Question 3

How many registered vehicles are on the island of Iceland?

Explore the official answer and the simple reasoning behind this Fermi estimate.

3QUESTION 3 OF 3

Answer & explanation

The official answer, with Fermi’s reasoning step by step.

Answer & explanation

Official answer

290,000

vehicles

How to estimate it

Fermi’s official “Napkin math”

Iceland is famously tiny, only about 380,000 people. Most adults there own a car, so take away the kids and you're left with maybe three-quarters of them.

Iceland population
380,000
Own a vehicle
~0.75
380k × 0.75
≈ 290,000

Rounded assumptions may give a slightly different estimate. The official answer above is the game’s reference value.

Source calculation & reference
Iceland population
≈ 390,000
Vehicles per capita
× 0.74
390,000 × 0.74
≈ 290,000

Reference cited by Fermi: Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa)

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