Iceland: The Country Without McDonald's

The Editors, 09.07.2026

More than 15 years after the last Big Mac was served, Iceland remains one of the few countries in the world without a McDonald's – and locals aren't complaining.

Iceland's last three McDonald's restaurants closed in October 2009 after the country's financial crisis made importing ingredients too expensive. Rather than compromising on quality, the franchise operator decided to shut down all locations.