Hafnarfjörður Leads the Way in Cultural Affairs

Hafnarfjörður ranks highest of all municipalities in the Gallup service survey when it comes to how cultural affairs are handled. All twelve service areas measured for Hafnarfjörður show an increase compared to last year, except for one which remains unchanged.

It is clear that residents love their town, as the highest scores appear when people are asked how satisfied or dissatisfied they are with Hafnarfjörður as a place to live. The town is also above average in all measured categories.

These are clear messages from residents. The fact that 91 percent are satisfied with Hafnarfjörður as a place to live tells us we are on the right track. It motivates us to keep improving our services day by day, says Valdimar Víðisson, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður.

Satisfaction with Hafnarfjörður increases

The numbers show that satisfaction with the town as a place to live continues to rise each year. In 2021, 42 percent said they were very satisfied, compared with 49 percent in 2023. This year, that number is 55 percent.

It is very encouraging to see satisfaction rising year after year. This shows that improvements in services and infrastructure are paying off. It also shows that residents are proud of their town and community, says Valdimar.

Urban planning is also improving. Those who are very satisfied increased from 9 percent to 12 percent in one year. Those who are very dissatisfied decreased from 7 percent to 5 percent. A total of 60 percent are satisfied or very satisfied with urban planning.

Satisfaction with primary school services is also rising. The proportion who are very satisfied increased by 16 percentage points and now stands at 21 percent. Altogether, 72 percent are very or fairly satisfied. Satisfaction with preschools decreased slightly this year, with 25 percent very satisfied compared to 29 percent previously.

Changes often take time, and we made major changes to the preschool day structure. That may affect the results while people get used to the new arrangements, says Valdimar.

Good sports facilities matter

Satisfaction with sports facilities in Hafnarfjörður remains very high. A total of 86 percent are very or fairly satisfied. We want people of all ages to have easy access to physical activity and strong sports and leisure programs. This area has been well developed in recent years, and we intend to continue that progress, says Valdimar.

In total, 64 percent are very or fairly satisfied with services for older residents, and 60 percent with services for people with disabilities in the municipality. It is positive that Hafnarfjörður scores above average in services for older people and for people with disabilities. In these areas, as in others, there is room for improvement. We will look closely at the results and identify where we can do better, says Valdimar.

Opinions on waste collection remain unchanged from last year. A total of 64 percent are fairly or very satisfied, while 19 percent are fairly or very dissatisfied.

Hafnarfjörður places in joint 2nd to 3rd position among the twenty largest municipalities, just ahead of four municipalities that all share the same score.

About the Gallup service survey

Gallup conducts an annual service survey among the twenty largest municipalities in the country, asking about attitudes toward municipal services in various fields, based on both experience and perception.

The survey was conducted from 17 November 2025 to 13 January 2026. A total of 438 residents aged 18 and older in Hafnarfjörður responded, using a stratified random sample from Gallup’s opinion panel.

The results give an indication of resident satisfaction with specific service areas, regardless of whether the respondent personally uses the service. They also highlight areas that may benefit from further review. The results were presented at a meeting of the municipal executive committee this morning.