Music

98% of TV viewers in Iceland tuned into the Eurovision song contest

By Staff

Just short Svala Björgvinsdóttir, Iceland's representative, didn't make it to the Eurovision Grand Final this year. That didn't stop TV viewers from watching the final, though. Photo/Vísir.

More people watched the Eurovision song contest Grand Final in Iceland per capita than in any other country this year, according to official viewing figures. A stunning 98% of Icelanders watching TV the night of May 13th tuned into the live broadcast from Ukraine.

All told, around 150,000 Icelanders watched the contest this year, despite Iceland's representative not making it to the Grand Final for a third consecutive year. Viewing was even up 16% on 2016, making it the biggest audience since 2014 when Iceland last made it to the Grand Final, according to the Eurovision song contest's website.

Read more: 73% watched duel of two top contenders to represent Iceland at Eurovision song contest

A combined 180 million people watched this year's three live shows in 42 different countries.

The Eurovision song contest is wildly popular in Iceland. A full 97% of TV viewers tuned into the final live show where Iceland's entry was selected this March. The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV estimated that 73% of the population had watched the show.