Costco Nation: 71% of Icelanders are members of members only warehouse supermarket

Costco Nation: 71% of Icelanders are members of members only warehouse supermarket

Reykjavík Costco Icelanders lined up when the US retailer opened its doors last year. Photo/Ernir

Icelanders appear to have welcomed the opening up of Costco with open arms: A poll by the polling firm MMR shows that 71% of Icelanders have joined the members-only warehouse supermarket. The vast majority (60%) of these intends to renew their membership.

The poll offers a fascinating picture of Icelandic society. It shows a surprisingly small difference between the capital region and the rest of Iceland. While 77% of people in the capital region have bought membership in Costco 60% outside Reykjavík. The poll showed no difference in membership based on educational achievement.

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When the membership is broken down based on income it emerges that people with above-average incomes are more likely to be members of Costco. Only 49% of people with monthly wages below 250,000 ISK (2,500 USD/2,000 EUR) and 63% of people with incomes between 250,000 and 399,000 ISK (2,500 USD/2,000 EUR - 4,000 USD/3,200 EUR). Meanwhile 80-83% of people with solid middle-class and upper middle-class incomes are members.

The voters of the rural Progress Party and the environmentalist Left Greens are least likely to be Costco members. 59% of Progress Party supporters are members and 60% of the voters of the Left Greens.