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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PVzW0nsKpfV57hd47pOTMosNDHI4/bJs76YBAL5Vxd6WB/3styE/m6AuTdp9Zy1I
 90+mCabQwHgtdpfCI5YIAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-06-043721.txt : 20060627
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-06-043721.hdr.sgml : 20060627
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060627102812
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-06-043721
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060623
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060627
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060627

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Stattin Norinder Birgit A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001367574

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30469
		FILM NUMBER:		06925990

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		354-570-1900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DECODE GENETICS, INC.
		STREET 2:		STURLUGATA 8
		CITY:			REYKJAVIK
		STATE:			K6
		ZIP:			IS-101

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DECODE GENETICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022974
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMMERCIAL PHYSICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH [8731]
		IRS NUMBER:				043326704
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8 STURLUGATA
		STREET 2:		IS 101
		CITY:			REYJKAVIK
		STATE:			K6
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011 354 570 1900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8 STURLUGATA
		STREET 2:		IS 101
		CITY:			REYKJAVIK
		STATE:			K6
		ZIP:			00000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-06-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022974</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DECODE GENETICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DCGN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001367574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Stattin Norinder Birgit A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DECODE GENETICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STURLUGATA 8</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REYKJAVIK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>K6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>IS-101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ICELAND</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-06-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-06-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>37667</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37667</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Such option to vest as to 17,667 shares at the issuer's 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and as to 20,000 shares at the issuer's 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, provided that Mrs. Stattin Norinder is then serving as a director</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Birgit Stattin Norinder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-06-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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