Statistical information Iceland 1989Iceland

Map of Iceland | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year:  | More stats

Iceland in the World
Iceland in the World

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Iceland - Introduction 1989
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Background: Iceland boasts the oldest surviving parliament in the world, the Althing, established in 930. Subsequently this Nordic island, whose small population has largely depended on fishing and sheep-herding for a living, came under the rule of Norway and then Denmark. It gained home rule in 1874 and full independence in 1944. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are topnotch by world standards. Tensions continue with Norway, Russia, and other nearby countries over fishing rights in the North Atlantic and adjacent seas.


Iceland - Geography 1989
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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 4,988 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Elevation

Natural resources: fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power, diatomite
Land use

Land use: NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 23% meadows and pastures; 1% forest and woodland; 76% other

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country


Iceland - People 1989
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Population: 248,501 (July 1989), growth rate 0.8% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Icelander(s; adjective - Icelandic

Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Languages: Icelandic

Religions: 95% Evangelical Lutheran, 3% other Protestant and Roman Catholic, 2% no affiliation

Demographic profile
Age structure

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 15 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 81 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 100%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


Iceland - Government 1989
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Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Iceland

Government type: republic

Capital: Reykjavik

Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadar, singular - kaupstadur; Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasysla, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hanppadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vestmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Dependent areas

Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)

Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal over age 20 but not compulsory

Executive branch: Chief of State - President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980; Head of Government - Prime Minister Steingrimur HERMANNSSON (since 28 September 1988)

Legislative branch: Police, Coast Guard

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CCC, Council of Europe, EC (free trade agreement pending resolution of fishing limits issue), EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICES, IDA, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, IWC - International Whaling Commission, NATO, Nordic Council, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WSG

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Ingvi S. INGVARSSON; Chancery at 2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 265-6,653 through 6,655; there is an Icelandic Consulate General in New York; US - Ambassador L. Nicholas RUWE; Embassy at Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik (mailing address is FPO New York 9,571-0001; telephone Õ354å (1) 29,100

Flag descriptionflag of Iceland: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


Iceland - Economy 1989
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Economy overview: The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings. In the absence of other natural resources, Iceland's one-sided economy is highly vulnerable to changing world fish prices. Other economic activities include livestock raising and aluminum smelting. In 1987 GDP showed substantial growth and expanded by more than 6%; this growth helped to reduce the unemployment rate to below 1%, among the lowest in the world. Inflation remained high, however, at a level near 20%.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: cattle, sheep, dairying, hay, potatoes, turnips

Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, hydropower

Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (1987 est.)

Labor force: 122,800; 55.4% commerce, finance, and services, 20.3% other manufacturing, 11.3% agriculture, 8.0% fish processing, 5.0% fishing (1985)
Labor force

Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1987)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $1.04 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $132 million (1987)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1987)
Commodities: fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, diatomite
Partners: EC 54.2% (UK 20.4%, FRG 9.1%, Denmark 3.8%), US 21.7%, USSR 4.2%, less developed countries 2.6%

Imports: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1987)
Commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles
Partners: EC 52.9% (FRG 15.2%, Denmark 10.8%, UK 8.2%), US 7.0%, USSR 5.6%, less developed countries 3.1%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $2.0 billion (June 1987)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 49.292 (January 1989), 43.014 (1988), 38.677 (1987), 41.104 (1986), 41.508 (1985; during 1988 the krona was devalued by 6% in February, 10% in May, and 3% in September


Iceland - Energy 1989
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Electricity
Capacity: 963,000 kW capacity; 4,919 million kWh produced, 19,950 kWh per capita (1988)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


Iceland - Communication 1989
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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


Iceland - Military 1989
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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: NA

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


Iceland - Transportation 1989
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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 99 total, 92 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 76,162 GRT/110,559 DWT; includes 11 cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 1 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 3 bulk

Ports and terminals


Iceland - Transnational issues 1989
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Disputes international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs


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