Statistical information Iceland 1989

Iceland in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 4,988 km
Maritime claimsContinental 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
ElevationNatural resources: fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power, diatomite
Land use: NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 23% meadows and pastures; 1% forest and woodland; 76% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country
top of pagePopulation: 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 profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 15 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant 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 rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 100%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry 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 areasIndependence: 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 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 branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational 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 representationIn 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 description
: 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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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 parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture 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)
Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1987)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $1.04 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $132 million (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $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 goldDebt external: $2.0 billion (June 1987)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange 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
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 963,000 kW capacity; 4,919 million kWh produced, 19,950 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: NA
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 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
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant 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 terminalsIceland - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes 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 personsIllicit drugs