Map of Iceland | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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.


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Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Arctic Region

Area
Total area total: 103,000 km²
Land: 100,250 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 4,988 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive 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, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use
Arable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 20%
Forest and woodland: 1%
Other: 78%

Irrigated land: NA km²

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; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe


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Population: 265,998 (July 1995 est.)
Note: population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly from official population data because of volatile migration rates
Growth rate: 0.92% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Icelander(s)
Adjective: Icelandic

Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Languages: Icelandic

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 24% (female 31,482; male 32,912)
15-64 years: 65% (female 84,559; male 87,089)
65 years and over: 11% (female 16,554; male 13,402) (July 1995 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.92% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 15.85 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 6.7 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Current issues natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
Current issues international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 4 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.98 years
Male: 76.69 years
Female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)

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: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
Total population: 100%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
Conventional short form: Iceland
Local long form: Lyoveldio Island
Local short form: Island

Government type: republic

Capital: Reykjavik

Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur; Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, 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: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); election last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results - there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
Head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament Althing: elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999); results - Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats - (63 total) Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON
In the us chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,005
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 265-6,653 through 6,655
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 265-6,656
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Parker W. BORG
From the us embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik
From the us mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, Reykjavik; FPO AE 9,728-0340
From the us telephone: [354] (1) 629,100
From the us FAX: [354] (1) 629,139

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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, relatively low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy - Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy, in recession since 1988, began to recover in 1993, posting 0.4% growth, but was still hampered by cutbacks in fish quotas as well as falling world prices for its main exports:fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Real GDP grew by perhaps 2.4% in 1994. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government, however, remains divided on the issue of EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $17,250 (1994 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for about 15% of GDP; fishing is most important economic activity, contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops - potatoes, turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992

Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, geothermal power

Industrial production growth rate: 1.75% (1991 est.)

Labor force: 127,900
By occupation commerce transportation and services: 60.0%
By occupation manufacturing: 12.5%
By occupation fishingandfishprocessing: 11.8%
By occupation construction: 10.8%
By occupation agriculture: 4.0% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 7% (1994 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.9 billion
Expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)

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., 1993)
Commodoties: fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite
Partners: EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)

Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
Commodoties: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
Partners: EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $2.5 billion (1993 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 67.760 (January 1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990)


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Electricity
Capacity: 1,070,000 kW
Production: 4.7 billion kWh
Production consumption per capita: 16,458 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 140,000 telephones; adequate domestic service
Local: NA
Intercity: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links
International: 2 earth stations carry all international traffic through an Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: none

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 90
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With paved runways under 914 m: 53
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 23

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,025 GRT/40,410 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2

Ports and terminals


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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