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

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Background: Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althingi, which was established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter-century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but the global financial crisis hit Iceland especially hard in the years after 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, primarily thanks to a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 103,000 km²
Land: 100,250 km²
Water: 2,750 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 4,970 km

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

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
Highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 557 m

Natural resources

Land use
Agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Other: 82.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 0.5 km² (2022)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
Volcanism: Iceland is situated on top of a hotspot and experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar

Geography
Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe


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Population
Total: 364,036 (2024 est.)
Male: 182,268
Female: 181,768
Distribution: Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west
Growth rate: 0.85% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages: Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 58.6% Roman Catholic 3.8%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.6%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 1.9%, pagan worship 1.5%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.4%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 18.7%, none 7.7% (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810)
65 years and over: 17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 27 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.7 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 38 years (2024 est.)
Male: 37.4 years
Female: 38.6 years

Population growth rate: 0.85% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

Population distribution: Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west

Urbanization
Urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 84 years (2024 est.)
Male: 81.8 years
Female: 86.3 years

Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3.2% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.8% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

Capital
Name: Reykjavik
Geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the name means 'smoky bay' in Icelandic and refers to the steam from the hot springs in the area

Administrative divisions: 64 municipalities (sveitarfelog, singular - sveitarfelagidh); Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunabyggdh, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skagafjordhur, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: civil law system influenced by the Danish model

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister
Most recent election date: 1 June 2024
2024: Halla TOMASDOTTIR elected president; percent of vote - Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 34.1%, Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (Left-Green Movement) 25.2%, Halla Hrund LOGADOTTIR (independent) 15.7%, Jon GNARR (Social Democratic Alliance) 10.1%, Baldur PORHALLSSON (independent) 8.4%, other 6.5%
2020: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8%
Expected date of next election: June 2,028

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Althingi)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 63 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 11/30/2024
Parties elected and seats per party: Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) (15); Independence Party (IP) (14); Liberal Reform Party (11); People’s Party (10); Center Party (8); Progressive Party (PP) (5)
Percentage of women in chamber: 46%
Expected date of next election: November 2,028

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Lofsongur' (Song of Praise)
Lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON
History: adopted 1918

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 0.5% (2024 est.); 5.6% (2023 est.); 9% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 0.5% (2024 est.); 5.6% (2023 est.); 9% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 49.3% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.8% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 43.4% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -43.3% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4% (2024 est.)
Industry: 19.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 65.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

Industries: tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products

Industrial production growth rate: -2.3% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 248,400 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 3.2% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.8% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3.2% (2024 est.); 3.6% (2023 est.); 3.8% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $10.023 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $10.364 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 23.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal 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: $13.916 billion (2024 est.); $13.702 billion (2023 est.); $13.114 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: aluminum, fish, orthopedic appliances, animal meal, iron alloys (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $14.298 billion (2024 est.); $13.63 billion (2023 est.); $13.237 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, carbon-based electronics, aluminum oxide, computers (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 3.005 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 19.584 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 543 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 70.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 137,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 81 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.101 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 376,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.725 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 82,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 478,000 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 145,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)


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Military expenditures

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: 82 (2025)

Heliports: 1 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 39 (2023)
By type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs