Iceland

republicIndependence 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Iceland as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalReykjavik

Area103,000 km2

Populationas each edition published it

257,023 people July 1990 · 364,036 in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 0.88% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 34 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 78.69 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.2 children per woman 1990 · 1.93 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 1.6 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $17,400 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -3.3% in 1993

Geography

14 fields

Total area

103,000km2

land area: 100,250 km2Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Coastline

4,988km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Disputes

Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

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

Natural 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

Environment

subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity

Note

strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country

People

14 fields

Population

257,023

(July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

18Death

7Net migration

Religion

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

Literacy

100%

Nationality

noun--Icelander(s); adjective--Icelandic

Ethnic divisions

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Labor force

134,429; 55.4% commerce, finance, and services, 14.3% other manufacturing, 5.8% agriculture, 7.9% fish processing, 5.0% fishing (1986)

Government

Republic

17 fields

Parliament, 63 seats, elected 25 April 1987one dot, one seat

Independence 18Progressive 13Social Democratic 10People's Alliance 8Citizens Party 7Womens List 6Regional Equality Platform 1

Percent of vote

Independence 27.2%Progressive 18.9%Social Democratic 15.2%People's Alliance 13.4%Citizens Party 10.9%Womens List 10.1%other 4.3%

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

Independence

17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Constitution

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system

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

National holiday

Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)

Executive branch

president, prime minister, Cabinet

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament (Althing) with an Upper House (Efri Deild) and a Lower House (Nedri Deild)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Haestirettur) Chief of State--President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Steingrimur HERMANNSSON (since 28 September 1988)

Political parties and leaders

Independence (conservative), Thorsteinn Palsson;
Progressive, Steingrimur Hermannsson;
Social Democratic, Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson;
People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar Grimsson;
Citizens Party (conservative nationalist), Julius Solnes;
Women's List

Suffrage

universal at age 20 President--last held on 29 June 1980 (next scheduled for June 1992);
results--there were no elections in 1984 and 1988 as President Vigdis Finnbogadottir was unopposed;
Parliament--last held on 25 April 1987 (next to be held by 25 April 1991);
results--Independence 27.2%, Progressive 18.9%, Social Democratic 15.2%, People's Alliance 13.4%, Citizens Party 10.9%, Womens List 10.1%, other 4.3%;
seats--(63 total) Independence 18, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10, People's Alliance 8, Citizens Party 7, Womens List 6, Regional Equality Platform 1

Communists

less than 100 (est.), some of whom participate in the People's Alliance

Member of

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

Ambassador Ingvi S. INGVARSSON;
Chancery at 2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 265-6653 through 6655;
there is an Icelandic Consulate General in New York;
US--Ambassador Charles E. COBB;
Embassy at Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik (mailing address is FPO New York 09571-0001);
telephone [354] (1) 29100

Flag

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)

Economy

Iceland's prosperous Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with extensive welfare measures, low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$4.0billion

per capita $16,200; real growth rate - 1.8% (1989 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

17.4%

(1989 est.)

Unemployment rate

1.3%

(1989 est.)

External debt

$1.8billion

(1988)

Budget

Revenues

$1.5 billionExpenditures

$1.7 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1988)

Overview

Iceland's prosperous Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with extensive welfare measures, low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. 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 economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices.

National output declined for the second consecutive year in 1989, and two of the largest fish farms filed for bankruptcy. Other economic activities include livestock raising and aluminum smelting. A fall in the fish catch is expected for 1990, resulting in a continuation of the recession.

Exports

$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, diatomite;
partners--EC 58.9% (UK 23.3%, FRG 10.3%), US 13.6%, USSR 3.6%

Imports

$1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1988);
commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles;
partners--EC 58% (FRG 16%, Denmark 10.4%, UK 9.2%), US 8.5%, USSR 3.9%

Industrial production

growth rate 4.7% (1987 est.)

Electricity

1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced, 20,780 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for about 25% of GDP (including fishing);
fishing is most important economic activity, contributing nearly 75% to export earnings;
principal crops--potatoes and turnips;
livestock--cattle, sheep;
self-sufficient in crops;
fish catch of about 1.6 million metric tons in 1987

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million

Currency

krona (plural--kronur); 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1--60.751 (January 1990), 57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988), 38.677 (1987), 41.104 (1986), 41.508 (1985)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Merchant marine, 18 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 9refrigerated cargo 2container 1roll-on/roll-off cargo 2petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker 1chemical tanker 1bulk 218 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,867 GRT/87,610 DWT

Airports, 99 total, 92 usable

permanent-surface runways

4runways over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

1runways 1,220-2,439 m