Iceland

republicIndependence 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Iceland as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 119 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalReykjavik
LocationNordic State, Northern Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between
1994

Every edition of Iceland

Populationas each edition published it
263,599 people July 1994 est. · 257,023 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.9% 1994 est. · 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
2.11 children per woman 1994 est. · 2.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$16,000 1993 · $17,400 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
0.4% 1993 est. · -3.3% in 1993

Geography

Nordic State, Northern Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between | Greenland and Norway

24 fields
Coastline
4,988km
land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Nordic State, Northern Europe, in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and Norway

Map references

Arctic Region, Europe, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

103,000 sq km

land area

100,250 sq km

comparative area

slightly smaller than Kentucky

continental shelf

200 nm or the edge of continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

International 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, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

arable land

1%

permanent crops

0%

meadows and pastures

20%

forest and woodland

1%

other

78%

current issues

water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment

natural hazards

subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity

international agreements

  • party to - Air Pollution, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
  • signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Note

  • strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
  • westernmost European country;
  • more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

People

22 fields
Population
263,599
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 0.9% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
16.41Death
6.72Net migration
-0.73

Religions(1988)

Evangelical Lutheran 96%other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%none 1% (1988)
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1976 est.)

note

population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly from official population data because of volatile migration rates

Infant mortality rate

4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

78.83 years

male

76.57 years

female

81.21 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.11 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Icelander(s)

adjective

Icelandic

Ethnic divisions

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Languages

Icelandic

total population

100%

male

NA%

female

NA%

by occupation

commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%, manufacturing 12.5%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.8%, agriculture 4.0% (1990)

Government

Republic

32 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

38.6%
Independence Party 38.6%Progressive Party 18.9%Social Democratic Party 15.5%People's Alliance 14.4%Womens List 8.3%Liberals 1.2%other 3.1%

Legislature, 63 seatsone dot, one seat

Independence 26Progressive 13Social Democratic 10People's Alliance 9Womens List 5

conventional long form

Republic of Iceland

conventional short form

Iceland

local long form

Lyoveldio Island

local short form

Island

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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

Parliament (Althing)

  • elections last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995);
  • results - Independence Party 38.6%, Progressive Party 18.9%, Social Democratic Party 15.5%, People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.3%, Liberals 1.2%, other 3.1%;
  • seats - (63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10, People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Haestirettur)

Political parties and leaders

  • Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON;
  • Progressive Party, Steingrimur HERMANNSSON;
  • Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;
  • People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON;
  • Women's List

Member of

Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO

chief of mission

Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON

chancery

2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

(202) 265-6653 through 6655

FAX

(202) 265-6656

consulate(s) general

New York

chief of mission

Ambassador Parker W. BORG

embassy

Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik

mailing address

US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, Reykjavik; FPO AE 09728-0340

telephone

[354] (1) 629100

FAX

[354] (1) 629139

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 Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but | with an extensive welfare system, relatively low unemployment, and | comparatively even distribution of income.

25 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,000
(1993)
Real growth rate
0.4%
(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate
4.5%
(1993 est.)

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 workforce. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy - Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. Iceland's economy has been in recession since 1988. The recession continued in 1993 due to a third year of cutbacks in fishing quotas as well as falling world prices for the; country's main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Real GDP declined 3.3% in 1992 and rose slightly, by 0.4%, in 1993. The center-right government's economic goals include 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 recession has led to a wave of bankruptcies and mergers throughout the economy, as well as the highest unemployment of the post-World War II period. Inflation, previously a serious problem, declined from double digit rates in the 1980s to only 3.7% in 1992-93.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.2 billion (1993)

revenues

$1.8 billion

expenditures

$1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $191 million (1992)

Exports

$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities

fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite

partners

EC 68% (UK 25%, FRG 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)

Imports

$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)

commodities

machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

partners

EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)

External debt

$3.9 billion (1992 est.)

capacity

1,063,000 kW

production

5.165 billion kWh

consumption per capita

19,940 kWh (1992)

Industries

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

Agriculture

  • 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;
  • self-sufficient in crops;
  • fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992

recipient

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

Currency

1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 72.971 (January 1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990), 57.042 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

12 fields

total

12,537 km

paved

2,690 km

unpaved

gravel, earth 9,847 km

Ports

Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Siglufjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar

Merchant marine

8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 33,212 GRT/47,359 DWT, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2

total

90

usable

84

with permanent-surface runways

9

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

1

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

12

Telecommunications

  • adequate domestic service;
  • coaxial and fiber-optical cables and microwave radio relay for trunk network;
  • 140,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 5 AM, 147 (transmitters and repeaters) FM, 202 (transmitters and repeaters) TV;
  • 2 submarine cables;
  • 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station carries all international traffic;
  • a second INTELSAT earth station is scheduled to be operational in 1993

Defense Forces

Police, Coast Guard

4 fields

Branches

Police, Coast Guard

note

no armed forces, Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 70,074; fit for military service 62,197

Central Intelligence Agency. “Iceland.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/iceland/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →