Iceland

Republic of IcelandLyoveldio Island

constitutional republicIndependence 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Iceland as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 102 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

Position65 00 N, 18 00 W

Area103,000 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and

Populationas each edition published it

272,512 people July 1999 est. · 257,023 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.57% 1999 est. · 0.88% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 34 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.96 years 1999 est. · 78.69 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.03 children per woman 1999 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

5.22 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$22,400 1998 est. · $17,400 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.1% 1998 est. · -3.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 103,000 sq km

permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 23%forests and woodland 1%other 76% (1993 est.)arable land 0% in all

Area

103,000sq km

land: 100,250 sq kmwater: 2,750 sq kmslightly smaller than Kentucky

Coastline

4,988km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

2,119m

Hvannadalshnukurlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

65 00 N, 18 00 W

Map references

Arctic Region

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

earthquakes and volcanic activity

Environment--current issues

water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment

Environment--international agreements

party to:: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geography--note

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

People

15 fields

Population

272,512

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 0.57% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

14.87Death

7.01Net migration

-2.17

Religions(1988)

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

Literacy

100%

(1976 est.)definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: NA%female: NA%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (male 32,608; female 31,061)
15-64 years:: 65% (male 89,258; female 87,449)
65 years and over:: 12% (male 14,510; female 17,626) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population:: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

5.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 78.96 years
male:: 76.85 years
female:: 81.19 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Icelander(s)
adjective:: Icelandic

Ethnic groups

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Languages

Icelandic

Government

Constitutional republic; President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996); Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

37.1%

-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%last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999)

Parliament or Althing, 63 seats, elected 8 April 1995one dot, one seat

-Independence 25Progressive 15Social Democratic 7Socialists 9People's Movement 4Women's Party 3

Percent of vote

-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%

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form:: Iceland
local long form:: Lyoveldio Island
local short form:: Island

Data code

Government type

constitutional 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

Legal system

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
head of government:: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; percent of vote--41.4%

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999)
election results:: percent of vote by party--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 by party--Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Haestirettur, justices are appointed for life by the president

Political parties and leaders

Independence Party (conservative)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON
chancery:: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
consulate(s) general:: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Day Olin MOUNT
embassy:: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
mailing address:: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340

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)

Economy

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is | basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system, low | unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$22,400

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

5.1%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

1.7%

(1998)

Unemployment rate

(1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 13%industry 24%services 63% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$1.9 billionExpenditures

$2.1 billion (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $146 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 0.06%hydro 93.43%other 6.51%nuclear 0%

Electricity production

5.048 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

5.532 billion (1997)

Economy--overview

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. The economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 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 remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to drops in world; prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. 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 remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale-watching. Growth is likely to slow in 1999, to a still respectable 4.6%.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$6.06 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force

130,000 (1998 est.)

Labor force--by occupation

manufacturing 12.9%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5%, agriculture 5.1% (1996 est.)

Industries

fish processing;
aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power;
tourism

Agriculture--products

potatoes, turnips;
cattle, sheep;
fish

Exports

$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities

fish and fish products 70%, animal products, aluminum, diatomite and ferrosilicon

Exports--partners

EU 60% (UK 19%, Germany 13%, France 6%, Denmark 6%), US 14% (1997)

Imports

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports--partners

EU 58% (Germany 12%, Norway 12%, UK 10%, Denmark 9%, Sweden 7%), US 9% (1997)

Debt--external

$2.2 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$NA

Currency

1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1--69.250 (January 1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996), 64.692 (1995), 69.944 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

143,600

(1993 est.)

Telephone system

adequate domestic service

domestic:: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links
international:: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions);
note--Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters), shortwave 0

Radios

91,500 licensed (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

14 (in addition, there are 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

96,100 (1993 est.)

Transportation

7 fields

Merchant marine, 3 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

chemical tanker 1container 1oil tanker 1

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 77 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 21

Networkskm

Highways

12,691Railways

Highways: paved: 3,262 km · unpaved: 9,429 km (1997 est.)

Highways

total:: 12,691 km
paved:: 3,262 km
unpaved:: 9,429 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors

Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar

Airports

87 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total:: 10
over 3,047 m:: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1998 est.)

Military

No regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; | note--Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic | Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

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Military branches

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