Iceland

Republic of IcelandLyoveldio Island

constitutional republicIndependence 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Iceland as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalReykjavik
Position65 00 N, 18 00 W
Area103,000 sq km
LocationNorthern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
2000

Every edition of Iceland

Populationas each edition published it
276,365 people July 2000 est. · 257,023 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.57% 2000 est. · 0.88% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 34 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
79.39 years 2000 est. · 78.69 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.03 children per woman 2000 est. · 2.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
3.58 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$23,500 1999 est. · $17,400 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4.5% 1999 est. · -3.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Settled by Norwegians and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries, Iceland boasts the world's oldest parliament, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Limited home rule was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

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

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, Endangered Species, 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
276,365
(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.57% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth
14.86Death
6.87Net migration
-2.3
Literacy
99.9%
(1997 est.)definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: NA%female: NA%

Age structure

0-14 years:
23% (male 33,119; female 31,222)
15-64 years:
65% (male 90,599; female 88,982)
65 years and over:
12% (male 14,555; female 17,888) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.81 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

3.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
79.39 years
male:
77.19 years
female:
81.77 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Icelander(s)
adjective:
Icelandic

Ethnic groups

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic, none (1997)

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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Country name

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

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

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 May 1999 (next to be held by April 2003)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

  • Independence Party (conservative) or IP [David ODDSSON];
  • National Awakening (People's Revival Party) or PR [Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR];
  • People's Alliance (left socialist) or PA [Margret FRIMANNSDOTTIR];
  • People's Movement (centrist) [leader NA];
  • Progressive Party (liberal) or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON];
  • Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sighvatur BJORGVINSSON];
  • Women's Party or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, 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
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-6653
FAX:
[1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general:
New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Barbara GRIFFITHS
embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
mailing address:
US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone:
[354] 5629100
FAX:
[354] 5629118

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.

31 fields
Real growth rate
4.5%
(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%
Unemployment rate
2.4%
(1999 est.)
Labor force
131,000
(1999)

GDP - composition by sector(1998 est.)

agriculture 15% (includes fishing 13%)industry 21%services 64% (1998 est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 0.06%hydro 89.88%other 10.06% (1998)nuclear 0%
Electricity production
6.187 billion (1998)Electricity consumption
5.754 billion (1998)

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 70% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force.

In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant hydrothermal and geothermal power), 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 2000, to a still respectable 3.5%.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $6.42 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $23,500 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

manufacturing 12.9%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5%, agriculture 5.1% (1999)

Budget

revenues:
$NA
expenditures:
$3 billion, including capital expenditures of $146 million (1999 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 65% (UK 19%, Germany 15%, France 7%, Denmark 6%), US 13%, Japan 5% (1998)

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 10%, Norway 9%, Denmark 8%, Sweden 6%), US 11% (1998)

Debt - external

$2.6 billion (1999)

Currency

1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 72.334 (January 2000), 72.352 (1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996), 64.692 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
65,746
(1997)
Fixed lines
162,310
(1997)

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 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

260,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

98,000 (1997)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
4
1,524 to 2,437 m
3
7
914 to 1,523 m
19
under 914 m
52
Paved 12Unpaved 74

Networkskm

Highways
12,689Railways
0
Highways: paved: 3,439 km · unpaved: 9,250 km (1998 est.)

Highways

total:
12,689 km
paved:
3,439 km
unpaved:
9,250 km (1998 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,085 GRT/16,938 DWT
ships by type:
chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Airports

86 (1999 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

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 71,486 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 62,990 (2000 est.)

Military - note

Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Transnational Issues

1 field

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) [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Iceland.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/iceland/2000.

How to cite ← 1999 edition 2001 edition →