Iceland

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

constitutional republicIndependence 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Iceland as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 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 land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

277,906 people July 2001 est. · 257,023 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.54% 2001 est. · 0.88% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 34 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

79.52 years 2001 est. · 78.69 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.01 children per woman 2001 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

3.56 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$24,800 2000 est. · $17,400 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.3% 2000 est. · -3.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 Althing, 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. Limited home rule from Denmark 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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Coastline

4,988km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

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

Area

total: 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km

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 extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m

Natural resources

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use

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

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, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

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

People

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Population

277,906

(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 0.54% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth

14.62Death

6.89Net migration

-2.28

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.14%

(1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.18% (male 33,238; female 31,191) 15-64 years: 65.01% (male 91,095; female 89,583) 65 years and over: 11.81% (male 14,681; female 18,118) (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 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 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

3.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.52 years male: 77.31 years female: 81.92 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

200 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic

Ethnic groups

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 93%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic, none (1997)

Languages

Icelandic

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.9% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Government

Constitutional republic

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

40.7%

Independence Party 40.7%The Alliance (PA, People's Party, Women's List) 26.8%Progressive Party 18.4%Left-Green Alliance 9.1%Liberal Party 4.2%

Parliament or Althing, 63 seatsone dot, one seat

Independence Party 26The Alliance 17Progressive Party 12Left-Green Alliance 6Liberal Party 2

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 note: there may be four other counties

Independence

17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

Constitution

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal system

civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted 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 prime minister and approved by Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2004);
President GRIMSSON ran unopposed in June 2000 so there were no elections;
prime minister appointed by the president election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president;
President GRIMSSON ran unopposed

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 - Independence Party 40.7%, The Alliance (PA, People's Party, Women's List) 26.8%, Progressive Party 18.4%, Left-Green Alliance 9.1%, Liberal Party 4.2%;
seats by party - Independence Party 26, The Alliance 17, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 6, Liberal Party 2

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];
Left-Green Alliance [Steinsvimur SIGFUSSON];
Liberal Party [Sverrir HERMANNSSON];
People's Party (Social Democratic Party) or SDP [Sighvatyr BJORGIVINSSON];
Progressive Party (liberal) or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON];
The Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SVP, People's Movement, Women's List) [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON];
Women's List or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, 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 J. 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.

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Real growth rate

4.3%

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 1.5% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.5%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.7%

(January 2001)

Labor force

159,000

(2000)

Electricity

Electricity production

7.069 billion (1999)Electricity consumption

6.574 billion (1999)

Economy - overview

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant hydrothermal and geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force.

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 has been remarkably steady over the past five years at 4%-5%.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $6.85 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $24,800 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 15% (includes fishing 13%) industry: 21% services: 64% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

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

Budget

revenues: $3.5 billion expenditures: $3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (1999)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 0.07% hydro: 84.64% nuclear: 0% other: 15.29% (1999)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, turnips;
cattle, sheep;
fish

Exports

$2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

EU 64% (UK 20%, Germany 13%, France 5%, Denmark 5%), US 15%, Japan 5% (1999)

Imports

$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 9%, Denmark 8%, Sweden 6%), US 11%, Norway 10% (1999)

Debt - external

$2.6 billion (1999)

Economic aid - donor

$NA

Currency

Icelandic krona (ISK)

Currency code

ISK

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 84.810 (January 2001), 78.676 (2000), 72.335 (1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields

Mobile cellular

65,746

(1997)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

168,000

(1997) · country code .is

Telephone system

general assessment:: 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)

Internet users

144,000 (2000)

Transportation

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Railways

0 km

Highways

total: 12,691 km paved: 3,262 km unpaved: 9,429 km (1999)

Waterways

none

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,435 GRT/4,538 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)

Airports

87 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 75 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 52 (2000 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

Transnational Issues