Iceland

Republic of IcelandLydhveldidh Island

constitutional republic

Iceland as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 111 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
2002

Every edition of Iceland

Populationas each edition published it
279,384 people July 2002 est. · 257,023 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.52% 2002 est. · 0.88% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 34 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
79.66 years 2002 est. · 78.69 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.99 children per woman 2002 est. · 2.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
3.53 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$27,100 2002 est. · $17,400 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
-0.7% 2002 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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Land useshare of 103,000 sq km

permanent crops 0%other 99.94% (23% permanent pastures) (1998 est.)arable land 0.06% in all
Area
103,000sq km
water: 2,750 sq kmland: 100,250 sq kmslightly smaller than Kentucky
Coastline
4,988km
land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 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
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;
  • Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world;
  • more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

People

18 fields
Population
279,384
(July 2002 est.)growth rate: 0.52% (2002 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth
14.37Death
6.93Net migration
-2.27

Religions(2002)

Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%other Protestant 4.1%Roman Catholic 1.7%other 7.1% (2002)
Literacy
99.9%
(1997 est.)definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: NA%female: NA%

Age structure

0-14 years:
23% (male 33,189; female 31,155)
15-64 years:
65.1% (male 91,704; female 90,199)
65 years and over:
11.9% (male 14,828; female 18,309) (2002 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 (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

3.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
79.66 years
female:
82.07 years (2002 est.)
male:
77.42 years

Total fertility rate

1.99 children born/woman (2002 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 94%, population of foreign origin 6%

Languages

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken

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

40.7%
Independence Party 40.7%Social Democratic Alliance (PA, Social Democratic Party, Women's List) 26.8%Progressive Party 18.4%Left-Green Alliance 9.1%Liberal Party 4.2%last held 8 May 1999 (next to be held by April 2003)

Parliament or Althing, 63 seats, elected 8 May 1999one dot, one seat

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

Percent of vote

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

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional republic

Capital

Reykjavik

Administrative divisions

23 counties (syslur, 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

1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday

Independence Day, 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 prime minister and approved by Parliament
election results:
Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON ran unopposed in 2000 and was reelected
elections:
  • president, which is largely a ceremonial post, 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

Legislative branch

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

election results:
  • percent of vote by party - Independence Party 40.7%, Social Democratic Alliance (PA, Social Democratic 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, Social Democratic Alliance 17, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 6, Liberal Party 2
elections:
last held 8 May 1999 (next to be held by April 2003)

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice);
  • eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)

Political parties and leaders

  • Independence Party or IP [David ODDSSON];
  • Left-Green Alliance or LGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON];
  • Liberal Party or LP [Sverrir HERMANNSSON];
  • Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON];
  • Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List)or SDA [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON];
  • Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sighvatur BJORGVINSSON];
  • Women's List 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), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, 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 Helgi AGUSTSSON
chancery:
Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704
consulate(s) general:
New York
FAX:
[1] (202) 265-6656
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-6653

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador James I. GADSDEN
embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address:
US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone:
[354] 5629100
FAX:
[354] 5629139

Flag description

  • blue with a red cross outlined in white extending 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
-0.7%
(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 0.2% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.8%
(2002 est.)
Labor force
159,000
(2000)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 14% (includes fishing 12%)industry 21%services 65% (2001 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$3.5 billionExpenditures
$3.3 billion (1999)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $467 million

Electricity

hydro 83%other 17% (2000)fossil fuel 0% · nuclear 0%
Electricity production
7.549 billion (2000)Electricity consumption
7.02 billion (2000)

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, providing 70% of export earnings and employing 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. Consumption, investment, and exports should recover moderately in 2003.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $27,100 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 5%, fishing and fish processing 12%, manufacturing 13%, construction 11%, other services 60% (1999)

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

  • potatoes, turnips;
  • cattle, sheep;
  • fish

Exports

$2 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 18.2%, Germany 14.9%, Netherlands 10.9, US 10.3%, Portugal 5.5%, Spain 5.4%, Norway 5.3% (2001)

Imports

$2 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

Germany 12.2%, US 11.1%, Denmark 8.6%, Norway 7.8%, UK 7.5%, Netherlands 6.6% (2001)

Debt - external

$2.6 billion (1999)

Currency

Icelandic krona (ISK)

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 102.430 (January 2002), 97.425 (2001), 78.616 (2000), 72.335 (1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields
Mobile cellular
248,131
(221,231 GSM, 26,900 NMT) (2001)
Fixed lines
196,984
(2001) · country code .is

Telephone system

general assessment:
extensive 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

220,000 (2002)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
4
1,524 to 2,437 m
3
8
914 to 1,523 m
21
under 914 m
49
Paved 13Unpaved 73

Networkskm

Highways
12,691Railways
0
Highways: paved: 3,262 km · unpaved: 9,429 km (1999)

Highways

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

Ports and harbors

Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar

Merchant marine

total:
1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,816 GRT/2,500 DWT
ships by type:
chemical tanker 1 (2002 est.)

Airports

86 (2001)

Military

No regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard

5 fields

Military branches

no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 71,142 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 62,556 (2002 est.)

Military - note

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, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area);
  • dispute with Denmark over the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line boundary within 200 NM;
  • disputes with Denmark, the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM

Central Intelligence Agency. “Iceland.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/iceland/2002.

How to cite ← 2001 edition 2003 edition →