Iceland

Republic of IcelandLydhveldidh Island

constitutional republic

Iceland as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 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 the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Populationas each edition published it

280,798 people July 2003 est. · 257,023 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.49% 2003 est. · 0.88% in 1993

Median ageyears

34 years 2002 · 38.2 yrs in 2025

Life expectancyyears at birth

79.8 years 2003 est. · 78.69 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.98 children per woman 2003 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

3.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$30,200 2002 est. · $17,400 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-0.6% 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

18 fields

Land useshare of 103,000 sq km

arable land 1%other 70% (2001 est.)forest and woodlands 1%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 28%

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

Hvannadalshnukur · (at Vatnajokull glacier)lowest 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, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Environmental Protection through Criminal Law, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Oil Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air 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

19 fields

Population

280,798

(July 2003 est.)growth rate: 0.49% (2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth

14.13Death

6.95Net migration

-2.26

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)79.8

77.54 · 82.22Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)3.5

3.79 · 3.19

TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2002)34

33.2 · 34.7

MaleFemale

Religions(2002)

Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%other Protestant 4.1%Roman Catholic 1.7%other 7.1% (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2%

(2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 22.7% (male 32,902; female 30,952)
15-64 years:: 65.4% (male 92,519; female 91,000)
65 years and over:: 11.9% (male 14,973; female 18,452) (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.08 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 (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

220 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 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

Literacy

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

Government

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

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

33.7%

Independence Party 33.7%Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%Progressive Party 17.7%Left-Green Alliance 8.8%Liberal Party 7.4%last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)

Parliament or Althing, 63 seats, elected 10 May 2003one dot, one seat

Independence Party 22Social Democratic Alliance 20Progressive Party 12Left-Green Alliance 5Liberal Party 4

Percent of vote

Independence Party 33.7%Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%Progressive Party 17.7%Left-Green Alliance 8.8%Liberal Party 7.4%

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

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
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 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%;
seats by party - Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
elections:: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)

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 [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON];
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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, 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, WCO, 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] 5629118

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

36 fields

Real growth rate

-0.6%

(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 0.2% (2002 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

5.2%

(2002 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.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

18.5%

Germany

10.7%

17.5%

7.5%

11.4%

Netherlands

10.9%

4.6%

Denmark

8.5%

4.2%

Norway

Sweden

5.9%

5.2%

Spain

4.3%

Portugal

Exports $2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)Imports $2.1 billion (2002)(2002)

Budget

Revenues

$3.5 billionExpenditures

$3.3 billion (1999)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $467 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 0.1%hydro 82.5%other 17.5% (2001)nuclear 0%

Electricity production

7.894 billion (2001)Electricity consumption

7.341 billion (2001)

Economy - overview

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), 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 fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies 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 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 had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and inflation dropped back from 5% to 2%.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $8.444 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $30,200 (2002 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)

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

16,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

15,470 bbl/day (2001)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, green vegetables, chicken, pork, mutton; fish

Exports

$2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$2.1 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles

Debt - external

$2.6 billion (1999)

Economic aid - donor

$NA

Currency

Icelandic krona (ISK)

Currency code

ISK

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 91.66 (2002), 97.42 (2001), 78.62 (2000), 72.34 (1999), 70.96 (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

248,131

(221,231 GSM, 26,900 NMT) (2001)

Internet users

(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)

Television broadcast stations

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

Internet users

220,000 (2002)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 13Unpaved 73

Networkskm

Highways

12,955Railways

Highways: paved/oiled gravel: 3,863 km · unpaved: 9,092 km (2003)

Highways

total:: 12,955 km
paved/oiled gravel:: 3,863 km
unpaved:: 9,092 km (2003)

total:: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,500 GRT/5,000 DWT
ships by type:: chemical tanker 1 (2002 est.)

Airports

86 (2002)

Military

No regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard

5 fields

Transnational Issues