Iceland

Republic of IcelandLydhveldidh Island

constitutional republic

Iceland as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 114 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
2005

Every edition of Iceland

Populationas each edition published it
296,737 people July 2005 est. · 257,023 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.91% 2005 est. · 0.88% in 1993
Median ageyears
34 years 2005 est. · 34 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
80.19 years 2005 est. · 78.69 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.92 children per woman 2005 est. · 2.2 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
3.31 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 7 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$31,900 2004 est. · $17,400 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
1.8% 2004 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

permanent crops 0%other 99.93% (2001)arable land 0.07% in all
Area
103,000sq km
land: 100,250 sq kmwater: 2,750 sq kmslightly smaller than Kentucky
Coastline
4,988km
land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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

Natural hazards

earthquakes and volcanic activity

Environment - current issues

water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
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

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

15,723
65 and over11.7%
19,056
99,513
15-6466.2%
96,886
33,302
0-1422.1%
32,257
MaleFemale
Population
296,737
(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 0.91% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth
13.73Death
6.68Net migration
2.06

Male · female(2005 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years80.19
78.13 · 82.34Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births3.31
3.45 · 3.16
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years34
33.53 · 34.49
MaleFemale

Religions(2004)

Lutheran Church of Iceland 85.5%Reykjavik Free Church 2.1%Roman Catholic Church 2%Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.5%other Christian 2.7%other or unspecified 3.8%unaffiliated 2.4% (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.82 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 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 Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15 September 2004)

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 long form:
Lydhveldidh Island
local short form:
Island

Government type

constitutional republic

Capital

Reykjavik

Administrative divisions

8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland

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; amended many times

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
head of government:
  • Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15 September 2004);
  • note - Former Prime Minister David ODDSSON switched positions with former Foreign Minister Halldor ASGRIMMSON
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament
elections:
  • president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
  • election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008);
  • following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister
election results:
Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON wins with 85.6% of the vote, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%

Legislative branch

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

elections:
last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)
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

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 [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR]

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON
chancery:
Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-6653
FAX:
[1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general:
New York

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] 562-9100
FAX:
[354] 562-9118

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 (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income.

38 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$9.373billion
(2004 est.)
Real growth rate
1.8%
(2004 est.)industrial production growth: 8.8% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
3.1%
(2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 11.2%industry 9.6%services 79.2% (2004 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

19.1%
UK
7.2%
17.2%
Germany
12.3%
11.5%
Netherlands
6%
9.8%
US
9.9%
Norway
9.7%
4.6%
Denmark
7.9%
6.8%
Spain
Sweden
6.7%
Exports $2.902 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports $3.307 billion (2004 est.)(2004)

Budget

Revenues
$4.154 billionExpenditures
$4.058 billion (2004 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $467 million

Electricity

Electricity production
8.271 billion (2002)Electricity consumption
7.692 billion (2002)

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 geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 8% 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 estimates call for strong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of the decade.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)

Labor force

158,100 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4% (2003)

Investment (gross fixed)

23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Public debt

35.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish

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)

Current account balance

$-570 million (2004 est.)

Exports

$2.902 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$3.307 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles

Debt - external

$3.073 billion (2002)

Currency (code)

Icelandic krona (ISK)

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001), 78.616 (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
279,100
(2003)
Internet users
122,175
(2004)
Fixed lines
190,700
(2003) · 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:
  • country code - 354;
  • 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

195,000 (2003)

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
3
1,524 to 2,437 m
3
1
914 to 1,523 m
29
under 914 m
61
Paved 5Unpaved 93

Highways

total:
13,004 km
paved/oiled gravel:
4,331 km
unpaved:
8,673 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Hornafjordhur, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur

Merchant marine

total:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,341 GRT/6,019 DWT
by type:
cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries:
30 (2005)

Airports

98 (2004 est.)

Military

No regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan)

5 fields

Military branches

no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 69,038 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)

Military - note

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

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

  • Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line;
  • Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Central Intelligence Agency. “Iceland.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/iceland/2005.

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