from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Iceland
Introduction
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
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic 65 00 N, 18 00 W
coordinates:
Map Arctic Region
references:
Area: total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Kentucky
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 4,970 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the
continental margin
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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull
glacier)
Natural fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
resources:
Land use: arable land: 0.07%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.93% (2005)
Irrigated NA
land:
Natural earthquakes and volcanic activity
hazards:
Environment - water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
current wastewater treatment
issues:
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent
international Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
agreements: 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 - strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
note: westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the
northernmost national capital in the world; more land
covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
People
Population: 299,388 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.7% (male 33,021/female 32,021)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 100,944/female 98,239)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,876/female 19,287)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 34.2 years
male: 33.8 years
female: 34.7 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.87% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 13.64 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 6.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 1.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
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 (2006 est.)
Infant total: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 3.43 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 3.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 80.31 years
expectancy at male: 78.23 years
birth: female: 82.48 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.2% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 220 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 100 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts
94%, population of foreign origin 6%
Religions: 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)
Languages: Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely
spoken
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lydveldid Island
local short form: Island
Government constitutional republic
type:
Capital: name: Reykjavik
geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland
divisions: 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 Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
holiday:
Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many
times
Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since
branch: 1 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Geir H. HAARDE
(since 7 June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: president, largely a ceremonial post, is
elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term
limits); 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 85.6%, Baldur
AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Legislative unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are
branch: 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%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Movement 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 Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed
branch: for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district
courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister
of Justice)
Political Independence Party or IP [Geir HAARDE]; Left-Green
parties and Movement or LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party
leaders: or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP
[Halldor ASGRIMSSON - will step down in August 2006];
Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance
or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or
SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC,
organization EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,
participation: ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB,
OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO,
WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON
representation chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington,
in the US: DC 20005-1704
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Carol VAN VOORST
representation embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
from the US: mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik
Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
telephone: [354] 562-9100
FAX: [354] 562-9118
Flag blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to
description: 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
Economy - Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically
overview: 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 4% 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
current account deficit, limiting foreign borrowing,
containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing
policies, and diversifying the economy. 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 $10.59 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $13.05 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 5.6% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $35,700 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 8.6%
composition by industry: 15%
sector: services: 76.5% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 165,900 (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 10.3%
by occupation: industry: 18.3%
services: 71.4% (2003)
Unemployment 2.1% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 4% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 28.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $6.995 billion
expenditures: $6.761 billion; including capital
expenditures of $467 million (2005 est.)
Public debt: 31.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - potatoes, green vegetables; mutton, dairy products;
products: fish
Industries: fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon
production; geothermal power, tourism
Industrial 14.2% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 8.619 billion kWh (2004)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 0.1%
production by hydro: 82.5%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 17.5% (geothermal) (2001)
Electricity - 8.619 billion kWh (2004)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 17,280 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports: 15,470 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-2.607 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $3.215 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products,
commodities: ferrosilicon, diatomite
Exports - UK 17.9%, Germany 16.4%, Netherlands 13%, US 8.1%,
partners: Spain 7.7%, Denmark 4.3% (2005)
Imports: $4.582 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and equipment, petroleum products,
commodities: foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - Germany 13.4%, US 9.1%, Sweden 8.6%, Denmark 7.3%,
partners: Norway 7.2%, UK 5.9%, China 5.3%, Netherlands 5%, Japan
4.7% (2005)
Reserves of $1.069 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $3.073 billion (2002)
external:
Economic aid - $6.7 million $NA
donor:
Currency Icelandic krona (ISK)
(code):
Currency code: ISK
Exchange Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 62.982 (2005), 70.192
rates: (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 193,900 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 304,000 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: extensive domestic service
system: 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 AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1
broadcast (1998)
stations:
Radios: 260,000 (1997)
Television 14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 98,000 (1997)
Internet .is
country code:
Internet 212,897 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 20 (2001)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 258,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 98 (2006)
Airports - total: 5
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 93
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 61 (2006)
Roadways: total: 13,028 km
paved/oiled gravel: 4,241 km (does not include urban
roads)
unpaved: 8,787 km (2005)
Merchant total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 3,354 GRT/480 DWT
marine: by type: passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 34 (Antigua and Barbuda
8, Bahamas 1, Belize 2, Faroe Islands 4, Gibraltar 1,
Malta 4, Norway 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10)
(2006)
Ports and Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Hornafjordhur, Reykjavik,
terminals: Seydhisfjordhur
Military
Military no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police,
branches: Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan)
subordinate to Ministry of Justice, Icelandic Crisis
Response Unit (2006)
Manpower males age 18-49: 69,038 (2005 est.)
available for
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)
for military
service:
Military 0
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 0%
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Military - under a 1951 bilateral agreement, Iceland's defense was
note: provided by a US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF)
headquartered in Keflavik; in October 2006, all US
military forces in Iceland were withdrawn; nonetheless,
the US and Iceland signed a Joint Understanding to
strengthen their bilateral defense relationship,
including regular security consultations, military
communications in the event of national emergencies,
annual bilateral exercises on Icelandic territory, and
future bilateral and NATO support to four Iceland Air
Defense System (IADS) radar sites
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe
international: Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and
Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands'
continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm