Iceland

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the U.K.

Area

Total area: 103,000 sq km
Land area: 100,250 sq km
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

4,988 km

Maritime Claims

Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

International Disputes

Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the U.K. (Ireland and the U.K. have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

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

Natural Resources

Fish
Hydropower
Geothermal power
Diatomite

Land Use

Arable land: 1%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 20%
Forest and woodland: 1%
Other: 78%

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
International agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Note: Strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

PEOPLE

Population

270,292 (July 1996 est.)
265,998 (July 1995 est.)

Note: Population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly from official population data because of volatile migration rates

Age Structure

0-14 Years

24% (male 33,605; female 31,933) (July 1996 est.)
24% (male 32,912; female 31,482) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

64% (male 88,064; female 85,724) (July 1996 est.)
65% (male 87,089; female 84,559) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

12% (male 13,916; female 17,050) (July 1996 est.)
11% (male 13,402; female 16,554) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

0.83% (1996 est.)
0.92% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

16.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
15.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 80.08 years (1996 est.), 78.98 years (1995 est.)
Male: 77.68 years (1996 est.), 76.69 years (1995 est.)
Female: 82.6 years (1996 est.), 81.39 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

2.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Icelander(s)
Adjective: Icelandic

Ethnic Divisions

Homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 96%
Other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%
None 1% (1988)

Languages

Icelandic

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1976 est.)

Total population: 100%

Labor Force

127,900

By occupation:

Commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%
Manufacturing 12.5%
Fishing and fish processing 11.8%
Construction 10.8%
Agriculture 4.0%
Other 0.9% (1990)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
Conventional short form: Iceland
Local long form: Lyoveldio Island
Local short form: Island

Digraph

Type

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

Independence

17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National Holiday

Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)

Constitution

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Legal System

Civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); election last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results - there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
Head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
Cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Parliament (Althing)

Elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999); results - Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats - (63 total) Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (Haestirettur)

Political Parties and Leaders

Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party (liberal), Halldor ASGRIMSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance (left socialist), Margret FRIMANNSDOTTIR; Women's Party, Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR; People's Movement (centrist); National Awakening (People's Revival Party), Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR

Member of

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

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

Overview

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy - Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy, in recession since 1988, began to recover in 1993, posting 0.4% growth, but was still hampered by cutbacks in fish quotas as well as falling 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, however, remains divided on the issue of EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $5 billion (1995 est.), $4.5 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

3.2% (1995 est.)
2.4% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$18,800 (1995 est.)
$17,250 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

2.5% (1995 est.)
1.3% (1994 est.)

Unemployment Rate

3.9% (December 1995)
7% (1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues: $1.9 billion
Expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $297 million (1994 est.)

Exports

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)

Commodities:

Fish and fish products
Animal products
Aluminum
Ferrosilicon
Diatomite

Partners:

EU 68% (U.K. 25%, Germany 12%)
U.S. 11%
Japan 8% (1992)

Imports

$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
$1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)

Commodities:

Machinery and transportation equipment
Petroleum products
Foodstuffs
Textiles

Partners:

EU 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, U.K. 9%)
Norway 14%
U.S. 9% (1992)

External Debt

$2.5 billion (1993 est.)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)

Electricity

Capacity: 1,070,000 kW
Production: 4.7 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 16,458 kWh (1993)

Industries

Fish processing
Aluminum smelting
Ferro-silicon production
Geothermal power

Agriculture

Accounts for about 15% of GDP; fishing is most important economic activity, contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops - potatoes, turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992

Economic Aid

Recipient: U.S. commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million

Currency

1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Exchange Rates

Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 65.970 (January 1996), 64.692 (1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 11,373 km
Paved: 2,513 km
Unpaved: gravel, earth 8,860 km (1992)

Ports

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

Merchant Marine

Total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,025 GRT/40,410 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2

Airports

Total: 84
With paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
With paved runways under 914 m: 49
With unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 22 (1995 est.)

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

143,600 telephones (1993 est.); 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 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters), shortwave 0
Radios: 91,500 licensed (1993 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 202 (transmitters and repeaters)
Televisions: 96,100 licensed (1993 est.)

DEFENSE FORCES

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

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 71,317; males fit for military service 63,126 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

None

History
World Atlas

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