| 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. |
| 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 |
| Area: |
total:
103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly smaller
than Kentucky |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental
shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| 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
extremes: |
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m |
| Natural
resources: |
fish, hydropower,
geothermal power, diatomite |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 1%
other: 76% (1993 est.) |
| 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, 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, 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 |
| Population: |
277,906 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
23.18% (male 33,238; female 31,191)
15-64 years: 65.01% (male 91,095; female
89,583)
65 years and over: 11.81% (male 14,681; female
18,118) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.54% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
14.62
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
6.89 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-2.28 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 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 (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
3.56 deaths/1,000
live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 79.52 years
male: 77.31 years
female: 81.92 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
2.01 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.14% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
200 (1999 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 |
| Religions: |
Evangelical
Lutheran 93%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic, none
(1997) |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA% |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lyoveldio Island
local short form: Island |
| Government
type: |
constitutional
republic |
| 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
note: there may be four other counties |
| Independence: |
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
elections: president 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
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON
elected president; President GRIMSSON ran unopposed |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 May 1999 (next to be
held by April 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party -
Independence Party 40.7%, The Alliance (PA, People's 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, The Alliance 17, Progressive Party
12, Left-Green Alliance 6, Liberal Party 2 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court or
Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the
president) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Independence
Party (conservative) or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green
Alliance [Steinsvimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party [Sverrir
HERMANNSSON]; People's Party (Social Democratic Party) or
SDP [Sighvatyr BJORGIVINSSON]; Progressive Party (liberal)
or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; The Alliance (includes People's
Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SVP, People's
Movement, Women's List) [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON]; Women's List
or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
Australia Group,
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Barbara J. GRIFFITHS
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 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 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, 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, 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 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. Growth has been
remarkably steady over the past five years at 4%-5%. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $6.85 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
4.3% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $24,800 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
15% (includes fishing 13%)
industry: 21%
services: 64% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
3.5% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
159,000 (2000) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 5.1%,
fishing and fish processing 11.8%, manufacturing 12.9%,
construction 10.7%, other services 59.5% (1999) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
2.7% (January
2001) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$3.5 billion
expenditures: $3.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $467 million (1999) |
| Industries: |
fish processing;
aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal
power; tourism |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
1.5% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
7.069 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
0.07%
hydro: 84.64%
nuclear: 0%
other: 15.29% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
6.574 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
potatoes,
turnips; cattle, sheep; fish |
| Exports: |
$2 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
fish and fish
products 70%, animal products, aluminum, diatomite,
ferrosilicon |
| Exports
- partners: |
EU 64% (UK 20%,
Germany 13%, France 5%, Denmark 5%), US 15%, Japan 5% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$2.2 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and
equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles |
| Imports
- partners: |
EU 56% (Germany
12%, UK 9%, Denmark 8%, Sweden 6%), US 11%, Norway 10%
(1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$2.6 billion
(1999) |
| Economic
aid - donor: |
$NA |
| Currency: |
Icelandic krona (ISK) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Icelandic kronur
per US dollar - 84.810 (January 2001), 78.676 (2000), 72.335
(1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
168,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
65,746 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: 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 3, FM about 70
(including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
14 (plus 156
low-power repeaters) (1997) |
| Televisions: |
98,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.is |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
7 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
144,000 (2000) |
| Highways: |
total:
12,691 km
paved: 3,262 km
unpaved: 9,429 km (1999) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Akureyri,
Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik,
Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,435 GRT/4,538 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 1, petroleum
tanker 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
12
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
75
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 52 (2000 est.) |
| Military
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 |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 71,241 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 62,704 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$0 |
| Military
- note: |
defense is
provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF)
headquartered at Keflavik |
| Disputes
- international: |
Rockall
continental shelf dispute involving Denmark 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 |
|
