From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996
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Map
Location: 65 00 N, 18 00 W -- Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
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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)
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Geography
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 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 UK (Ireland and the UK 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:
NA sq km
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, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation
Geographic 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.)
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)
15-64 years:
64% (male 88,064; female 85,724)
65 years and over:
12% (male 13,916; female 17,050) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.83% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
16.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
80.08 years
male:
77.68 years
female:
82.6 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.24 children born/woman (1996 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 can read and write (1976 est.)
total population:
100%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Government
Name of country:
conventional long form:
Republic of Iceland
conventional short form:
Iceland
local long form:
Lyoveldio Island
local short form:
Island
Data code:
IC
Type of government:
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) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 29 June 1988 (next to be held 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) was appointed by the president
cabinet:
Cabinet was 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), justices are appointed for life by the president
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
International organization participation:
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
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON
chancery:
Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-6653 through 6655
FAX:
[1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Parker W. BORG
embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik
mailing address:
US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone:
[354] 5629100
FAX:
[354] 5629139
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
Economic 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.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate:
3.2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita:
$18,800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture:
9.6%
industry:
22.1%
services:
68.3% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.5% (1995 est.)
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)
Unemployment rate:
3.9% (December 1995)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.9 billion
expenditures:
$2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $297 million (1994 est.)
Industries:
fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power
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)
Agriculture:
potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992
Exports:
$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities:
fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite
partners:
EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
Imports:
$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
partners:
EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)
External debt:
$2.5 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
$NA
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)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Transportation
Railways:
0 km
Highways:
total:
11,373 km
paved:
2,513 km
unpaved:
8,860 km (1992 est.)
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 (1995 est.)
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
Telephones:
143,600 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
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
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
Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm
(June 17, 1997).
