ICELAND
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ICELAND
@Iceland:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Map references: Arctic Region
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ICELAND - MAJOR CITIES
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Latitude, Internat'l Time
Population Longitude Phone Code Zone
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REYKJAVIK 96,000 64.09N, 21.58W 354-1 GMT
Kopavogur 15,000 64.06N, 21.53W 354-1 GMT
Hafnarfjordhur 14,000 64.04N, 21.58W 354-1 GMT
Akureyri 14,000 65.41N, 18.04W 354-6 GMT
Keflavik 7,000 64.02N, 22.36W 354-2 GMT
Vestmannaeyjar 5,000 63.25N, 20.15W 354-8 GMT
Akranes 5,000 64.18N, 22.02W 354-3 GMT
Isafjorour 3,000 66.08N, 23.13W 354-4 GMT
Husavik 3,000 66.04N, 17.18W 354-6 GMT
Neskaupstaour 2,000 65.10N, 13.43W 354-7 GMT
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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
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, Marine Life Conservation
Note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost
European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of
continental Europe
@Iceland:People
Population: 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% (female 31,482; male 32,912)
15-64 years: 65% (female 84,559; male 87,089)
65 years and over: 11% (female 16,554; male 13,402) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.92% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 15.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.98 years
male: 76.69 years
female: 81.39 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 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 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% (1990)
@Iceland:Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lyoveldio Island
local short form: Island
Digraph: IC
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, Halldor ASGRIMSSON; Social
Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance (left
socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's Party; People's Movement
(moderate left); National Awakening, Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR
Member of: Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT,
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
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, Box 40, Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, Reykjavik; FPO AE
09728-0340
telephone: [354] (1) 629100
FAX: [354] (1) 629139
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, relatively 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. Real GDP grew by perhaps 2.4% in 1994. 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 - $4.5 billion (1994
est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $17,250 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.9 billion
expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum,
ferrosilicon, diatomite
partners: EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
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.)
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: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million
Currency: 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 67.760 (January
1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991),
58.284 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Iceland: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: 90
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: 6
with paved runways under 914 m: 53
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23
@Iceland:Communications
Telephone system: 140,000 telephones; adequate domestic service
local: NA
intercity: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic
cables and microwave radio relay links
international: 2 earth stations carry all international traffic
through an Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT satellite
Radio:
broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters),
shortwave 0
radios: NA
Television:
broadcast stations: 202 (transmitters and repeaters)
televisions: NA
@Iceland: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 70,743; males fit for military
service 62,698 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: none
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