Iceland

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

20 (2001)

Internet country code

.is

Internet users

220,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: extensive 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

196,984 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

248,131 (221,231 GSM, 26,900 NMT) (2001)

Television broadcast stations

14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, green vegetables, chicken, pork, mutton; fish

Budget

revenues: $3.5 billion expenditures: $3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (1999)

Currency

Icelandic krona (ISK)

Currency code

ISK

Debt - external

$2.6 billion (1999)

Economic aid - donor

$NA

Economy - overview

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically 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 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 fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include 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 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 inflation dropped back from 5% to 2%.

Electricity - consumption

7.341 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

7.894 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 82.5% other: 17.5% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 91.66 (2002), 97.42 (2001), 78.62 (2000), 72.34 (1999), 70.96 (1998)

Exports

$2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 70%, animal products, aluminum, diatomite, ferrosilicon

Exports - partners

Germany 18.5%, UK 17.5%, Netherlands 11.4%, US 10.9%, Spain 5.2%, Denmark 4.6%, Portugal 4.3%, Norway 4.2% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $8.444 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 14% (includes fishing 12%) industry: 21% services: 65% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $30,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.6% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$2.1 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

US 10.9%, Germany 10.7%, Denmark 8.5%, Norway 8%, UK 7.5%, Netherlands 6%, Sweden 5.9% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2002 est.)

Industries

fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.2% (2002 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)

Oil - consumption

16,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

15,470 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

2.8% (2002 est.)

Area

total: 103,000 sq km land: 100,250 sq km water: 2,750 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Kentucky

Climate

temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Coastline

4,988 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)

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, Environmental Protection through Criminal Law, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Oil Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

65 00 N, 18 00 W

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 1% other: 70% (2001 est.) forest and woodlands: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 28%

Location

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Map references

Arctic Region

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

earthquakes and volcanic activity

Natural resources

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Terrain

mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Administrative divisions

23 counties (syslur, 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

Capital

Reykjavik

Constitution

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Iceland conventional short form: Iceland local short form: Island local long form: Lydhveldidh Island

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James I. GADSDEN embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340 telephone: [354] 5629100 FAX: [354] 5629118

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653

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 election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON ran unopposed in 2000 and was reelected elections: president, which is largely a ceremonial post, 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

Flag description

blue with a red cross outlined in white extending 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)

Government type

constitutional republic

Independence

1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)

Legal system

civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Alliance 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 elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

Political parties and leaders

Independence Party or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance or LGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List)or SDA [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sighvatur BJORGVINSSON]; Women's List or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Military - note

defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Military branches

no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$0

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 71,157 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 62,552 (2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.7% (male 32,902; female 30,952) 15-64 years: 65.4% (male 92,519; female 91,000) 65 years and over: 11.9% (male 14,973; female 18,452) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

14.13 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

6.95 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

220 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.8 years male: 77.54 years female: 82.22 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.9% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Median age

total: 34 years male: 33.2 years female: 34.7 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic

Net migration rate

-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

280,798 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

0.49% (2003 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, other 7.1% (2002)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 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 (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.98 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, 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

Airports

86 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 73 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 49 (2002)

Highways

total: 12,955 km paved/oiled gravel: 3,863 km unpaved: 9,092 km (2003)

Merchant marine

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,500 GRT/5,000 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 1 (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none