Iceland

Broadcast media

state-owned public television broadcaster operates 1 TV channel nationally; several privately-owned TV stations broadcast nationally and roughly another half-dozen operate locally; about half the households utilize multi-channel cable or satellite TV services; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 2 national networks and 4 regional stations; 2 privately-owned radio stations operate nationally and another 15 provide more limited coverage (2007)

Internet country code

.is

Internet hosts

344,748 (2010) country comparison to the world: 55

Internet users

301,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 129

Telephone system

general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is modern and fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations, fiber-optic cables, and an extensive broadband network domestic: liberalization of the telecommunications sector beginning in the late 1990s has led to increased competition especially in the mobile services segment of the market international: country code - 354; the CANTAT-3 and FARICE-1 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, UK, Denmark, and Germany; a planned new section of the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable will provide additional connectivity to Canada, US, and Ireland; 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

204,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 127

Telephones - mobile cellular

348,100 (2010) country comparison to the world: 173

Agriculture - products

potatoes, green vegetables; mutton, chicken, pork, beef, dairy products; fish

Budget

revenues: $5.322 billion expenditures: $6.302 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Central bank discount rate

5.75% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16 14.55% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.242% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 19% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$973 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 -$1.436 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$124.5 billion (30 June 2011) country comparison to the world: 36

Distribution of family income - Gini index

28 (2006) country comparison to the world: 126 25 (2005)

Economy - overview

Iceland's Scandinavian-type social-market economy combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare system. Prior to the 2008 crisis, Iceland had achieved high growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income. The economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 40% of export earnings, more than 12% of GDP, and employs 7% of the work force. It 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. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, particularly within the fields of software production, biotechnology, and tourism. Abundant geothermal and hydropower sources have attracted substantial foreign investment in the aluminum sector and boosted economic growth, although the financial crisis has put several investment projects on hold. Much of Iceland's economic growth in recent years came as the result of a boom in domestic demand following the rapid expansion of the country's financial sector. Domestic banks expanded aggressively in foreign markets, and consumers and businesses borrowed heavily in foreign currencies, following the privatization of the banking sector in the early 2000s. Worsening global financial conditions throughout 2008 resulted in a sharp depreciation of the krona vis-a-vis other major currencies. The foreign exposure of Icelandic banks, whose loans and other assets totaled more than 10 times the country's GDP, became unsustainable. Iceland's three largest banks collapsed in late 2008. The country secured over $10 billion in loans from the IMF and other countries to stabilize its currency and financial sector, and to back government guarantees for foreign deposits in Icelandic banks. GDP fell 6.8% in 2009, and unemployment peaked at 9.4% in February 2009. GDP fell 3.4% in 2010. Since the collapse of Iceland's financial sector, government economic priorities have included: stabilizing the krona, reducing Iceland's high budget deficit, containing inflation, restructuring the financial sector, and diversifying the economy. Three new banks were established to take over the domestic assets of the collapsed banks. Two of them have foreign majority ownership, while the State holds a majority of the shares of the third. British and Dutch authorities have pressed claims totaling over $5 billion against Iceland to compensate their citizens for losses suffered on deposits held in the failed Icelandic bank, Landsbanki Islands. Iceland agreed to new terms with the UK and the Netherlands to compensate British and Dutch depositors, but the agreement must first be approved by the Icelandic President. Iceland began accession negotiations with the EU in July 2010; however, public support has dropped substantially because of concern about losing control over fishing resources and in reaction to measures taken by Brussels during the ongoing Eurozone crisis.

Electricity - consumption

16.48 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

16.48 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Exchange rates

Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - 139.32 (2010) 123.64 (2009) 85.619 (2008) 63.391 (2007) 70.195 (2006)

Exports

$4.603 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $4.05 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 40%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite

Exports - partners

Netherlands 33.9%, Germany 14.1%, UK 10.1%, Spain 4.7%, US 4.5%, Norway 4.3% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.59 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$11.82 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $12.24 billion (2009 est.) $13.15 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5.5% industry: 24.7% services: 69.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$38,300 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 $39,900 (2009 est.) $43,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209 -6.9% (2009 est.) 1.4% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$3.621 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $3.318 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners

Norway 9%, Brazil 8.7%, Netherlands 8.5%, US 8.1%, Germany 7.5%, Denmark 7%, China 6%, Finland 5.4%, Sweden 5.2%, UK 5.1% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

-1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 12% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

13% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Labor force

181,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 4.8% industry: 22.2% services: 73% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.996 billion (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 103 $1.128 billion (31 December 2009) $5.557 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Oil - consumption

17,430 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Oil - exports

1,209 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Oil - imports

15,530 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

126.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 114.9% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.79 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $3.883 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$30.39 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $24.01 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA $8.8 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA (31 December 2010) $9.2 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$69.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 $54.05 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.276 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $4.384 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

42.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Unemployment rate

8.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 8% (2009 est.)

Area

total: 103,000 sq km country comparison to the world: 108 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

4,970 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)

Environment - current issues

water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.17 cu km/yr (34%/66%/0%) per capita: 567 cu m/yr (2003)

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0.07% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.93% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

earthquakes and volcanic activity volcanism: Iceland, situated on top of a hotspot, experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (elev. 1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (elev. 1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption in the very near future, potentially disrupting air traffic; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most frequently active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar

Natural resources

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

170 cu km (2005)

Administrative divisions

8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland

Capital

name: Reykjavik geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis E. ARREAGA embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640 telephone: [354] 562-9100 FAX: [354] 562-9118

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Gudmundur A. STEFANSSON chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW #509, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR (since 1 February 2009) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held on 28 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2012); note - the presidential election of 28 June 2008 was not held because Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON had no challengers; he was sworn in on 1 August 2008; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually the prime minister election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; percent of vote - Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%

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); the colors represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean

Government type

constitutional republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EU (candidate country), FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system influenced by the Danish model

Legislative branch

unicameral Althingi (parliament) (63 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 25 April 2009 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democratic Alliance 29.8%, Independence Party 23.7%, Left-Green Movement 21.7%, Progressive Party 14.8%, Citizens' Movement 7.2%, other 2.8%; seats by party - Social Democratic Alliance 20, Independence Party 16, Left-Green Alliance 14, Progressive Party 9, Citizens' Movement 4 note: the Citizens' Movement disintegrated in September 2009; three of its former MPs are now represented under the banner of The Movement and the fourth former MP is an independent

National anthem

name: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise) lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON note: adopted 1944; the anthem, also known as "O, Guo vors Lands" (O, God of Our Land), was originally written and performed in 1874

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

National symbol(s)

gyrfalcon

Political parties and leaders

Independence Party or IP [Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON]; Left-Green Movement or LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; The Liberal Party [Sigurjon THORDARSON]; The Movement [Birgitta JONSDOTTIR]; Progressive Party or PP [Sigmundur David GUNNLAUGSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance or SDA [Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR]

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. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 75,337 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 62,781 females age 16-49: 61,511 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 2,277 female: 2,200 (2010 est.)

Military - note

Iceland has no standing military force; under a 1951 bilateral agreement - still valid - its defense was provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik; however, all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn as of October 2006; although wartime defense of Iceland remains a NATO commitment, in April 2007, Iceland and Norway signed a bilateral agreement providing for Norwegian aerial surveillance and defense of Icelandic airspace (2008)

Military branches

no regular military forces; Icelandic National Police (2008)

Military expenditures

0% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.2% (male 31,929/female 31,034) 15-64 years: 67.1% (male 105,541/female 103,202) 65 years and over: 12.7% (male 17,974/female 21,378) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

13.29 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Death rate

6.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

Education expenditures

7.4% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 14

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Health expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 156

Hospital bed density

5.79 beds/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 29

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 215 male: 3.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.9 years country comparison to the world: 18 male: 78.72 years female: 83.17 years (2011 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)

Major cities - population

REYKJAVIK (capital) 198,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 166

Median age

total: 35.6 years male: 35.2 years female: 36.1 years (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic

Net migration rate

0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

12.4% (2002) country comparison to the world: 46

Physicians density

3.934 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 13

Population

311,058 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Population growth rate

0.687% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Religions

Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 80.7%, Roman Catholic 2.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.4%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.6%, other religions 3.6%, unaffiliated 3%, other or unspecified 6.2% (2006 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years male: 17 years female: 20 years (2008)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.89 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 16% country comparison to the world: 72 male: 19.9% female: 12% (2009)

Urbanization

urban population: 93% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Airports

99 (2010) country comparison to the world: 60

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 93 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 63 (2010)

Merchant marine

total: 2 country comparison to the world: 143 by type: passenger/cargo 2 registered in other countries: 19 (Antigua and Barbuda 9, Belize 2, Denmark 3, Finland 1, Gibraltar 1, Norway 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik

Roadways

total: 12,869 km country comparison to the world: 128 paved/oiled gravel: 4,438 km (does not include urban roads) unpaved: 8,431 km (2009)