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Iceland
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, 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 United Kingdom
Geographic Coordinates Center :
65 00 N, 18 00 W (Latitude, Longtitude)
Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :
| West | -24.55 |
| North | 66.53 |
| East | -13.50 |
| South | 63.39 |
Map references :
Other Regions
Area :
| total | 103 000 | square km |
| land | 100 250 | square km |
| water | 2 750 | square km |
Coastline :
4970.00 km
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 | 0 | metres |
| highest point | 2 110 | metres |
Natural resources :
| diatomite | fish |
| geothermal power | hydropower |
Land use :
| arable land | 0.07 | % |
| permanent crops | 0.00 | % |
| other | 99.93 | % |
Total renewable water resources :
170 cubic km
Natural hazards :
| earthquakes | volcanic activity |
current issues :
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
international agreements :
| Air Pollution | Air Pollution (not ratified) |
| Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants | Biodiversity |
| Climate Change | Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
| Desertification | Endangered Species |
| Environmental Modification | Hazardous Wastes |
| Kyoto Protocol | Law of the Sea |
| Marine Dumping | Marine Life Conservation |
| Ozone Layer Protection | Ship Pollution |
| Wetlands | Whaling |
Population :
306 694
Indicators :
| Growth rate | 0.74 | % |
| Birth rate | 13.43 | births/1,000 population |
| Total fertility rate | 1.90 | children born/woman |
| Death rate | 6.85 | deaths/1,000 population |
| Net migration rate | 0.83 | migrant(s)/1,000 population |
Age structure :
| 0-14 years | 20.70 | % |
| 15-64 years | 67.10 | % |
| 65 years and over | 12.20 | % |
Median age :
| total | 35.10 | years |
| male | 34.60 | years |
| female | 35.60 | years |
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 | 1.00 | male(s)/female |
Health :
| Infant mortality rate | 3.23 | deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth - total population | 80.67 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - male | 78.53 | years |
| Life expectancy at birth - female | 82.90 | years |
| HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate | 0.20 | % |
| HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS | 220 | |
| HIV-AIDS deaths | 100 |
Religions :
| Lutheran | 80.70 | % |
| Roman Catholic Church | 2.50 | % |
| Reykjavik Free Church | 2.40 | % |
| Hafnarfjorour Free Church | 1.60 | % |
| other | 3.60 | % |
| unaffiliated | 3.00 | % |
| other | 6.20 | % |
Languages :
| Icelandic | |
| English | |
| Nordic | |
| German widely spoken |
Literacy :
| total population | 99.00 | % |
| male | 99.00 | % |
| female | 99.00 | % |
Country name :
| conventional long form | Republic of Iceland |
| conventional short form | Iceland |
| local long form | Lydveldid Island |
| local short form | Island |
Country Codes :
| ISO 3166 | IS |
| ISO Numeric | 352 |
| ISO3 | ISL |
| FIPS | IC |
| ccTLD | is |
| English | Iceland |
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 | 0.00 |
International organization participation :
| Arctic Council | Australia Group |
| BIS | CBSS |
| CE | EAPC |
| EBRD | EFTA |
| FAO | FATF |
| IAEA | IBRD |
| ICAO | ICC |
| ICCt | ICRM |
| IDA | IFAD |
| IFC | IFRCS |
| IHO | ILO |
| IMF | IMO |
| IMSO | IOC |
| IPU | ISO |
| ITSO | ITU |
| ITUC | Interpol |
| MIGA | NATO |
| NC | NEA |
| NIB | NSG |
| OAS (observer) | OECD |
| OPCW | OSCE |
| PCA | Schengen Convention |
| UN | UNCTAD |
| UNESCO | UPU |
| WCO | WEU (associate) |
| WFTU | WHO |
| WIPO | WMO |
| WTO |
Independence :
1918-12-01
National holiday :
Independence Day
1944-06-17
Executive branch :
| President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON | Prime Minister Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR |
Legislative branch :
| Social Democratic Alliance | 29.80 | % |
| Independence Party | 23.70 | % |
| Left-Green Movement | 21.70 | % |
| Progressive Party | 14.80 | % |
| Citizens' Movement | 7.20 | % |
| other | 2.80 | % |
GDP - Gross Domestic product :
| PPP - Purchasing Power Parity | 12 200 000 000 | $ |
| Official Exchange Rate | 11 780 000 000 | |
| RGR - Real Growth rate | -6.30 | % |
| PPP - per capita | 39 800 | $ |
GDP Composition by sector :
| agriculture | 5.20 | % |
| industry | 24.00 | % |
| services | 70.80 | % |
Labor force - by occupation :
| agriculture | 4.80 | % |
| industry | 22.20 | % |
| services | 73.00 | % |
Other Indicators :
| Unemployment rate | 8.20 | % |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 28.00 | |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 12.00 | % |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 18.60 | % of GDP |
| Current account balance | - 1 030 000 000 | $ |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 2 541 000 000 | $ |
| Debt external | 3 073 000 000 | $ |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 9 200 000 000 | $ |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 6 100 000 000 | $ |
| Public debt | 95.10 | % of GDP |
Budget :
| revenues | 3 879 000 000 | $ |
| expenditures | 5 488 000 000 | $ |
Agriculture - products :
| beef | chicken |
| dairy | fish |
| green vegetables | mutton |
| pork | potatoes |
Industries :
| aluminum smelting | ferrosilicon production |
| fish processing | geothermal power |
| hydropower | tourism |
Industrial production growth rate :
-10.00 %
Energy :
| Electricity Production | 16 840 000 000 | kWh |
| Electricity Consumption | 16 480 000 000 | kWh |
| Oil Consumption | 19 880 | bbl/day |
| Oil Exports | 2 975 | bbl/day |
| Oil Imports | 17 510 | bbl/day |
Value :
4 218 000 000 $
Partners :
| Netherlands (nl) | 33.80 | % |
| United Kingdom (gb) | 11.70 | % |
| Germany (de) | 11.50 | % |
| United States (us) | 5.80 | % |
| Japan (jp) | 4.90 | % |
| Norway (no) | 4.10 | % |
Commodities :
| aluminum | animal products |
| diatomite | ferrosilicon |
| fish and fish products |
Value :
2 826 000 000 $
Partners :
| Norway (no) | 10.90 | % |
| Germany (de) | 10.40 | % |
| Sweden (se) | 9.00 | % |
| United States (us) | 8.00 | % |
| Denmark (dk) | 7.40 | % |
| China (cn) | 6.80 | % |
| Netherlands (nl) | 5.90 | % |
| United Kingdom (gb) | 4.40 | % |
| Japan (jp) | 4.00 | % |
Commodities :
| foodstuffs | machinery and equipment |
| petroleum products | textiles |
Currency-code :
ISK
Currency-name :
Icelandic krona
Communications :
| Telephons Main lines in use | 187 000 | |
| Telephons Mobile, Cellular | 342 000 | |
| Television broadcast stations | 14 | |
| Internet Country code (ccTLD) | is | |
| Internet Hosts | 272 201 | |
| Internet Users | 250 000 |
Transportation :
| Airports with paved runways | 6 | |
| Roadways - total | 13 058 | km |
| Roadways - unpaved | 8 661 | km |
Flag
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