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Iceland

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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 %

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

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 $

Commodities :

aluminum animal products
diatomite ferrosilicon
fish and fish products

Value :

2 826 000 000 $

Commodities :

foodstuffs machinery and equipment
petroleum products textiles

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

Photos

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