Geography
Area: 103,000 sq. km. (39,600 sq. mi.); about the size of Virginia or
slightly larger than Ireland.
Cities: Capital--Reykjavik (pop. 113,288). Other towns--Kopavogur
(25,352), Hafnarfjordur (21,207), Akureyri (16,086).
Terrain: Rugged.
Climate: Maritime temperate.
Highest elevation: Hvannadalshnjukur at Vatnajokull Glacier, at 2,119
meters (6,952 ft.).
People
Nationality: Noun--Icelander(s). Adjective--Icelandic.
Population (December 2003): 290,570.
Annual growth rate: 0.73%.
Ethnic group: Relatively homogenous mixture of descendants of
Norwegians and Celts.
Christian singles note-Religion: Evangelical Lutheran, 86%.
Language: Icelandic.
Education: Compulsory up to age 16. Attendance--99%. Literacy--99.9%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--2.2/1,000. Life expectancy--men
78.2 years, women 82.2 years.
Work force (2003, 166,600): Commerce--14.0%; manufacturing--11.2%;
fishing/fish processing--8.2%; construction--6.7%; transportation
and communications--6.8%; agriculture--4.4%; unemployment
(2003): 4.1%
Government
Type: Semi-presidential, parliamentary.
Independence: 1918 (became "sovereign state" under Danish
Crown); 1944 (establishment of republic).
Constitution: 1874.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister
(head of government), cabinet (12 ministers). Legislative--63-member
unicameral parliament (Althingi). Judicial--Supreme Court,
district courts, special courts.
Subdivisions: 26 administrative districts and 104 municipalities.
Major political parties: Independence (IP), Progressive (PP), Social
Democratic Alliance (SDA), Left-Green Party (LGP), Liberal Party (LP).
Suffrage: Universal 18 years and above.
National holiday: June 17, anniversary of the establishment of the
republic.
Economy
GDP (2003): $10.4 billion.
GDP growth rate (2003): 3%; (est. 2004): 3.5%
Per capita GDP (2003): $29,199.
Inflation rate (2003): 2.1%.
Budget (2004): $4 billion.
Annual budget surplus (est. 2004): 3.2% of GDP.
Net public debt (est. 2003): 24.6% of GDP.
Foreign aid as part of 2003 budget: 0.17% of GDP.
Natural resources: Marine products, hydroelectric and geothermal
power, diatomite.
Agriculture: Products--potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, turnips,
livestock.
Industry: Types--aluminum smelting, fishing and fish processing
technology, ferro-silicon alloy production, hydro and geothermal
power, tourism, information technology.
Trade: Exports of goods (2003)--$2.36 billion: marine products
62%, industrial products 34%, agriculture 2%, and miscellaneous 2%. Partners--EU
72% (U.K. 18%, Germany 17%, Netherlands 11%, Spain 6%, Denmark 5%);
U.S. 9% ($218 million); EFTA 6%; Japan 3%. Imports
(2003)--$2.58 billion: industrial supplies 27%; capital goods, parts,
accessories 23%; consumer goods 20%; transport equipment 14%; food and
beverages 9%; fuels and lubricants 8%. Partners--EU 62%
(Germany 13%, Denmark 9%, U.K. 8%, Sweden 7%, Netherlands 7%); U.S. 8%
($208 million); EFTA 9%; Japan 4%.
GEOGRAPHY
Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean east of
Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle. It lies about
4,200 kilometers (2,600 mi.) from New York and 830 kilometers (520
mi.) from Scotland.
About 79% of Iceland's land area, which is of recent volcanic
origin, consists of glaciers, lakes, a mountainous lava desert
(highest elevation 2,000 meters--6,590 ft.--above sea level), and
other wasteland. About 28% of the land is used for grazing, and 1% is
cultivated. The inhabited areas are on the coast, particularly in the
southwest where about 60% of the population lives.
Because of the Gulf Stream's moderating influence, the climate is
characterized by damp, cool summers and relatively mild but windy
winters. In Reykjavik, the average temperature is 11°C (52°F) in
July and -1°C (30°F) in January.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-Most Icelanders are descendants of Norwegian
settlers and Celts from the British Isles, and the population is
remarkably homogeneous. According to Icelandic Government statistics,
93% of the nation's inhabitants live in urban areas (localities with
populations greater than 200) and about 60% live in the Reykjavik
metropolitan area. Of the Nordic languages, the Icelandic language is
closest to the Old Norse language and has remained relatively
unchanged since the 12th century.
About 91% of the population belongs to the state church, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, or other Lutheran Churches. However,
Iceland has complete religious liberty, and about 20 other religious
congregations are present.
