Iceland

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 Althingi, which was 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. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence 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 the global financial crisis hit Iceland especially hard in the years after 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, primarily thanks to a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

land

100,250 sq km

total

103,000 sq km

water

2,750 sq km

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky

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

4,970 km

highest point

Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

557 m

65 00 N, 18 00 W

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

0.5 sq km (2020)

total

0 km

agricultural land

18.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.)

forest

0.3% (2018 est.)

other

81% (2018 est.)

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

Arctic Region

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

earthquakes and volcanic activityvolcanism: Iceland, situated on top of a hotspot, experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (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 active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Iceland is almost entirely urban with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west

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

0-14 years

19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239)

15-64 years

63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810)

65 years and over

17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719)

beer

4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

9.6% of GDP (2020)

45.1% (2023 est.)

6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Iceland is one of the most gender-equal countries in the world.  Its welfare policies enable both men and women to balance work and family life.  Iceland lagged its Nordic neighbors in introducing new childcare policies, and even when they did in the 1990s, parents still faced a childcare gap between the paid parental leave period and the start of pre-school. The female labor participation rate continued to grow from the 1960s to the 2000s, as women’s educational attainment increased.  Icelanders are marrying later, if they marry at all, and people are having children later.  The interval between births has decreased. Non-marital cohabitation and childbearing outside of marriage are common. Approximately 2 out of 3 children are born out of wedlock, which is among the highest in Europe.  Iceland’s total fertility rate (TFR) has been fairly stable, hovering around replacement level (2.1 children per woman), for decades – a rate higher even than its Nordic neighbors.  Iceland has fluctuated over time between being a country of net emigration and one of net immigration.  Most Icelandic emigrants return to their native country after a few years.  From 1960 to 1996, Iceland registered a net outflow, followed by a net inflow until the 2008 banking crisis. During and after the crisis, more Icelanders left the country than immigrated to it.  Following the crisis, Iceland returned to being a country of net immigration.  In 2017, the country’s foreign-born population accounted for 11% of the population and 17% had an immigrant background.  The countries of origin have become more diverse over time, with Polish immigrants composing the largest share in 2017. Foreigners acquiring Icelandic citizenship must have a basic comprehension of the Icelandic language.  The requirement that new citizens modify or change their names to be more Icelandic was dropped in 1996.  The most popular emigration destination was Sweden, followed by Denmark and Norway in 2021.

elderly dependency ratio

22.5

potential support ratio

4.5 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.5

youth dependency ratio

28

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

7.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)

note

note: data represent population by country of birth

0.95 (2024 est.)

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2019)

female

1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

1.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German

female

86.3 years

male

81.8 years

total population

84 years (2024 est.)

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

38.6 years

male

37.4 years

total

38 years (2024 est.)

28.7 years (2020 est.)

adjective

Icelandic

noun

Icelander(s)

2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

21.9% (2016)

4.14 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

female

181,768 (2024 est.)

male

182,268

total

364,036

Iceland is almost entirely urban with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west

0.85% (2024 est.)

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 58.6% Roman Catholic 3.8%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.6%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 1.9%, pagan worship 1.5%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.4%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 18.7%, none 7.7% (2024 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

female

21 years (2020)

male

18 years

total

19 years

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

12% (2020 est.)

male

11.9% (2020 est.)

total

12% (2020 est.)

1.94 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

94% of total population (2023)

64 municipalities (sveitarfelog, singular - sveitarfelagidh); Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunabyggdh, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skagafjordhur, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur

etymology

the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steamy, smoke-like vapors discharged by hot springs in the area

geographic coordinates

64 09 N, 21 57 W

name

Reykjavik

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

3 to 7 years

amendments

proposed by the Althingi; passage requires approval by the Althingi and by the next elected Althingi, and confirmation by the president of the republic; proposed amendments to Article 62 of the constitution – that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland – also require passage by referendum; amended many times, last in 2013

history

several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Iceland

etymology

Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island (9th century), applied the name "Land of Ice" after spotting a fjord full of drift ice to the north and spending a bitter winter on the island; he eventually settled on the island, however, after he saw how it greened up in the summer and that it was, in fact, habitable

local long form

none

local short form

Island

chief of mission

Ambassador Carrin F. PATMAN (since 6 October 2022)

email address and website

ReykjavikConsular@state.govhttps://is.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik

FAX

[354] 562-9118

mailing address

5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640

telephone

[354] 595-2200

chancery

House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007

chief of mission

Ambassador Svanhildur Hólm VALSDÓTTIR (since 18 September 2024)

email address and website

washington@mfa.ishttps://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/

FAX

[1] (202) 265-6656

telephone

[1] (202) 265-6653

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister

chief of state

President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)

election results

2024: percent of vote - Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 34.1%, Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (Left-Green Movement) 25.2%, Halla Hrund LOGADOTTIR (independent) 15.7%, Jon GNARR (Social Democratic Alliance) 10.1%, Baldur PORHALLSSON (independent) 8.4%, other 6.5%2020: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8%2016: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON elected president; Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 39.1%, Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 27.9%, Andri Snær MAGNASON (Democracy Movement) 14.3%, David ODDSSON (independent) 13.7%, other 5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 1 June 2024 (next to be held in June 2028); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON (since 9 April 2024)

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

unitary parliamentary republic

1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th Century independence movement)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president; judges appointed for an indefinite period

subordinate courts

Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court

civil law system influenced by the Danish model

description

unicameral Althingi or Parliament (63 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

seats by party - SDA 15, IP 14, Reform Party 11, People's Party 10, CP 8, PP 5; composition - men 34, women 29; percentage women 46%

elections

last held on 30 November 2024 (next to be held by 30 November 2028)

lyrics/music

Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON

name

"Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)

note

note: adopted 1944; also known as "O, Gud vors lands" (O, God of Our Land), the anthem was originally written and performed in 1874

selected World Heritage Site locales

Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n)

total World Heritage Sites

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

gyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red

Centrist Party (Midflokkurinn) or CP Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM People's Party (Flokkur Folksins) Pirate Party (Piratar) Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP Reform Party (Vidreisn) Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA 

18 years of age; universal

milk, chicken, barley, lamb/mutton, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

expenditures

$9.498 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$9 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

A (2017)

Moody's rating

A2 (2019)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

A (2017)

Current account balance 2021

-$687.447 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$498.416 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$324.663 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income north Atlantic island economy; non-EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA); dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and volcanic activity; inflation remains above target rate; barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification

Currency

Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

122.607 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

135.422 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

126.989 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

135.28 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

137.943 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$9.606 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$13.109 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$13.49 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

fish, aluminum, iron alloys, aluminum wire, animal meal (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Netherlands 27%, UK 9%, US 8%, Germany 8%, France 6% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

43.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

25.7% (2023 est.)

household consumption

50% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-43.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.7% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

3.9% (2023 est.)

industry

21% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

64.6% (2023 est.)

$31.02 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

26.1 (2017 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

22.1% (2017 est.)

lowest 10%

4% (2017 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$10.065 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$13.146 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$13.484 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, aluminum oxide, cars, carbon-based electronics, aircraft (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Norway 12%, Netherlands 10%, Denmark 8%, Germany 8%, China 7% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.24% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.44% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.31% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

8.74% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

239,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

8.8% (2017 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

86.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$23.084 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$25.134 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$26.155 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.15% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

8.88% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.06% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$62,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$65,800 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$66,500 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.74% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.67% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.66% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$7.079 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$5.887 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$5.809 billion (2023 est.)

22.52% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

6.03% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3.79% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.56% (2023 est.)

female

7.9% (2023 est.)

male

10.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

9.2% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

514,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

3.065 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

3.579 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

188,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

imports

113,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

19.296 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

3.006 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

568.767 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

geothermal

29.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

70.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

42 (2020 est.)

total

141,816 (2020 est.)

state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally (RUV and RUV 2, though RUV 2 is used less frequently);  RUV broadcasts nationally, every household in Iceland is required to have RUV as it doubles as the emergency broadcast network; RUV also operates stringer offices in the north (Akureyri) and the east (Egilsstadir) but operations are all run out of RUV headquarters in Reykjavik;  there are 3 privately owned TV stations;  Stod 2 (Channel 2) is owned by Syn, following 365 Media and Vodafone merger, and is headquartered in Reykjavik;  Syn also operates 4 sports channels under Stod 2;  N4 is the only television station headquartered outside of Reykjavik, in Akureyri, with local programming for the north, south, and east of Iceland;  Hringbraut is the newest station and is headquartered in Reykjavik;  all of these television stations have nationwide penetration as 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections RUV operates 3 radio stations (RAS 1, RAS2, and Rondo) as well as 4 regional stations (but they mostly act as range extenders for RUV radio broadcasts nationwide); there is 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), that broadcasts nationwide, and 3 other radio stations that broadcast to the most densely populated regions of the country.  In addition, there are upwards of 20 radio stations that operate regionally (2019)

.is

percent of population

100% (2021 est.)

total

370,000 (2021 est.)

domestic

27 per 100 for fixed line and nearing 118 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)

general assessment

Iceland has one of the smallest yet most progressive telecom markets in Europe; the country in 2020 became the top in Europe for fiber penetration; it aims to provide a fixed broadband service of at least 100Mb/s to 99.9% of the population by the end of 2021, an ambitious target by international standards and one which it is likely to achieve given the progress which operators have made in extending the reach of fiber networks; there is effective competition in the mobile and broadband markets, with a number of players having emerged to challenge the dominance of the two leading operators which have interests across the telecom sectors; the telecom market has shown some resilience in recent years following the significant economic downturn a decade ago, supported by continuing investment in mobile and fixed-line broadband infrastructure by operators and well as by the government’s Telecommunications Fund which is supporting Next Generation Access networks, particularly in rural areas (2022)

international

country code - 354; landing points for the CANTAT-3, FARICE-1, Greenland Connect and DANICE submarine cable system that provides connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, UK, Denmark, and Germany; 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) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

25 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

93,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

123 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

457,000 (2022 est.)

83 (2024)

TF

1 (2024)

by type

general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32

total

39 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

163.65 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

7,819,740 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

63

number of registered air carriers

6 (2020)

key ports

Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar

medium

2

ports with oil terminals

5

size unknown

22

small

2

total ports

43 (2024)

very small

17

total

12,905 km (2021)

Iceland was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland remains a NATO commitment and NATO maintains an air policing presence in Icelandic airspace; Iceland participates in international peacekeeping missions with the civilian-manned Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU)Iceland cooperates with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009in 1951, Iceland and the US concluded an agreement to make arrangements regarding the defense of Iceland and for the use of facilities in Iceland to that end; the agreement, along with NATO membership, is one of the two pillars of Iceland‘s security policy; since 2007 Iceland has concluded cooperation agreements with Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the UK; it also has regular consultations with Germany and France on security and defense (2024)

no regular military forces; the Icelandic National Police, the nine regional police forces, and the Icelandic Coast Guard fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice (2024)

note

note: the Icelandic Coast Guard is responsible for operational defense tasks in Iceland including but not limited to operation of Keflavik Air Base, special security zones, and Iceland's air defense systems

the Icelandic Coast Guard's inventory consists of equipment from mostly European suppliers (2024)

stateless persons

68 (2022)

carbon dioxide emissions

2.06 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.59 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

5.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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

water pollution from fertilizer runoff

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

global geoparks and regional networks

Katla; Reykjanes (2023)

total global geoparks and regional networks

2

agricultural land

18.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.)

forest

0.3% (2018 est.)

other

81% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

170 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

200 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

94% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

525,000 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

293,003 tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

55.8% (2013 est.)