1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Coastline
4,988 km
Comparative area
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Continental shelf
edge of continental margin or 200 nm;
Disputes
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Environment
subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity
Extended economic zone
200 nm;
Land boundaries
none
Land use
NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 23% meadows and pastures; 1% forest and woodland; 76% other
Natural resources
fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power, diatomite
Note
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country
Terrain
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Territorial sea
12 nm
Total area
103,000 km2; land area: 100,250 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
18 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate
7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Ethnic divisions
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts
Infant mortality rate
7 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Labor force
134,429; 55.4% commerce, finance, and services, 14.3% other manufacturing, 5.8% agriculture, 7.9% fish processing, 5.0% fishing (1986)
Language
Icelandic
Life expectancy at birth
75 years male, 80 years female (1990)
Literacy
100%
Nationality
noun--Icelander(s); adjective--Icelandic
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Organized labor
60% of labor force
Population
257,023 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)
Religion
95% Evangelical Lutheran, 3% other Protestant and Roman Catholic, 2% no affiliation
Total fertility rate
2.2 children born/woman (1990)
Government
Administrative divisions
23 counties (syslar, singular--sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadar, singular--kaupstadur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasysla, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hanppadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vestmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
Capital
Reykjavik
Communists
less than 100 (est.), some of whom participate in the People's Alliance
Constitution
16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Diplomatic representation
Ambassador Ingvi S. INGVARSSON; Chancery at 2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 265-6653 through 6655; there is an Icelandic Consulate General in New York; US--Ambassador Charles E. COBB; Embassy at Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik (mailing address is FPO New York 09571-0001); telephone [354] (1) 29100
Elections
President--last held on 29 June 1980 (next scheduled for June 1992); results--there were no elections in 1984 and 1988 as President Vigdis Finnbogadottir was unopposed; Parliament--last held on 25 April 1987 (next to be held by 25 April 1991); results--Independence 27.2%, Progressive 18.9%, Social Democratic 15.2%, People's Alliance 13.4%, Citizens Party 10.9%, Womens List 10.1%, other 4.3%; seats--(63 total) Independence 18, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10, People's Alliance 8, Citizens Party 7, Womens List 6, Regional Equality Platform 1
Executive branch
president, prime minister, Cabinet
Flag
blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends 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)
Independence
17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Haestirettur)
Leaders
Chief of State--President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); Head of Government--Prime Minister Steingrimur HERMANNSSON (since 28 September 1988)
Legal system
civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament (Althing) with an Upper House
Long-form name
Republic of Iceland
Member of
CCC, Council of Europe, EC (free trade agreement pending resolution of fishing limits issue), EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICES, IDA, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, IWC--International Whaling Commission, NATO, Nordic Council, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WSG
National holiday
Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
Political parties and leaders
Independence (conservative), Thorsteinn Palsson; Progressive, Steingrimur Hermannsson; Social Democratic, Jon Baldvin Hannibalsson; People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar Grimsson; Citizens Party (conservative nationalist), Julius Solnes; Women's List
Suffrage
universal at age 20
Type
republic
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for about 25% of GDP (including fishing); fishing is most important economic activity, contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops--potatoes and turnips; livestock--cattle, sheep; self-sufficient in crops; fish catch of about 1.6 million metric tons in 1987
Aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million
Budget
revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1988)
Currency
krona (plural--kronur); 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Electricity
1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced, 20,780 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1--60.751 (January 1990), 57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988), 38.677 (1987), 41.104 (1986), 41.508 (1985)
Exports
$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, diatomite; partners--EC 58.9% (UK 23.3%, FRG 10.3%), US 13.6%, USSR 3.6%
External debt
$1.8 billion (1988)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
$4.0 billion, per capita $16,200; real growth rate - 1.8% (1989 est.)
Imports
$1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, textiles; partners--EC 58% (FRG 16%, Denmark 10.4%, UK 9.2%), US 8.5%, USSR 3.9%
Industrial production
growth rate 4.7% (1987 est.)
Industries
fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, hydropower
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
17.4% (1989 est.)
Overview
Iceland's prosperous Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with extensive welfare measures, low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings. In the absence of other natural resources, Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. National output declined for the second consecutive year in 1989, and two of the largest fish farms filed for bankruptcy. Other economic activities include livestock raising and aluminum smelting. A fall in the fish catch is expected for 1990, resulting in a continuation of the recession.
Unemployment rate
1.3% (1989 est.)
Communications
Airports
99 total, 92 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 14 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
20 major transport aircraft
Highways
12,343 km total; 166 km bitumen and concrete; 1,284 km bituminous treated and gravel; 10,893 km earth
Merchant marine
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,867 GRT/87,610 DWT; includes 9 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 bulk
Ports
Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Siglufjordur, Vestmannaeyjar; numerous minor ports
Telecommunications
adequate domestic service, wire and radio communication system; 135,000 telephones; stations--10 AM, 17 (43 relays) FM, 14 (132 relays) TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Branches
Police, Coast Guard
Defense expenditures
none
Military manpower
males 15-49, 68,688; 61,553 fit for military service; no conscription or compulsory military service