2018 Edition

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 Althingi, 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 Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, fueled primarily by a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.

Area

land

100,250 sq km

total

103,000 sq km

water

2,750 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky

Climate

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

Coastline

4,970 km

Elevation

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean

mean elevation

557 m

note

2110 highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier)

Environment Current Issues

water pollution from fertilizer runoff

Environment International Agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic Coordinates

65 00 N, 18 00 W

Geography Note

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

Irrigated Land

NA

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

arable land: 1.2% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 17.5% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

18.7% (2011 est.)

forest

0.3% (2011 est.)

other

81% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map References

Arctic Region

Maritime Claims

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

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

Natural Resources

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0-14 years

20.4% (male 35,812 /female 34,249)

15-24 years

13.22% (male 22,952 /female 22,444)

25-54 years

39.76% (male 69,177 /female 67,401)

55-64 years

11.87% (male 20,350 /female 20,426)

65 years and over

14.76% (male 23,822 /female 26,885) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

13.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

20.8 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

4.8 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

51.6 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

30.8 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

7.8% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic Groups

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 81%, population with foreign background 19% (2018 est.)

note

population with foreign backgroun includes immigrants and persons having at least one parent who was born abroad

Health Expenditures

8.9% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

NA

Hiv Aids Deaths

NA

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

NA

Hospital Bed Density

3.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

85.5 years (2018 est.)

male

80.9 years (2018 est.)

total population

83.1 years (2018 est.)

Major Urban Areas Population

216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

37.3 years (2018 est.)

male

36.1 years

total

36.7 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

27.4 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Icelandic

noun

Icelander(s)

Net Migration Rate

4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

21.9% (2016)

Physicians Density

3.79 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

343,518 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.08% (2018 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 67.2%, Roman Catholic 3.9%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.8%, Hafnarfjordur Free Church 2%, Asatru Association 1.2%, The Independent Congregation .9, other religions 4% (includes Zuist and Pentecostal), none 6.7%, other or unspecified 11.3% (2018 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 98.7% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 100% of population (2015 est.)

total: 98.8% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)

total: 1.2% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

21 years (2013)

male

18 years (2013)

total

20 years (2013)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.88 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.99 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

6.3% (2016 est.)

male

6.7% (2016 est.)

total

6.5% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.81% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

93.8% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

74 municipalities (sveitarfelog, singular - sveitarfelagidh); Akrahreppur, Akraneskaupstadhur, Akureyrarkaupstadhur, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Blonduosbaer, Bolungarvikurkaupstadhur, Borgarbyggdh, Borgarfjardharhreppur, Breidhdalshreppur, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Djupavogshreppur, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalsheradh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjardharkaupstadhur, Helgafellssveit, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunavatnshreppur, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhisbaer, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogsbaer, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavikurborg, Sandgerdhisbaer, Seltjarnarnesbaer, Seydhisfjardharkaupstadhur, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Skutustadhahreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmsbaer, Sudhavikurhreppur, Svalbardhshreppur, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Gardhur, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjabaer, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur

Capital

geographic coordinates

64 09 N, 21 57 W

name

Reykjavik

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

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 (2016)

history

several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence) (2016)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Iceland

conventional short form

Iceland

etymology

Floki VILGERDARSON, an early 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

Lydveldid Island

local short form

Island

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jill ESPOSITO (since 20 January 2017)

embassy

Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik

FAX

[354] 562-9118

mailing address

US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640

telephone

[354] 595-2200

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Geir Hilmar HAARDE (since 23 February 2015)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 265-6656

telephone

[1] (202) 265-6653

Executive Branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

President Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (since 1 August 2016)

election results

Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON elected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (IP) 39.1%, Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 27.9%, Andri Snaer MAGNASON (independent) 14.3%, David ODDSSON (IP) 13.7%, Sturla JONSSON (Sturla Jonsson) 3.5%, invalid 1.5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 June 2016 (next to be held in June 2020); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (since 30 November 2017)

Flag Description

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

Government Type

parliamentary republic

Independence

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)

International Law Organization Participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

highest courts

Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 9 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

Legal System

civil law system influenced by the Danish model

Legislative Branch

description

unicameral Althingi or Parliament (63 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - IP 25.2%, LGM 16.9%, SDA 12.1%, CP 10.9%, PP 10.7%, Pirate Party 9.2%, People's Party 6.9%, Reform Party 6.7%. other 1.5%; seats by party - IP 16, LGM 11, SDA 7, CP 7, PP 8, Pirate Party 6, Reform Party 4, People's Party 4

elections

last held on 28 October 2017 (next to be held in 2021)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON

name

"Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)

note

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

National Holiday

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

National Symbol S

gyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red

Political Parties And Leaders

Bright Future (Bjort framtid) or BF [Biort OLAFSDOTTIR]Centrist Party (Midflokkurinn) or CP [Sigmundur David GUNNLAUGSSON]Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP [Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON]Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM [Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR]People's Party (Flokkur Folksins) [Inga SAELAND]Pirate Party (Piratar) [Birgitta JONSDOTTIR]Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP [Sigurdur Ingi JOHANNSSON]Reform Party (Vidreisn) [Thorgerdur Katrin GUNNARSDOTTIR]Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA [Logi Mar EINARSSON]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

potatoes, carrots, green vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers; mutton, chicken, pork, beef, dairy products; fish

Budget

expenditures

10.02 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

10.39 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

5.4% (31 January 2012)

5.75% (31 December 2010)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

7.26% (31 December 2017 est.)

8.24% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$857 million (2017 est.)

$1.556 billion (2016 est.)

Debt External

$21.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$25.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

28 (2006)

25 (2005)

Economy Overview

Iceland's economy combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare system. Except for a brief period during the 2008 crisis, Iceland has in recent years achieved high growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, particularly within the fields of tourism, software production, and biotechnology. Abundant geothermal and hydropower sources have attracted substantial foreign investment in the aluminum sector, boosted economic growth, and sparked some interest from high-tech firms looking to establish data centers using cheap green energy.Tourism, aluminum smelting, and fishing are the pillars of the economy. For decades the Icelandic economy depended heavily on fisheries, but tourism has now surpassed fishing and aluminum as Iceland’s main export industry. Tourism accounted for 8.6% of Iceland’s GDP in 2016, and 39% of total exports of merchandise and services. From 2010 to 2017, the number of tourists visiting Iceland increased by nearly 400%. Since 2010, tourism has become a main driver of Icelandic economic growth, with the number of tourists reaching 4.5 times the Icelandic population in 2016. Iceland remains sensitive to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports, and to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Icelandic Krona.Following the privatization of the banking sector in the early 2000s, domestic banks expanded aggressively in foreign markets, and consumers and businesses borrowed heavily in foreign currencies. Worsening global financial conditions throughout 2008 resulted in a sharp depreciation of the krona vis-a-vis other major currencies. The foreign exposure of Icelandic banks, whose loans and other assets totaled nearly nine times the country's GDP, became unsustainable. Iceland's three largest banks collapsed in late 2008. GDP fell 6.8% in 2009, and unemployment peaked at 9.4% in February 2009. Three new banks were established to take over the domestic assets of the collapsed banks. Two of them have majority ownership by the state, which intends to re-privatize them.Since the collapse of Iceland's financial sector, government economic priorities have included stabilizing the krona, implementing capital controls, reducing Iceland's high budget deficit, containing inflation, addressing high household debt, restructuring the financial sector, and diversifying the economy. Capital controls were lifted in March 2017, but some financial protections, such as reserve requirements for specified investments connected to new inflows of foreign currency, remain in place.

Exchange Rates

Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -

111.7 (2017 est.)

120.81 (2016 est.)

120.81 (2015 est.)

131.92 (2014 est.)

116.77 (2013 est.)

Exports

$4.957 billion (2017 est.)

$4.483 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

fish and fish products (42%), aluminum (38%), agricultural products, medicinal and medical products, ferro-silicon (2015)

Exports Partners

Netherlands 25.5%, Spain 13.6%, UK 9.4%, Germany 7.6%, US 7%, France 6.3%, Norway 4.9%

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

47% (2017 est.)

government consumption

23.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

50.4% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-42.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

5.8% (2017 est.)

industry

19.7% (2017 est.)

services

74.6% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$24.48 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$52,200 (2017 est.)

$51,700 (2016 est.)

$48,900 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$18.18 billion (2017 est.)

$17.48 billion (2016 est.)

$16.29 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

4% (2017 est.)

7.4% (2016 est.)

4.5% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

25.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

29.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

24.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$6.525 billion (2017 est.)

$5.315 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports Partners

Germany 10.7%, Norway 9.2%, China 7%, Netherlands 6.7%, US 6.4%, Denmark 6.2%, UK 5.7%, Sweden 4.1%

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.4% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

1.8% (2017 est.)

1.7% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

198,700 (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

4.8%

industry

22.2%

services

73% (2008)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$2.825 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$2.021 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.996 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

NA

note

332,100 families (2011 est.)

Public Debt

40% of GDP (2017 est.)

51.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$6.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$7.226 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$4.945 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$4.251 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$11.24 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$17.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$6.666 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$13.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$24.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$21.18 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$4.945 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.251 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

42.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2.8% (2017 est.)

3% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

3.228 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

17.68 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

4% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

71% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

2.772 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

18.17 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

20,850 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

2,530 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

20,220 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

39 (2017 est.)

total

133,574 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 1 TV channel nationally; several privately owned TV stations broadcast nationally and roughly another half-dozen operate locally; about one-half of households utilize multi-channel cable or satellite TV services; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 2 national networks and 4 regional stations; 2 privately owned radio stations operate nationally and another 15 provide more limited coverage (2007)

Internet Country Code

.is

Internet Users

percent of population

98.2% (July 2016 est.)

total

329,967 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

liberalization of the telecommunications sector beginning in the late 1990s has led to increased competition especially in the mobile services segment of the market; 43 per 100 for fixed line and 121 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2017)

general assessment

telecommunications infrastructure is modern and fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations, fiber-optic cables, and an extensive broadband network; LTE licenses providing 99% population coverage (2017)

international

country code - 354; the CANTAT-3 and FARICE-1 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, UK, Denmark, and Germany; a planned new section of the Hibernia-Atlantic submarine cable will provide additional connectivity to Canada, US, and Ireland; 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)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

43 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

146,213 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

121 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

410,662 (2017 est.)

Airports

96 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

3 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1 (2017)

total

7 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

26 (2013)

total

89 (2013)

under 914 m

60 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

TF (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 1, other 26 (2017)

total

33 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

102,356,809 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

3,413,950 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

43 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

5 (2015)

Ports And Terminals

major seaport(s)

Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik

Roadways

paved/oiled gravel

4,782 km (excludes urban roads) (2012)

total

12,890 km (2012)

unpaved

8,108 km (2012)

Military Branches

no regular military forces; Icelandic National Police; Icelandic Coast Guard (2018)

Military Expenditures

0.1% of GDP (2016)

0.13% of GDP (2012)

0.14% of GDP (2011)

0.13% of GDP (2010)

Military Note

Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn as of October 2006; 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)

Disputes International

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nmthe European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the Agreement on the European Economic Area in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositors

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

stateless persons

85 (2017)