2021 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

highest point

Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

557 m

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

total

0 km

Land use

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.)

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

20.31% (male 36,394/female 34,837)

15-24 years

12.85% (male 22,748/female 22,317)

25-54 years

39.44% (male 70,227/female 68,095)

55-64 years

11.94% (male 20,762/female 21,111)

65 years and over

15.47% (male 25,546/female 28,697) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

13.12 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

8.5% (2018)

Death rate

6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

24.1

potential support ratio

4.2 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

54

youth dependency ratio

29.9

Drinking water source

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 (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2018)

Ethnic groups

Icelandic 81.3%, Polish 5.6%, Danish 1%, other 12.1% (2021 est.)

note

note: data represent population by country of birth

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2020)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<100 (2020)

note

note: estimate does not include children

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

<500 (2020)

note

note: estimate does not include children

Hospital bed density

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2019)

Infant mortality rate

female

1.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

1.85 deaths/1,000 live births

total

1.66 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.79 years (2021 est.)

male

81.21 years

total population

83.45 years

Major urban areas - population

216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

37.7 years (2020 est.)

male

36.6 years

total

37.1 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.7 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Icelandic

noun

Icelander(s)

Net migration rate

3.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.9% (2016)

Physicians density

4.08 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

354,234 (July 2021 est.)

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

Population growth rate

0.97% (2021 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 62.3%, Roman Catholic 4%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.7%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 2%, pagan worship 1.4%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.1%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 19%, none 7.6% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

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 (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

20 years (2019)

male

18 years

total

19 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.03 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.89 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.96 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

9% (2020 est.)

male

11.1%

total

10%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

93.9% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

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

history

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

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); Michelle YERKIN (since June 2021)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Bergdis ELLERTSDOTTIR (since 16 September 2019)

consulate(s) general

New York

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

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (since 1 August 2016)

election results

Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 27 June 2020 (next to be held in 2024); 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

unitary 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 closed-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - IP 24.4%, PP 17.3%, LGM 12.6%, SDA 9.9%, People's Party 8.8%, Pirate Party 8.6%, Reform Party 8.3%. CP 5.4%, other 4.7%; seats by party - IP 16, PP 13, LGM 8, SDA 6, People's Party 6, Pirate Party 6, Reform Party 5, CP 3; composition - men 33, women 30; percent of women 47.6%

elections

last held on 25 September 2021 (next to be held in 2025)

National anthem

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

National symbol(s)

gyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red

Political parties and leaders

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) [Halldora MOGENSEN] 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

Agricultural products

milk, mutton, poultry, potatoes, barley, pork, eggs, beef, other meat, sheep skins

Budget

expenditures

10.02 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

10.39 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

A (2017)

Moody's rating

A2 (2019)

Standard & Poors rating

A (2017)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

$814 million (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

$1.496 billion (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$22.055 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$19.422 billion (2019 est.)

Economic 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

currency

Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

116.77 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

131.92 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

121.86 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

121.68 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

127.05 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$12.26 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$11.01 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$7.43 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities

aluminum and aluminum products, fish products, aircraft, iron alloys, animal meal (2019)

Exports - partners

Netherlands 23%, United Kingdom 9%, Germany 9%, Spain 8%, United States 7%, France 7%, Canada 5% (2019)

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)

$24.614 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2005

25 (2005)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

26.8 (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2018

$11.34 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$9.76 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$7.55 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, aluminum oxide, carbon/graphite electronics, cars, packaged medicines (2019)

Imports - partners

Norway 11%, Netherlands 10%, Germany 8%, Denmark 8%, United States 7%, United Kingdom 6%, China 6%, Sweden 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.7% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

2.6% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

3% (2019 est.)

Labor force

200,000 (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

4.8%

industry

22.2%

services

73% (2008)

Population below poverty line

8.8% (2017 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

51.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

40% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$20.01 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$20.52 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$19.16 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

4.57% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

3.88% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

1.94% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$56,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$56,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$52,300 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$7.226 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$6.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

42.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2018

2.73% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate 2019

3.62% (2019 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

9% (2020 est.)

male

11.1%

total

10%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

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

41.56 (2020 est.)

total

141,816 (2020)

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.is

Internet users

percent of population

98.26% (2019 est.)

total

338,900 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

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; 37 per 100 for fixed line and 122 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2019)

general assessment

small but most progressive telecom market in Europe; telecom infrastructure is modern and fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations, fiber-optic cables, and an extensive broadband network; near universal fixed broadband service of at least 100Mb/s by the end of 2021; operator aims for national 5G coverage by end of 2022; good competition among mobile and broadband markets; investment by operators and government in support of NGN, particularly in rural areas; submarine cable to Ireland; importer of broadcasting equipment from Vietnam and China (2020)

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)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

31.37 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

107,032 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

123.5 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

421,384 (2020)

Airports

total

96 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

3 (2017)

over 3,047 m

1

total

7

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

26

total

89

under 914 m

60 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TF

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 34 (2021)

total

41

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

163.65 million mt-km (2018)

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)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik

Roadways

paved/oiled gravel

5,647 km (excludes urban roads) (2012)

total

12,898 km (2012)

unpaved

7,251 km (2012)

Military - note

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 2009  

Military and security forces

no regular military forces; Ministry of Interior: Icelandic Coast Guard (includes both air and maritime elements); Icelandic National Police (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Icelandic Coast Guard has approximately 250 personnel (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Icelandic Coast Guard's inventory consists of equipment from mostly European suppliers (2021)

Disputes - international

Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the 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

65 (2020)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

2.06 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.59 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

5.94 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

water pollution from fertilizer runoff

Environment - international agreements

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

Land use

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.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

170 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

198 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

80 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

93.9% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

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.)