View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1990 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Airports [time series]

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 [time series]

20 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

12,343 km total; 166 km bitumen and concrete; 1,284 km bituminous treated and gravel; 10,893 km earth

Merchant marine [time series]

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 [time series]

Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Siglufjordur, Vestmannaeyjar; numerous minor ports

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

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

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Police, Coast Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

none

Military manpower [time series]

males 15-49, 68,688; 61,553 fit for military service; no conscription or compulsory military service

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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 [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million

Budget [time series]

revenues $1.5 billion; expenditures $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1988)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

krona (plural--kronur); 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Electricity [time series]

1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced, 20,780 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

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 [time series]

$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%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1.8 billion (1988)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$4.0 billion, per capita $16,200; real growth rate - 1.8% (1989 est.)

Imports [time series]

$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 (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 4.7% (1987 est.)

Industries [time series]

fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, hydropower

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

17.4% (1989 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

1.3% (1989 est.)

Geography

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

4,988 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly smaller than Kentucky

Continental shelf [time series]

edge of continental margin or 200 nm;

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity

Extended economic zone [time series]

200 nm;

Land boundaries [time series]

none

Land use [time series]

NEGL% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 23% meadows and pastures; 1% forest and woodland; 76% other

Natural resources [time series]

fish, hydroelectric and geothermal power, diatomite

Note [time series]

strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country

Terrain [time series]

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

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

12 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

103,000 km2; land area: 100,250 km2

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Reykjavik

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

less than 100 (est.), some of whom participate in the People's Alliance

Constitution [time series]

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

president, prime minister, Cabinet

Flag [time series]

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 [time series]

17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Haestirettur) Chief of State--President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); Head of Government--Prime Minister Steingrimur HERMANNSSON (since 28 September 1988)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (Althing) with an Upper House (Efri Deild) and a Lower House (Nedri Deild)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Republic of Iceland

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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 [time series]

Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

universal at age 20 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

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

People

Birth rate [time series]

18 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Infant mortality rate [time series]

7 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

134,429; 55.4% commerce, finance, and services, 14.3% other manufacturing, 5.8% agriculture, 7.9% fish processing, 5.0% fishing (1986)

Languages (Language) [time series]

Icelandic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

75 years male, 80 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

100%

Nationality [time series]

noun--Icelander(s); adjective--Icelandic

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

60% of labor force

Population [time series]

257,023 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

95% Evangelical Lutheran, 3% other Protestant and Roman Catholic, 2% no affiliation

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.2 children born/woman (1990)