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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note - Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

none

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 71,317 males fit for military service: 63,126 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters), shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

91,500 licensed (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

adequate domestic service domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links international: 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 (Telephones) [time series]

143,600 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

202 (transmitters and repeaters)

Televisions [time series]

96,100 licensed (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.9 billion expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $297 million (1994 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview [time series]

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy - Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy, in recession since 1988, began to recover in 1993, posting 0.4% growth, but was still hampered by cutbacks in fish quotas as well as falling world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government, however, remains divided on the issue of EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 1,070,000 kW production: 4.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 16,458 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 65.970 (January 1996), 64.692 (1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite partners: EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$2.5 billion (1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $5 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 9.6% industry: 22.1% services: 68.3% (1994)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$18,800 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

3.2% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles partners: EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.75% (1991 est.)

Industries [time series]

fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.5% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

127,900 by occupation: commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%, manufacturing 12.5%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.8%, agriculture 4.0%, other 0.9% (1990)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.9% (December 1995)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 103,000 sq km land area: 100,250 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

4,988 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

65 00 N, 18 00 W

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

Disputes - international (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)

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 20% forest and woodland: 1% other: 78%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Arctic Region

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Terrain [time series]

mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

Capital [time series]

Reykjavik

Constitution [time series]

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944

Data code [time series]

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 through 6655

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 29 June 1988 (next to be held June 1996); results - there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991) was appointed by the president cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president

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

[1] (202) 265-6656 consulate(s) general: New York

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

[354] 5629139

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)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Haestirettur), justices are appointed for life by the president

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Iceland conventional short form: Iceland local long form: Lyoveldio Island local short form: Island

National holiday [time series]

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

Legislative branch (Parliament (Althing)) [time series]

elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to be held by April 1999); results - Independence Party 37.1%, Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists 14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats - (63 total) Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7, Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3

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

Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party (liberal), Halldor ASGRIMSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's Alliance (left socialist), Margret FRIMANNSDOTTIR; Women's Party, Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR; People's Movement (centrist); National Awakening (People's Revival Party), Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Parker W. BORG embassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340 telephone: [354] 5629100

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 24% (male 33,605; female 31,933) 15-64 years: 64% (male 88,064; female 85,724) 65 years and over: 12% (male 13,916; female 17,050) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts

Infant mortality rate [time series]

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Icelandic

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 80.08 years male: 77.68 years female: 82.6 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.) total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Icelander(s) adjective: Icelandic

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

270,292 (July 1996 est.) note: population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly from official population data because of volatile migration rates

Population growth rate [time series]

0.83% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 84 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 49 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 22 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 11,373 km paved: 2,513 km unpaved: 8,860 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,025 GRT/40,410 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar

Railways [time series]

0 km