ARCHIVE // IS // 2017

Iceland

2017 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
state-owned public TV broadcaster operates 1 TV channel nationally; several privately owned TV stations broadcast nationally and roughly another half-dozen operate locally; about one-half the 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 [time series]
.is
Internet users [time series]
total: 329,967 | percent of population: 98.2% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is modern and fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations, fiber-optic cables, and an extensive broadband network | 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 | 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) (2015)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 164,566 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 401,613 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
potatoes, carrots, green vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers; mutton, chicken, pork, beef, dairy products; fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $11.71 billion | expenditures: $8.264 billion (2016 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
17.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 2
Central bank discount rate [time series]
5.4% (31 January 2012) | 5.75% (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 77
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
8.24% (31 December 2016 est.) | 7.61% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Current account balance [time series]
$1.589 billion (2016 est.) | $918 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37
Debt - external [time series]
$25.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $30.25 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
28 (2006) | 25 (2005) | country comparison to the world: 135
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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 achieved high growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income. The economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 40% of merchandise export earnings, more than 12% of GDP, and employs nearly 5% of the work force. It remains sensitive to declining fish stocks, as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Since 2010, tourism has become the main pillar of Icelandic economic growth, with the number of tourists reaching 4.5 times the Icelandic population in 2016. | 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. In fall 2013, the Icelandic Government approved a joint application by Icelandic, Chinese, and Norwegian energy firms to conduct oil exploration off Iceland’s northeast coast, although no exploration has yet taken place. 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, although the financial crisis has put several investment projects on hold. | 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 more than 10 times the country's GDP, became unsustainable. Iceland's three largest banks collapsed in late 2008. The country secured over $10 billion in loans from the IMF and other countries to stabilize its currency and financial sector, and to back government guarantees for foreign deposits in Icelandic banks. 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 finally lifted in March 2017, but some financial protections (e.g., reserve requirements for specified investments connected to new inflows of foreign currency) remain in place. Iceland’s financial woes prompted an initial increase in public support to join the EU and the euro zone, with accession negotiations beginning in July 2010, but negotiations were suspended under the center-right government that took power in 2013. The current ruling coalition does not intend to restart accession talks, but has signaled that it would allow a vote on the question of EU membership, if a bill came before parliament near the end of the current parliamentary term. Most macroeconomic indicators and employment have rebounded to pre-crisis levels, driven primarily by the unprecedented growth in tourism – averaging over 20% annually – following the well-publicized volcanic eruption in 2010.
Exchange rates [time series]
Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - | 129.3 (2016 est.) | 131.92 (2015 est.) | 131.92 (2014 est.) | 116.77 (2013 est.) | 125.08 (2012 est.)
Exports [time series]
$4.483 billion (2016 est.) | $4.655 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish and fish products (42%), aluminum (38%), agricultural products, medicinal and medical products, ferro-silicon (2015)
Exports - partners [time series]
Netherlands 25.4%, UK 11.3%, Spain 10.5%, US 7.8%, Germany 7%, France 6.7%, Norway 4.2% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$20.05 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$16.52 billion (2016 est.) | $15.21 billion (2015 est.) | $14.46 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 151
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 49% | government consumption: 23.1% | investment in fixed capital: 21.2% | investment in inventories: 0.1% | exports of goods and services: 49.1% | imports of goods and services: -42.5% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 5.8% | industry: 20.2% | services: 74% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$49,200 (2016 est.) | $46,300 (2015 est.) | $45,000 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 28
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
7.2% (2016 est.) | 4.1% (2015 est.) | 1.9% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7
Gross national saving [time series]
29.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 24.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | 21.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 26
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$5.315 billion (2016 est.) | $4.926 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners [time series]
Germany 10.1%, US 10%, Norway 9.1%, Netherlands 7.5%, China 7.4%, Denmark 6.1%, UK 5.8% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110
Industries [time series]
tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting;; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
1.7% (2016 est.) | 1.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 114
Labor force [time series]
196,500 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 4.8% | industry: 22.2% | services: 73% (2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$2.825 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $2.021 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | $1.996 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA% | note: 332,100 families (2011 est.)
Public debt [time series]
54.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 68.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$7.226 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $5.041 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81
Stock of broad money [time series]
$8.693 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $7.471 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]
$17.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $16.47 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$13.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $16.26 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$21.18 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $18.43 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$4.251 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $3.314 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
58.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9
Unemployment rate [time series]
3% (2016 est.) | 4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
3.3 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - consumption [time series]
17.98 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
4.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
71.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
24.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
2.772 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - production [time series]
18.56 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 153
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
19,800 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
2,845 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
19,530 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 103,000 sq km | land: 100,250 sq km | water: 2,750 sq km | country comparison to the world: 109
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
Climate [time series]
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Coastline [time series]
4,970 km
Elevation [time series]
mean elevation: 557 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull Glacier)
Environment - current issues [time series]
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
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 [time series]
65 00 N, 18 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
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 [time series]
NA
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 18.7% | arable land 1.2%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 17.5% | forest: 0.3% | other: 81% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom
Map references [time series]
Arctic Region
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Natural hazards [time series]
earthquakes and volcanic activity | volcanism: 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 [time series]
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
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 [time series]
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Capital [time series]
name: Reykjavik | geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W | time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
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 [time series]
history: several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence) | 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)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland | conventional short form: Iceland | local long form: Lydveldid Island | local short form: Island | 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
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jill ESPOSITO (since 20 January 2017) | embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik | mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640 | telephone: [354] 595-22-00 | FAX: [354] 562-9118
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Geir Hilmar HAARDE (since 23 February 2015) | chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW | telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 | FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656 | consulate(s) general: New York
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (since 1 August 2016) | head of government: Acting Prime Minister Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON (since 11 January 2017); Prime Minister BENEDIKTSSON resigned on 16 September 2017 | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister | 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 | 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%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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 [time series]
parliamentary republic
Independence [time series]
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 [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
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 [time series]
highest court(s): 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: 8 district courts; Labor Court
Legal system [time series]
civil law system influenced by the Danish model
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral Althingi or Parliament (63 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 29 October 2016 (next to be held on 28 October 2017); note - an early election is being held because the governing coalition collapsed | election results: percent of vote by party - IP 29.0%, LGM 15.9%, PIP 14.5%, PP 11.5%, Reform 10.5%, BF 7.2%, SDA 5.7%, PP 3.5%; other 2.2%; seats by party - IP 21, LGM 10, PIP 10, PP 8, Reform 7, BF 4, SDA 3
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise) | lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON | 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 [time series]
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
National symbol(s) [time series]
gyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Bright Future (Bjort framtid) or BF [Ottarr PROPPE] | Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP [Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON] | Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM [Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR] | Pirate Party (Piratar) or PIP [Birgitta JONSDOTTIR] | Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP [Sigurdur Ingi JOHANNSSON] | Reform (Vidreisn) or R [Benedict JOHANNSSON] | Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA [Logi Mar EINARSSON] | Sturla Jonsson (formerly Move Forward Party [Sturla JONSSON, chairman]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
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)
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no regular military forces; Icelandic National Police; Icelandic Coast Guard (2016)
Military expenditures [time series]
0.1% of GDP (2016) | 0.13% of GDP (2012) | 0.14% of GDP (2011) | 0.13% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 131
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 35,418/female 33,887) | 15-24 years: 13.5% (male 23,190/female 22,659) | 25-54 years: 39.88% (male 68,579/female 66,899) | 55-64 years: 11.81% (male 20,119/female 20,007) | 65 years and over: 14.42% (male 22,936/female 26,053) (2017 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
13.7 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Death rate [time series]
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 51.6 | youth dependency ratio: 30.8 | elderly dependency ratio: 20.8 | potential support ratio: 4.8 (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
7.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 14
Ethnic groups [time series]
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
8.9% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 43
Hospital bed density [time series]
3.18 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 1.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 223
Languages [time series]
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 83.1 years | male: 80.9 years | female: 85.4 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6
Major urban areas - population [time series]
REYKJAVIK (capital) 184,000 (2014)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Median age [time series]
total: 36.5 years | male: 35.9 years | female: 37.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
27.4 years (2015 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Icelander(s) | adjective: Icelandic
Net migration rate [time series]
4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
21.9% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 83
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
3.79 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Population [time series]
339,747 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Population distribution [time series]
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 [time series]
1.13% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106
Religions [time series]
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 69.9%, Roman Catholic 3.8%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.9%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 2%, Asatru Association 1.1%, The Independent Congregation 1%, other religions 4% (includes Zuist and Pentecostal), none 6.1%, other or unspecified 9.2% (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 98.7% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 98.8% of population | urban: 1.3% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 1.2% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 20 years | male: 18 years | female: 21 years (2013)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 6.5% | male: 6.7% | female: 6.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 94.3% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
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 [time series]
stateless persons: 131 (2016)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
96 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 60
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 7 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 89 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 26 | under 914 m: 60 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
TF (2016)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 2 | by type: passenger/cargo 2 | registered in other countries: 19 (Antigua and Barbuda 10, Belize 1, Faroe Islands 4, Finland 1, Gibraltar 1, Norway 2) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 142
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 5 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 43 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,413,950 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 102,356,809 mt-km (2015)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik
Roadways [time series]
total: 12,890 km | paved/oiled gravel: 4,782 km (excludes urban roads) | unpaved: 8,108 km (2012) | country comparison to the world: 127