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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 133,574 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.is

Internet users [time series]

total: 329,967 | percent of population: 98.2% (July 2016 est.)

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; LTE licenses providing 99% population coverage (2018) | 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 (2018) | international: country code - 354; the CANTAT-3, FARICE-1, Greenland Connect and DANICE submarine cable system 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)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 146,213 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 410,662 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2017 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: 10.39 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 10.02 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5.4% (31 January 2012) | 5.75% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

7.26% (31 December 2017 est.) | 8.24% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$857 million (2017 est.) | $1.556 billion (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$21.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $25.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

28 (2006) | 25 (2005)

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 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 [time series]

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 [time series]

$4.957 billion (2017 est.) | $4.483 billion (2016 est.)

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

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$24.48 billion (2017 est.)

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

$18.18 billion (2017 est.) | $17.48 billion (2016 est.) | $16.29 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 23.3% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 47% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2017 est.)

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

agriculture: 5.8% (2017 est.) | industry: 19.7% (2017 est.) | services: 74.6% (2017 est.)

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

$52,200 (2017 est.) | $51,700 (2016 est.) | $48,900 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

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

4% (2017 est.) | 7.4% (2016 est.) | 4.5% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

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 [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$6.525 billion (2017 est.) | $5.315 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners [time series]

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 [time series]

2.4% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.8% (2017 est.) | 1.7% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

198,700 (2017 est.)

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.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA | note: 332,100 families (2011 est.)

Public debt [time series]

40% of GDP (2017 est.) | 51.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$6.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $7.226 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$4.945 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.251 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$11.24 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $17.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$6.666 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $13.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$24.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $21.18 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$4.945 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $4.251 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

42.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.8% (2017 est.) | 3% (2016 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

3.228 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

17.68 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

4% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

71% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

2.772 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

18.17 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

20,850 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

2,530 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

20,220 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 103,000 sq km | land: 100,250 sq km | water: 2,750 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Iceland Print Image Description 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 | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

water pollution from fertilizer runoff

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]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 18.7% (2011 est.) | arable land: 1.2% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 17.5% (2011 est.) | forest: 0.3% (2011 est.) | 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 [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]

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 [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) | etymology: the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steamy, smoke-like vapors discharged by hot springs in the area

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 Jeffrey Ross GUNTER (since 2 July 2019) | telephone: [354] 595-2200 | embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik | mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640 | FAX: [354] 562-9118

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

Ambassador Geir Hilmar HAARDE (since 23 February 2015) | chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007 | 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: Prime Minister Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (since 30 November 2017) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of 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 39.1%, Halla TOMASDOTTIR 27.9%, Andri Snaer MAGNASON 14.3%, David ODDSSON 13.7%, 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]

unitary 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 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 [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 28 October 2017 (next to be held in 2021) | 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

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]

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) [rotating leadership] Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP [Sigurdur Ingi JOHANNSSON] Reform Party (Vidreisn) [Thorgerdur Katrin GUNNARSDOTTIR] Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA [Logi Mar EINARSSON]

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; 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) (2019)

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular military forces; Icelandic Coast Guard; Icelandic National Police (2019)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.3% of GDP (2018) | 0.3% of GDP (2017) | 0.3% of GDP (2016) | 0.3% of GDP (2015) | 0.5% of GDP (2014)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

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.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Iceland Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Iceland. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

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

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

8.3% (2016)

Death rate [time series]

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

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 51.6 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 30.8 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 20.8 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 4.8 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

7.5% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic groups [time series]

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 81%, population with foreign background 19% (2018 est.) | note: population with foreign background includes immigrants and persons having at least one parent who was born abroad

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2018)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

<100 (2018)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

<500 (2018)

Hospital bed density [time series]

3.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 83.1 years (2018 est.) | male: 80.9 years | female: 85.5 years

Major urban areas - population [time series]

216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

total: 36.7 years (2018 est.) | male: 36.1 years | female: 37.3 years

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]

3.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

21.9% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

3.97 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population [time series]

343,518 (July 2018 est.)

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]

1.08% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

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 [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 19 years | male: 18 years | female: 20 years (2016)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.99 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 7.9% | male: 8.6% | female: 7.1% (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 93.9% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 0.81% 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: 69 (2018)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

96 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 7 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 1 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 89 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 26 (2013) | under 914 m: 60 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

TF (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 33 | by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 27 (2018)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 5 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 43 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,413,950 (2015) | 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: 12,898 km (2012) | paved/oiled gravel: 5,647 km (excludes urban roads) (2012) | unpaved: 7,251 km (2012)