Match 112 DB Rec# - 7,564 Dataset-WOFACT
Title :Iceland
Text :
Iceland
Geography
Location:
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, northwest of the UK
Map references:
Arctic Region
Area:
total area:
103,000 sq km
land area:
100,250 sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,988 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK
(Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate:
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp,
cool summers
Terrain:
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply
indented by bays and fiords
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
1%
other:
78%
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Environment:
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, Marine Life
Conservation
Geography
Note:
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European
country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
People
Population:
265,998 (July 1995 est.)
note:
population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly
from official population data because of volatile migration rates
Age structure:
0-14 years:
24% (female 31,482; male 32,912)
15-64 years:
65% (female 84,559; male 87,089)
65 years and over:
11% (female 16,554; male 13,402) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.92% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
15.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
78.98 years
male:
76.69 years
female:
81.39 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.06 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Icelander(s)
adjective:
Icelandic
Ethnic divisions:
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1%
(1988)
Languages:
Icelandic
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
total population:
100%
Labor force:
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% (1990)
Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Iceland
conventional short form:
Iceland
local long form:
Lyoveldio Island
local short form:
Island
Digraph:
IC
Type:
republic
Capital:
Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
Constitution:
16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system:
civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980); election last held on
29 June 1988 (next scheduled for 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)
cabinet:
Cabinet; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Parliament (Althing):
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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Haestirettur)
Government
Political parties and leaders:
Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party, Halldor
ASGRIMSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON; People's
Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's Party; People's
Movement (moderate left); National Awakening, Johanna SIGURDARDOTTIR
Member of:
Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, 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
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Einar BENEDIKTSSON
chancery:
Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-6653 through 6655
FAX:
[1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Parker W. BORG
embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik
mailing address:
US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, Reykjavik; FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone:
[354] (1) 629100
FAX:
[354] (1) 629139
Flag:
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)
Economy
Overview:
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an
extensive welfare system, relatively 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. Real GDP grew by perhaps 2.4% in 1994. 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.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.5 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate:
2.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita:
$17,250 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.9 billion
expenditures:
$2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Exports:
$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities:
fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite
partners:
EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
Imports:
$1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
textiles
partners:
EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)
External debt:
$2.5 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
capacity:
1,070,000 kW
production:
4.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
16,458 kWh (1993)
Industries:
fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, geothermal
power
Economy
Agriculture:
accounts for about 15% of GDP; fishing is most important economic activity,
contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops - potatoes,
turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; fish catch of about 1.1 million metric
tons in 1992
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million
Currency:
1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates:
Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 67.760 (January 1995), 69.944 (1994),
67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Transportation
Railroads:
0 km
Highways:
total:
11,373 km
paved:
2,513 km
unpaved:
gravel, earth 8,860 km (1992)
Ports:
Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik,
Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
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
Airports:
total:
90
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:
6
with paved runways under 914 m:
53
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:
23
Communications
Telephone system:
140,000 telephones; adequate domestic service
local:
NA
intercity:
the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave
radio relay links
international:
2 earth stations carry all international traffic through an Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT satellite
Radio:
broadcast stations:
AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters), shortwave 0
radios:
NA
Television:
broadcast stations:
202 (transmitters and repeaters)
televisions:
NA
Defense Forces
Branches:
no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note - Iceland's defense is
provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at
Keflavik
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 70,743; males fit for military service 62,698 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures:
none
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The printed version of this item can be found under the title:
The World Factbook 1995,
SuDoc No: PREX 3.15:995
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