| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Arctic Region |
| Geographical Location |
65° 00' North Latitude
18° 00' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
103,000 sq km |
| Climate |
Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers |
| Natural Resources |
Fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Iceland |
| Capital City |
Reykjavik |
| Government Type |
Constitutional republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland |
| Independence Day |
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
296,737 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Icelandic |
| Ethnic Groups |
Homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6% |
| Religion |
Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, other 7.1% (2002) |
| Languages |
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken |
| Population Growth Rate |
0.91% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Icelandic krona (ISK) |
| Industries |
Fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism |
| Labor Force |
158,100 (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4% (2003) |
| Agriculture Products |
Potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish |
| Export Commodities |
Fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite |
| Export Partners |
UK 19.1%, Germany 17.1%, Netherlands 11%, US 10.2%, Spain 6.9%, Denmark 4.6% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles |
| Import Partners |
Germany 12.3%, US 10%, Norway 9.8%, Denmark 7.6%, UK 6.9%, Sweden 6.4%, Netherlands 5.7% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
13,004 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
98 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+354 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.is |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 Althing, 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. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in
1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards. |
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