Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
37 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
145,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally; every household is required to have RUV, which doubles as the emergency broadcast network; 3 privately owned TV stations; 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections; RUV operates 3 national and 4 regional radio stations; 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), broadcasts nationwide; over 20 regional radio stations (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.is
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
98.21% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
21 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
82,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
123 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
478,000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, chicken, lamb/mutton, barley, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$10.364 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$10.023 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$1.108 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$892.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$1.116 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$1.918 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$1.236 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$1.185 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$1.840 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$418.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$674.9 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$698.165 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$290.603 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$845.319 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
137.958 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
122.179 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
116.767 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
131.919 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
120.812 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
106.840 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
108.300 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
122.607 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
135.422 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
126.989 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
135.280 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
137.943 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
137.958 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
aluminum, fish, orthopedic appliances, animal meal, iron alloys (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$8.306 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$9.191 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$9.087 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$10.012 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$11.445 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$12.398 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$11.172 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$7.522 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$9.803 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$13.114 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$13.702 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$13.916 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
43.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
25.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
49.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-43.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
24.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
19.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
65.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$84,257 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$33.463 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$32.566 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
26.8 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
27.2 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
26.1 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
26.6 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
26.8 (2019 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
21.7% (2018 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.7% (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, carbon-based electronics, aluminum oxide, computers (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$5.756 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$7.709 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$8.491 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$10.196 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$11.328 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$9.764 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$7.606 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$10.197 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$13.237 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$13.63 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$14.298 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-2.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.63% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
1.70% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.76% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.68% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
3.01% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
2.85% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
4.44% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.31% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
8.74% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
5.86% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
248,400 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
8.80% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
139.92% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
134.41% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
101.94% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
89.25% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
80.68% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
89.02% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
98.47% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
94.33% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
85.12% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
80.16% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$15.059 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$16.276 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$17.939 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$19.106 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$21.823 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$20.447 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$22.951 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$25.012 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$26.424 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$26.561 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.77% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
6.22% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.49% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.66% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.14% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-6.65% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.18% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
8.82% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.19% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
0.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$45,997 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$49,201 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$53,480 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$55,638 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$60,524 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$55,797 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$61,610 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$75,333 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$81,608 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$208.6 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$219.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$218.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$167.4 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$193.3 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$5.041 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$7.226 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$6.566 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$6.321 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$6.782 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$6.419 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$7.079 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$5.887 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$5.809 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$6.403 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
23.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.51% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.48% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
6.03% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.79% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.52% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.60% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
8.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
7.6% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
137,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
81 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: geothermal
29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
70.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
19.584 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
3.005 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
543 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
19,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
376,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
2.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
3.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Environment: Environmental issues
water pollution from fertilizer runoff
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
Katla; Reykjanes (2023)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
2
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
16.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
0.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
82.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
5.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
170 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
198 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
94.18% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
225,300 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
55.5% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
Geography: Area: land
100,250 sq km
Geography: Area: water
2,750 sq km
Geography: Coastline
4,970 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
557 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
65 00 N, 18 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
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
Geography: Irrigated land
0.5 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
16.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
0.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
82.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Arctic Region
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
earthquakes and volcanic activity volcanism: Iceland is situated on top of a hotspot and 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; 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
Geography: Population distribution
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
Geography: Terrain
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Government: Administrative divisions
64 municipalities ( sveitarfelog , singular - sveitarfelagidh ); Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunabyggdh, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skagafjordhur, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur
Government: Capital: etymology
the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steam from the hot springs in the area
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
64 09 N, 21 57 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
3 to 7 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Iceland
Government: Country name: etymology
Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island in the 10th century, applied the name "Land of Ice," from the local words ís (ice) and land (land)
Government: Country name: local long form
none
Government: Country name: local short form
Island
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Erin SAWYER (since January 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ReykjavikConsular@state.gov https://is.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[354] 562-9118
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[354] 595-2200
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Svanhildur Hólm VALSDÓTTIR (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washington@mfa.is https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 265-6656
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 265-6653
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2024: Halla TOMASDOTTIR elected president; percent of vote - Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 34.1%, Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (Left-Green Movement) 25.2%, Halla Hrund LOGADOTTIR (independent) 15.7%, Jon GNARR (Social Democratic Alliance) 10.1%, Baldur PORHALLSSON (independent) 8.4%, other 6.5% 2020: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
June 2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
1 June 2024
Government: Flag
description: blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: red stands for the island's volcanic fires, white for the snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president for an indefinite period
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court
Government: Legal system
civil law system influenced by the Danish model
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
November 2028
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Althingi)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
11/30/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
63 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) (15); Independence Party (IP) (14); Liberal Reform Party (11); People’s Party (10); Center Party (8); Progressive Party (PP) (5)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
46%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1918
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON
Government: National coat of arms
Iceland’s coat of arms is derived from a 13th-century folktale about four guardians who protect the four corners of the nation; the bull protects the northwest, the eagle the northeast, the dragon the southeast, and the rock-giant the southwest; the shield displays the national flag, with red standing for Iceland’s volcanic fires, white for its snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean
Government: National color(s)
blue, white, red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Government: National symbol(s)
gyrfalcon
Government: Political parties
Center Party or M Independence Party or D Liberal Reform Party or C People's Party or F Progressive Party or B Social Democratic Alliance or S
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
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, which was 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 the global financial crisis hit Iceland especially hard in the years after 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, primarily thanks to a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.
Military and Security: Military - note
Iceland was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland is 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) Iceland also cooperates with the militaries of other regional countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) and the Joint Expeditionary Force (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK); in 1951, Iceland and the US concluded an agreement to make arrangements regarding the defense of Iceland and for the use of facilities in Iceland to that end (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
no regular military forces; the Icelandic National Police, the regional police forces, and the Icelandic Coast Guard fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
12.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
8.98% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
48.5% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
27 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
58.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
31.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
7.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
15.7% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
7.31% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.94 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8.6% of GDP (2022)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
16.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
1.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
84.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
81.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
38.6 years
People and Society: Median age: male
37.4 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
28.7 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Icelandic
People and Society: Net migration rate
2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
4.37 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
386,506 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
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
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.82% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
181,768
People and Society: Population: male
182,268
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
20 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
18 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
19 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.9 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
7.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.56 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
94.18% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
3,700 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
8,960 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
31 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
82 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TF
Transportation: Heliports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
39 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
2
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
22
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
43 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
17
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.