factbook.json/europe/ic.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "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."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "65 00 N, 18 00 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Arctic Region"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "103,000 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "100,250 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "2,750 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "4,970 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "557 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "18.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "0.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "81% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "0.5 sq km (2020)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "<p>earthquakes and volcanic activity</p><p><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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</p>"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "364,036"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "182,268"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "181,768 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Icelander(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Icelandic"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note</strong>: data represent population by country of birth"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 58.6% Roman Catholic 3.8%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.6%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 1.9%, pagan worship 1.5%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.4%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 18.7%, none 7.7% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>Iceland is one of the most gender-equal countries in the world.  Its welfare policies enable both men and women to balance work and family life.  Iceland lagged its Nordic neighbors in introducing new childcare policies, and even when they did in the 1990s, parents still faced a childcare gap between the paid parental leave period and the start of pre-school. The female labor participation rate continued to grow from the 1960s to the 2000s, as women’s educational attainment increased.  Icelanders are marrying later, if they marry at all, and people are having children later.  The interval between births has decreased. Non-marital cohabitation and childbearing outside of marriage are common. Approximately 2 out of 3 children are born out of wedlock, which is among the highest in Europe.  Iceland’s total fertility rate (TFR) has been fairly stable, hovering around replacement level (2.1 children per woman), for decades – a rate higher even than its Nordic neighbors. </p> <p>Iceland has fluctuated over time between being a country of net emigration and one of net immigration.  Most Icelandic emigrants return to their native country after a few years.  From 1960 to 1996, Iceland registered a net outflow, followed by a net inflow until the 2008 banking crisis. During and after the crisis, more Icelanders left the country than immigrated to it.  Following the crisis, Iceland returned to being a country of net immigration.  In 2017, the country’s foreign-born population accounted for 11% of the population and 17% had an immigrant background.  The countries of origin have become more diverse over time, with Polish immigrants composing the largest share in 2017. Foreigners acquiring Icelandic citizenship must have a basic comprehension of the Icelandic language.  The requirement that new citizens modify or change their names to be more Icelandic was dropped in 1996.  The most popular emigration destination was Sweden, followed by Denmark and Norway in 2021.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "50.5"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "28"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "22.5"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "4.5 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "38 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "37.4 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "38.6 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.85% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "12.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "6.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "94% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.9 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "28.7 years (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "1.8 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "1.4 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "84 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "81.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "86.3 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.94 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.95 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "9.6% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "4.14 physicians/1,000 population (2019)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "2.8 beds/1,000 population (2019)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 100% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "21.9% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Tobacco use": {
      "total": {
        "text": "12% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "11.9% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "45.1% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "7.7% of GDP (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "18 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "21 years (2020)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "water pollution from fertilizer runoff"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "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"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "18.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "0.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "81% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "94% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "5.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "2.06 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "0.59 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "525,000 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "293,003 tons (2013 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "55.8% (2013 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "200 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "170 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Geoparks": {
      "total global geoparks and regional networks": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "global geoparks and regional networks": {
        "text": "Katla; Reykjanes (2023)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Iceland"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Island"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse 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"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "unitary parliamentary republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Reykjavik"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "64 09 N, 21 57 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name means \"smoky bay\" in Icelandic and refers to the steamy, smoke-like vapors discharged by hot springs in the area"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "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)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Independence Day, 17 June (1944)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system influenced by the Danish model"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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 &ndash; that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland &ndash; also require passage by referendum; amended many times, last in 2013"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "3 to 7 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 1 June 2024 (next to be held in June 2028); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<em><br>2024:</em> 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%<em><br><br>2020: </em>Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8%<br><br><em>2016: </em>Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON elected president; Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 39.1%, Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 27.9%, Andri Snær MAGNASON (Democracy Movement) 14.3%, David ODDSSON (independent) 13.7%, other 5%"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Parliament (Althingi)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "unicameral"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "63 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "proportional representation"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "4 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "11/30/2024"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) (15); Independence Party (IP) (14); Liberal Reform Party (11); People’s Party (10); Center Party (8); Progressive Party (PP) (5)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "46%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "November 2028"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president; judges appointed for an indefinite period"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "<p>Center Party (Midflokkurinn) or CP <br>Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP <br>Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM <br>Liberal Reform Party (Vidreisn) <br>People's Party (Flokkur Folksins) <br>Pirate Party (Piratar) <br>Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP <br>Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA </p>"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Svanhildur H&oacute;lm VALSD&Oacute;TTIR (since 18 September 2024)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 265-6653"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 265-6656"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>washington@mfa.is<br><br>https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador&nbsp;(vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Erin SAWYER (since January 2025)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[354] 595-2200"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[354] 562-9118"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>ReykjavikConsular@state.gov<br><br>https://is.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "gyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Lofsongur\" (Song of Praise)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1944; also known as \"O, Gud vors lands\" (O, God of Our Land), the anthem was originally written and performed in 1874"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "high-income north Atlantic island economy; non-EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA); dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and volcanic activity; inflation remains above target rate; barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": {
        "text": "$26.455 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$25.186 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$23.108 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2023": {
        "text": "5.04% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "8.99% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "5.15% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2023": {
        "text": "$67,300 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$65,900 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$62,000 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$31.325 billion (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "8.74% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "8.31% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "4.44% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "A (2017)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "A2 (2019)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "A (2017)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained."
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "3.8% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "21.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "64.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "49.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "25.4% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "24.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.7% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "43.6% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-43.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, chicken, barley, lamb/mutton, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "3.93% (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "240,000 (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "3.56% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "3.79% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "6.03% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "9.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "10.5% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "7.9% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "8.8% (2017 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017": {
        "text": "26.1 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "22% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2023": {
        "text": "0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "0.67% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "0.74% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$9 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$9.498 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2023": {
        "text": "81.06% of GDP (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "23.44% (of GDP) (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "$384.999 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$615.528 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$669.957 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$13.71 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$13.115 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$9.621 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Netherlands 27%, UK 9%, US 8%, Germany 8%, France 6% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "fish, aluminum, iron alloys, aluminum wire, animal meal (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$13.532 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$13.146 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$10.065 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Norway 12%, Netherlands 10%, Denmark 8%, Germany 8%, China 7% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, aluminum oxide, cars, carbon-based electronics, aircraft (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$5.809 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$5.887 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$7.079 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "137.943 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "135.28 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "126.989 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "135.422 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "122.607 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "3.006 million kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "19.296 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "568.767 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "70.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      },
      "geothermal": {
        "text": "29.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "consumption": {
        "text": "188,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "113,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "3.579 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "514,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "3.065 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "82,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "21 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "478,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "123 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "Iceland has one of the smallest yet most progressive telecom markets in Europe; the country in 2020 became the top in Europe for fiber penetration; it aims to provide a fixed broadband service of at least 100Mb/s to 99.9% of the population by the end of 2021, an ambitious target by international standards and one which it is likely to achieve given the progress which operators have made in extending the reach of fiber networks; there is effective competition in the mobile and broadband markets, with a number of players having emerged to challenge the dominance of the two leading operators which have interests across the telecom sectors; the telecom market has shown some resilience in recent years following the significant economic downturn a decade ago, supported by continuing investment in mobile and fixed-line broadband infrastructure by operators and well as by the government&rsquo;s Telecommunications Fund which is supporting Next Generation Access networks, particularly in rural areas (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "27 per 100 for fixed line and nearing 118 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 354; landing points for the CANTAT-3, FARICE-1, Greenland Connect and DANICE&nbsp;submarine cable system that provides connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, UK, Denmark, and Germany;&nbsp;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)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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 <p>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</p> (2019)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".is"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "145,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "37 (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "6 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "63"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "7,819,740 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "163.65 million (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "TF"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "83 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "1 (2024)"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "12,905 km (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "39 (2023)"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32"
      }
    },
    "Ports": {
      "total ports": {
        "text": "43 (2024)"
      },
      "large": {
        "text": "0"
      },
      "medium": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "small": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "very small": {
        "text": "17"
      },
      "size unknown": {
        "text": "22"
      },
      "ports with oil terminals": {
        "text": "5"
      },
      "key ports": {
        "text": "Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "no regular military forces; the Icelandic National Police, the nine regional police forces, and the Icelandic Coast Guard fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the Icelandic Coast Guard is responsible for operational defense tasks in Iceland including but not limited to operation of Keflavik Air Base, special security zones, and Iceland's air defense systems"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the Icelandic Coast Guard's inventory consists of equipment from mostly European suppliers (2024)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "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 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)<br><br>Iceland cooperates with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009<br><br>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; the agreement, along with NATO membership, is one of the two pillars of Iceland‘s security policy; since 2007 Iceland has concluded cooperation agreements with Canada, Denmark, Norway, and the UK; it also has regular consultations with Germany and France on security and defense (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "68 (2022)"
      }
    }
  }
}