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2 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Iceland
n 1: an island republic on the island of Iceland; became
independent of Denmark in 1944 [syn: {Republic of
Iceland}]
2: a volcanic island in the North Atlantic near the Arctic
Circle
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Iceland
Introduction Iceland
--------------------
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 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.
Geography Iceland
-----------------
Location: Northern Europe, island between the
Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 103,000 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
Area - comparative: 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
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
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
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur
2,119 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power,
diatomite
Land use: arable land: 0.06% NEGL
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.94% (23% permanent
pastures) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: water pollution from fertilizer
runoff; inadequate wastewater
treatment
Environment - international party to: Air Pollution,
agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Environmental
Modification, Marine Life
Conservation
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
People Iceland
--------------
Population: 279,384 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 33,189; female
31,155)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 91,704;
female 90,199)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male
14,828; female 18,309) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.52% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 14.37 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 6.93 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -2.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/
female
total population: 1 male(s)/female
(2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.66 years
female: 82.07 years (2002 est.)
male: 77.42 years
Total fertility rate: 1.99 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.14% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 200 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of descendants
of Norse and Celts
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 93%, other
Protestant and Roman Catholic, none
(1997)
Languages: Icelandic
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government Iceland
------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local short form: Island
local long form: Lydhveldidh Island
Government type: constitutional 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
note: there may be four other
counties
Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system: civil law system based on Danish
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Olafur
Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister
David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
prime minister and approved by
Parliament
election results: Olafur Ragnar
GRIMSSON ran unopposed in 2000 and
was reelected
elections: president elected by
popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 29 June 1996
(next to be held NA June 2004);
President GRIMSSON ran unopposed in
June 2000 so there were no
elections; prime minister appointed
by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63
seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
election results: percent of vote by
party - Independence Party 40.7%,
The Alliance (PA, People's Party,
Women's List) 26.8%, Progressive
Party 18.4%, Left-Green Alliance
9.1%, Liberal Party 4.2%; seats by
party - Independence Party 26, The
Alliance 17, Progressive Party 12,
Left-Green Alliance 6, Liberal Party
2
elections: last held 8 May 1999
(next to be held by April 2003)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur
(justices are appointed for life by
the president)
Political parties and leaders: Independence Party (conservative) or
IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green
Alliance [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON];
Liberal Party [Sverrir HERMANNSSON];
People's Party (Social Democratic
Party) or SDP [Sighvatur
BJORGVINSSON]; Progressive Party
(liberal) or PP [Halldor
ASGRIMSSON]; The Alliance (includes
People's Alliance or PA, Social
Democratic Party or SVP, People's
Movement, Women's List) [Ossur
SKARPHEDINSSON]; Women's List or WL
[Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE,
participation: EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,
IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WEU
(associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jon-
Baldvin HANNIBALSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th
Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara
US: J. GRIFFITHS
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101
Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC
1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone: [354] 5629100
FAX: [354] 5629123
Flag description: 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)
Economy Iceland
---------------
Economy - overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy
is basically capitalistic, yet with
an extensive welfare system, low
unemployment, and remarkably even
distribution of income. In the
absence of other natural resources
(except for abundant hydrothermal
and geothermal power), the economy
depends heavily on the fishing
industry, providing 70% of export
earnings and employing 12% of the
work force. The economy remains
sensitive to declining fish stocks
as well as to drops in world prices
for its main exports: fish and fish
products, aluminum, and
ferrosilicon. 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 remains
opposed to EU membership, primarily
because of Icelanders' concern about
losing control over their fishing
resources. Iceland's economy has
been diversifying into manufacturing
and service industries in the last
decade, and new developments in
software production, biotechnology,
and financial services are taking
place. The tourism sector is also
expanding, with the recent trends in
ecotourism and whale watching.
Growth has been remarkably steady
over the past five years at 4%-5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.85
billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $24,800
(2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% (includes fishing
13%)
industry: 21%
services: 64% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 159,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 5.1%, fishing and fish
processing 11.8%, manufacturing
12.9%, construction 10.7%, other
services 59.5% (1999)
Unemployment rate: 1% (April 2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3.5 billion
expenditures: $3.3 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$467 million (1999)
Industries: fish processing; aluminum smelting,
ferrosilicon production, geothermal
power; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 7.549 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.05%
hydro: 83.3%
other: 16.65% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 7.02 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep;
fish
Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products 70%, animal
products, aluminum, diatomite,
ferrosilicon
Exports - partners: EU 64% (UK 20%, Germany 13%, France
5%, Denmark 5%), US 15%, Japan 5%
(1999)
Imports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum
products; foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 9%, Denmark
8%, Sweden 6%), US 11%, Norway 10%
(1999)
Debt - external: $2.6 billion (1999)
Economic aid - donor: $NA
Currency: Icelandic krona (ISK)
Currency code: ISK
Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur per US dollar -
102.430 (January 2002), 97.425
(2001), 78.616 (2000), 72.335
(1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Iceland
----------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 168,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 65,746 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: adequate
domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists
of coaxial and fiber-optic cables
and microwave radio relay links
international: 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)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM about 70 (including
repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 260,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters)
(1997)
Televisions: 98,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .is
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7 (2000)
Internet users: 168,000 (2001)
Transportation Iceland
----------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 12,691 km
paved: 3,262 km
unpaved: 9,429 km (1999)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Akureyri, Hornafjordhur,
Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn,
Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur,
Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 1,816 GRT/2,500 DWT
ships by type: chemical tanker 1
(2002 est.)
Airports: 86 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 49 (2001)
Military Iceland
----------------
Military branches: no regular armed forces; Police,
Coast Guard
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 71,142 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 62,556 (2002 est.)
service:
Military expenditures - dollar $0
figure:
Military - note: defense is provided by the US-manned
Icelandic Defense Force (IDF)
headquartered at Keflavik
Transnational Issues Iceland
----------------------------
Disputes - international: Rockall continental shelf dispute
involving Denmark, Iceland, and the
UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a
boundary agreement in the Rockall
area); dispute with Denmark over the
Faroe Islands' fisheries median line
boundary within 200 NM; disputes
with Denmark, the UK, and Ireland
over the Faroe Islands continental
shelf boundary outside 200 NM
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