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.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom
Geographic coordinates
65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references
Arctic Region
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
4,970 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 557 m
Natural resources
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use
agricultural land: 18.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 0.3% (2018 est.)
other: 81% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0.5 sq km (2020)
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
Natural hazards
earthquakes and volcanic activity
volcanism: 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
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 and Society
Population
total: 364,036
male: 182,268
female: 181,768 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 178; male 178; total 178
Nationality
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups
Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)
note: data represent population by country of birth
Languages
Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German
Religions
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
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.
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.
Age structure
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810)
65 years and over: 17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 50.5
youth dependency ratio: 28
elderly dependency ratio: 22.5
potential support ratio: 4.5 (2021 est.)
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
Urbanization
urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
28.7 years (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 225
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 84 years (2024 est.)
male: 81.8 years
female: 86.3 years
comparison ranking: total population 8
Gross reproduction rate
0.95 (2024 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
9.6% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
4.14 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density
2.8 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 49
Tobacco use
total: 12% (2020 est.)
male: 11.9% (2020 est.)
female: 12% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 122
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
45.1% (2023 est.)
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 19 years
male: 18 years
female: 21 years (2020)
Environment
Environment - current issues
water pollution from fertilizer runoff
Environment - international 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
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Climate
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Land use
agricultural land: 18.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 17.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 0.3% (2018 est.)
other: 81% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 5.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 2.06 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.59 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 525,000 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 293,003 tons (2013 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 55.8% (2013 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 200 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
170 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
global geoparks and regional networks: Katla; Reykjanes (2023)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: none
local short form: Island
etymology: 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
unitary parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Reykjavik
geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steamy, smoke-like vapors discharged by hot springs in the area
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
Independence
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
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by the Danish model
Constitution
history: several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)
amendments: 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; amended many times, last in 2013
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 to 7 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (since 1 August 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister
elections/appointments: 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:
2024: 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%
2016: 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
description: unicameral Althingi or Parliament (63 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 September 2021 (next to be held in 2025)
election results: percent of vote by party - IP 24.4%, PP 17.3%, LGM 12.6%, People's Party 8.9%, Pirate Party 8.6%, SDA 9.9%, Reform Party 8.3%, CP 5.5%; seats by party - IP 16, PP 13, LGM 8, People's Party 6, Pirate Party 6, SDA 6, Reform Party 5, CP 3; composition - men 33, women 30; percentage women 47.6%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president; judges appointed for an indefinite period
subordinate courts: Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court
Political parties
Centrist Party (Midflokkurinn) or CP
Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP
Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM
People's Party (Flokkur Folksins)
Pirate Party (Piratar)
Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP
Reform Party (Vidreisn)
Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Bergdís ELLERTSDÓTTIR (since 16 September 2019)
chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Carrin F. PATMAN (since 6 October 2022)
embassy: Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik
mailing address: 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
telephone: [354] 595-2200
FAX: [354] 562-9118
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://is.usembassy.gov/
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); 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)
gyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red
National anthem
name: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)
lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON
note: 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: 3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n)
Economy
Economic overview
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)
$26.155 billion (2023 est.)
$25.134 billion (2022 est.)
$23.084 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 154
Real GDP growth rate
4.06% (2023 est.)
8.88% (2022 est.)
5.15% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 76
Real GDP per capita
$66,500 (2023 est.)
$65,800 (2022 est.)
$62,000 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 20
GDP (official exchange rate)
$31.02 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8.74% (2023 est.)
8.31% (2022 est.)
4.44% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 162
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: A (2017)
Moody's rating: A2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: A (2017)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 5.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 19.7% (2017 est.)
services: 74.6% (2017 est.)
comparison rankings: services 48; industry 150; agriculture 122
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 23.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 47% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, chicken, barley, lamb/mutton, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products
Industrial production growth rate
3.24% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 104
Labor force
239,000 (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 175
Unemployment rate
3.56% (2023 est.)
3.79% (2022 est.)
6.03% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 62
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 9.2% (2023 est.)
male: 10.5% (2023 est.)
female: 7.9% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 142
Population below poverty line
8.8% (2017 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
26.1 (2017 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 145
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4% (2017 est.)
highest 10%: 22.1% (2017 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
0.66% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.67% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.74% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $11.776 billion (2018 est.)
expenditures: $11.536 billion (2018 est.)
Public debt
86.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 31
Taxes and other revenues
22.52% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 65
Current account balance
$324.663 million (2023 est.)
-$498.416 million (2022 est.)
-$687.447 million (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 66
Exports
$13.49 billion (2023 est.)
$13.109 billion (2022 est.)
$9.606 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 103
Exports - partners
Netherlands 27%, UK 9%, US 8%, Germany 8%, France 6% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
fish, aluminum, iron alloys, aluminum wire, animal meal (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$13.484 billion (2023 est.)
$13.146 billion (2022 est.)
$10.065 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 109
Imports - partners
Norway 12%, Netherlands 10%, Denmark 8%, Germany 8%, China 7% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, aluminum oxide, cars, carbon-based electronics, aircraft (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$5.809 billion (2023 est.)
$5.887 billion (2022 est.)
$7.079 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 91
Exchange rates
Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
137.943 (2023 est.)
135.28 (2022 est.)
126.989 (2021 est.)
135.422 (2020 est.)
122.607 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 3.006 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 19.296 billion kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 568.767 million kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 82; consumption 73; installed generating capacity 108
Electricity generation sources
hydroelectricity: 70.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
geothermal: 29.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Coal
consumption: 188,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
exports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton
imports: 113,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
3.579 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 514,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 3.065 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 147
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 93,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 137
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 457,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 176
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: 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’s Telecommunications Fund which is supporting Next Generation Access networks, particularly in rural areas (2022)
domestic: 27 per 100 for fixed line and nearing 118 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)
international: country code - 354; landing points for the CANTAT-3, FARICE-1, Greenland Connect and DANICE submarine cable system that provides connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, UK, Denmark, and Germany; 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
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
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
(2019)Internet users
total: 370,000 (2021 est.)
percent of population: 100% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 174
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 141,816 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 124
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 63
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 7,819,740 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 163.65 million (2018) mt-km
Heliports
1 (2024)
Merchant marine
total: 39 (2023)
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32
comparison ranking: total 127
Ports
total ports: 43 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 2
very small: 17
size unknown: 22
ports with oil terminals: 5
key ports: Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar
Military and Security
Military and security forces
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: 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
the Icelandic Coast Guard's inventory consists of equipment from mostly European suppliers (2024)
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 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)
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
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: 68 (2022)