Iceland

Unitary Parliamentary RepublicPop387KGDP (PPP)$26.6BCI83Beta CP0.0→Beta

Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →

Iceland

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 100,250 sq km
Water: 2,750 sq km
Total: 103,000 sq km

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

Land Use

Other: 82.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)

Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom
Coastline: 4,970 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m
Mean elevation: 557 m

Irrigated land: 0.5 sq km (2022)
Map references: Arctic Region

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

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 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
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Area comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
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 & Society

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.)

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
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 12.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 37.4 years
Total: 38.2 years (2025 est.)
Female: 38.6 years

Population

Male: 182,268
Total: 364,036 (2024 est.)
Female: 181,768

Nationality

Noun: Icelander(s)
Adjective: Icelandic

Tobacco Use

Male: 7.9% (2025 est.)
Total: 8% (2025 est.)
Female: 8% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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)

Ethnic groups: Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.7 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 27 (2024 est.)

Physician density: 4.37 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.6% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.7% national budget (2022 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.82% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 81.8 years
Female: 86.3 years
Total population: 84 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 21.9% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.7 years (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 48.5% (2023 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 18 years (2022 est.)
Total: 19 years (2022 est.)
Female: 20 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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

Capital

Name: Reykjavik
Etymology: the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steam from the hot springs in the area
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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

Constitution

History: several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)
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

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)
Local long form: none
Local short form: Island
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Iceland

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)
Legal system: civil law system influenced by the Danish model
Government type: unitary parliamentary republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)
Subordinate courts: Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court
Judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president for an indefinite period

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister
Chief of state: President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)
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%
Head of government: Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024)
Most recent election date: 1 June 2024
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
Expected date of next election: June 2028

National holiday: Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
National color(s): blue, white, red

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)

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

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 63 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Legislature name: Parliament (Althingi)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 11/30/2024
Expected date of next election: November 2028
Percentage of women in chamber: 46%
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)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)
History: adopted 1918
Lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON

National symbol(s): gyrfalcon
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
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

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 265-6656
Chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007
Telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
Chief of mission: Ambassador Svanhildur Hólm VALSDÓTTIR (since 18 September 2024)
Email address and website: washington@mfa.is

https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [354] 562-9118
Embassy: Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik
Telephone: [354] 595-2200
Mailing address: 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Erin SAWYER (since January 2025)
Email address and website: ReykjavikConsular@state.gov

https://is.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

ICELAND · LEGISLATURE

Parliament

63 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Social Democratic Alliance (SDA)

Parties

All political parties6 parties · 63 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

HT
Halla Tómasdóttir
- Head of StateSince 2024
KF
Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir
- Head of GovernmentSince 2024

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $10.023 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $10.364 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $14.1B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $13.114 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $13.702 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $13.916 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $14.5B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $13.237 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $13.63 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $14.298 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products
Labor force: 248,400 (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 80.2%

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 80.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 135.422 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 126.989 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 135.28 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 137.943 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 137.958 (2024 est.)

Economic overview: high-income North Atlantic island economy; not an EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA); dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and disruption from volcanic activity; inflation remains above target rate; barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.6%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Netherlands 27%, Germany 11%, USA 10%, UK 8%, Norway 6% (2023)
Imports partners: Norway 11%, China 9%, Germany 9%, Netherlands 8%, USA 7% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $84,257

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $65,500 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $67,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $65,600 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.3%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.5% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: milk, chicken, lamb/mutton, barley, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
Exports commodities: aluminum, fish, orthopedic appliances, animal meal, iron alloys (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, cars, carbon-based electronics, aluminum oxide, computers (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$927.3M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: -$698.165 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $290.603 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$845.319 million (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 23.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $33.463 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 49.3% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 25.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.8% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 43.4% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -43.3% (2023 est.)

Population below poverty line: 8.8% (2017 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.7%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5.9% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: -2.3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $26.561 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $25.012 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $26.424 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $26.561 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 7.6% (2024 est.)
Female: 7% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.887 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.809 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.403 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 19.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 65.5% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 4% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 3.7% (2018 est.)
Highest 10%: 21.7% (2018 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2018: 26.6 (2018 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 81 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 137,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 19.584 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 3.005 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 543 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Geothermal: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 70.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)

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)
Internet country code: .is

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 82,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 478,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 145,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 2
Medium: 2
Key ports: Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar
Very small: 17
Total ports: 43 (2024)
Size unknown: 22
Ports with oil terminals: 5

Airports: 82 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 39 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TF

Environment

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Geoparks

Global geoparks and regional networks: Katla; Reykjanes (2023)
Total global geoparks and regional networks: 2

Land Use

Other: 82.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0.6% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 225,300 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 55.5% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 198 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 3.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 376,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 5.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 170 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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
Signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Military & 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 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)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 3,700 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 8,960 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 31 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index83.0 / 100as of 2024-Q413 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.76as of 2024-Q421 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusFree (100/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Free press (80/100)as of 2024—2024

Human Development Index0.959as of 2022—2022

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Iceland — vintage 2026-Q1: Iceland factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/iceland

Download as JSON

Sources: Eurostat, FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), OECD.Stat, UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Iceland

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Parliament

Current

Halla Tómasdóttir

Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity Access

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Geoparks

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Cite this page