new york state tourism bureau

PROFILE

OFFICIAL NAME:
Republic of Iceland

Geography
Area: 103,000 sq. km. (39,600 sq. mi.); about the size of Virginia or slightly larger than Ireland.
Cities: Capital--Reykjavík (pop. 119,120). Other towns--Kópavogur (30,401), Hafnarfjörður (26,031), Akureyri (17,524), Reykjanesbær (14,099), Garðabær (10,548).
Terrain: Rugged.
Climate: Maritime temperate.
Highest elevation: Hvannadalshnjúkur at Vatnajökull Glacier, at 2,110 meters (6,923 ft.).

People
Nationality: Noun--Icelander(s). Adjective--Icelandic.
Population (October 1, 2009): 318,906.
Annual growth rate (2008): 1.3%.
Ethnic group: Relatively homogenous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts.
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran, 84.2%.
Language: Icelandic.
Education: Compulsory up to age 16. Attendance--99%. Literacy--99.9%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (1999-2008 average)--2.4/1,000. Life expectancy (2008)--men 79.6 years, women 83.0 years.
Work force (2008, 184,100): Commerce--32.2%; manufacturing--8.2%; fishing/fish processing--3.4%; construction--10.05%; transport and communications--6.3%; agriculture--2.3%; government, education, and health--27.2%; other services--9.55%. Unemployment (October 2009): 7.6%.

Government
Type: Parliamentary republic.
Independence: 1918 (became "sovereign state" under Danish Crown); 1944 (establishment of republic);
Constitution: 1874.
Branches: Executive--president (head of state), prime minister (head of government), cabinet (12 ministers). Legislative--63-member unicameral parliament (Althingi). Judicial--Supreme Court, district courts, special courts.
Subdivisions: 26 administrative districts and 78 municipalities.
Major political parties: Social Democratic Alliance (SDA), Left-Green Party (LGP), Independence Party (IP), Progressive Party (PP), and Citizen’s Movement.
Suffrage: Universal 18 years and above.
National holiday: June 17, anniversary of the establishment of the republic.

Economy
GDP (2008): $12.2 billion.
GDP growth rate: (2006) 4.2%; (2007) 3.8%; (2008) 1.3%.
Per capita GDP (2008): $38,184.
Inflation rate: (2008) 18.1%; (October 2009) 9.7%.
Central government budget: (2008) $4.6 billion; (2009 estimated) $7.1 billion; (2010 proposed) $7.0 billion.
Annual budget deficit: (2008) 1.7 billion (13.6% of GDP); (2009 estimated) $2.2 billion; (2010 proposed) $1.5 billion.
Net central government debt: (2007) 10.3% of GDP; (2008 estimated) 41.3% of GDP; (2009 predicted) 90% of GDP.
Natural resources: Marine products, hydroelectric and geothermal power.
Agriculture: Products--potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, roses, livestock.
Industry: Types--aluminum smelting, fishing and fish processing technology, ferro-silicon alloy production, hydro and geothermal power, tourism, information technology.
Trade: Exports of goods (2008)--$3.7 billion: marine products 36.7%; industrial products 52.1%; agriculture 1.4%; and miscellaneous 9.8%. Partners (2008)--EEA 80.6% (Netherlands 34.3%, Germany 11.3%, U.K. 11.6%, Spain 3.8%, Norway 4.4%, Denmark 3.1%); U.S. 5.5% ($250 million); Japan 4.4%. Imports (2007)--$3.9 billion: industrial supplies 31.3%; capital goods, parts, accessories 21.6%; consumer goods 14.0%; transport equipment 12.8%; food and beverages 7.9%; fuels and lubricants 12.3%. Partners (2008)--EEA 64.8% (Germany 10.3%, Sweden 9.0%, Denmark 7.3%, Netherlands 6.1%, U.K. 4.4%, Norway 11.2%, Italy 2.8%); U.S. 8.0% ($341 million); China 6.6%; Japan 3.7%; Switzerland 3.2%.
* All figures are converted to USD using the Central bank’s end of year 2008 USD/ISK mid exchange rate: 120.87.

GEOGRAPHY
Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland and immediately south of the Arctic Circle. It lies about 4,200 kilometers (2,600 mi.) from New York and 830 kilometers (520 mi.) from Scotland. About 79% of Iceland's land area, which is of recent volcanic origin, consists of glaciers, lakes, a mountainous lava desert (highest elevation 2,000 meters--6,590 ft.--above sea level), and other wasteland. About 28% of the land is used for grazing, and 1% is cultivated. The inhabited areas are on the coast, particularly in the southwest where about 60% of the population lives. Because of the Gulf Stream's moderating influence, the climate is characterized by damp, cool summers and relatively mild but windy winters. In Reykjavík, the average temperature is 11°C (52°F) in July and -1°C (30°F) in January.

PEOPLE
Most Icelanders are descendants of Norwegian settlers and Celts from the British Isles, and the population is remarkably homogeneous. According to Icelandic Government statistics, 94% of the nation's inhabitants live in urban areas (localities with populations greater than 200) and about 63% live in the Reykjavík metropolitan area. Of the Nordic languages, the Icelandic language is closest to the Old Norse language and has remained relatively unchanged since the 12th century. About 84% of the population belongs to the state church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, or other Lutheran Churches. However, Iceland has complete religious freedom, and about 20 other religious congregations are present.

Most Icelandic surnames are based on patronymy, or the adoption of the father's first given name. For example, Magnús and Anna, children of a man named Pétur, would hold the surname Pétursson and Pétursdóttir, respectively. Magnús' children, in turn, would inherit the surname Magnússon, while Anna's children would claim their father's first given name as their surname. Women normally maintain their original surnames after marriage. This system of surn