|
|
 |
 |
|
Flag |
Coat of arms |
|
Anthem: Lofsöngur
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
(and largest city) |
Reykjavík
 64°08′N,
21°56′W |
|
Official languages |
Icelandic |
|
Demonym |
Icelander |
|
Government |
Parliamentary republic |
|
- |
President |
Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson |
|
- |
Prime Minister |
Geir Haarde |
|
- |
Althing President |
Sturla Böðvarsson |
|
Independence |
from
Denmark |
|
- |
Home rule |
1 February
1904 |
|
- |
Sovereignty |
1 December
1918 |
|
- |
Republic |
17 June
1944 |
|
Area |
|
- |
Total |
103,000 km² (107th)
39,770 sq mi |
|
- |
Water (%) |
2.7 |
|
|
Population |
|
- |
April 2008 estimate |
316,2521 (172nd) |
|
- |
December 1980 census |
229,187 |
|
- |
Density |
3,1/km² (233th)
7.5/sq mi |
|
GDP (PPP) |
2006 estimate |
|
- |
Total |
$12.172
billion (132nd) |
|
- |
Per capita |
$40,277 (2005) (5th) |
|
GDP (nominal) |
2006 estimate |
|
- |
Total |
$16.579
billion (93rd) |
|
- |
Per capita |
$62,976 (4th) |
|
HDI (2007) |
▲ 0.968 (high) (1st) |
|
Currency |
Icelandic króna (ISK) |
|
Time zone |
GMT
(UTC+0) |
|
Internet TLD |
.is |
|
Calling code |
+354 |
|
Iceland
(official name) (Icelandic:
Ísland (names of Iceland);
IPA: [ˈistlant]) is a country in
northern Europe, comprising the
island of Iceland and its
outlying islets in the North
Atlantic Ocean between the rest
of Europe and Greenland.[1] It
is the least populous of the
Nordic countries and the second
smallest; it has a population of
about 316,000 (April 1, 2008
estimate) and a total area of
103,000 km². Its capital and
largest city is Reykjavík.
Located on the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge, Iceland is volcanically
and geologically active on a
large scale; this defines the
landscape in various ways. The
interior mainly consists of a
plateau characterized by sand
fields, mountains and glaciers,
while many big glacial rivers
flow to the sea through the
lowlands. Warmed by the Gulf
Stream, Iceland has a temperate
climate relative to its latitude
and provides a habitable
environment and nature.
The settlement of Iceland began
in 874 when, according to
Landnámabók, the Norwegian
chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson
became the first permanent
Norwegian settler on the
island.[2] Others had visited
the island earlier and stayed
over winter. Over the next
centuries, people of Nordic and
Gaelic origin settled in
Iceland. Until the twentieth
century, the Icelandic
population relied on fisheries
and agriculture, and was from
1262 to 1918 a part of the
Norwegian and later the Danish
monarchies. In the twentieth
century, Iceland's economy and
welfare system developed
quickly. In recent decades,
Iceland has seen economic
reforms, free trade in the
European Economic Area, and
diversification from fishing to
new economic fields in services,
finance, and various industries.
Today, Iceland has some of the
world's highest levels of
economic freedoms[3] as well as
civil freedoms. As of 2007,
Iceland is the most developed
country in the world with fellow
Nordic country Norway according
to the Human Development
Index[4] and one of the most
egalitarian, according to the
calculation provided by the Gini
coefficient[5]. It is also the
fourth most productive country
per capita.[6] Icelanders have a
rich culture and heritage, such
as cuisine and poetry (thus the
country itself has many names
coined by poets). Iceland is a
member of the UN, NATO, EFTA,
EEA and OECD, but not of the
European Union. The country is a
candidate for a non-permanent
seat at the UN Security Council
