Iceland

Icelandis aNordicisland countrybetween theNorth AtlanticandArctic Oceans, on theMid-Atlantic RidgebetweenNorth AmericaandEurope. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the region's westernmost and mostsparsely populated country.Itscapitaland largest city isReykjavík, which is home to about 36% of the country's roughly 380,000 residents (excluding nearby towns/suburbs, which are separate municipalities). The official language of the country isIcelandic.
Iceland is on ariftbetweentectonic plates, and its geologic activity includesgeysersand frequentvolcanic eruptions.The interior consists of avolcanic plateauwith sand andlava fields, mountains andglaciers, and manyglacial riversflow to the sea through thelowlands. Iceland is warmed by theGulf Streamand has atemperate climate, despite a latitude just south of theArctic Circle. Its latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most of itsislandshave apolar climate.
According to the ancient manuscriptLandnámabók, thesettlement of Icelandbegan in 874 AD, when theNorwegianchieftainIngólfr Arnarsonbecame the island's first permanent settler.In the following centuries,Norwegians, and to a lesser extent otherScandinavians, immigrated to Iceland, bringing with themthralls(i.e., slaves or serfs) ofGaelicorigin.
The island was governed as anindependent commonwealthunder the native parliament, theAlthing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. After aperiod of civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. In 1397, Iceland followed Norway's integration into theKalmar Unionalong with the kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden, coming underde factoDanishrule upon its dissolution in 1523. The Danish kingdom introducedLutheranismby force in 1550,and theTreaty of Kielformally ceded Iceland to Denmark in 1814.
Influencedby ideals ofnationalismafter theFrench Revolution, Iceland'sstruggle for independencetook form and culminated in theDanish–Icelandic Act of Unionin 1918, with the establishment of theKingdom of Iceland, sharing through apersonal unionthe incumbentmonarch of Denmark. During theoccupation of Denmarkin World War II, Iceland voted overwhelmingly tobecome a republicin 1944, ending the remaining formal ties to Denmark. Although the Althing was suspended from 1799 to 1845, Iceland nevertheless has a claim to sustaining one of the world's longest-running parliaments.
Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely onsubsistence fishingand agriculture. Industrialization of the fisheries andMarshall Planaid after World War II brought prosperity, and Iceland became one of the world's wealthiest and most developed nations. In 1994 it became a part of theEuropean Economic Area, further diversifying itseconomyinto sectors such as finance, biotechnology, andmanufacturing.
Iceland has amarket economywith relatively lowtaxes, compared to otherOECDcountries,as well as thehighest trade union membership in the world.It maintains aNordic social welfare systemthat providesuniversal health careandtertiary education.Iceland ranks highly in international comparisonsof national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. It has the smallest population of anyNATO memberand is the only one withno standing army, possessing only a lightly armedcoast guard.
TheSagas of Icelanderssay that a Norwegian namedNaddodd(or Naddador) was the firstNorsemanto reach Iceland; in the ninth century, he named it Snæland or "Snowland" because it was snowing. Following Naddodd, the SwedeGarðar Svavarssonarrived, and so the island was then called Garðarshólmur, which means "Garðar's Isle".
Then came a Viking namedFlóki Vilgerðarson; his daughter drowned en route, then his livestock starved to death. The sagas say that the rather despondent Flóki climbed a mountain and saw a fjord (Arnarfjörður) full of icebergs, which led him to give the island its new and present name.The notion that Iceland's Viking settlers chose that name to discourage the settlement of their verdant isle is most likely a myth.
According to bothLandnámabókandÍslendingabók, monks known as thePaparlived in Iceland before Scandinavian settlers arrived, possibly members of aHiberno-Scottish mission. An archaeological excavation has revealed the ruins of a cabin inHafniron theReykjanes peninsula.Carbon datingindicates that it was abandoned sometime between 770 and 880.In 2016, archaeologists uncovered alonghouseinStöðvarfjörðurthat may date to as early as 800.
Swedish Viking explorerGarðar Svavarssonwas the first to circumnavigate Iceland in 870 and establish that it was an island.He stayed during the winter and built a house inHúsavík. Garðar departed the following summer, but one of his men,Náttfari, decided to stay behind with two slaves. Náttfari settled in what is now known as Náttfaravík, and he and his slaves became the first permanent residents of Iceland to be documented.
The Norwegian-Norse chieftainIngólfr Arnarsonbuilt his homestead in present-dayReykjavíkin 874. Ingólfr was followed by many other emigrant settlers, largely Scandinavians and theirthralls, many of whom wereIrishorScottish.By 930, mostarable landon the island had been claimed; theAlthing, a legislative and judicial assembly was initiated to regulate theIcelandic Commonwealth. The lack of arable land also served as an impetus to thesettlement of Greenlandstarting in 986.The period of these early settlements coincided with theMedieval Warm Period, when temperatures were similar to those of the early 20th century.At this time about 25% of Iceland was covered with forest, compared to 1% in the present day.Christianity was adoptedby consensusaround 999–1000, althoughNorse paganismpersisted among segments of the population for some years afterward.
TheIcelandic Commonwealthlasted until the 13th century when the political system devised by the original settlers proved unable to cope with the increasing power of Icelandic chieftains.The internal struggles and civil strife of theAge of the Sturlungsled to the signing of theOld Covenantin 1262, which ended the Commonwealth and brought Iceland under the Norwegian crown. Possession of Iceland passed from theKingdom of Norway (872–1397)to theKalmar Unionin 1415, when the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden were united. After the break-up of the union in 1523, it remained a Norwegian dependency, as a part ofDenmark–Norway.
Infertile soil, volcanic eruptions, deforestation, and an unforgiving climate made for harsh life in a society where subsistence depended almost entirely on agriculture. TheBlack Deathswept Iceland twice, first in 1402–1404 and again in 1494–1495.The former outbreak killed 50% to 60% of the population, and the latter 30% to 50%.
Around the middle of the 16th century, as part of theProtestant Reformation, KingChristian III of Denmarkbegan to imposeLutheranismon all his subjects.Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop ofHólar, was beheaded in 1550 along with two of his sons. The country subsequently became officially Lutheran, and Lutheranism has since remained the dominant religion.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Denmark imposedharsh trade restrictionson Iceland. Natural disasters, including volcanic eruptions and disease, contributed to a decreasing population. In the summer of 1627,Barbary Piratescommitted the events known locally as theTurkish Abductions, in which hundreds of residents were taken into slavery in North Africa and dozens killed; this was the only invasion in Icelandic history to have casualties.The1707–08 Iceland smallpox epidemicis estimated to have killed a quarter to a third of the population.In 1783 theLakivolcano erupted, with devastating effects.In the years following the eruption, known as theMist Hardships(Icelandic:Móðuharðindin), over half of all livestock in the country died. Around a quarter of the population starved to death in the ensuingfamine.
In 1814, following theNapoleonic Wars, Denmark-Norway was broken up into two separate kingdoms via theTreaty of Kiel, but Iceland remained a Danish dependency. Throughout the 19th century, the country's climate continued to grow colder, resulting in mass emigration to theNew World, particularly to the region ofGimli,Manitobain Canada, which was sometimes referred to asNew Iceland. About 15,000 people emigrated, out of a total population of 70,000.
A national consciousness arose in the first half of the 19th century, inspired byromanticandnationalistideas from mainland Europe. An Icelandic independence movement took shape in the 1850s under the leadership ofJón Sigurðsson, based on the burgeoning Icelandic nationalism inspired by theFjölnismennand other Danish-educated Icelandic intellectuals. In 1874, Denmark granted Iceland a constitution and limited home rule. This was expanded in 1904, andHannes Hafsteinserved as the firstMinister for Icelandin the Danish cabinet.
TheDanish–Icelandic Act of Union, an agreement with Denmark signed on 1 December 1918 and valid for 25 years, recognised Iceland as a fully sovereign and independent state in apersonal unionwith Denmark. The Government of Iceland established an embassy in Copenhagen and requested that Denmark carry out on its behalf certain defence and foreign affairs matters, subject to consultation with the Althing. Danish embassies around the world displayed two coats of arms and two flags: those of the Kingdom of Denmark and those of theKingdom of Iceland. Iceland's legal position became comparable to those of countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations, such as Canada, whose sovereign is KingCharles III.
During World War II, Iceland joined Denmark in asserting neutrality. After theGerman occupation of Denmarkon 9 April 1940, the Althing replaced the King with a regent and declared that the Icelandic government would take control of its own defence and foreign affairs.A month later, British armed forces conductedOperation Fork, the invasion and occupation of the country, violating Icelandicneutrality.In 1941, the Government of Iceland, friendly to Britain, invited the then-neutral United States to take over its defence so that Britain could use its troops elsewhere.
On 31 December 1943, theDanish–Icelandic Act of Unionexpired after 25 years. Beginning on 20 May 1944, Icelanders voted in a four-day plebiscite on whether to terminate the personal union with Denmark, abolish the monarchy, and establish a republic. The vote was 97% to end the union, and 95% in favour of the new republican constitution.Iceland formally became a republic on 17 June 1944, withSveinn Björnssonas its first president.
In 1946, the US Defence Force Allied left Iceland. The nation formally became a member ofNATOon 30 March 1949, amiddomestic controversy and riots. On 5 May 1951, a defence agreement was signed with the United States. American troops returned to Iceland as theIceland Defence Forceand remained throughout theCold War. The US withdrew the last of its forces on 30 September 2006.
Iceland prospered during the Second World War. The immediate post-war period was followed by substantialeconomic growth, driven by the industrialisation of the fishing industry and the USMarshall Planprogramme, through which Icelanders received the most aid per capita of any European country (at US$209, with the war-ravaged Netherlands a distant second at US$109).
Vigdís Finnbogadóttirassumed Iceland's presidency on 1 August 1980, making her the first elected female head of state in the world.
The 1970s were marked by theCod Wars—several disputes with the United Kingdom over Iceland's extension of its fishing limits to 200 nmi (370 km) offshore. Iceland hosted asummit in Reykjavík in 1986between United States PresidentRonald Reaganand Soviet PremierMikhail Gorbachev, during which they took significant steps towardsnuclear disarmament. A few years later, Iceland became the first country to recognise the independence ofEstonia,Latvia, andLithuaniaas theybroke awayfrom the USSR. Throughout the 1990s, the country expanded its international role and developed a foreign policy orientated towards humanitarian and peacekeeping causes. To that end, Iceland provided aid and expertise to various NATO-led interventions inBosnia,Kosovo, andIraq.
Iceland joined theEuropean Economic Areain 1994, after which the economy was greatly diversified and liberalised. International economic relations increased further after 2001 when Iceland's newly deregulated banks began to raise great amounts ofexternal debt, contributing to a 32 percent increase in Iceland'sgross national incomebetween 2002 and 2007.
In 2003–2007, following the privatisation of the banking sector under the government ofDavíð Oddsson, Iceland moved towards having an economy based on international investment banking and financial services.It was quickly becoming one of the most prosperous countries in the world, but was hit hard by amajor financial crisis.The crisis resulted in the greatest migration from Iceland since 1887, with a net emigration of 5,000 people in 2009.
Iceland's economy stabilised under the government ofJóhanna Sigurðardóttirand grew by 1.6% in 2012.The centre-rightIndependence Partywas returned to power in coalition with theProgressive Partyin the 2013 election.In the following years, Iceland saw a surge in tourism as the country became a popular holiday destination. In 2016, Prime MinisterSigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugssonresigned after being implicated in thePanama Papersscandal.Early elections in 2016 resulted in a right-wing coalition government of theIndependence Party,ViðreisnandBright Future.This government fell when Bright Future quit the coalition due to a scandal involving then-Prime MinisterBjarni Benediktsson's father's letter of support for a convicted child sex offender.Snap elections in October 2017brought to power a new coalition consisting of the Independence Party, the Progressive Party, and theLeft-Green Movement, headed byKatrín Jakobsdóttir.
After the 2021 parliamentaryelection, the new government was, just like the previous government, a tri-party coalition of the Independence Party, the Progressive Party, and the Left-Green Movement, headed by Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir.In April 2024, Bjarni Benediktsson of the Independence party succeeded Katrín Jakobsdóttir as prime minister.In November 2024, centre-leftSocial Democratic Alliancebecame the biggest party in asnap election, meaning Social DemocraticKristrun Frostadottirbecame the next Prime Minister of Iceland.
Iceland is at the juncture of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The main island is entirely south of theArctic Circle, which passes through the small Icelandic island ofGrímseyoff the main island's northern coast. The country lies between latitudes63and68°N, and longitudes25and13°W.
Iceland is closer tocontinental Europethan to mainland North America, although it is closest toGreenland(290 kilometres; 155 nautical miles), an island of North America. Iceland is generally included in Europe for geographical, historical, political, cultural, linguistic and practical reasons.Geologically, the island includes parts of both continental plates. The closest bodies of land in Europe are theFaroe Islands(420 km; 225 nmi);Jan MayenIsland (570 km; 310 nmi);Shetlandand theOuter Hebrides, both about 740 km (400 nmi); and the Scottish mainland andOrkney, both about 750 km (405 nmi). The nearest part of Continental Europe is mainland Norway, about 970 km (525 nmi) away, while mainland North America is 2,070 km (1,120 nmi) away, at the northern tip ofLabrador.
Iceland is theworld's 18th-largest island, and Europe's second-largest island after Great Britain and before Ireland. The main island covers 101,826 km(39,315 sq mi), but the entire country is 103,000 km(40,000 sq mi) in size, of which 62.7% istundra. Iceland contains about 30 minor islands, including the lightly populated Grímsey and theVestmannaeyjararchipelago. Lakes and glaciers cover 14.3% of its surface; only 23% is vegetated.The largest lakes areÞórisvatnreservoir: 83–88 km(32–34 sq mi) andÞingvallavatn: 82 km(32 sq mi); other important lakes includeLagarfljótandMývatn.Jökulsárlónis the deepest lake, at 248 m (814 ft).
Geologically, Iceland is part of theMid-Atlantic Ridge, a ridge along which theoceanic crustspreads and forms new crust. This part of the mid-ocean ridge is located above a mantle plume, causing Iceland to besubaerial(above the surface of the sea). The ridge marks the boundary between theEurasianandNorth American Plates, and Iceland was created byriftingandaccretionthrough volcanism along the ridge.
Manyfjordspunctuate Iceland's 4,970-km-long (3,088-mi) coastline, which is also where most settlements are situated. The island's interior, theHighlands of Iceland, is a cold and uninhabitable combination of sand, mountains, andlava fields. The major towns are the capital city ofReykjavík, along with its outlying towns ofKópavogur,Hafnarfjörður, andGarðabær, nearbyReykjanesbærwhere the international airport is located, and the town ofAkureyriin northern Iceland. The island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland, whereasKolbeinseycontains the northernmost point of Iceland.Iceland hasthree national parks:Vatnajökull National Park,Snæfellsjökull National Park, andÞingvellir National Park.The country is considered a "strong performer" in environmental protection.
A geologically young land at 16 to 18 million years old, Iceland is the surface expression of theIceland Plateau, alarge igneous provinceforming as a result of volcanism from theIceland hotspotand along theMid-Atlantic Ridge, the latter of which runs right through it.This means that the island is highly geologically active with many volcanoes includingHekla,Eldgjá,Herðubreið, andEldfell.The volcanic eruption ofLakiin 1783–1784 caused a famine that killed nearly a quarter of the island's population.In addition, the eruption caused dust clouds and haze to appear over most of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa for several months afterwards, and affected climates in other areas.
Iceland has manygeysers, includingGeysir, from which the English word is derived, and the famousStrokkur, which erupts every 8–10 minutes. After a phase of inactivity, Geysir started erupting again after aseries of earthquakes in 2000. Geysir has since grown quieter and does not erupt often.
With the widespread availability ofgeothermal powerand the harnessing of many rivers and waterfalls forhydroelectricity, most residents have access to inexpensive hot water, heating, and electricity. The island is composed primarily ofbasalt, a low-silicalava associated witheffusive volcanismas has occurred also inHawaii. Iceland, however, has a variety of volcanic types (composite and fissure), many producing more evolved lavas such asrhyoliteandandesite. Iceland has hundreds of volcanoes with about 30 active volcanic systems.
Surtsey, one of the youngest islands in the world, is part of Iceland. Named afterSurtr, it rose above the ocean in a series of volcanic eruptions between 8 November 1963 and 5 June 1968.Only scientists researching the growth of new life are allowed to visit the island.
The country has around 30active volcanicsystems. Within each are volcano-tectonic fissure systems and many, but not all of them, also have at least onecentral volcano(mostly in the form of astratovolcano, sometimes of ashield volcanowith amagma chamberunderneath). Several classifications of the systems exist, for example there is one of 30 systems,and one of 34 systems, with the later currently being used in Iceland itself.
The climate of Iceland's coast issubarctic. The warmNorth Atlantic Currentensures generally higher annual temperatures than in most places of similar latitude in the world. Regions in the world with similar climates include theAleutian Islands, theAlaska Peninsula, andTierra del Fuego, although these regions are closer to the equator. Despite its proximity to the Arctic, the island's coasts remain ice-free through the winter. Ice incursions are rare, with the last having occurred on the north coast in 1969.
The climate varies between different parts of the island. Generally speaking, the south coast is warmer, wetter, and windier than the north. The Central Highlands are the coldest part of the country. Low-lying inland areas in the north are the aridest. Snowfall in winter is more common in the north than in the south.
The highest air temperature recorded was 30.5 °C (86.9 °F) on 22 June 1939 at Teigarhorn on the southeastern coast. The lowest was −38 °C (−36.4 °F) on 22 January 1918 at Grímsstaðir and Möðrudalur in the northeastern hinterland. The temperature records for Reykjavík are 26.2 °C (79.2 °F) on 30 July 2008, and −24.5 °C (−12.1 °F) on 21 January 1918.
Due toclimate change, Iceland is experiencing fasterglacial retreat, changing vegetation patterns and shifting marine ecosystems.Iceland’s retreating glaciers have global and local consequences. Melting of Iceland’s glaciers could raise sea levels by a centimeter,which could lead to erosion and flooding worldwide.
The entire country is in a singleecoregion, theIceland boreal birch forests and alpine tundra. Some areas are covered byglaciers.
Phytogeographically, Iceland belongs to the Arctic province of theCircumboreal Regionwithin theBoreal Kingdom. Plantlife consists mainly of grassland, which is regularly grazed by livestock. The most common tree native to Iceland is the northern birch (Betula pubescens), which formerly formed forests over much of Iceland, along with aspens (Populus tremula), rowans (Sorbus aucuparia), common junipers (Juniperus communis), and other smaller trees, mainly willows.
When the island was first settled, it was extensively forested, with around 30% of the land covered in trees. In the late 12th century,Ari the Wisedescribed it in theÍslendingabókas "forested from mountain to sea shore".Permanent human settlement greatly disturbed the isolated ecosystem of thin, volcanic soils and limitedspecies diversity. The forests were heavily exploited over the centuries for firewood and timber.Deforestation, climatic deterioration during theLittle Ice Age, and overgrazing by sheep imported by settlers caused a loss of critical topsoil due toerosion. Today, many farms have been abandoned. Three-quarters of Iceland's 100,000 square kilometres (39,000 sq mi) is affected by soil erosion; 18,000 km(6,900 sq mi) is affected to a degree serious enough to make the land useless.Only a few small birch stands now exist in isolated reserves. The Icelandic Forest Service and other forestry groups promote large-scale reforestation in the country. Due to the reforestation efforts, the forest cover of Iceland increased six-fold since the 1990s. This helps to offset carbon emissions, prevent sand storms and increase the productivity of farms.The planting of new forests has increased the number of trees, but the result does not compare to the original forests. Some of the planted forests includeintroduced species.The tallest tree in Iceland is asitka spruceplanted in 1949 inKirkjubæjarklaustur; it was measured at 25.2 m (83 ft) in 2013.Algae such asChondrus crispus,Phyllphora truncataandPhyllophora crispaand others have been recorded from Iceland.
The only native land mammal when humans arrived was theArctic fox,which came to the island at the end of the ice age, walking over the frozen sea. On rare occasions, bats have been carried to the island with the winds, but they are not able to breed there. No native or free-living reptiles or amphibians are on the island.
The animals of Iceland include theIcelandic sheep,cattle,chickens,goats, the sturdyIcelandic horse, and theIcelandic Sheepdog, all descendants of animals imported by Europeans. Wild mammals include the Arctic fox,mink, mice, rats, rabbits, andreindeer.Polar bearsoccasionally visit the island, travelling fromGreenlandon icebergs, but no Icelandic populations exist.In June 2008, two polar bears arrived in the same month.Marine mammalsinclude thegrey seal(Halichoerus grypus) andharbour seal(Phoca vitulina).
Many species of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding Iceland, and thefishing industryis a major part of Iceland's economy, accounting for roughly half of the country's total exports. Birds, especially seabirds, are an important part of Iceland's animal life.Atlantic puffins,skuas, andblack-legged kittiwakesnest on its sea cliffs.
Commercial whalingis practised intermittentlyalong with scientific whale hunts.Whale watching has become an important part of Iceland's economy since 1997.
Around 1,300 species of insects are known in Iceland. This is low compared with other countries (over one million species have been described worldwide). Iceland is essentially free ofmosquitoes.
Iceland is aparliamentaryrepresentative democraticrepublic, whereby thepresidentis thehead of state, while theprime minister of Icelandserves as thehead of governmentin amulti-party system. Members of theIcelandic parliamentare voted in byproportional representation, byconstituency.
Following the2021 parliamentary elections, the biggest parties are the centre-rightIndependence Party(Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn), theProgressive Party(Framsóknarflokkurinn) and theLeft-Green Movement(Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð). These three parties form the ruling coalition in the cabinet led by leftistKatrín Jakobsdóttir.
Other political parties with seats in theAlthing(Parliament) are theSocial Democratic Alliance(Samfylkingin), thePeople's Party(Flokkur fólksins), Iceland'sPirates(Píratar),Viðreisnand theCentre Party(Miðflokkurinn).
In 2016, Iceland was ranked second in the strength of its democratic institutionsand 13th in government transparency.The country has a high level of civic participation, with 81.4% voter turnout during the most recent elections,compared to an OECD average of 72%. Iceland scored second in Europe for their trust in legal institutions (police, parliament and judiciary) at a mean of 73% trust as of 2018.
Many political parties remain opposed to EU membership, primarily due to Icelanders' concern about losing control over their natural resources (particularly fisheries).
Women in Iceland first gained the right to vote in 1915 (with restrictions) and increased voting rights in 1920.Iceland was the first country in the world to have a political party formed and led entirely by women.Known as theWomen's List(Kvennalistinn), it was founded in 1983 to advance the political, economic, and social needs of women. It left a lasting influence on Iceland's politics: every major party has a 40% quota for women. In the 2021 elections, 48% of members of parliament are female compared to the global average of 16% in 2009.Vigdís Finnbogadóttirwas the world's first democratically elected female head of state. In 2009,Jóhanna Sigurðardóttirbecame the world'sfirst openly LGBThead of government.
Iceland is arepresentative democracyand aparliamentary republic. The modern parliament,Alþingi(English:Althing), was founded in 1845 as an advisory body to the Danish monarch. It was widely seen as a re-establishment of the assembly founded in 930 in theCommonwealthperiod and temporarily suspended from 1799 to 1845. Consequently, "it is arguably the world's oldestparliamentary democracy."It has 63 members, elected for a maximum period of four years.
The head of government is the prime minister who, together with thecabinet, is responsible forexecutivegovernment.
Thepresident of Iceland, in contrast, is a largely ceremonial head of state and serves as a diplomat, but may veto laws voted by the parliament and put them to a national referendum.They are elected by popular vote for a term of four years with no term limit. The current president isHalla Tómasdóttir, having been in office since 1 August 2024.
The elections for the president, the Althing, and local municipal councils are all held separately every four years.
The cabinet in the country's government is typically appointed by the president after a general election to the Althing. However, the appointment is usually negotiated by the leaders of the political parties, who decide amongst themselves which parties can form the cabinet and how to distribute its seats, as long as it has majority support in the Althing. If the party leaders are unable to come to an agreement within a reasonable period of time, the president will personally appoint the cabinet. This has not happened since the republic was founded in 1944, although in 1942 the regent,Sveinn Björnsson, appointed a non-parliamentary government. Sveinn held the practical position of a president at the time, and later became the country's first official president in 1944.
The governments of Iceland have always been coalition governments, with two or more parties involved, as no single political party has ever received a majority of seats in the Althing throughout the republican period. There is no legal consensus on the extent of the political power possessed by the office of the president; several provisions of the constitution appear to give the president some important powers, but other provisions and traditions suggest differently.In 1980, Icelanders electedVigdís Finnbogadóttiras president, the world's first directly elected female head of state. She retired from office in 1996. In 2009, Iceland became the first country with an openly gay head of government whenJóhanna Sigurðardóttirbecame prime minister.
Iceland is divided into regions, constituencies, and municipalities. The eight regions are primarily used for statistical purposes. District court jurisdictions also use an older version of this division.Until 2003, the constituencies for the parliamentary elections were the same as the regions, but by an amendment to the constitution, they were changed to the current six constituencies:
The redistricting change was made to balance the weight of different districts of the country since previously a vote cast in the sparsely populated areas around the country would count much more than a vote cast in the Reykjavík city area. The imbalance between districts has been reduced by the new system but still exists.
Sixty-nine municipalities in Iceland govern local matters like schools, transport, and zoning.These are the actualsecond-level subdivisionsof Iceland, as the constituencies have no relevance except in elections and for statistical purposes. Reykjavík is by far the most populous municipality, about four times more populous thanKópavogur, the second one.
Iceland, which is a member of theUN,NATO,EFTA,Council of Europe, andOECD, maintains diplomatic and commercial relations with practically all nations, but its ties with the Nordic countries, Germany, the United States, Canada, and the other NATO nations are particularly close. Historically, due to cultural, economic, and linguistic similarities, Iceland is aNordic country, and it participates in intergovernmental cooperation through theNordic Council.
Iceland is a member of theEuropean Economic Area(EEA), which allows the country access to the single market of the European Union (EU). It was not a member of the EU, but in July 2009, the Icelandic parliament, the Althing, voted in favour of the application for EU membershipand officially applied on 17 July 2009.However, in 2013, opinion polls showed that many Icelanders were now against joining the EU; following the2013 Icelandic parliamentary electionthe two parties that formed the island's new government—the centrist Progressive Party and the right-wing Independence Party—announced they would hold a referendum on EU membership.In 2015, Minister for Foreign AffairsGunnar Bragi Sveinssoninformed the EU that Iceland would no longer pursue membership, but the application was not formally withdrawn and there have been subsequent calls for a referendum on the issue.
Iceland has nostanding armybut has theIcelandic Coast Guardwhich also maintains theIceland Air Defence System, and anIceland Crisis Response Unitto support peacekeeping missions and perform paramilitary functions.
TheIceland Defense Force(IDF) was amilitarycommandof theUnited States Armed Forcesfrom 1951 to 2006. The IDF, created at the request ofNATO, came into existence when the United States signed an agreement to provide for the defence of Iceland. The IDF also consisted of civilian Icelanders and military members of other NATO nations. The IDF was downsized after the end of theCold Warand theU.S. Air Forcemaintained four to sixinterceptor aircraftat theNaval Air Station Keflavikuntil they were withdrawn on 30 September 2006. Since May 2008, NATO nations have periodically deployed fighters to patrol Icelandic airspace under theIcelandic Air Policingmission.Iceland supported the2003 invasion of Iraqdespite much domestic controversy, deploying a Coast GuardEODteam to Iraq,which was replaced later by members of theIceland Crisis Response Unit. Iceland has also participated in theconflict in Afghanistanand the1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.Despite the ongoing financial crisis the firstnew patrol shipin decades was launched on 29 April 2009.
Iceland was the neutral host of the historic 1986Reagan–Gorbachev summitin Reykjavík, which set the stage for the end of theCold War. Iceland's principal historical international disputes involved disagreements overexclusive economic zones. Conflict with the United Kingdom led to a series of so-calledCod Wars, which included confrontations between the Icelandic Coast Guard and theRoyal Navyover British fishermen: in 1952–1956 due to the extension of Iceland's fishing zone from 3 to 4nmi(5.6 to 7.4 km; 3.5 to 4.6 mi), in 1958–1961 following a further extension to 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi), in 1972–1973 with another extension to 50 nmi (92.6 km; 57.5 mi), and in 1975–1976 after another extension to 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi).
According to the 2024Global Peace Index, Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, due to its lack of armed forces, low crime rate and high level of socio-political stability.Iceland is listed inGuinness World Recordsas the "country ranked most at peace" and the "lowest military spending per capita".
In 2022, Iceland was theeighth-most productive country in the world per capita(US$78,837), and the thirteenth-most productive byGDPatpurchasing power parity($69,833).About 85 percent of the totalprimary energysupply in Iceland is derived from domestically produced renewable energy sources.Use of abundanthydroelectricandgeothermal powerhas made Iceland the world's largest electricity producer per capita.
Historically, Iceland's economy depended heavily on fishing, which still provides ~20% of export earnings and employed 7% of the workforce.The economy is now more dependent on tourism, but important sectors continue to be: fish and fish products, aluminium, andferrosilicon. Iceland's economic dependence on fishing is diminishing, from an export share of 90% in the 1960s to 20% in 2020.
Until the 20th century, Iceland was a fairly poor country.Whaling in Icelandwas historically significant. It is now one of the most developed countries in the world. Strong economic growth led Iceland to be rankedthirdin theUnited Nations'Human Development Indexreport for 2021/2022.According to the Economist Intelligence Index of 2011, Iceland had the second-highest quality of life in the world.Based on theGini coefficient, Iceland also has one of the lowest rates of income inequality in the world,and whenadjusted for inequality, its HDI ranking is sixth.Iceland's unemployment rate has declined consistently since the crisis, with 4.8% of the labour force being unemployed as of June 2012, compared to 6% in 2011 and 8.1% in 2010.
The national currency of Iceland is theIcelandic króna(ISK). Iceland is the only country in the world to have a population under two million yet still have a floating exchange rate and an independent monetary policy.A poll released on 5 March 2010 by CapacentGallupshowed that 31% of respondents were in favour of adopting theeuroand 69% opposed.Another Capacent Gallup poll conducted in February 2012 found that 67.4% of Icelanders would reject EU membership in a referendum.
Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, including software production,biotechnology, and finance; industry accounts for around a quarter of economic activity, while services comprise close to 70%.The tourism sector is expanding, especially inecotourismand whale-watching. On average, Iceland receives around 1.1 million visitors annually, which is more than three times the native population.1.7 million people visited Iceland in 2016, 3 times more than the number that came in 2010.Iceland's agriculture industry, accounting for 5.4% of GDP,consists mainly ofpotatoes, green vegetables (ingreenhouses),mutton, and dairy products.The financial centre isBorgartúnin Reykjavík, which hosts a large number of companies and three investment banks. Iceland'sstock market, theIceland Stock Exchange(ISE), was established in 1985.
Iceland is ranked 27th in the 2012Index of Economic Freedom, lower than in prior years but still among the freest in the world.As of 2016, it ranks 29th in theWorld Economic Forum's Global Competitive Index, one place lower than in 2015.According to theGlobal Innovation Index, Iceland is the 22nd most innovative country in the world in 2024.Unlike most Western European countries, Iceland has aflat taxsystem: the main personal income tax rate is a flat 22.75% and combined with municipal taxes, the total tax rate equals no more than 35.7%, not including the many available deductions.Thecorporate taxrate is a flat 18%, one of the lowest in the world.There is also avalue added tax, whereas a netwealth taxwas eliminated in 2006. Employment regulations are relatively flexible and the labour market is one of the freest in the world. Property rights are strong and Iceland is one of the few countries where they are applied tofishery management.Like otherwelfare states, taxpayers pay various subsidies to each other, but with spending being less than in most European countries.
Despite low tax rates, agricultural assistance is the highest among OECD countries and a potential impediment to structural change. Also, health care and education spending have relatively poor returns by OECD measures, though improvements have been made in both areas. The OECDEconomic Survey of Iceland 2008highlighted Iceland's challenges in currency and macroeconomic policy.There was acurrency crisisthat started in the spring of 2008, and on 6 October trading in Iceland's banks was suspended as the government battled to save the economy.An assessment by the OECD 2011determined that Iceland has made progress in many areas, particularly in creating a sustainable fiscal policy and restoring the health of the financial sector; however, challenges remain in making the fishing industry more efficient and sustainable, as well as in improving monetary policy to address inflation.Iceland's public debt has decreased since the economic crisis, and as of 2015is the 31st-highest in the world by proportion of national GDP.
Iceland was hit especially hard by theGreat Recessionthat began in December 2007 because of the failure of its banking system and a subsequent economic crisis. Before the crash of the country's three largest banks,Glitnir,LandsbankiandKaupthing, their combined debt exceeded approximately six times the nation's gross domestic product of €14 billion ($19 billion).In October 2008, the Icelandic parliament passed emergency legislation to minimise the impact of the financial crisis. The Financial Supervisory Authority of Iceland used permission granted by the emergency legislation to take over the domestic operations of the three largest banks.Icelandic officials, including central bank governorDavíð Oddsson, stated that the state did not intend to take over any of the banks' foreign debts or assets. Instead, new banks were established to take on the domestic operations of the banks, and the old banks were to be run into bankruptcy.
On 28 October 2008, the Icelandic government raised interest rates to 18% (as of August 2019, it was 3.5%), a move forced in part by the terms of acquiring a loan fromInternational Monetary Fund(IMF). After the rate hike, trading on the Icelandic króna finally resumed on the open market, with a valuation at around 250 ISK per euro, less than one-third the value of the 1:70 exchange rate during most of 2008, and a significant drop from the 1:150 exchange ratio of the week before. On 20 November 2008, theNordic countriesagreed to lend Iceland $2.5 billion.
On 26 January 2009, the coalition government collapsed due to public dissent over the handling of the financial crisis. A new left-wing government was formed a week later and immediately set about removing Central Bank governor Davíð Oddsson and his aides from the bank through changes in the law. Davíð was removed on 26 February 2009 in the wake of protests outside the Central Bank.
Thousands of Icelanders left the country after the collapse, many of those moving to Norway. In 2005, 293 people moved from Iceland to Norway; in 2009, the figure was 1,625.In April 2010, the Icelandic Parliament's Special Investigation Commission published the findings of its investigation,revealing the extent of control fraud in this crisis.By June 2012, Landsbanki managed to repay about half of theIcesavedebt.
According toBloombergin 2014, Iceland was on the trajectory of 2% unemployment as a result of crisis-management decisions made back in 2008, including allowing the banks to fail.
Iceland has a high level of car ownership per capita, with a car for every 1.5 inhabitants; it is the main form of transport.Iceland has 13,034 km (8,099 mi) of administered roads, of which 4,617 km (2,869 mi) are paved and 8,338 km (5,181 mi) are not. The road speed limits are 30 and 50 km/h (19 and 31 mph) in towns, 80 km/h (50 mph) on gravel country roads and 90 km/h (56 mph) on hard-surfaced roads. A great number of interior roads remain unpaved, mostly little-used rural roads.
Route 1, or the Ring Road (Icelandic:Þjóðvegur 1orHringvegur), completed in 1974, is the main road that runs around Iceland and connects most inhabited parts of the island. The interior of the island is mostly uninhabitable. The road is paved and is 1,332 km (828 mi) long with one lane in each direction, except between and within larger towns and cities where it has more lanes.On Route 1 there are some 30 single lane bridges, particularly prevalent in the southeast.
City busesinReykjavík(including theCapital Region) are operated byStrætó bs. Long-distance public bus services throughout the country are also provided byStrætó bs. Smaller towns such asAkureyri,ReykjanesbærandSelfossalso provide local bus services.Public and private bus services are available to and from Keflavik International Airport.
No passenger railways have ever operated in Iceland. Previously, temporary freightrailways have operated in Iceland.
Keflavík International Airport(KEF)is the largest airport and the main aviation hub for international passenger transport.KEF is in the southwest of the country, 49 km (30 mi)from the Reykjavík city centre.
Reykjavík Airport(RKV)is the second-largest airport, located just 1.5 km from the capital centre. Reykjavík Airport serves daily regular domestic flights within Iceland, general aviation, private aviation andmedivactraffic.
Akureyri Airport(AEY)andEgilsstaðir Airport(EGS)are two other airports with domestic service and limited international service. Akureyri Airport opened an expanded international terminal in 2024.There are a total of 103 registered airports and airfields in Iceland; most of them are unpaved and located in rural areas.
Several ferry services provide regular access to various island communities or shorten travel distances. TheSmyril Lineoperates the shipNorrönaproviding an international ferry service fromSeyðisfjörðurto theFaroe IslandsandDenmark.
Several companies provide maritime transport services to Iceland, includingEimskipand Samskip. Iceland's largest ports are managed by Faxaflóahafnir.
Renewable sources—geothermalandhydropower—provide effectively all of Iceland's electricityand around 85% of the nation's total primary energy consumption,with most of the remainder consisting of imported oil products used in transportation and in the fishing fleet.Iceland's largest geothermal power plants areHellisheiðiandNesjavellir,whileKárahnjúkar Hydropower Plantis the country's largest hydroelectric power station.When the Kárahnjúkavirkjun started operating, Iceland became the world's largest electricity producer per capita.
In 2023,battery electric vehiclesconstituted 50.1% of new registrations and around 18% of the country's vehicle fleet was electrified in 2024.Iceland is one of the few countries that have filling stations dispensing hydrogen fuel for cars powered byfuel cells.
Despite this, Icelanders emitted 16.9 tonnes of CO2per capita in 2016, the highest among EFTA and EU members, mainly resulting from transport andaluminium smelting.Nevertheless, in 2010, Iceland was reported byGuinness World Recordsas "the Greenest Country", reaching the highest score by theEnvironmental Sustainability Index, which measures a country's water use, biodiversity and adoption of clean energies, with a score of 93.5/100.
On 22 January 2009, Iceland announced its first round ofoffshorelicences for companies wanting to conducthydrocarbon explorationand production in a region northeast of Iceland, known as theDreki area.Three exploration licences were awarded but all were subsequently relinquished.
Iceland's official governmental goal is to cutgreenhouse gasemissions by 40% by the year 2030 and reachcarbon neutralityby the year 2040.As a result of its commitment to renewable energy, the 2016 Global Green Economy Index ranked Iceland among the top 10 greenest economies in the world.
TheMinistry of Education, Science and Cultureis responsible for the policies and methods that schools must use, and they issue the National Curriculum Guidelines. However, playschools, primary schools, and lower secondary schools are funded and administered by the municipalities. The government does allow citizens tohome educatetheir children, however, under a very strict set of demands.Students must adhere closely to the government-mandated curriculum, and the parent teaching must acquire a government approved teaching certificate.
Nursery school, orleikskóli, is non-compulsory education for children younger than six years and is the first step in the education system. The current legislation concerning playschools was passed in 1994. They are also responsible for ensuring that the curriculum is suitable to make the transition into compulsory education as easy as possible.
Compulsory education, orgrunnskóli, comprises primary and lower secondary education, which often is conducted at the same institution. Education is mandatory by law for children aged from 6 to 16 years. The school year lasts nine months, beginning between 21 August and 1 September, and ending between 31 May and 10 June. The minimum number of school days was once 170, but after a new teachers' wage contract, it increased to 180. Lessons take place five days a week. All public schools have mandatory education in Christianity, although an exemption may be considered by theMinister of Education.
Upper secondary education, orframhaldsskóli, follows lower secondary education. These schools are also known asgymnasiain English. Though not compulsory, everyone who has had a compulsory education has the right to upper secondary education. This stage of education is governed by the Upper Secondary School Act of 1996. All schools in Iceland are mixed-sex schools. The largest seat of higher education is theUniversity of Iceland, which has its main campus in central Reykjavík. Other schools offering university-level instruction includeReykjavík University,University of Akureyri,Agricultural University of IcelandandBifröst University.
An OECD assessment found that 64% of Icelanders aged 25–64 have earned the equivalent of a high-school degree, which is lower than the OECD average of 73%. Among 25- to 34-year-olds, only 69% have earned the equivalent of a high-school degree, significantly lower than the OECD average of 80%.Nevertheless, Iceland's education system is considered excellent: theProgramme for International Student Assessmentranks it as the 16th best performing, above the OECD average.Students were particularly proficient in reading and mathematics.
According to a 2013Eurostatreport by theEuropean Commission, Iceland spends around 3.11% of its GDP on scientific research and development (R&D), over 1 percentage point higher than the EU average of 2.03%, and has set a target of 4% to reach by 2020.Iceland was ranked 17th in theGlobal Innovation Indexin 2021, up from 20th in 2019.A 2010UNESCOreport found that out of 72 countries that spend the most on R&D (US$100 million or more), Iceland ranked ninth by proportion of GDP, tied with Taiwan, Switzerland, and Germany and ahead of France, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The original population of Iceland was ofNorseandGaelicorigin. This is evident from literary evidence dating from the settlement period as well as from later scientific studies such asblood typeand genetic analyses. One such genetic study indicated that the majority of the male settlers were of Nordic origin while the majority of the women were of Gaelic origin, meaning many settlers of Iceland were Norsemen who brought Gaelic slaves with them.
Iceland has extensive genealogical records dating back to the late 17th century and fragmentary records extending back to theAge of Settlement. The biopharmaceutical companydeCODE geneticshas funded the creation of agenealogydatabase that is intended to cover all of Iceland's known inhabitants. It views the database, calledÍslendingabók, as a valuable tool for conducting research on genetic diseases, given the relative isolation of Iceland's population.
The population of the island is believed to have varied from 40,000 to 60,000 in the period ranging from initial settlement until the mid-19th century. During that time, cold winters, ash fall from volcanic eruptions, andbubonic plaguesadversely affected the population several times.There were 37famineyears in Iceland between 1500 and 1804.The first census was carried out in 1703 and revealed that the population was then 50,358. After the destructive volcanic eruptions of theLaki volcanoduring 1783–1784, the population reached a low of about 40,000.Improving living conditions have triggered a rapid increase in population since the mid-19th century—from about 60,000 in 1850 to 320,000 in 2008. Iceland has a relatively young population for a developed country, with one out of five people being 14 years old or younger. With a fertility rate of 2.1, Iceland is one of only a few European countries with a birth ratesufficient for long-term population growth(see table below).
In December 2007, 33,678 people (13.5% of the total population) living in Iceland had been born abroad, including children of Icelandic parents living abroad. Around 19,000 people (6% of the population) held foreign citizenship.Polishpeople make up the largest minority group by a considerable margin and still form the bulk of the foreign workforce.About 8,000 Poles now live in Iceland, 1,500 of them inFjarðabyggðwhere they make up 75% of the workforce who are constructing the Fjarðarál aluminium plant.Large-scale construction projects in the east of Iceland (seeKárahnjúkar Hydropower Plant) have also brought in many people whose stay is expected to be temporary. Many Polish immigrants were also considering leaving in 2008 as a result of theIcelandic financial crisis.
The southwest corner of Iceland is by far the most densely populated region. It is also the location of the capital Reykjavík, the northernmost national capital in the world. More than 70 percent of Iceland's population lives in the southwest corner (Greater Reykjavíkand the nearbySouthern Peninsula), which covers less than two percent of Iceland's land area. The largest town outside Greater Reykjavík isReykjanesbær, which is located on the Southern Peninsula, less than 50 km (31 mi) from the capital. The largest town outside the southwest corner isAkureyriin northern Iceland.
Some 500 Icelanders under the leadership ofErik the RedsettledGreenlandin the late tenth century.The total population reached a high point of perhaps 5,000, and developed independent institutions before disappearing by 1500.People from Greenland attempted to set up a settlement atVinlandin North America, but abandoned it in the face of hostility from the Indigenous residents.
Emigration of Icelanders to the United States and Canada began in the 1870s. As of 2006, Canada had over 88,000 people ofIcelandicdescent,while there are more than 40,000 Americans ofIcelandicdescent, according to the 2000 US census.
Iceland's 10 most populous urban areas:
Iceland's official written and spoken language isIcelandic, aNorth Germanic languagedescended fromOld Norse. In grammar and vocabulary, it has changed less from Old Norse than the other Nordic languages; Icelandic has preserved more verb and nouninflection, and has to a considerable extent developed new vocabulary based on native roots rather than borrowings from other languages. The puristic tendency in the development of Icelandic vocabulary is to a large degree a result of conscious language planning, in addition to centuries of isolation. Icelandic is the only living language to retain the use of therunicletterÞinLatin script. The closest living relative of the Icelandic language isFaroese.
Icelandic Sign Languagewas officially recognised as a minority language in 2011. In education, its use for Iceland's deaf community isregulatedby theNational Curriculum Guide.
English and Danish are compulsory subjects in the school curriculum. English is widely understood and spoken, while basic to moderate knowledge of Danish is common mainly among the older generations.Polishis mostly spoken by the local Polish community (the largest minority of Iceland), and Danish is mostly spoken in a way largely comprehensible to Swedes and Norwegians—it is often referred to asskandinavíska(i.e.Scandinavian) in Iceland.
Rather than usingfamily names, as is the usual custom in most Western nations, most Icelanders carrypatronymicormatronymicsurnames, patronyms being far more commonly practised. Patronymic last names are based on the first name of the father, while matronymic names are based on the first name of the mother. These follow the person's given name, e.g.Elísabet Jónsdóttir("Elísabet, Jón's daughter" (Jón being the father)) orÓlafur Katrínarson("Ólafur, Katrín's son" (Katrín being the mother)).Consequently, Icelanders refer to one another by their given name, and the Icelandic telephone directory lists people alphabetically by the first name rather than by surname.All new names must be approved by theIcelandic Naming Committee.
Iceland has auniversal health caresystem that is administered by its Ministry of Welfare (Icelandic:Velferðarráðuneytið)and paid for mostly by taxes (85%) and to a lesser extent by service fees (15%). Unlike most countries, there are no private hospitals, and private insurance is practically nonexistent.
A considerable portion of the government budget is assigned to health care,and Iceland ranks 11th in health care expenditures as a percentage of GDPand 14th in spending per capita.Overall, the country's health care system is one of the best performing in the world, ranked 15th by theWorld Health Organization.According to an OECD report, Iceland devotes far more resources to healthcare than most industrialised nations. As of 2009, Iceland had 3.7 doctors per 1,000 people (compared with an average of 3.1 in OECD countries) and 15.3 nurses per 1,000 people (compared with an OECD average of 8.4).
Icelanders are among the world's healthiest people, with 81% reporting they are in good health, according to an OECD survey.Although it is a growing problem,obesityis not as prevalent as in otherdeveloped countries.Iceland has many campaigns for health and wellbeing, including the famous television showLazytown, starring and created by former gymnastics championMagnus Scheving.Infant mortalityis one of the lowest in the world,and the proportion of the population that smokes is lower than the OECD average.Almost all women choose to terminate pregnancies of children withDown syndromein Iceland.The averagelife expectancyis 81.8 (compared to an OECD average of 79.5), the fourth-highest in the world.
Iceland has a very low level of pollution, thanks to an overwhelming reliance on cleaner geothermal energy, a low population density, and a high level of environmental consciousness amongcitizens.According to an OECD assessment, the amount of toxic materials in the atmosphere is far lower than in any other industrialised country measured.
In 2019, the age-adjustedsuiciderate in Iceland was 11.2 cases per 100,000.In 2022 the country's consumption of antidepressants was the highest in Europe.
Icelanders have freedom of religion guaranteed under theConstitution, although theChurch of Iceland, aLutheranbody, is thestate church:
Approximately 80 percent of Icelanders legally affiliate with a religious denomination, a process that happens automatically at birth and from which they can choose to opt out. They also pay a church tax (sóknargjald), which the government directs to help support their registered religion, or, in the case of no religion, the University of Iceland.
The Registers Iceland keeps account of the religious affiliation of every Icelandic citizen. In 2017, Icelanders were divided into religious groups as follows:
On March 8, 2021, Iceland formally recognised Judaism as a religion for the first time. Iceland's Jews will have the choice to register as such and direct their taxes to their own religion. Among other benefits, the recognition will also allow Jewish marriage, baby-naming and funeral ceremonies to be civilly recognised.
Iceland is a verysecularcountry; as with other Nordic nations,church attendanceis relatively low.The above statistics represent administrative membership of religious organisations, which does not necessarily reflect the belief demographics of the population. According to a study published in 2001, 23% of the inhabitants were eitheratheistoragnostic.A Gallup poll conducted in 2012 found that 57% of Icelanders considered themselves "religious", 31% considered themselves "non-religious", while 10% defined themselves as "convinced atheists", placing Iceland among the ten countries with the highest proportions of atheists in the world.
Icelandic culture has its roots inNorth Germanictraditions.Icelandic literatureis popular, in particular thesagasandeddasthat were written during theHighandLate Middle Ages. Centuries of isolation have helped to insulate the country's Nordic culture from external influence; a prominent example is the preservation of theIcelandic language, which remains the closest to Old Norse of all modern Nordic languages.
The country has a strong tradition of upholdinghuman rightssuch as freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of assembly with legislation for marginalized groups, such as women, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community.
In contrast to other Nordic countries, Icelanders place relatively great importance on independence and self-sufficiency; in a public opinion analysis conducted by theEuropean Commission, over 85% of Icelanders believe independence is "very important", compared to 47% of Norwegians, 49% of Danes, and an average of 53% for the EU25.Icelanders also have a very strong work ethic, working some of the longest hours of any industrialised nation.
According to a poll conducted by the OECD, 66% of Icelanders were satisfied with their lives, while 70% believed that their lives will be satisfying in the future. Similarly, 83% reported having more positive experiences in an average day than negative ones, compared to an OECD average of 72%, which makes Iceland one of thehappiest countriesin the OECD.A more recent 2012 survey found that around three-quarters of respondents stated they were satisfied with their lives, compared to a global average of about 53%.In 2022, 2023, and 2024 consecutively, Iceland ranked third in theWorld Happiness Report.
Icelanders are known for their strong sense of community and lack ofsocial isolation: An OECD survey found that 98% believe they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, higher than in any other industrialised country. Similarly, only 6% reported "rarely" or "never" socialising with others.This high level of social cohesion is attributed to the small size and homogeneity of the population, as well as to a long history of harsh survival in an isolated environment, which reinforced the importance of unity and cooperation.
Egalitarianismis highly valued among the people of Iceland, with income inequality being among the lowest in the world.The constitution explicitly prohibits the enactment of noble privileges, titles, and ranks.Everyone is addressed by their first name. As in other Nordic countries, equality between the sexes is very high; Iceland is consistently ranked among the top three countries in the world for women to live in.
In 2011, Reykjavík was designated a UNESCO City of Literature.
Iceland's best-known classical works of literature are theIcelanders' sagas, prose epics set in Iceland's age of settlement. The most famous of these includeNjáls saga, about an epic blood feud, andGrænlendinga sagaandEiríks saga, describing the discovery and settlement of Greenland and Vinland (modernNewfoundland).Egils saga,Laxdæla saga,Grettis saga,Gísla sagaandGunnlaugs saga ormstunguare also notable and popular Icelanders' sagas.
A translation of the Bible was published in the 16th century. Important compositions from the 15th to the 19th century include sacred verse, most famously thePassion HymnsofHallgrímur Pétursson, andrímur, rhyming epic poems. Originating in the 14th century,rímurwere popular into the 19th century, when the development of new literary forms was provoked by the influentialNational-RomanticwriterJónas Hallgrímsson. In recent times, Iceland has produced many great writers, the best-known of whom is arguablyHalldór Laxness, who received theNobel Prize in Literaturein 1955 (the only Icelander to win a Nobel Prize thus far).Steinn Steinarrwas an influential modernist poet during the early 20th century who remains popular.
Icelanders are avid consumers of literature, with the highest number of bookstores per capita in the world. For its size, Iceland imports and translates more international literature than any other nation.Iceland also has the highest per capita publication of books and magazines,and around 10% of the population will publish a book in their lifetimes.
Most books in Iceland are sold between late September to early November, a period known as theChristmas Book Flood(Jólabókaflóð).The Flood begins with the Iceland Publisher's Association distributingBókatíðindi, a catalogue of all new publications, free to each Icelandic home.
The distinctive rendition of the Icelandic landscape by its painters can be linked to nationalism and the movement forhome rule and independence, which was very active in the mid-19th century.
Contemporary Icelandic painting is typically traced to the work ofÞórarinn Þorláksson, who, following formal training in art in the 1890s inCopenhagen, returned to Iceland to paint and exhibit works from 1900 to his death in 1924, almost exclusively portraying the Icelandic landscape. Several other Icelandic men and women artists studied atRoyal Danish Academy of Fine Artsat that time, includingÁsgrímur Jónsson, who together with Þórarinn created a distinctive portrayal of Iceland's landscape in a romantic naturalistic style. Other landscape artists quickly followed in the footsteps of Þórarinn and Ásgrímur. These includedJóhannes KjarvalandJúlíana Sveinsdóttir. Kjarval in particular is noted for the distinct techniques in the application of paint that he developed in a concerted effort to render the characteristicvolcanic rockthat dominates the Icelandic environment.Einar Hákonarsonis an expressionistic and figurative painter who by some is considered to have brought the figure back into Icelandic painting. In the 1980s, many Icelandic artists worked with the subject of the new painting in their work.
In recent years the artistic practice has multiplied, and the Icelandic art scene has become a setting for many large-scale projects and exhibitions. The artist-run gallery space Kling og Bang, members of which later ran the studio complex and exhibition venue Klink og Bank, has been a significant part of the trend of self-organised spaces, exhibitions, and projects.The Living Art Museum, Reykjavík Municipal Art Museum,Reykjavík Art Museum, and theNational Gallery of Icelandare the larger, more established institutions, curating shows and festivals.
Much Icelandic music is related toNordic music, and includesfolkandpoptraditions. Notable Icelandic music acts include medieval music groupVoces Thules, alternative and indie rock acts such asThe Sugarcubes,SóleyandOf Monsters and Men, jazz fusion bandMezzoforte, pop singers such asHafdís Huld,Emilíana TorriniandBjörk, solo ballad singers likeBubbi Morthens, andpost-rockbands such asAmiinaandSigur Rós.Independent musicis strong in Iceland, with bands such asmúmand solo artists such asDaði Freyr.
Traditional Icelandic music is strongly religious. Hymns, both religious and secular, are a particularly well-developed form of music, due to the scarcity of musical instruments throughout much of Iceland's history. Hallgrímur Pétursson wrote many Protestant hymns in the 17th century. Icelandic music was modernised in the 19th century when Magnús Stephensen brought pipe organs, which were followed byharmoniums. Other vital traditions of Icelandic music are epic alliterative and rhyming ballads calledrímur.Rímurare epic tales, usuallya cappella, which can be traced back toskaldicpoetry, using complex metaphors and elaborate rhyme schemes.The best-known rímur poet of the 19th century wasSigurður Breiðfjörð(1798–1846). A modern revitalisation of the tradition began in 1929 with the formation ofKvæðamannafélagið Iðunn[is].
Among Iceland's best-known classical composers areDaníel BjarnasonandAnna S. Þorvaldsdóttir, who in 2012 received theNordic Council Music Prizeand in 2015 was chosen as theNew York Philharmonic's Kravis Emerging Composer, an honour that includes a $50,000 cash prize and a commission to write a composition for the orchestra; she is the second recipient.
Thenational anthemof Iceland isLofsöngur, written byMatthías Jochumsson, with music bySveinbjörn Sveinbjörnsson.
Iceland's largest television stations are the state-runSjónvarpiðand the privately ownedStöð 2andSkjárEinn. Smaller stations exist, many of them local. Radio is broadcast throughout the country, including in some parts of the interior. The main radio stations areRás 1,Rás 2,X-ið 977,BylgjanandFM957. The daily newspapers areMorgunblaðiðandFréttablaðið. The most popular websites are the news sitesVísirandMbl.is.
Iceland is home toLazyTown(Icelandic:Latibær), a children's educational musical comedy programme created byMagnús Scheving. It has become a very popular programme for children and adults and is shown in over 100 countries, including the Americas, the UK and Sweden.TheLazyTownstudios are located inGarðabær. The 2015 television crime seriesTrappedaired in the UK on BBC4 in February and March 2016, to critical acclaim and according to the Guardian "the unlikeliest TV hit of the year".
In 1992, the Icelandic film industry achieved its greatest recognition hitherto, whenFriðrik Þór Friðrikssonwas nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Filmfor hisChildren of Nature.It features the story of an old man who is unable to continue running his farm. After being unwelcomed in his daughter's and father-in-law's house in town, he is put in a home for the elderly. There, he meets an old girlfriend of his youth, and they both begin a journey through the wilds of Iceland to die together. This is the only Icelandic movie to have ever been nominated for anAcademy Award.
Singer-songwriterBjörkreceived international acclaim for her starring role in the Danish musical dramaDancer in the Dark, directed byLars von Trier, in which she plays Selma Ježková, a factory worker who struggles to pay for her son's eye operation. The film premiered at the2000 Cannes Film Festival, where she won the Best Actress Award. The movie also led Björk to nominations forBest Original Songat the73rd Academy Awards, with the songI've Seen It Alland for aGolden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama.
Guðrún S. Gísladóttir, who is Icelandic, played one of the major roles in Russian filmmakerAndrei Tarkovsky's filmThe Sacrifice(1986).Anita Briem, known for her performance inShowtime'sThe Tudors, is also Icelandic. Briem starred in the filmJourney to the Center of the Earth(2008), which shot scenes in Iceland. TheJames BondmovieDie Another Day(2002) is set for a large part in Iceland.Christopher Nolan's filmInterstellar(2014) was also filmed in Iceland for some of its scenes, as wasRidley Scott'sPrometheus(2012).
On 17 June 2010, the parliament passed theIcelandic Modern Media Initiative, proposing greater protection of free speech rights and the identity of journalists and whistle-blowers—the strongest journalist protection law in the world.According to a 2011 report byFreedom House, Iceland is one of the highest-ranked countries in press freedom.
CCP Games, developers of the critically acclaimedEVE OnlineandDust 514, are headquartered in Reykjavík. CCP Games hosts the third-most populatedMMOin the world, which also has the largest total game area for an online game, according toGuinness World Records.
Iceland has a highly developedinternet culture, with around 95% of the population having internet access, the highest proportion in the world.Iceland ranked 12th in the World Economic Forum's 2009–2010Network Readiness Index, which measures a country's ability to competitively exploit communications technology.TheUnited Nations International Telecommunication Unionranks the country third in its development of information and communications technology, having moved up four places between 2008 and 2010.In February 2013 the country (ministry of the interior) was researching possible methods to protect children in regards to Internet pornography, claiming that pornography online is a threat to children as it supports child slavery and abuse. Strong voices within the community expressed concerns with this, stating that it is impossible to block access to pornography without compromising freedom of speech.
Much of Iceland's cuisine is based on fish,lamb, anddairy products, with little to no use of herbs or spices. Due to the island's climate, fruits and vegetables are not generally a component of traditional dishes, although the use of greenhouses has made them more common in contemporary food.Þorramaturis a selection of traditional cuisine consisting of many dishes and is usually consumed around the month ofÞorri, which begins on the first Friday after 19 January. Traditional dishes also includeskyr(a yogurt-like cheese),hákarl(cured shark), cured ram, singed sheep heads, andblack pudding, Flatkaka (flatbread), dried fish and dark rye bread traditionally baked in the ground in geothermal areas.Puffinis considered a local delicacy that is often prepared through broiling.
Breakfast usually consists of pancakes, cereal, fruit, and coffee, while lunch may take the form of asmörgåsbord. The main meal of the day for most Icelanders is dinner, which usually involves fish or lamb as the main course. Seafood is central to most Icelandic cooking, particularlycodandhaddockbut alsosalmon,herring, andhalibut. It is often prepared in a wide variety of ways, either smoked, pickled, boiled, or dried. Lamb is by far the most common meat, and it tends to be either smoke-cured (known ashangikjöt) or salt-preserved (saltkjöt). Many older dishes make use of every part of the sheep, such asslátur, which consists ofoffal(internal organs and entrails) minced together with blood and served in sheep stomach. Additionally, boiled or mashed potatoes, pickled cabbage, green beans, and rye bread are prevalent side dishes.
Coffee is a popular beverage in Iceland, with the country being third placed by per capita consumption worldwide in 2016,and is drunk at breakfast, after meals, and with a light snack in mid-afternoon.Coca-Colais also widely consumed, to the extent that the country is said to have one of the highest per capita consumption rates in the world.
Iceland's signature alcoholic beverage isbrennivín(literally "burnt [i.e., distilled] wine"), which is similar in flavouring to theakvavitvariant of Scandinavianbrännvin. It is a type ofschnappsmade from distilled potatoes and flavoured with eithercarawayseeds orangelica. Its potency has earned it the nicknamesvarti dauði("Black Death"). Modern distilleries on Iceland producevodka(Reyka),gin(Ísafold),mossschnapps (Fjallagrasa), and abirch-flavoured schnapps andliqueur(Foss Distillery's Birkir and Björk). Martin Miller blends Icelandic water with its England-distilled gin on the island. Strong beer wasbanned until 1989, sobjórlíki, a mixture of legal, low-alcoholpilsnerbeer and vodka, became popular. Several strong beers are now made by Icelandic breweries.
Sport is an important part of Icelandic culture, as the population is generally quite active.The main traditional sport in Iceland isGlíma, a form ofwrestlingthought to have originated in medieval times.
Popular sports includefootball,track and field,handballandbasketball. Handball is often referred to as the national sport.TheIcelandic national football teamqualified for the2016UEFA European football championshipfor the first time. They recorded a draw against later winnersPortugalin the group stage, and defeatedEngland2–1 in the round of 16, with goals fromRagnar SigurðssonandKolbeinn Sigþórsson. They then lost to hosts and later finalistsFrancein the quarter-finals.Following up on this, Iceland made its debut at the2018 FIFA World Cup. For both the European and the world championships, Iceland is to date the smallest nation in terms of population to qualify.
Iceland is also the smallest country to ever qualify forEurobasket, having done so in both 2015 and 2017. However, they have not managed to win a single game in the European Basketball final stages.
Iceland has excellent conditions forskiing,fishing,snowboarding,ice climbingandrock climbing, althoughmountain climbingandhikingare preferred by the general public. Iceland is also a world-class destination for alpine ski touring andTelemark skiing, with the Troll Peninsula in Northern Iceland being the main centre of activity. Although the country's environment is generally ill-suited for golf, there are nevertheless many golf courses throughout the island, and Iceland has a greater percentage of the population playing golf than Scotland with over 17,000 registered golfers out of a population of approximately 300,000.Iceland hosts an annual international golf tournament known as the Arctic Open played through the night during the summer solstice atAkureyri Golf Club.Iceland has also won the second mostWorld's Strongest Mancompetitions of any country with nine titles, including four each byMagnús Ver MagnússonandJón Páll Sigmarsson, and most recently byHafþór Júlíus Björnssonin 2018.
Iceland is also one of the leading countries inocean rowing. Icelandic explorer and endurance athleteFiann Paulholds the highest number of performance-basedGuinness World Recordswithin a single athletic discipline. As of 2020, he is the first and only person to achieve theOcean Explorers Grand Slam(performing open-water crossings on each of the five oceans using human-powered vessels) and has claimed overall speedGuinness World Recordsfor the fastest rowing of all four oceans (Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and the Arctic) in ahuman-powered row boat. He had achieved a total of 41, including 33 performance basedGuinness World Recordsby 2020.
Swimming is popular in Iceland. Geothermally heated outdoor pools are widespread, and swimming courses are a mandatory part of the national curriculum.Horseback riding, which was historically the most prevalent form of transportation on the island, remains a common pursuit for many Icelanders.
The oldest sports association in Iceland is the Reykjavík Shooting Association, founded in 1867. Rifle shooting became very popular in the 19th century with the encouragement of politicians and nationalists who were pushing for Icelandic independence. To this day, it remains a significant pastime.
Iceland has also produced many chess masters and hosted the historicWorld Chess Championship 1972in Reykjavík during the height of theCold War. As of 2008, there have been nine Icelandic chess grandmasters, a considerable number given the small size of the population.Bridgeis also popular, with Iceland participating in several international tournaments. Iceland won the world bridge championship (theBermuda Bowl) in Yokohama, Japan, in 1991 and took second place (with Sweden) in Hamilton, Bermuda, in 1950.
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