Iceland country profile - BBC News BBC News Read more about sharing. Close share panel A sparsely-populated North Atlantic island, Iceland is famous for its hot springs, geysers and active volcanoes. Lava fields cover much of the land and hot water is pumped from under the ground to supply much of the country's heating. Iceland became an independent republic in 1944 and went on to become one of the world's most prosperous economies. However, the collapse of the banking system in 2008 exposed that prosperity as having been built on a dangerously vulnerable economic model. The affluence enjoyed by Icelanders before 2008 initially rested on the fishing industry, but with the gradual contraction of this sector the Icelandic economy developed into new areas. Area 103,000 sq km (39,769 sq miles) Major language Icelandic Life expectancy 80 years (men), 84 years (women) Currency krona President: Gudni Johannesson Image copyright AFP Image caption President-elect Gudni Johannesson, with his wife Eliza Reid, at an election party in Reykjavik in June 2016.

University historian Gudni Johannesson won Iceland's presidential election in June 2016 on his 48th birthday. He secured 39.1% of the vote, ahead of Halla Tomasdottir, a private equity executive, on 27.9%. A political outsider, he campaigned for the largely ceremonial post by pledging to restore Icelanders' faith in their system of government after years of public dissatisfaction with politicians first sparked by the country's banking collapse in 2010. Mr Johanesson succeeded Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, who stepped down in August 2016 after 20 years. Prime minister: Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson (resigned) Image copyright EPA Image caption Mr Johannsson resigned in October 2016 after a snap parliamentary election Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson resigned as prime minister in October 2016 after a snap election saw his Progressive Party lose more than half of its seats. The parliamentary election was triggered by the resignation of Mr Johannsson's predecessor, Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson, during public protests in April 2016 after leaked legal documents from the Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca revealed his offshore holdings.

No party gained a parliamentary majority in an election dominated by public anger at Iceland's traditional elites and a strong desire for political change. While the anti-establishment Pirate Party made significant gains, the conservative Independence Party, a governing coalition partner since 2013, emerged as the biggest party but will need the support of at least two other parties to form a coalition government. MEDIA National radio and TV is provided by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV), a public-service broadcaster owned by the state. The RUV is obliged to promote the Icelandic language and the nation's history and cultural heritage. Its services are funded by a licence fee, and by advertising revenues. Press titles include privately-owned and party-affiliated newspapers. The constitution guarantees press freedom. Some key dates in Iceland's history: 1918 - Iceland achieves full self-government under the Danish crown. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A view of Iceland's capital Reykjavik 1940 - German forces occupy Denmark. British forces occupy Iceland. 1941 - The United States takes over the defence of Iceland and stations tens of thousands of troops there. 1943 - The Treaty of Union with Denmark runs out, with Denmark still occupied by Nazi Germany.

1944 - Icelanders vote in a referendum overwhelmingly to cut all ties with Denmark and become a republic. The Republic of Iceland is proclaimed. 1944 - Iceland becomes a member of Nato. 1970 - Iceland joins European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency 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, 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 Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.

Geography :: ICELAND chief of state: President Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (since 1 August 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi JOHANNSSON (since 7 April 2016) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 June 2016 (next to be held in June 2020); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister election results: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON elected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (IP) 39.1%, Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 27.9%, Andri Snaer MAGNASON (independent) 14.3%, Davio ODDSSON (IP) 13.7%, Sturla JONSSON (Sturla JONSSON Party) 3.5%, invalid 1.5% description: unicameral

 Althingi or Parliament (63 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 29 October 2016 (next to be held in 2020) election results: percent of vote by party - IP 29%, LGM 15.9%, Pirate Party 14.5%, PP 11.5%, Vioreisn 10.5%, BF 7.2%, SDA 5.7%, other 2.3%; seats by party - IP 21, LGM 10, Pirate Party 10, PP 8, Vioreisn 7, BF 4, SDA 3 Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president; judges appointed for an indefinite period subordinate courts: 8 district courts; Labor Court Bright Future (Bjort framtid) or BF [Ottarr PROPPE] Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP [B

jarni BENEDIKTSSON] Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM [Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR] Pirate Party (Piratar) or PIP [Birgitta JONSDOTTIR] Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP [Sigmundur David GUNNLAUGSSON] Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA [Arni Pall ARNASON] International organization participation: Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen

 Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO chief of mission: Ambassador Geir Hilmar HAARDE (since 23 February 2015) chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653 chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C.

BARBER (since 23 January 2015) embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C.

20521-5640 telephone: [354] 595-22-00 Flag description: blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean name: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise) lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON note: adopted 1944; also known as "O, Gud vors lands" (O, God of Our Land), the anthem was originally written and performed in 1874 Economy :: ICELAND Economy - overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type social-market economy combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare system. Except for a brief period during the 2008 crisis, Iceland has achieved high growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income.

The economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 40% of merchandise export earnings, more than 12% of GDP, and employs nearly 5% of the work force. It remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Since 2010, tourism has become the main pillar of Icelandic economic growth, with the number of tourists expected to reach or exceed 4.5 times the Icelandic population in 2016. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, particularly within the fields of tourism, software production, and biotechnology. In fall 2013, the Icelandic Government approved a joint application by Icelandic, Chinese, and Norwegian energy firms to conduct oil exploration off Iceland’s northeast coast, although no exploration has yet taken place. Abundant geothermal and hydropower sources have attracted substantial foreign investment in the aluminum sector, boosted economic growth, and sparked some interest from high-tech firms looking to establish data centers using cheap green energy, although the financial crisis has put several investment projects on hold.

Following the privatization of the banking sector in the early 2000s, domestic banks expanded aggressively in foreign markets, and consumers and businesses borrowed heavily in foreign currencies. Worsening global financial conditions throughout 2008 resulted in a sharp depreciation of the krona vis-a-vis other major currencies. The foreign exposure of Icelandic banks, whose loans and other assets totaled more than 10 times the country's GDP, became unsustainable. Iceland's three largest banks collapsed in late 2008. The country secured over $10 billion in loans from the IMF and other countries to stabilize its currency and financial sector, and to back government guarantees for foreign deposits in Icelandic banks. GDP fell 6.8% in 2009, and unemployment peaked at 9.4% in February 2009. Three new banks were established to take over the domestic assets of the collapsed banks. Two of them have majority ownership by the State, which intends to re-privatize them.

Since the collapse of Iceland's financial sector, government economic priorities have included stabilizing the krona, implementing capital controls, reducing Iceland's high budget deficit, containing inflation, addressing high household debt, restructuring the financial sector, and diversifying the economy. Iceland’s financial woes prompted an initial increase in public support to join the EU and the euro zone, with accession negotiations beginning in July 2010, but negotiations were suspended under the 2013 center-right government. Most macroeconomic indicators and employment have rebounded to pre-crisis levels, driven primarily by the unprecedented growth in tourism – averaging over 20% annually – following the well publicized volcanic eruption in 2010.

Military - note: Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn as of October 2006; defense of Iceland remains a NATO commitment and NATO maintains an air policing presence in Icelandic airspace; Iceland participates in international peacekeeping missions with the civilian-manned Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU) Transnational Issues :: ICELAND Disputes - international: Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the Agreement on the European Economic Area in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositors Country independence dates Home » countries » Country independence dates Country independence dates Afghanistan: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) Albania: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire) Algeria: 5 July 1962 (from France) American Samoa: none (territory of the US) Andorra: 1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of France and the Bishop of Urgell) Angola: 11 November 19

75 (from Portugal) Anguilla: none (overseas territory of the UK) Antigua and Barbuda: 1 November 1981 (from UK) Argentina: 9 July 1816 (from Spain) Armenia: 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Aruba: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Australia: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies) Austria: 1156 (from Bavaria) Azerbaijan: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Bahamas: 10 July 1973 (from UK) Bahrain: 15 August 1971 (from UK) Bangladesh: 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note – 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh Barbados: 30 November 1966 (from UK) Belarus: 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Belgium: 21 July 

1831 (from the Netherlands) Belize: 21 September 1981 (from UK) Benin: 1 August 1960 (from France) Bermuda: none (overseas territory of the UK) Bhutan: 8 August 1949 (from India) Bolivia: 6 August 1825 (from Spain) Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia) Botswana: 30 September 1966 (from UK) Brazil: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal) British Virgin Islands: none (overseas territory of the UK) Brunei: 1 January 1984 (from UK) Bulgaria: 3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire) Burkina Faso: 5 August 1960 (from France) Burma: 4 January 1948 (from UK) Burundi: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) Cambodia: 9 November 1953 (from France) Cameroon: 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship

) Canada: 1 July 1867 (from UK) Cape Verde: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) Cayman Islands: none (overseas territory of the UK) Central African Republic: 13 August 1960 (from France) Chad: 11 August 1960 (from France) Chile: 18 September 1810 (from Spain) China: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch’in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or Ch’ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People’s Republic established 1 October 1949) Christmas Island: none (territory of Australia) Cocos (Keeling) Islands: none (territory of Australia) Colombia: 20 July 1810 (from Spain) Comoros: 6 July 1975 (from France) Congo, Democratic Republic of the: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium) Congo, Republic of the: 15 August 1960 (from France) Cook Islands: none (became self-governing in free

 association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) Costa Rica: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Cote d’Ivoire: 7 August (1960) (from France) Croatia: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Cuba: 20 May 1902 (from US) Cyprus: 16 August 1960 (from UK); note – Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 Czech Republic: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) Denmark: first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy Djibouti: 27 June 1977 (from France) Dominica: 3 November 1978 (from UK) Dominican Republic: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) East Timor: 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia) Ecuador: 24 May 18

22 (from Spain) Egypt: 28 February 1922 (from UK) El Salvador: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Equatorial Guinea: 12 October 1968 (from Spain) Eritrea: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia) Estonia: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Ethiopia: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world – at least 2,000 years Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas): none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) Faroe Islands: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Fiji: 10 October 1970 (from UK) Finland: 6 December 1917 (from Russia) France: 486 (unified by Clovis) French Guiana: none (overseas department of France) French Polynesia: none (overseas territory of France) Gabon: 17 August 1960 (from France) Gambia: 18 February 1965

 (from UK) Georgia: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union) Germany: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991 Ghana: 6 March 1957 (from UK) Gibraltar : none (overseas territory of the UK) Greece: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) Greenland: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979) Grenada: 7 February 1974 (from UK) Guadeloupe: none (overseas department of France) Guam:

 none (territory of the US) Guatemala: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Guernsey: none (British crown dependency) Guinea: 2 October 1958 (from France) Guinea-Bissau: 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal) Guyana: 26 May 1966 (from UK) Haiti: 1 January 1804 (from France) Honduras: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Hong Kong: none (special administrative region of China) Hungary: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I) Iceland: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark) India: 15 August 1947 (from UK) Indonesia: 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands) Iran: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed) Iraq: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under

 British administration) Ireland: 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty) Israel: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) Italy: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870) Jamaica: 6 August 1962 (from UK) Japan: 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu) Jersey: none (British crown dependency) Jordan: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) Kashmir : administered by India, Pakistan and China Kazakhstan: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Kenya: 12 December 1963 (from UK) Kiribati: 12 July 1979 (from UK) Korea, North: 15 August 1945 (from Japan) Korea, South: 15 August 1945 (from Japan) Kosovo: 17 February 2008 (self-declared) Kuwait: 19 June 1961 (from UK) Kyrgyzstan: 

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Laos: 19 July 1949 (from France) Latvia: 18 November 1991 (from Soviet Union) Lebanon: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Lesotho: 4 October 1966 (from UK) Liberia: 26 July 1847 Libya: 24 December 1951 (from Italy) Liechtenstein: 23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire Lithuania: 11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania’s independence) Luxembourg: 1839 (from the Netherlands) Macua: none (special administrative region of China) Macedonia: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Madagascar: 26 June 1960 (from France) Malawi: 6 July 1964 (from UK) Malaysia: 31 August

 1957 (from UK) Maldives: 26 July 1965 (from UK) Mali: 22 September 1960 (from France) Malta: 21 September 1964 (from UK) Man, Isle of: none (British crown dependency) Marshall Islands: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) Martinique: none (overseas department of France) Mauritania: 28 November 1960 (from France) Mauritius: 12 March 1968 (from UK) Mayotte: none (territorial collectivity of France) Mexico: 16 September 1810 (from Spain) Micronesia, Federated States of: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) Moldova: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Monaco: 1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi) Mongolia: 11 July 1921 (from China) Montenegro: June 2006 Montserrat: none (over

seas territory of the UK) Morocco: 2 March 1956 (from France) Mozambique: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal) Namibia: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) Nauru: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship) Nepal: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah) Netherlands: 1579 (from Spain) Netherlands Antilles: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) New Caledonia: none (overseas territory of France) New Zealand: 26 September 1907 (from UK) Nicaragua: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Niger: 3 August 1958 (from France) Nigeria: 1 October 1960 (from UK) Niue: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand Norfolk Island: none (territory of Australia) Northern Mariana Islands: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

 Norway: 7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved; 26 October 1905 Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union Oman: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) Pakistan: 14 August 1947 (from UK) Palau: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) Panama: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821) Papua New Guinea: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship) Paraguay: Declared 14 May 1811 (from Spain), celebrated annually 15 May Peru: 28 July 1821 (from Spain) Philippines: 4 July 1946 (from US) Pitcairn Islands: none (overseas territory of the UK) Poland: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed) Portugal: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910) Puerto Rico: none (commonwealth associated with the US

) Quatar: 3 September 1971 (from UK) Reunion: none (overseas department of France) Romania: 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947) Russia: 24 August 1991 (when Soviet Union dissolved) Rwanda: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) Saint Helena: none (overseas territory of the UK) Saint Kitts and Nevis: 19 September 1983 (from UK) Saint Lucia: 22 February 1979 (from UK) Saint Pierre and Miquelon: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 27 October 1979 (from UK) Samoa: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship) San Marino: 3 September 301 Sao Tome and Principe: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal) Saudi Arabia: 23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom)

 Senegal: 4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 Serbia: 5 June 2006 (after Montenegro declared independence from Yugoslavia) Seychelles: 29 June 1976 (from UK) Sierra Leone: 27 April 1961 (from UK) Singapore: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia) Slovakia: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) Slovenia: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Solomon Islands: 7 July 1978 (from UK) Somalia: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic) South Africa: 31 May 1910 (from UK) South Sudan: 9 July 2011 (from Sudan

) Spain: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification) Sri Lanka: 4 February 1948 (from UK) Sudan: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK) Suriname: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands) Svalbard: none (territory of Norway) Swaziland: 6 September 1968 (from UK) Sweden: 6 June 1523 Switzerland: 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation) Syria: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Tajikistan: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Tanzania: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October

 1964 Thailand: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized) 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)Togo Tokelau: none (territory of New Zealand) Tonga: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate) Trinidad and Tobago: 31 August 1962 (from UK) Tunisia: 20 March 1956 (from France) Turkey: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire) Turkmenistan: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Turks and Caicos Islands: none (overseas territory of the UK) Tuvalu: 1 October 1978 (from UK) Uganda: 9 October 1962 (from UK) Ukraine: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) United Arab Emirates: 2 December 1971 (from UK) United Kingdom: England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the union between England and Wales was enacted under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 

1284; in the Act of Union of 1707, England and Scotland agreed to permanent union as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927 United States: 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain) Uruguay: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil) Uzbekistan: 1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Vanuatu: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK) Venezuela: 5 July 1811 (from Spain) Vietnam: 2 September 1945 (from France) Wallis and Futuna: none (overseas territory of France) Yemen: 22 May 1990, Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (S

anaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]; previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK) Zambia: 24 October 1964 (from UK) Zimbabwe: 18 April 1980 (from UK) History History People & Society History The history of Iceland is one of survival and prosperity.

Settled by Norsemen from Scandinavia and Celts from the British isles settled in the 9th and 10th centuries, Icelandic history has always been shaped by events on the larger politicla stage of the Nordic Countries. Use this timeline to learn more about the history of Iceland. ~7-8th centuries: Celtic monks sail to Iceland. ~860s: Norsemen discover Iceland. ~871: Ingólfur Arnarsson, a Norse nobleman, settles in Reykjavík. 930: The Althing, a judiciary and law-making body of chieftains, convenes for the first time at Thingvellir. Population in Iceland estimated at 30,000–40,000. ~982: Erik the Red discovers and names Greenland after being banned from Iceland. 999 or 1000: Christianity adopted in Iceland. 1000: Leifur Eiríksson discovers what is now known as North America. 1120s–1230s: Most of the Icelandic Sagas—tales of family feuds and heroics—are written.

1262–1264: Chieftains in Iceland accept the sovereignty of the King of Norway. 1402: The Black Plague infects Iceland. Over 33% of the population is wiped out. 1387: The Kalmar Act of Union unifies Iceland and Norway with Denmark. 1540s–1550s: Reformation in Iceland. 1584: The Bible is translated into Icelandic. 1703: First census is conducted; population 50,358. 1707: Bubonic plague; one third of the population dies. 1783–86: Volcanic activity destroys Icelandic farmland and leads to widespread starvation. 1800: The Danish King orders the closure of the Althing. 1843: The Althing is re-established. 1874: A new constitution is introduced by the Danish King (Christian IX). 1870s–1890s: Mass emigration to North America. 1904: Home rule is granted. 1915: Women receive the vote.

1918: Union Treaty grants Iceland full sovereignty in a royal union with Denmark. 1926: Population reaches 100,000 for the first time. 1940: Iceland is occupied by British troops. 1941: US-Icelandic defence agreement signed; US troops stay in Iceland for duration of WWII. 1944: The Republic of Iceland is formally established. 1949: Iceland becomes a founding member of NATO. 1951: Defence treaty concluded with the US; US troops return to Iceland. 1958–1961: Dispute over fishing limits, first ‘cod war’ with Britain. 1960: The number of Icelanders in Reykjavík and surrounding areas surpasses the number of habitants in the countryside for the first time. 1966: Icelandic state television begins broadcasting. 1968: Population reaches 200,000. BBC News - Iceland country profile Printable version Iceland country profile A sparsely-populated North Atlantic island, Iceland is famous for its hot springs, geysers and active volcanoes.

Lava fields cover much of the land and hot water is pumped from under the ground to supply much of the country's heating. Iceland became an independent republic in 1944 and went on to become one of the world's most prosperous economies. However, the collapse of the banking system in 2008 exposed that prosperity as having been built on a dangerously vulnerable economic model. Overview Media In recent years Iceland enjoyed a standard of living that was among the highest in the world. Its prosperity initially rested on the fishing industry, but with the gradual contraction of this sector the Icelandic economy developed into new areas. By the beginning of the 21st century, Iceland had come to epitomise the global credit boom. Its banks expanded dramatically overseas and foreign money poured into the country, fuelling exceptional growth. Before the global credit crunch took hold, Icelandic banks had foreign assets worth about 10 times the country's GDP, with debts to match, and Icelandic businesses also made major investments abroad. The global financial crisis of 2008 exposed the Icelandic economy's dependence on the banking sector, leaving it particularly vulnerable to collapse.

In October 2008, the government took over control of all three of the country's major banks in an effort to stabilise the financial system. Shortly after this, Iceland became the first western country to apply to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for emergency financial aid since 1976. The economy shrank by 6.8% in 2009, though by the end of 2010 there were some signs of an improvement, with the first growth recorded for two years. Environmental issues An Icelandic hot spot: Geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon In the long term, Iceland's well educated workforce and its extensive and as yet largely untapped natural resources are likely to provide the key to its recovery from the economic crisis, though concerns have been raised over the potential environmental impact of developing the latter. Environmentalists have protested that a major aluminium smelter project and associated geothermal and hydroelectric schemes were being pushed through at the expense of fragile wildlife habitats. The country has extended its territorial waters several times since the end of the 1950s to protect its fishermen and their main catch of Atlantic cod from foreign fleets.

Traditionally a whaling nation, Iceland abandoned the practice in 1989 in line with an international moratorium. It later resumed scientific whaling, intended to investigate the impact of whales on fish stocks, and in 2006 it announced a return to commercial hunts. The move was condemned by environmental groups. Although it has no armed forces, Iceland is a member of Nato, and US troops were stationed in the country from World War II until 2006. In 1985 Iceland declared itself a nuclear-free zone. Relations with Europe Icelanders have for a long time been resistant to the idea of joining the European Union, though the country is a member of the Schengen border-free travel zone and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Attitudes towards the EU slowly softened, and in July 2009 the country formally applied for EU accession. The government hopes that the path to EU membership will be completed by 2012, but there are a number of obstacles that could disrupt this timetable. Chief among them is a debt dispute with Britain and the Netherlands arising from the 2008 collapse of the Icelandic banking sector, which hit British and Dutch investors hard.

However, efforts to resolve this appeared to be making some headway by the end of 2010. The debt issue has in its turn led many Icelanders to question whether EU membership is such a good idea after all, and an opinion poll conducted shortly before formal accession talks began in July 2010 showed that a majority was in favour of withdrawing the country's application. Other areas that have the capacity to derail the negotiations are Iceland's whale hunting industry and its insistence on maintaining its fishing limits - an issue that precipitated the "Cod Wars" of the 1950s and 1970s. Iceland's announcement that it was unilaterally increasing its mackeral fishing quota for 2011 by nearly 17,000 tonnes looked set to increase tensions with the EU and Norway.

Facts Full name: Republic of Iceland Population: 324,000 (UN, 2011) Area: 103,000 sq km (39,769 sq miles) Major language: Icelandic Life expectancy: 80 years (men), 84 years (women) (UN) Monetary unit: 1 krona = 100 aurar Main exports: Fish and fish products, metals GNI per capita: US $32,710 (World Bank, 2010) Internet domain: .is President: Olafur Ragnar Grimsson Prime minister: Johanna Sigurdardottir Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir took over as head of a centre-left coalition in January 2009, after protests about Iceland's economic collapse brought down the government of Geir Haarde. Ms Sigurdardottir is a former flight attendant and union organiser Many blamed the crisis on Mr Haarde's centre-right Independence Party, which has dominated Icelandic politics since full independence from Denmark in 1944.

Coming to power at the head of a coalition of her Social Democratic Alliance and the Green-Left Party, the new PM said her immediate priority would be to restore the public finances and deal with the country's economic crisis. Her new government was confirmed in office with a resounding victory in parliamentary elections in April 2009, winning 34 out of 63 seats. It was the first time that centre-left parties had won a majority of seats since independence. In June, the centre-left dominated parliament voted to apply formally for membership in the European Union, seen by many in Iceland as offering a way out of its economic woes. Ms Sigurdardottir is Iceland's first female prime minister, and the world's first openly gay head of government. Born in Reykjavik in 1942, Ms Sigurdardottir studied commerce, going on to work as a flight attendant, trade union organiser and office worker. She was elected to parliament for the Social Democratic Party in 1978. She was social affairs minister from 1987 until 1994, when she unsuccessfully stood for her party's leadership. She then formed her own party, the National Movement.

Five years later, Ms Sigurdardottir's party merged with the Social Democrats and two other centre-left groups to form the Alliance, in an effort to counter to the right-wing Independence Party. In 2007, the Alliance came to power in coalition with Mr Haarde's Independence Party, with Ms Sigurdardottir again serving as social affairs minister. Media Leaders Media National radio and TV is provided by the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RUV), a public-service broadcaster owned by the state. The RUV is obliged to promote the Icelandic language and the nation's history and cultural heritage. Its services are funded by a licence fee, and by advertising revenues. Press titles include privately-owned and party-affiliated newspapers. The constitution guarantees press freedom. Iceland came joint first in the Reporters Without Borders 2010 world press freedom index. In 2010, Iceland passed legislation which it said would give greater protection to journalists and their sources than any other such law in the world. The WikiLeaks website helped to draft the law. By mid-2010, 301,600 Icelanders were online - a 97% penetration rate (Internetworldstats).

The press Iceland | Flags of countries Flags of countries Iceland Flag of Iceland The flag of Iceland followed the example of the other Scandinavian countries and consists of a blue background bearing a red cross, which is embedded in the traditional white Scandinavian cross. The blue color is supposed to represent omnipresent Atlantic Ocean, the red lava and Icelandic volcanoes, and the white stands for another Icelandic natural landmarks - glaciers and geysers. The red cross also points to the historical ties with Denmark, that dominated Iceland since the 14th century. Iceland adopted the flag in 1918, when it won the statute of the autonomous territory of Denmark. However, the flag did not became official national flag until 1944, when Iceland became a fully independent. Download a flag or use it on websites Flag Download How did Iceland become an independent state? | Iceland Review How did Iceland become an independent state? Ask IR Updated: January 30, 2014 19:51 How did Iceland become an independent state? Q: Did Iceland have any kind of revolutionary war to throw off the yoke of tyranny from a foreign monarchy in the past, or did independence come about in a different way?

Ron, Maryland, USA ----------------------- A: History books tell us that based on Landnáma (The Book of Settlement) and other ancient manuscripts that the tyranny of the Norwegian King Harald Fairhair drove chieftains who wanted to maintain their independence to settle in Iceland, the official first settler being Ingólfur Arnarson who made Reykjavík his home in 874 AD. However, archeological evidence indicates that this is a myth. “This replaces the myth of a long haired, angry king in Norway that drove the upper class to Iceland. It is complete gibberish and a romanticized view of our origins that Icelanders are part of the Scandinavian upper class,” archeologist Dr. Bjarni F. Einarsson said in light of a recent discovery at Hafnir on Reykjanes peninsula. Regardless of how and when the settlement of Iceland came about, Icelanders were an independent nation until 1262, when independence was lost (due to the civil war of the Age of Sturlungs , sources say) to the Norwegian, and later Danish throne.

Iceland didn’t fully regain its independence until 1944, which was not the result of a revolutionary war—at least not Iceland’s war. However, the German occupation of Denmark in World War II probably furthered Iceland’s fight for independence. Mostly, independence was gained through the efforts of the non-violent Icelandic independence movement, which had its height in the 19th century under the leadership of Jón Sigurdsson (1811-1879)—his statue stands in front of the parliament, his picture adorns the ISK 500 bill and his birthday, June 17, is Iceland’s National Day. Sigurdsson was mainly a skilled politician and clever negotiator, and, as the entire Icelandic independence movement, inspired by the Icelandic sagas and Iceland’s historical heritage. So regardless of whether the stories of the settlement of Iceland and its main players are fiction or fact, they did in fact have a lot to do with Icelanders regaining their sense of independence and reclaiming it from Denmark in the 19th and 20th century.

Iceland: Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities Iceland not Enthusiastic About Joining the EU Geography Iceland, an island about the size of Kentucky, lies in the north Atlantic Ocean east of Greenland and just touches the Arctic Circle. It is one of the most volcanic regions in the world. More than 13% is covered by snowfields and glaciers, and most of the people live in the 7% of the island that is made up of fertile coastland. The Gulf Stream keeps Iceland's climate milder than one would expect from an island near the Arctic Circle. Government Constitutional republic. History The earliest inhabitants of Iceland were Irish hermits, who left the island upon the arrival of the pagan Norse people in the late 9th century. A constitution drawn up c. 930 created a form of democracy and provided for an Althing , the world's oldest practicing legislative assembly. The island's early history was preserved in the Icelandic sagas of the 13th century.

In 1262–1264, Iceland came under Norwegian rule and passed to ultimate Danish control through the unification of the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (the Kalmar Union) in 1397. In 1874, Icelanders obtained their own constitution, and in 1918, Denmark recognized Iceland, via the Act of Union, as a separate state with unlimited sovereignty. It remained, however, nominally under the Danish monarchy. During the German occupation of Denmark in World War II, British, then American, troops occupied Iceland and used it for a strategic air base. While officially neutral, Iceland cooperated with the Allies throughout the conflict. On June 17, 1944, after a popular referendum, the Althing proclaimed Iceland an independent republic.

Question: From which country did Iceland become independent in 1944?
Answer: Denmark