Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); dispute with Denmark over the Faroe Islands fisheries median line boundary within 200 NM; disputes with Denmark, the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM
Fishing and fish processing are the most valuable Icelandic industries, and the total catch in 1997 was 2.2 million metric tons. Food products, including fresh and processed fish, account for 75 % of Iceland’s exports. Iceland is a leading producer of cod, and other major components of the catch include capelin, haddock, crustaceans, herring, redfish, and saithe. Coastal towns have considerable facilities for fish processing. In response to international pressure, Iceland inactive all whaling operations in 1989. in June 1992 Iceland withdrew from the International Whaling Commission, disputing the designation of some species of whales as endangered and claiming that certain species threatened Iceland’s commercial fish population.
World War II the government has aimed at a high rate of economic growth and full employment, and fluctuations in fish prices and catches have been an valuable determine on the economy. Iceland's real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by an average of about 4 % per year after the war. From the late 1980s to the late 1990s the annual GDP growth rate averaged less than half what it had been.From 1994, there was a strong resumption of growth, mainly as a result of an improving fish catch. The inflation rate was high up to the end of the 1980s but thereafter declined. A low rate of inflation did not become a priority until the early 1990s, but Iceland now enjoys as low a rate as the other northern European countries. Unemployment has remained low.
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an considerable welfare system, low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources, the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to drops in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits,limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies,diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism area is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth has been remarkably steady over the past five years at 4%-5%.
Literacy in Iceland approaches 100 % of the adult population. Education is free through the university level and is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 16. In the 1995 school year 29,221 pupils were listed in primary schools, 30,253 students attended secondary and vocational schools, and 7386 were listed in higher institutions. The leading institution of higher education is the University of Iceland (1911), in Reykjavík. The nation also has a technical college and colleges of agriculture and music as well as teacher-training schools.
The president, elected to a 4-year term, has limited powers. The prime minister and cabinet exercise most administrator functions. The parliament is composed of 63 members, elected every 4 years unless it is broken sooner. vote for presidential and parliamentary elections is universal for those 18 and older, and members of the parliament are elected on the basis of parties' proportional representation in six constituencies. The judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, district courts, and various special courts. The constitution protects the judiciary from infringement by the other two branches.
Iceland was settled in the late 9th and early 10th centuries, principally by people of Norse origin. In 930 A.D., the ruling chiefs accomplished a republican constitution and an assembly called the Althingi--the oldest parliament in the world. Iceland remained independent until 1262, when it entered into a treaty establishing a union with the Norwegian monarchy. Iceland passed to Denmark in the late 14th century when Norway and Denmark were united under the Danish crown.
In October 1946, the Icelandic and U.S. Governments agreed to terminate U.S. responsibility for the defense of Iceland, but the United States retained certain rights at Keflavik. Iceland became a charter member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1949. After the outbreak of hostilities in Korea in 1950, and pursuant to the request of NATO military authorities, the United States and Iceland agreed that the United States should again be responsible for Iceland's defense. A bilateral defense agreement signed on May 5, 1951, is the authority for U.S. military presence in Iceland. Iceland is the only NATO nation with no standing military of its own.
Iceland (in Icelandic, Ísland), officially Republic of Iceland, island republic, lying just below the Arctic Circle in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 300 km (185 mi) south-east of Greenland, about 800 km (500 mi) north-west of Scotland, and about 1,000 km (620 mi) west of Norway. The nation's maximum length (from east to west) is about 485 km (300 mi); the nation's maximum width is about 305 km (190 mi) from north to south. Iceland has an area of 103,000 sq km (39,769 sq mi). The capital is Reykjavík.
Official Name- Republic of Iceland
Capital City- Reykjavik
Languages- Icelandic (official)
Official Currency- Krona
Religions- Evangelical Lutheran, others
Population- 273,000
Land Area- 100,250 sq km (38,707 sq miles)
N/A
The state church of Iceland is the Evangelical Lutheran church, with which more than 93 % of the people are affiliated. Complete religious freedom exists, however. Free Lutherans and Roman Catholics make up a small minority. The language is Icelandic, which has remained closer to the Old Norse of Iceland’s original Viking settlers than to the other Scandinavian languages.
Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
vote: 18 years of age; universal
administrator branch: chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2004); President GRIMSSON ran unopposed in June 2000 so there were no elections; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; President GRIMSSON ran unopposed
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 8 May 1999 (next to be held by April 2003)
election results: % of vote by party - freedom Party 40.7%, The Alliance (PA, People's Party, Women's List) 26.8%, Progressive Party 18.4%, Left-Green Alliance 9.1%, Liberal Party 4.2%; seats by party - freedom Party 26, The Alliance 17, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 6, Liberal Party 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the president)
The population of Iceland is extremely homogeneous, being almost entirely of Scandinavian and Celtic origin. Beginning in the 1940s a large-scale movement to the coastal towns and villages has occurred. Some 92 % of the people now live in cities and towns. The population of Iceland (2001 estimate) is 277,906. The overall population density is 2.7 persons per sq km.
International organization Member
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
The first comprehensive census in Iceland was taken in 1703, at which time 50,358 people were reported. The 18th century was marked by great economic hardship, and by 1801 the population had declined to 47,240. There began a slow increase in the 19th century, and by 1901 the population had risen to 78,470.During World War II and the early postwar time there was rapid improvement in the standard of living and a new acceleration in the rate of population growth. The annual growth rate reached its peak during the 1950s; it has been declining since 1960, primarily because of a sharply reduced birth rate and continued emigration. For a brief time from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s the birth rate rose again before resuming its downward trend. In the late 1980s the population reached a quarter of a million.
Most Icelandic surnames are based on patronymy, or the adoption of the father's first given name. For example, Magnus and Anna, children of a man named Petur, would hold the surname Petursson and Petursdottir, respectively. Magnus' children, in turn, would inherit the surname Magnusson, while Anna's children would claim their father's first given name as their surname. Women normally maintain their original surnames after marriage. This system of surnames is required by law, except for the descendants of those who had acquired family names before 1913. Most Icelanders, while reserved by nature, rarely call each other by their surnames, and even phone directories are based on first names. Because of its small size and relative homogeneity, Iceland holds all the characteristics of a very close-knit society.
freedom Party (conservative) or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance [Steinsvimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party [Sverrir HERMANNSSON]; People's Party (Social Democratic Party) or SDP [Sighvatyr BJORGIVINSSON]; Progressive Party (liberal) or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; The Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SVP, People's Movement, Women's List) [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON]; Women's List or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR]
23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
