Iceland Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Reykjavik

Population

364,036 (2024 est.)

Area

103,000 sq km

Location

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom

🧭 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, which was 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 the global financial crisis hit Iceland especially hard in the years after 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, primarily thanks to a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom

Geographic coordinates

65 00 N, 18 00 W

Map references

Arctic Region

Area — total

103,000 sq km

Area — land

100,250 sq km

Area — water

2,750 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky

Land boundaries — total

0 km

Coastline

4,970 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Maritime claims — continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain

Mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Elevation — highest point

Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m

Elevation — lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

557 m

Natural resources

Fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use — agricultural land

16.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

0.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

82.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

0.5 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west

Natural hazards

Earthquakes and volcanic activity volcanism: Iceland is situated on top of a hotspot and experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar

Geography - note

Strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

364,036 (2024 est.)

Population — male

182,268

Population — female

181,768

Nationality — noun

Icelander(s)

Nationality — adjective

Icelandic

Ethnic groups

Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)

Languages

Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 58.6% Roman Catholic 3.8%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.6%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 1.9%, pagan worship 1.5%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.4%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 18.7%, none 7.7% (2024 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239)

Age structure — 15-64 years

63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810)

Age structure — 65 years and over

17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

58.3 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

31.3 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

27 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

3.7 (2024 est.)

Median age — total

38.2 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

37.4 years

Median age — female

38.6 years

Population growth rate

0.82% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

12.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west

Urbanization — urban population

94% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.7 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

1.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

1.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

84 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

81.8 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

86.3 years

Total fertility rate

1.93 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.94 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

8.6% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

16.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

4.37 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

8% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

7.9% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

8% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

48.5% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

7.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

15.7% national budget (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

19 years (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

18 years (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

20 years (2022 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Water pollution from fertilizer runoff

International environmental agreements — party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Climate

Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Land use — agricultural land

16.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

0.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

82.6% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

94% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

3.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

376,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

2.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

5.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

225,300 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

55.5% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

198 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

170 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Geoparks — total global geoparks and regional networks

2

Geoparks — global geoparks and regional networks

Katla; Reykjanes (2023)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

None

Country name — conventional short form

Iceland

Country name — local long form

None

Country name — local short form

Island

Country name — etymology

Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island in the 10th century, applied the name "Land of Ice," from the local words ís (ice) and land (land)

Government type

Unitary parliamentary republic

Capital — name

Reykjavik

Capital — geographic coordinates

64 09 N, 21 57 W

Capital — time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

The name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steam from the hot springs in the area

Administrative divisions

64 municipalities (sveitarfelog, singular - sveitarfelagidh); Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunabyggdh, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skagafjordhur, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur

Legal system

Civil law system influenced by the Danish model

Constitution — history

Several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed by the Althingi; passage requires approval by the Althingi and by the next elected Althingi, and confirmation by the president of the republic; proposed amendments to Article 62 of the constitution – that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland – also require passage by referendum

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

3 to 7 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister

Executive branch — most recent election date

1 June 2024

Executive branch — election results

2024: Halla TOMASDOTTIR elected president; percent of vote - Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 34.1%, Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (Left-Green Movement) 25.2%, Halla Hrund LOGADOTTIR (independent) 15.7%, Jon GNARR (Social Democratic Alliance) 10.1%, Baldur PORHALLSSON (independent) 8.4%, other 6.5% 2020: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

June 2028

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament (Althingi)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Unicameral

Legislative branch — number of seats

63 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch — most recent election date

11/30/2024

Legislative branch — parties elected and seats per party

Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) (15); Independence Party (IP) (14); Liberal Reform Party (11); People’s Party (10); Center Party (8); Progressive Party (PP) (5)

Legislative branch — percentage of women in chamber

46%

Legislative branch — expected date of next election

November 2028

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president for an indefinite period

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court

Political parties

Center Party or M Independence Party or D Liberal Reform Party or C People's Party or F Progressive Party or B Social Democratic Alliance or S

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Svanhildur Hólm VALSDÓTTIR (since 18 September 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 265-6653

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 265-6656

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Washington@mfa.is https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Erin SAWYER (since January 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[354] 595-2200

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[354] 562-9118

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ReykjavikConsular@state.gov https://is.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th-century independence movement)

National holiday

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

Flag

Description: blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: red stands for the island's volcanic fires, white for the snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean

National symbol(s)

Gyrfalcon

National color(s)

Blue, white, red

National coat of arms

Iceland’s coat of arms is derived from a 13th-century folktale about four guardians who protect the four corners of the nation; the bull protects the northwest, the eagle the northeast, the dragon the southeast, and the rock-giant the southwest; the shield displays the national flag, with red standing for Iceland’s volcanic fires, white for its snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean

National anthem(s) — title

"Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1918

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

High-income North Atlantic island economy; not an EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA); dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and disruption from volcanic activity; inflation remains above target rate; barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$26.561 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$26.424 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$25.012 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$65,600 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$67,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$65,500 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$33.463 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

5.9% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

8.7% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.3% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

19.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

65.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

49.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

25.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

24.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

43.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-43.3% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

Milk, chicken, lamb/mutton, barley, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)

Industries

Tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products

Industrial production growth rate

-2.3% (2024 est.)

Labor force

248,400 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

3.8% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

7.6% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

8.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

7% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

8.8% (2017 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

26.6 (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

3.7% (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

21.7% (2018 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$10.023 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$10.364 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2023

80.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

-$845.319 million (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$290.603 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$698.165 million (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$13.916 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$13.702 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$13.114 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Netherlands 27%, Germany 11%, USA 10%, UK 8%, Norway 6% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Aluminum, fish, orthopedic appliances, animal meal, iron alloys (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$14.298 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$13.63 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$13.237 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

Norway 11%, China 9%, Germany 9%, Netherlands 8%, USA 7% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, cars, carbon-based electronics, aluminum oxide, computers (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$6.403 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$5.809 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$5.887 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

137.958 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

137.943 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

135.28 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

126.989 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

135.422 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

3.005 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

19.584 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

543 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

70.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — geothermal

29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

137,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

81 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

19,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

82,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

21 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

478,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

123 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

State-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally; every household is required to have RUV, which doubles as the emergency broadcast network; 3 privately owned TV stations; 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections; RUV operates 3 national and 4 regional radio stations; 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), broadcasts nationwide; over 20 regional radio stations (2019)

Internet country code

.is

Internet users — percent of population

100% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

145,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

37 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

TF

Airports

82 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Merchant marine — total

39 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32

Ports — total ports

43 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

2

Ports — small

2

Ports — very small

17

Ports — size unknown

22

Ports — ports with oil terminals

5

Ports — key ports

Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

No regular military forces; the Icelandic National Police, the regional police forces, and the Icelandic Coast Guard fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice (2025)

Military - note

Iceland was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland is 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) Iceland also cooperates with the militaries of other regional countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) and the Joint Expeditionary Force (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK); in 1951, Iceland and the US concluded an agreement to make arrangements regarding the defense of Iceland and for the use of facilities in Iceland to that end (2025)

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Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

8,960 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

3,700 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

31 (2024 est.)