Iceland and Greenland
Iceland and Greenland
Iceland officially the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic island country situated at the confluence of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.[5] The country has a population of about 320,000 and a total area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi), Levono Ideapad G560 Keyboard
which makes it the most sparsely populated country in Europe.[6] The capital and largest city is Reykjavík,[7] with the surrounding areas in the southwestern region of the country being home to two-thirds of the country's population. Levono Ideapad Z570 Keyboard
Reykjavik is the most northern capital in the world. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior consists mainly of a plateau characterised by sand and lava fields, mountains and glaciers, while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Levono Ideapad Z560 Keyboard
Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.
According to Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 when the chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the first permanent Norse settler on the island.[8] Others had visited the island earlier and stayed over winter. Over the following centuries, Norsemen settled Iceland, bringing with them thralls of Gaelic origin. From 1262 to 1918, Levono Ideapad Y560P Keyboard
Levono Ideapad Y570D KeyboardIceland was part of the Norwegian and later the Danish monarchies. The country became independent in 1918 and a republic was declared in 1944. Until the 20th century, the Icelandic population relied largely on fishing and agriculture, and the country was one of the poorest and least developed in the world. Levono Ideapad Y560 Keyboard
Levono Ideapad Z575 Keyboard Industrialisation of the fisheries and aid from the Marshall Plan brought prosperity in the years after World War II, and by the 1990s, Iceland became one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world. In 1994, Levono Ideapad V570A Keyboard
Iceland became party to the European Economic Area, which made it possible for the economy to diversify into economic and financial services.
Iceland has a free-market economy with relatively low corporate taxes compared to other OECD countries,[9] while maintaining a Nordic welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education for its citizens.[10] Levono Ideapad V570 Keyboard
In 2013, it was ranked as the 13th most developed country in the world by the United Nations' Human Development Index.[3] In 2008, the nation's entire banking system systemically failed, resulting in substantial political unrest. Levono Ideapad V570C Keyboard
Levono Ideapad Z565 Keyboard In the wake of the crisis, Iceland instituted "capital controls" that made it impossible for many foreigners to get their money out of the country. Though designed to be temporary, the controls remain and are among the biggest hurdles for regaining international interest in the Icelandic economy.[11Levono Ideapad B570 Keyboard
Levono Ideapad Y570 Keyboard] Iceland ranks high in economic and political stability, though it is still in the process of recovering from the crisis.[12] Gender equality is highly valued in Iceland. In the Global Gender Gap Report 2012, Iceland holds the top spot, closely followed by Finland, Norway and Sweden.[13]
Icelandic culture is founded upon the nation's Norse heritage. Most Icelanders are descendants of Norse and Gaelic settlers. Icelandic, a North Germanic language, is descended from Old Norse and is closely related to Faroese and some West Norwegian dialects. Levono Ideapad B575 Keyboard
Levono Ideapad G575 Keyboard The country's cultural heritage includes traditional Icelandic cuisine, poetry, and the medieval Icelanders' sagas. Among NATO members, Iceland has the smallest population and is the only one with no standing army but a lightly armed Coast Guard in charge of its defences. Levono Ideapad B570A Keyboard
According to both Landnámabók and Íslendingabók, Celtic monks known as the Papar lived in Iceland before the Norse settlers arrived, possibly members of a Hiberno-Scottish mission. Recent archaeological excavations have revealed the ruins of a cabin in Hafnir on the Reykjanes peninsula, Levono Ideapad B570G Keyboard
and carbon dating indicates that it was abandoned somewhere between 770 and 880, suggesting that Iceland was populated well before 874. This archaeological find may also indicate that the monks left Iceland before the Norse arrived.[14] HP Probook 4410S Keyboard
The first known permanent Norse settler was Ingólfur Arnarson, who built his homestead in present-day Reykjavík in the year 874. Ingólfr was followed by many other emigrant settlers, largely Norsemen and their thralls, HP Probook 4411S Keyboard
HP Probook 5320M Keyboardmany of whom were Irish or Scottish. By 930, most arable land had been claimed and the Althing, a legislative and judiciary parliament, was initiated to regulate the Icelandic Commonwealth. Christianity was adopted around 999–1000, although Norse paganism persisted among some segments of the population for several years. HP Probook 4413S Keyboard
The Commonwealth lasted until the 13th century, when the political system devised by the original settlers proved unable to cope with the increasing power of Icelandic chieftains.[15]
HP Probook 5310M KeyboardDuring these early Celtic and Viking settlements, the climate was significantly warmer and about 25% of Iceland was covered with forest compared to 1% now.[16]
The Middle Ages[edit source | editbeta] HP Probook 4414S Keyboard
The internal struggles and civil strife of the Sturlung Era led to the signing of the Old Covenant in 1262, which ended the Commonwealth and brought Iceland under the Norwegian crown. Possession of Iceland passed to Kalmar Union in 1415, HP Probook 4510S Keyboard
HP Probook 4730S Keyboard when the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark and Sweden were united. After the break-up of the union in 1523, it technically remained a Norwegian dependency, as a part of Denmark–Norway.
In the ensuing centuries, Iceland became one of the poorest countries in Europe. Infertile soil, volcanic eruptions, deforestation and an unforgiving climate made for harsh life in a society where subsistence depended almost entirely on agriculture. The Black Death swept Iceland twice, first in 1402–04 and again in 1494–95.[17HP Probook 4525S Keyboard
HP Probook 4720S Keyboard] The former outbreak killed 50% to 60% of the population, and the latter 30% to 50%.[18]
Reformation and the Early Modern period[edit source | editbeta]
See also: Icelandic Reformation, Danish-Icelandic Trade Monopoly, and Móðuharðindin
Around the middle of the 16th century, HP Probook 4530S Keyboard
King Christian III of Denmark began to impose Lutheranism on all his subjects. Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Hólar, was beheaded in 1550 along with two of his sons. The country subsequently became fully Lutheran. HP Probook 4535S Keyboard
HP Probook 4715S KeyboardLutheranism has since remained the dominant religion. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Denmark imposed harsh trade restrictions on Iceland, while pirates from several countries raided its coasts.[19][20] A great smallpox epidemic in the 18th century killed around a third of the population.[21][22Sony VPCS13L9E/B Keyboard
] In 1783 the Laki volcano erupted, with devastating effects.[23] The years following the eruption, known as the Mist Hardships (Icelandic: Móðuharðindin), saw the death of over half of all livestock in the country, with ensuing famine in which around a quarter of the population died.[24]
Independence movement 1814–1918[edit source | editbeta]
See also: Icelandic independence movement and Fjölnir (journal)
In 1814, following the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark-Norway was broken up into two separate kingdoms via the Treaty of Kiel. Iceland, Sony VPCS13X9E/B Keyboard
however, remained a Danish dependency. Throughout the 19th century, the country's climate continued to worsen, resulting in mass emigration to the New World, particularly Manitoba in Canada. About 15,000 people out of a total population of 70,000 left.[25] Sony VPCS12V9E/B Keyboard
However, a new national consciousness had arisen, inspired by romantic and nationalist ideas from mainland Europe. An Icelandic independence movement took shape in the 1850s under the leadership of Jón Sigurðsson, riding on the burgeoning Icelandic nationalism inspired by the Fjölnismenn and other Danish-educated Icelandic intellectuals. Sony VPCS12L9E/B Keyboard
Sony VPCS11H7E Keyboard In 1874, Denmark granted Iceland a constitution and limited home rule, which was expanded in 1904, with Hannes Hafstein serving as the first Minister for Iceland in the Danish cabinet.
Kingdom of Iceland 1918–1944[edit source | editbeta]
See also: Kingdom of Iceland, Invasion of Iceland, and Iceland during World War II
HMS Berwick led the British invasion of Iceland
The Danish–Icelandic Act of Union, an agreement with Denmark signed on 1 December 1918 and valid for 25 years, recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state in a personal union with Denmark. The Government of Iceland established an embassy in Copenhagen and requested that Denmark
Sony VPCS13S9E Keyboardshould handle Icelandic foreign policy; Danish embassies around the world would display two coats of arms and two flags: those of the Kingdom of Denmark and those of the Kingdom of Iceland. Sony VPCS11B7E Keyboard
During World War II, Iceland joined Denmark in asserting neutrality. After the German occupation of Denmark on 9 April 1940, the Althing replaced the King with a regent and declared that the Icelandic government should assume the control of foreign affairs and other matters previously handled by Denmark. Sony VPCS11C5E Keyboard
Sony VPCS13S8R/S Keyboard A month later, British armed forces invaded and occupied the country, violating Icelandic neutrality. In 1941, the occupation of Iceland was taken over by the United States so that Britain could use its troops elsewhere, an arrangement reluctantly agreed to by the Icelandic authorities. Sony VPCS11D7E Keyboard
Independent republic 1944–present[edit source | editbeta]
British and Icelandic vessels collide in the Atlantic Ocean during the Cod Wars
See also: Founding of the Republic of Iceland, Iceland in the Cold War, and Cod Wars
On 31 December 1943, the Danish–Icelandic Act of Union expired after 25 years. Beginning on 20 May 1944,
Sony VPCS12D7E Keyboard 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% in favour of ending the union and 95% in favour of the new republican constitution.[2Sony VPCS11E7E Keyboard
Sony VPCS12C5E Keyboard6] Iceland formally became a republic on 17 June 1944, with Sveinn Björnsson as its first president.
In 1946, the Allied occupation force left Iceland, which formally became a member of NATO on 30 March 1949, amid domestic controversy and riots. Sony VPCS11F7E Keyboard
Sony VPCS12B7E Keyboard On 5 May 1951, a defence agreement was signed with the United States. American troops returned to Iceland, as the Iceland Defence Force, and remained throughout the Cold War; the US withdrew the last of its forces on 30 September 2006. Sony VPCS11G7E Keyboard
Iceland had prospered during the war, and the immediate post-war period was followed by substantial economic growth, driven by industrialisation of the fishing industry and the Marshall Plan programme, through which Icelanders received by far the most aid per capita of any European country (at USD 209, Sony VPCS11M1E/W Keyboard
with the war-ravaged Netherlands a distant second at USD 109).[27][28] The 1970s were marked by the Cod Wars — several disputes with the United Kingdom over Iceland's extension of its fishing limits. The economy was greatly diversified and liberalised when Iceland joined the European Economic Area in 1994. Sony VPCS11V9E/B Keyboard
Iceland hosted a summit in Reykjavik in 1986 between United States President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev, during which they took significant steps toward nuclear disarmament. Only a few years later, Sony VPCS12A7E Keyboard
Sony VPCS12A7R Keyboard Iceland would become the first country to recognize the independence of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as they broke away from the USSR. Throughout the 1990s, the country expanded its international role and developed a foreign policy that was oriented toward humanitarian and peacekeeping causes. To that end, Sony VPCEB1B4E Keyboard
Sony VPCEB2B4E Keyboard Iceland provided aid and expertise to various NATO-led interventions in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq.[29]
Rise and fall of Iceland as a financial centre[edit source | editbeta] Sony VPCEB1E0E Keyboard
See also: 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis and 2009 Icelandic financial crisis protests
In the years 2003–2007, following the privatization of the banking sector under the government of Davíð Oddsson, Iceland moved from being a nation best known for its fishing industry toward having an economy based on financial services and investment banking.[ Sony VPCEB1E8E Keyboard
Sony VPCEB1Z1E Keyboard30] It was quickly becoming one of the most prosperous countries in the world before getting hit hard by a major financial crisis.[30] The crisis resulted in the greatest migration from Iceland since 1887, with a net emigration of 5,000 people in 2009.[31
Sony VPCEB1Z0E Keyboard] Iceland's economy stabilized under the government of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, and grew by 1.6% in 2012,[32] but many Icelanders remained unhappy with the state of the economy and government austerity policies; the centre-right Independence Party was returned to power, in coalition with the Progressive Party, in the 2013 elections.[33] Sony VPCEB1E9E Keyboard
Geography[edit source | editbeta]
General topographic map
For more details on this topic, see Geography of Iceland.
Iceland is located at the juncture of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The main island is entirely south of the Arctic Circle, which passes through the small Icelandic island of Grímsey off the main island's northern coast. The country lies between latitudes 63° and 67° N, and longitudes 25° and 13° W. Sony VPCEB1E9J Keyboard
Iceland is closer to continental Europe than to mainland North America; thus, the island is generally included in Europe for historical, political, cultural, and practical reasons. Geologically the island includes parts of both continental plates. Sony VPCEB1E9R Keyboard
The closest body of land is Greenland (290 km (180 mi)). The closest bodies of land in Europe are the Faroe Islands (420 km (260 mi)); Jan Mayen Island (570 km (350 mi)); Shetland and the Outer Hebrides, both about 740 km (460 mi); and the Scottish mainland and Orkney, both about 750 km (470 mi). The mainland of Norway is about 970 km (600 mi) away. Sony VPCEB1M0E Keyboard
Iceland is the world's 18th largest island, and Europe's second largest island after Great Britain. The main island is 101,826 km2 (39,315 sq mi), but the entire country is 103,000 km2 (39,768.5 sq mi) in size, of which 62.7% is tundra. Sony VPCEB1M1R Keyboard
Sony VPCEB1S0E KeyboardThere are thirty minor islands in Iceland, including the lightly populated Grímsey and the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Lakes and glaciers cover 14.3% of its surface; only 23% is vegetated.[34] The largest lakes are Þórisvatn (Reservoir): 83–88 km2 (32.0–34.0 sq mi) and Þingvallavatn: 82 km2 (31.7 sq mi); Sony VPCEB2C4E Keyboard
Sony VPCEB2H4E Keyboardother important lakes include Lagarfljót and Mývatn. Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake, at 248 m (814 ft).[35]
Geologically, Iceland is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a ridge along which the oceanic crust spreads and forms new oceanic crust. This part of the mid-ocean ridge is located above a mantle plume, causing Iceland to be subaerial (above the surface of the sea). Sony VPCEB2C5E Keyboard
Sony VPCEB1A4E KeyboardThe ridge marks the boundary between the Eurasian and North American Plates, and Iceland was created by rifting and accretion through volcanism along the ridge.[36]
Many fjords punctuate Iceland's 4,970 km long coastline, which is also where most settlements are situated. The island's interior, Sony VPCEB2E1R Keyboard
Sony VPCEB4B4E Keyboard the Highlands of Iceland, is a cold and uninhabitable combination of sand, mountains and lava fields. The major towns are the capital city of Reykjavík, along with its outlying towns of Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður and Garðabær, nearby Reykjanesbær where the international airport is located, and the town of Akureyri in northern Iceland. Sony VPCEB2E4E Keyboard
Sony VPCEB4J1R Keyboard The island of Grímsey on the Arctic Circle contains the northernmost habitation of Iceland.[5] Iceland has three national parks: Vatnajökull National Park, Snæfellsjökull National Park, and Þingvellir National Park.[37] Sony VPCEB2E9R Keyboard
Sony VPCEB4E0E Keyboard The country is considered a "strong performer" in environmental protection, having been ranked 13th in Yale University's Environmental Performance Index of 2012.[38] Sony VPCEB2F4E Keyboard
The erupting Geysir in Haukadalur valley, the oldest known geyser in the world
A geologically young land, Iceland is located on both the Iceland hotspot and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which runs right through it. Sony VPCEB2G4E Keyboard
Sony VPCEB4C4E KeyboardThis location means that the island is highly geologically active with many volcanoes, notably Hekla, Eldgjá, Herðubreið and Eldfell.[39] The volcanic eruption of Laki in 1783–1784 caused a famine that killed nearly a quarter of the island's population;[40] the eruption caused dust clouds and haze to appear over most of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa for several months afterward.[41] Sony VPCEB2L9E Keyboard
Iceland has many geysers, including Geysir, from which the English word is derived, and the famous Strokkur, which erupts every 5–10 minutes. After a phase of inactivity, Geysir started erupting again after a series of earthquakes in 2000. Geysir has since then grown quieter and does not erupt often. Sony VPCEB2M1R Keyboard
With the widespread availability of geothermal power, and the harnessing of many rivers and waterfalls for hydroelectricity, most residents have access to inexpensive hot water, heating and electricity. The island itself is composed primarily of basalt, Sony VPCEB2S1R Keyboard
Sony VPCEB3H4E Keyboarda low-silica lava associated with effusive volcanism as has occurred also in Hawaii. Iceland, however, has a variety of volcanic types (composite and fissure), many producing more evolved lavas such as rhyolite and andesite. Iceland has hundreds of volcanoes within approx. 30 volcanic systems active.[42] Sony VPCEB3A4R Keyboard
Surtsey, one of the youngest islands in the world, is part of Iceland. Named after Surtr, it rose above the ocean in a series of volcanic eruptions between 8 November 1963 and 5 June 1968.[5] Only scientists researching the growth of new life are allowed to visit the island.[43] Sony VPCEB3B4R Keyboard
On 21 March 2010, a volcano in Eyjafjallajökull in the south of Iceland erupted for the first time since 1821, forcing 600 people to flee their homes.[44] Further eruptions on 14 April forced hundreds of people to abandon their homes.[45] Sony VPCEB3C4E Keyboard
Sony VPCEB3F4E Keyboard The resultant cloud of volcanic ash brought major disruption to air travel across Europe.[46]
Another large eruption occurred on 21 May 2011. This time it was the Grímsvötn volcano, located under the thick ice of Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajökull. Grímsvötn is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes and this eruption was much more powerful than the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull activity.
Sony VPCEB3E4R KeyboardThe eruption hurled ash and lava 20 km (12.43 mi) up into the atmosphere, creating a large cloud that for a while was thought to pose a danger to jet aircraft over a wide area of northern Europe. Sony VPCEB3D4E Keyboard
Climate[edit source | editbeta]
Eyjafjallajökull glacier, one of the smallest glaciers of Iceland
Main article: Climate of Iceland
The climate of Iceland's coast is subpolar oceanic. The warm North Atlantic Current ensures generally higher annual temperatures than in most places of similar latitude in the world. Regions in the world with similar climate include the Aleutian Islands, Sony VPCEB3D4R Keyboard
Sony VPCEB3E1R Keyboard the Alaska Peninsula, and Tierra 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, the last having occurred on the north coast in 1969.[47] IBM Thinkpad E525 Keyboard
There are some variations in the climate 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 most arid. Snowfall in winter is more common in the north than the south. IBM Thinkpad E520S Keyboard
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. IBM Thinkpad E425 Keyboard
There are around 1,300 known species of insects in Iceland, which is a rather low number compared with other countries (over one million species have been described worldwide). The only native land mammal when humans arrived was the Arctic Fox,[50IBM Thinkpad E420S Keyboard
IBM Thinkpad X200 Keyboard] 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. Polar bears occasionally come over from Greenland, but they are just visitors, and no Icelandic populations exist.[51] There are no native or free-living reptiles or amphibians on the island.[52] IBM Thinkpad E220S Keyboard
An Icelandic sheep
Phytogeographically, Iceland belongs to the Arctic province of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. Approximately three quarters of the island are barren of vegetation; plant life consists mainly of grassland which is regularly grazed by livestock. The most common tree native to Iceland is the Northern Birch (Betula pubescens), IBM Thinkpad E220 Keyboard
IBM Thinkpad SL300 Keyboardwhich formerly formed forest over much of Iceland along with Aspen (Populus tremula), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) and other smaller trees, mainly willows. IBM Thinkpad SL310 Keyboard
When the island was first settled, it was extensively forested. In the late 12th-century Íslendingabók, Ari the Wise described it as "forested from mountain to sea shore".[53] Permanent human settlement greatly disturbed the isolated ecosystem of thin, volcanic soils and limited species diversity. IBM Thinkpad SL510 Keyboard
IBM Thinkpad SL500 KeyboardThe forests were heavily exploited over the centuries for firewood and timber.[50] Deforestation, climatic deterioration during the Little Ice Age and overgrazing by sheep caused a loss of critical topsoil due to erosion. Today, many farms have been abandoned and three-quarters of Iceland's hundred thousand square kilometres are affected by soil erosion, Dell RX221 keyboard
eighteen thousand square kilometres so seriously as to be useless.[53] Only a few small birch stands now exist in isolated reserves. The planting of new forests has increased the number of trees, but does not compare to the original forests. Dell P0XM3 keyboard
Some of the planted forests include introduced species.[50] The tallest tree in Iceland is a sitka spruce planted in 1949 in Kirkjubæjarklaustur that was measured at 25.2 metres (83 ft) in 2013.[54]
The Arctic Fox is the only indigenous mammal in Iceland and was the only mammal prior to the arrival of humans
The animals of Iceland include the Icelandic sheep, cattle, chicken, goat, the sturdy Icelandic horse, and the Icelandic Sheepdog. Many varieties of fish live in the ocean waters surrounding Iceland, and the fishing industry is a major part of Iceland's economy, accounting for approximately half of the country's total exports. Wild mammals include the Arctic Fox, Dell PTP49 keyboard
Dell NSK-DB001 keyboardmink, mice, rats, rabbits and reindeer. Polar bears occasionally visit the island, travelling on icebergs from Greenland. In June 2008, two polar bears arrived in the same month.[55] Birds, especially seabirds, are a very important part of Iceland's animal life. Puffins, skuas, and kittiwakes nest on its sea cliffs.[56] Dell 0UK717 keyboard
Commercial whaling is practised intermittently[57][58] along with scientific whale hunts.[59] Whale watching has become an important part of Iceland's economy since 1997.[60] In early 2010, Iceland's proposed quota in killing fin whales was much larger than the amount of whale meat the Japanese market could absorb. Dell HT517 keyboard
Dell 0WX4JF keyboard In negotiations with Marc Wall, Economic Minister-Counselor at the US embassy in Tokyo, Jun Yamashita of the Japanese Fisheries Agencies, however, rejected a proposal to suggest to Iceland to reduce the number of killed fin whales to a lower number.[61]
Politics[edit source | editbeta] Dell P0XM3 keyboard
The political system of Iceland
Main article: Politics of Iceland
Iceland has a left–right multi-party system. Following the 2013 parliamentary election, the biggest parties are the centre-right Independence Party (Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn) and the centrist Progressive Party (Framsóknarflokkurinn). Dell FM760 keyboard
Dell HT514 keyboard Other political parties with seats in the Althing are the centre-left Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin), Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð), Bright Future (Björt framtíð), and the Pirate Party of Iceland (Píratar). Many other parties exist on the municipal level, most of which run only locally in a single municipality. Dell Latitude E4320 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6420-ATG Keyboard
Iceland was the first country in the world to have a political party formed and led entirely by women.[62] Known as the Women's List or Women's Alliance (Kvennalistinn), it was founded in 1983 to advance the political, Dell Latitude E4200 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6330 Keyboard economic, and social needs of women. After participating in its first parliamentary elections, the Women's List helped increase the proportion of female parliamentarians by 15%.[63] Although it disbanded in 1999, Dell Latitude E4300 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6230 Keyboard merging with the Social Democratic Alliance, it left a lasting influence on Iceland's politics: every major party has a 40% quota for women, and nearly a third of the current members of parliament (as of 2009) is female, compared to the global average of 16%.[64]
As of 2011, Iceland was ranked 2nd in the strength of its democratic institutions[65] and 13th in government transparency.[66] Dell Latitude E6500 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6220 Keyboard The country has a high level of civic participation, with 81.4% voter turnout during the most recent elections,[67Dell Latitude E5400 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6120 Keyboard ] compared to an OECD average of 72%. However, only 50% of Icelanders say they trust their political institutions, slightly less than the OECD average of 56% (and most probably a consequence of the political scandals in the wake of the Icelandic financial crisis).[68]
Government[edit source | editbeta] Dell Latitude E5410 Keyboard
See also: Government of Iceland
The Althing, Iceland's national parliament, in Reykjavík
Iceland is a representative democracy and a parliamentary 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 the Commonwealth period and suspended in 1799. Consequently, Dell Latitude E5500 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6520 Keyboard "it is arguably the world's oldest parliamentary democracy."[69] It currently has 63 members, elected for a maximum period of four years.[70] The president is elected by popular vote for a term of four years, with no term limit. The elections for president, the Althing and local municipal councils are all held separately every four years.[71] Dell Latitude E5510 Keyboard
Stjórnarráðið, the seat of the Cabinet of Iceland, the executive branch of the government
The president of Iceland is a largely ceremonial head of state and serves as a diplomat, but can veto laws voted by the parliament and put them to a national referendum. The current president is Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. Dell Latitude E5420 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E5520 Keyboard The head of government is the prime minister (currently Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson) who, together with the cabinet, is responsible for executive government. The cabinet is appointed by the president after a general election to the Althing; however, the appointment is usually negotiated by the leaders of the political parties, Dell Latitude E6430 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6430-ATG Keyboard
who decide among themselves after discussions which parties can form the cabinet and how its seats are to be distributed, under the condition that it has a majority support in the Althing. Only when the party leaders are unable to reach a conclusion by themselves within a reasonable time span does the president exercise this power and appoint the cabinet personally. Dell Latitude E6430S Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6430-XFR Keyboard
Dell Precision M4400 Keyboard This has not happened since the republic was founded in 1944, but in 1942 regent Sveinn Björnsson, who had been installed in that position by the Althing in 1941, appointed a non-parliamentary government. Dell Latitude E6520N Keyboard
Dell Precision M6500 Keyboard The regent had, for all practical purposes, the position of a president, and Sveinn would later become the country's first 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. Dell Latitude E5220 Keyboard
The extent of the political power possessed by the office of the president is disputed by legal scholars in Iceland; several provisions of the constitution appear to give the president some important powers, but other provisions and traditions suggest differently. In 1980, Icelanders elected Vigdís Finnbogadóttir as president, Dell Latitude E6400 Keyboard
Dell Precision M6400 Keyboard 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 when Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became prime minister.[72] Dell Latitude E6500 Keyboard
Dell Latitude E6400-ATG Keyboard
Administrative divisions[edit source | editbeta]
Main article: Administrative divisions of Iceland
Iceland is divided into regions, constituencies, counties, and municipalities. There are eight regions which are primarily used for statistical purposes; the district court jurisdictions also use an older version of this division.[5Dell Latitude E6400-XFR Keyboard
] 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:
Reykjavík North and Reykjavík South (city regions); Dell Latitude E6410-ATG Keyboard
Southwest (four non-contiguous suburban areas around Reykjavík);
Northwest and Northeast (northern half of Iceland, split); and,
South (southern half of Iceland, excluding Reykjavík and suburbs).
The redistricting change was made in order 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. Dell Precision M2400 Keyboard
The imbalance between districts has been reduced by the new system, but still exists.[5]
Iceland's 23 counties are, for the most part, historical divisions. Currently, Iceland is split up among 26 magistrates (sýslumenn, singular sýslumaður) who represent government in various capacities. Among their duties are tax collection, Dell Precision M6600 Keyboard
Dell Precision M4500 Keyboard administering bankruptcy declarations, and performing civil marriages. After a police reorganisation in 2007, which combined police forces in multiple counties, about half of them are in charge of police forces.[5] Dell Latitude E4310 Battery
There are 75 municipalities in Iceland which govern local matters like schools, transport and zoning.[citation needed] These are the actual second-level subdivisions of 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 than Kópavogur, the second one.[5] Dell Latitude E4320 Battery
Nordic prime ministers in 2010, with then-Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir in the centre
Main articles: Foreign relations of Iceland and Accession of Iceland to the European Union
Iceland, which is a member of the UN, NATO, EFTA and OECD, maintains diplomatic and commercial relations with practically all nations, Dell Latitude E4200 Battery
Dell Latitude E6220 Batterybut 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 a Nordic country, and it participates in intergovernmental cooperation through the Nordic Council. Dell Latitude E6500 Battery
Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), which allows the country access to the single market of the European Union (EU). It is not a member of the EU, but in July 2009 the Icelandic parliament, the Althing, voted in favour of application for EU membership[73] and officially applied on 17 July 2009.[74] However in 2013, Dell Latitude E5410 Battery
opinion polls showed that many Icelanders were now against joining the EU; following recent elections the 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.[75] Dell Latitude E5500 Battery
Military[edit source | editbeta]
Main article: Military of Iceland
Iceland has no standing army. The U.S. Air Force maintained four to six interceptor aircraft at the Keflavík base, until they were withdrawn on 30 September 2006. Since May 2008, NATO nations have periodically deployed fighters to patrol Icelandic airspace under the Icelandic Air Policing mission.[76][77Dell Latitude E5510 Battery
Dell Latitude E6520 Battery] Currently, the Italian Air Force is providing military protection with a contingent of six Eurofighter Typhoon fighters stationed at Keflavík base (since June 2013).[78] Iceland supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq despite much domestic controversy, deploying a Coast Guard EOD team to Iraq[7Dell Latitude E5420 Battery
9] which was replaced later by members of the Iceland Crisis Response Unit. Iceland has also participated in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Despite the ongoing financial crisis the first new patrol ship in decades was launched on 29 April 2009.[80] Dell Latitude E5520 Battery
Icelanders remain especially proud of their role in hosting the historic 1986 Reagan–Gorbachev summit in Reykjavík, which set the stage for the end of the Cold War. Iceland's principal historical international disputes involved disagreements over fishing rights. Dell Latitude E6420-ATG Battery
Conflict with the United Kingdom led to a series of so-called Cod Wars in 1952–1956 due to the extension of Iceland's fishing zone from 3 to 4 nmi (5.6 to 7.4 km; 3.5 to 4.6 mi), 1958–61 following a further extension to 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi), Dell Latitude E6430-ATG Battery
1972–73 with another extension to 50 nmi (92.6 km; 57.5 mi); and in 1975–76 another extension to 200 nmi (370.4 km; 230.2 mi).
According to the Global 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.[81]
Economy[edit source | editbeta] Dell Latitude E6430-XFR Battery
Akureyri is the largest town in Iceland outside the Greater Reykjavík Area. Most rural towns are based on the fishing industry, which provides 40% of Iceland's exports
Main article: Economy of Iceland Dell Latitude E6520N Battery
In 2007, Iceland was the seventh most productive country in the world per capita (US$54,858), and the fifth most productive by GDP at purchasing power parity ($40,112). Except for its abundant hydroelectric and geothermal power, Iceland lacks natural resources; historically its economy depended heavily on fishing, which still provides 40% of export earnings and employs 7% of the work force.[ Dell Latitude E5220 Battery
Dell Precision M4400 Battery5] The economy is vulnerable to declining fish stocks and drops in world prices for its main material exports: fish and fish products, aluminium, and ferrosilicon. Whaling in Iceland has been historically significant. Iceland still relies heavily on fishing, but its importance is diminishing from an export share of 90% in the 1960s to 40% in 2006.[8Dell Latitude E6400 Battery
2]
Until the 20th century, Iceland was among the poorest countries in Western Europe. Currently, it remains one of the most developed countries in the world. Strong economic growth had led Iceland to be ranked first in the United Nations' Human Development Index report for 2007/2008,[3] Dell Latitude E6400-ATG Battery
Dell Precision M6500 Battery although as of 2011 its HDI rating had fallen to 14th place as a result of the economic crisis. Nevertheless, according to the Economist Intelligence Index of 2011, Iceland has the 2nd highest quality of life in the world.[8Dell Latitude E6400-XFR Battery
Dell Precision M6400 Battery3] Based on the Gini coefficient, Iceland also has one of the lowest rates of income inequality in the world,[84] and when adjusted for inequality, its HDI ranking climbs to 5th place.[85
Dell Precision M4500 Battery] 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.[5][86][87] Dell Latitude E6410 Battery
Many political parties remain opposed to EU membership, primarily due to Icelanders' concern about losing control over their natural resources (particularly fisheries).[88] The national currency of Iceland is the Icelandic króna (ISK). Dell Latitude E6410-ATG Battery
Graphical depiction of Iceland's product exports in 28 colour-coded categories
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, Dell Latitude E5430 Battery
Dell Precision M2400 Batterywhile services comprise close to 70%.[89] Despite the decision to resume commercial whale hunting in 2006, the tourism sector is expanding, especially in ecotourism and whale-watching. On average, Iceland receives around 1.1 million visitors annually, which is more than three times the native population.[6Dell XPS 15 Battery
8] Iceland's agriculture industry, accounting for 5.4% of GDP,[5] consists mainly of potatoes, green vegetables (in greenhouses), mutton and dairy products.[5] The financial centre is Borgartún in Reykjavík, which hosts a large number of companies and three investment banks. Iceland's stock market, the Iceland Stock Exchange (ISE), Dell XPS 15-L501X Battery
Dell Inspiron N5030 battery was established in 1985.[90]
Iceland is ranked 27th in the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, lower than in prior years but still among the freest in the world.[91] As of 2012, it ranks 30th in the World Economic Forum's Global Competitive Index, one place higher than in 2011.[92] Dell XPS 17 Battery
Dell Inspiron N5110 battery According to INSEAD's Global Innovation Index, Iceland is the 11th most innovative country in the world.[93] Unlike most Western European countries, Iceland has a flat tax system: the main personal income tax rate is a flat 22.75%, and combined with municipal taxes, the total tax rate equals no more than 35.72%, not including the many deductions that are available.[9Dell XPS L702X Battery
Dell Inspiron N7010D battery4] The corporate tax rate is a flat 18%, one of the lowest in the world.[94] There is also a value added tax, whereas a net wealth tax was 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 to fishery management.[94Dell XPS 17-L701X Battery
Dell Inspiron N7010R battery] Like other welfare states, taxpayers pay various subsidies to each other, but with spending being less than in most European countries. Dell XPS L501X Battery
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, Dell XPS L502X Battery
Dell Inspiron N4030 battery though improvements have been made in both areas. The OECD Economic Survey of Iceland 2008 had highlighted Iceland's challenges in currency and macroeconomic policy.[95]
Dell Inspiron N4020 batteryThere was a currency crisis that 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.[96] The latest assessment by the OECD[97Dell XPS L701X Battery
Dell Inspiron 14V battery] determined 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 in order to address inflation.[9Dell Inspiron N5010R battery
Dell Inspiron 14R battery8] Iceland's public debt remains around 120% as of 2012, the 10th highest in the world by proportion of national GDP.[99]
Economic contraction[edit source | editbeta]
Main article: 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis
The Reykjavík headquarters of Íslandsbanki (formerly Glitnir bank)
Iceland has been hit especially hard by the ongoing late-2000s recession, because of the failure of its banking system and a subsequent economic crisis. Dell Inspiron N4010 battery
Dell Inspiron N4110 batteryBefore the crash of the country's three largest banks, Glitnir, Landsbanki and Kaupthing, their combined debt exceeded approximately six times the nation's gross domestic product of €14 billion ($19 billion).[100][10Dell Inspiron N4010R battery
Dell Inspiron N5010D battery1] 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.[102] Icelandic officials, Dell Inspiron N7010 battery
Dell Inspiron 15R batteryincluding central bank governor Davíð Oddsson, stated that the state did not intend to take over any of the banks' foreign debts or assets. Instead, new banks were established around the domestic operations of the banks, and the old banks will be run into bankruptcy.
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On 28 October 2008, the Icelandic government raised interest rates to 18%, (as of August 2010, it was 7%) a move which was forced in part by the terms of acquiring a loan from the IMF. After the rate hike, trading on the Icelandic króna finally resumed on the open market, HP G72-100 Keyboard
HP Pavilion G72-B15SA Keyboardwith 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. Iceland appealed to the Nordic countries for an additional €4 billion in aid to avert the crisis.[103] HP G72-102SA Keyboard
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On 26 January 2009, the coalition government collapsed due to the public dissent over the handling of the financial crisis. Sony VGN-NS11SR keyboard
Sony VGN-NS38M/P keyboard A new left-wing government was formed a week later and immediately set about removing Central Bank governorHP G72-a10SA Keyboard
HP Pavilion G72-B01SA Keyboard Davíð Oddsson and his aides from the bank through changes in law. Davíð was removed on 26 February 2009 in the wake of protests outside the Central Bank.[104]
Thousands of Icelanders have moved from the country after the collapse, and many of those moved to Norway. In 2005, 293 people moved from Iceland to Norway; in 2009, the figure was 1,625.[105HP G72-a40SA Keyboard
HP Pavilion G72-B01EA Keyboard] In April 2010, the Icelandic Parliament‘s Special Investigation Commission published the findings of its investigation,[1Sony VGN-NS11ZR keyboard
Sony VGN-NS31S keyboard06] revealing the extent of control fraud in this crisis.[107] By June 2012, Landsbanki managed to repay about half of the Icesave debt.[108] HP G72-b01SA Keyboard
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Transport[edit source | editbeta]
Iceland has a high level of car ownership per capita; with a car for every 1.5 inhabitants; it is the main form of transportation.[1HP G72-b15SA Keyboard
HP Pavilion G72-A30SA Keyboard09] Many of these can be found abandoned in rural areas. 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. A great number of roads remain unpaved, mostly little-used rural roads. The road speed limits are 50 km/h (31 mph) HP G72 Keyboard
HP Pavilion G72-A20SA Keyboardin towns, 80 km/h (50 mph) on gravel country roads and 90 km/h (56 mph) on hard-surfaced roads.[110] Iceland currently has no railways. Sony VGN-NS12M/W keyboard
Route 1, or the Ring Road (Icelandic: Þjóðvegur 1 or Hringvegur), was completed in 1974, and is a main road that runs around Iceland and connects all the inhabited parts of the island, with the interior of the island being uninhabited. This paved road is 1,337 km (831 mi) HP G72T-200 CTO Keyboard
HP Pavilion G72-105SA Keyboard long with one lane in each direction, except near larger towns and cities and in the Hvalfjörður Tunnel (also the site of a toll) where it has more lanes. Many bridges on it, especially in the north and east, are single lane and made of timber and/or steel. HP Pavilion G72-110SA Keyboard
The main hub for international transport is Keflavík International Airport, which serves Reykjavík and the country in general. It is 48 km (30 mi) to the west of Reykjavík. Domestic flights, flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands, HP Pavilion G72-130SA Keyboard
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HP Pavilion G72-102SA Keyboardand business flights operate mostly out of Reykjavík Airport, which lies in the city centre. Most general aviation traffic is also in Reykjavík. Sony VGN-NS21M/P keyboard
Sony VGN-NS31M/P keyboard There are 103 registered airports and airfields in Iceland; most of them are unpaved and located in rural areas. HP 640426-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 431312-001 CPU fan with heatsink The biggest airport in Iceland is Keflavík International Airport and the biggest airfield is Geitamelur, a four-runway field around 100 km (62 mi) east of Reykjavík, dedicated exclusively to gliding. There are a number of international airlines that fly to and from Iceland regularly.[111]
Energy[edit source | editbeta]
HP 640903-001 CPU fan with heatsink
The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Station services the Greater Reykjavík Area's hot water and electricity needs. Virtually all of Iceland's electricity comes from renewable resources.[112]
See also: Renewable energy in Iceland Sony VGN-NS21S keyboard
Renewable sources—geothermal and hydropower—provide effectively all of Iceland's electricity[112
HP 431311-001 CPU fan with heatsink] and around 80% of the nation's total energy,[112] with most of the remainder consisting of imported oil used in transportation and in the fishing fleet.[113][114] Iceland expects to be energy-independent by 2050. Iceland's largest geothermal power plants are Hellisheiði and Nesjavellir,[115][116] while Kárahnjúkavirkjun is the country's largest hydroelectric power station.[117] HP 641477-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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Icelanders emit 6.29 tonnes of CO2 in 2009 equivalent of greenhouse gases per capita.[118] Iceland is one of the few countries that have filling stations dispensing hydrogen fuel for cars powered by fuel cells. It is also one of a few countries currently capable of producing hydrogen in adequate quantities at a reasonable cost, because of Iceland's plentiful renewable sources of energy. HP 650848-001 CPU fan with heatsink
On 22 January 2009, Iceland announced its first round of offshore licences for companies wanting to conduct hydrocarbon exploration and production in a region northeast of Iceland, known as the Dreki area.[119] HP 653627-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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As of 2012, the government of Iceland is in talks with the government of United Kingdom about the possibility of constructing a high-voltage direct-current connector for transmission of electricity between the two countries. Iceland has considerable renewable energy resources, HP 666391-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 582140-001 CPU fan with heatsinkespecially geothermal energy and hydropower resources, and most of the potential has not been developed, partly because there is not demand for additional electricity generation capacity from the residents and industry of Iceland, but the United Kingdom is interested in importing inexpensive electricity from renewable sources of energy, and this could lead to further development of the energy resources. HP 650057-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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Education and science[edit source | editbeta]
Reykjavík Junior College (Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík), located in downtown Reykjavík, is the oldest gymnasium in Iceland
See also: Education in Iceland
The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is responsible for the policies and methods that schools must use, and they issue the National Curriculum Guidelines. However, playschools, primary schools,
HP 582139-001 CPU fan with heatsinkand lower secondary schools are funded and administered by the municipalities. The government does allow citizens to Home educate their children, however under a very strict set of demands.[12HP 384622-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 580718-001 CPU fan with heatsink0] Students must stick to the government mandated curriculum, the parent teaching must acquire a government approved teaching certificate.
Nursery school, or leikskóli, is non-compulsory education for children younger than six years, and is the first step in the education system. HP 535439-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 535766-001 CPU fan with heatsink The current legislation concerning playschools was passed in 1994. They are also responsible for ensuring that the curriculum is suitable so as to make the transition into compulsory education as easy as possible. HP 443917-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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The main building of the University of Iceland
Compulsory education, or grunnskóli, 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. HP 487436-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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The school year lasts nine months, beginning between 21 August and 1 September, 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 the Minister of Education.[121] HP 498480-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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Upper secondary education, or framhaldsskóli, follows lower secondary education. These schools are also known as gymnasia in English. Though not compulsory, everyone who has had a compulsory education has the right to upper secondary education. HP 531941-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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HP 606574-001 CPU fan with heatsinkThis stage of education is governed by the Upper Secondary School Act of 1996. All schools in Iceland are mixed sex schools. HP 532617-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 603691-001 CPU fan with heatsinkThe largest seat of higher education is the University of Iceland, which has its main campus in central Reykjavík. Other schools offering university-level instruction include Reykjavík University, University of Akureyri, Agricultural University of Iceland and Bifröst University. HP 532605-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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An OECD assessment found 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 25–34 year-olds, only 69% have earned the equivalent of a high-school degree, HP 534675-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 603690-001 CPU fan with heatsink significantly lower than the OECD average of 80%.[68] Nevertheless, Iceland's education system is considered to be of excellent quality: the Programme for International Student Assessment currently ranks it as the 16th best performing, above the OECD average.[12
HP 602472-001 CPU fan with heatsink2] Students were particularly proficient in reading and math.
According to a 2011 Eurostat report by the European Commission, Iceland spends around 2.75% of its GDP on scientific research and development (R&D), about 1 percentage point higher than the EU average, and the 4th highest of any European country.[citation needed] HP 534676-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 579158-001 CPU fan with heatsinkA 2010 UNESCO report found that out of 72 countries that spend the most on R&D (100 million US dollars or more), Iceland ranked 9th by proportion of GDP, tied with Taiwan, Switzerland, and Germany and ahead of France, the UK, and Canada.[123] It is now one of the richest countries in the world.
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Demographics[edit source | editbeta]
For statistics on demographics, see Demographics of Iceland.
See also: Icelanders
Reykjavík, Iceland's largest metropolitan area and the centre of the Greater Reykjavík Area which, with a population of 200,000, makes for 64% of Iceland's population
The original population of Iceland was of Nordic and Gaelic origin. HP 534684-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 534685-001 CPU fan with heatsinkThis is evident from literary evidence dating from the settlement period as well as from later scientific studies such as blood type and genetic analyses. One such genetics study has indicated that the majority of the male settlers were of Nordic origin while the majority of the women were of Gaelic origin.[124] HP 606731-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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Iceland has extensive genealogical records dating back to the late 17th century and fragmentary records extending back to the Age of Settlement. The biopharmaceutical company deCODE genetics has funded the creation of a genealogy database which attempts to cover all of Iceland's known inhabitants. HP 608010-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 535442-001 CPU fan with heatsink It views the database, called Íslendingabók, 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 40,000–60,000 in the period ranging from initial settlement until the mid-19th century. HP 608095-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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HP 535441-001 CPU fan with heatsinkDuring that time, cold winters, ash fall from volcanic eruptions, and bubonic plagues adversely affected the population several times.[8] According to Bryson (1974), there were 37 famine years in Iceland between 1500 and 1804.[125] The first census was carried out in 1703 and revealed that the population was then 50,358. HP 608378-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 533736-001 CPU fan with heatsink After the destructive volcanic eruptions of the Laki volcano during 1783–84, the population reached a low of about 40,000.[126] 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.
HP 480481-001 CPU fan with heatsink 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 rateHP 622028-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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sufficient for long-term population growth (see table on the left).[127][128]
Population projection
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. Polish people make up the largest minority group by a considerable margin,
HP 6608231-001 CPU fan with heatsink and still form the bulk of the foreign workforce. About 8,000 Poles now live in Iceland, 1,500 of them in Reyðarfjörður where they make up 75% of the workforce who are constructing the Fjarðarál aluminium plant.[ HP 637607-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 657529-001 CPU fan with heatsink130] The recent surge in immigration has been credited to a labour shortage due to the booming economy at the time, as well as to the lifting of restrictions on the movement of people from the countries that were a part of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union. HP 637610-001 CPU fan with heatsink
HP 642731-001 CPU fan with heatsinkLarge-scale construction projects in the east of Iceland (see Kárahnjúkar Hydropower Project) 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 the Icelandic financial crisis.[131] HP 655983-001 CPU fan with heatsink
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