Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UKPopulation: 296,737
Total Area: 103,000 sq km - slightly smaller than Kentucky
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Environment - current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands. Signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 June
Economy - brief overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 8% of the work force.
Budget: revenues: $4.154 billion; expenditures: $4.058 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (2004 est.)
Labor force: 158,100 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4%
Agriculture - products: potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish
Industries: fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism
Oil - production: 0 bbl/dayOil - imports: 15,470 bbl/day Oil - exports: NA
Exports: $2.902 billion f.o.b.
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite
Exports - partners: UK 19.1%, Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 11.5%, US 9.8%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 4.6% (2004)
Imports: $3.307 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners: Germany 12.3%, US 9.9%, Norway 9.7%, Denmark 7.9%, UK 7.2%, Sweden 6.7%, Netherlands 6% (2004)
Government departments:
Iceland.org - The Icelandic Foreign Service
Government Offices of Iceland
Media:
Iceland Review
Iceland News
Travel Information:
Iceland Travel Information Lonely Planet Destination Guide
Other useful links:
Iceland foods
Welcome to Iceland
Iceland Volcanoes
