世界各国

Iceland

Introduction to Iceland

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 Althing, 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. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Government

Capital:

Reykjavik 

Independence:

1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark) 

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 June (1944) 

Economy

Economy 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 12% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include 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 sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and inflation dropped back from 5% to 2%. 

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $8.678 billion (2004 est.) 

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9.2% (includes fishing 12%)
industry: 26.7%
services: 64.2% (2004 est.)

Agriculture products:

potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish 

Industries:

fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism 

Transportation

Highways:

total: 12,955 km
paved/oiled gravel: 3,863 km
unpaved: 9,092 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,341 GRT/6,019 DWT
registered in other countries: 26 (2003 est.)
by type: petroleum tanker 1

Airports:

100 (2003 est.)