Iceland Information

North Atlantic, close to Arctic Circle.

GMT.

103,000 sq km (39,769 sq miles).

304,000 (2008).

3 per sq km.

Reykjavík. Population: 118,000 (city); 198,000 (metropolitan area) (2008).

Iceland, one of the most volcanically active countries in the world, is a large island in the North Atlantic close to the Arctic Circle. The whole of the central highland plateau of the island is a beautiful but barren and uninhabitable moonscape - so much so that the first American astronauts were sent there for pre-mission training. Five-sixths of Iceland is uninhabited, the population being concentrated on the coast, in the valleys and in the plains of the southwest and southeast of the country. More than half the population lives in or around Reykjavík, the capital. Iceland's highest and most extensive glacier is Vatnajökull; at 8,500 sq km (3,280 sq miles), it is the largest in Europe, although it is now reported to be melting.

Republic. Gained full independence from Denmark in 1944.

President Ólafur Ragnar Grimsson since 1996.

Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir since 2009.

Icelandic foreign policy is dominated by two factors: fishing and relations with Atlantic powers. Iceland is a member of NATO, the Nordic Council and of the Council of Europe. Iceland has historically eschewed membership of the European Union but, since Sweden, Finland and Denmark have joined up, it is Iceland's opposition to the EU's fisheries policy of stock management by quotas that is now the decisive influence. Both main parties strongly oppose the Common Fisheries Policy, so it seems unlikely that Iceland will apply for EU membership in the foreseeable future. On the issue of whaling, Iceland has been among the few objecting to the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) ban. In October 2006, Iceland announced a return to commercial hunts, with the fisheries ministry citing the nation's dependence on living marine resources. 

Iceland is one of the most visible victims of the current global economic crisis, largely due to the size of its national debt which was 10 times bigger than the country's economy. The full effects are yet to be seen, although the now weak Icelandic krona seems to have encouraged more tourists to visit this once notoriously expensive destination.

The official language is Icelandic; English and Danish are widely spoken.

Lutheran, with a Catholic minority.

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are two-pin.

Visitors will find Iceland is a classless society with a strong literary tradition. Handshaking is the normal form of greeting. An Icelander is called by his first name because his surname is made up of his father's Christian name plus ‘son' or ‘daughter' (eg John, the son of Magnus, would be called John Magnusson, while John's sister, Mary, would be known as Mary Magnusdóttir). People are addressed as Fru (Mrs) and Herra (Mr). Visitors will often be invited to homes, especially if on business, and normal courtesies should be observed. Icelanders pay careful attention to their appearance and, as for most Western countries, casual wear is widely acceptable although unsuitable for smart and social functions.