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People

Population: 293,966 (July 2004 est.).

Population growth rate: 0.97 % (2004 est.).

Life expectancy at birth: 80.2 years.

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic 1.7%, other 7.1% (2002).

Ethnic groups: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%.

Language: Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken.

Nationality: noun: Icelander(s), adjective: Icelandic.

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.

Geography

Country name: Republic of Iceland (local: Lydhveldidh Island).

Capital: Reykjavik. It is the northernmost national capital in the world.

Government type: constitutional republic.

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

Administrative divisions: 8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland.

Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords. More land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe.

Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Total area: 103,000 km².

Coastline: 4,988 km.

Highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier).

Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers.

Ports and harbors: Akureyri, Hornafjordhur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vesttmannaeyjar.