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Compare Guernsey (2004) - Iceland (2005)

Compare Guernsey (2004) z Iceland (2005)

 Guernsey (2004)Iceland (2005)
 GuernseyIceland
Administrative divisions none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson, Vale, Castel, Saint Saviour, Saint Pierre du Bois, Torteval, Forest, Saint Martin, Saint Andrew 8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Age structure 0-14 years: 15.6% (male 5,161; female 5,013)


15-64 years: 66.7% (male 21,497; female 21,897)


65 years and over: 17.6% (male 4,812; female 6,651) (2004 est.)
0-14 years: 22.1% (male 33,302/female 32,257)


15-64 years: 66.2% (male 99,513/female 96,886)


65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,723/female 19,056) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish
Airports 2 (2003 est.) 98 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 5


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 93


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 29


under 914 m: 61 (2004 est.)
Area total: 78 sq km


land: 78 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands
total: 103,000 sq km


land: 100,250 sq km


water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative about one-half the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Kentucky
Background The island of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. 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.
Birth rate 9.16 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) 13.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $381.3 million


expenditures: $368.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)
revenues: $4.154 billion


expenditures: $4.058 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (2004 est.)
Capital Saint Peter Port Reykjavik
Climate temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Coastline 50 km 4,988 km
Constitution unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times
Country name conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey


conventional short form: Guernsey
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland


conventional short form: Iceland


local long form: Lydhveldidh Island


local short form: Island
Currency British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Guernsey pound -
Death rate 9.87 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) 6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external NA $3.073 billion (2002)
Dependency status British crown dependency -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (British crown dependency) chief of mission: Ambassador James I. GADSDEN


embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik


mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340


telephone: [354] 562-9100


FAX: [354] 562-9118
Diplomatic representation in the US none (British crown dependency) chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON


chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704


telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653


FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656


consulate(s) general: New York
Disputes - international none Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
Economic aid - donor - $NA
Economic aid - recipient NA -
Economy - overview Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance, etc. - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates. 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. 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 estimates call for strong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of the decade.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 7.692 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production NA kWh 8.271 billion kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Environment - current issues NA 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
Ethnic groups UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
Exchange rates Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001), 78.616 (2000)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief Lt. Gen. Sir John FOLEY (since NA 2000)


head of government: Chief Minister Laurie MORGAN (since 1 May 2004)


cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation


elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Delibertion


election results: Laurie MORGAN elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)


head of government: Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15 September 2004); note - Former Prime Minister David ODDSSON switched positions with former Foreign Minister Halldor ASGRIMMSON


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament


elections: president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister


election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON wins with 85.6% of the vote, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Exports NA 0 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite
Exports - partners UK (regarded as internal trade) UK 19.1%, Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 11.5%, US 9.8%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 4.6% (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
GDP purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1999 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 10%


services: 87% (2000)
agriculture: 11.2%


industry: 9.6%


services: 79.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $20,000 (1999 est.) purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.7% (1999 est.) 1.8% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 49 28 N, 2 35 W 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Geography - note large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
Highways total: NA km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km
total: 13,004 km


paved/oiled gravel: 4,331 km


unpaved: 8,673 km (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA 15,470 bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners UK (regarded as internal trade) Germany 12.3%, US 9.9%, Norway 9.7%, Denmark 7.9%, UK 7.2%, Sweden 6.7%, Netherlands 6% (2004)
Independence none (British crown dependency) 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Industrial production growth rate NA 8.8% (2004 est.)
Industries tourism, banking fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.35 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 3.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4% (2000 est.) 4% (2004 est.)
International organization participation UPU Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Royal Court Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Labor force 31,320 (2000) 158,100 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4% (2003)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: NA


permanent crops: NA


other: NA (2001)
arable land: 0.07%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.93% (2001)
Languages English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Legal system English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for 4 years); note - Alderney and Sark have their own parliaments


elections: last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2008)


election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party - Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Life expectancy at birth total population: 80.17 years


male: 77.17 years


female: 83.27 years (2004 est.)
total population: 80.19 years


male: 78.13 years


female: 82.34 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA


male: NA


female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Map references Europe Arctic Region
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Merchant marine none total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,341 GRT/6,019 DWT


by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1


registered in other countries: 30 (2005)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Military branches - no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan)
Military expenditures - dollar figure - 0
National holiday Liberation Day, 9 May (1945) Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Nationality noun: Channel Islander(s)


adjective: Channel Islander
noun: Icelander(s)


adjective: Icelandic
Natural hazards NA earthquakes and volcanic activity
Natural resources cropland fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Net migration rate 3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) 2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders none; all independents Independence Party or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance or LGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 65,031 (July 2004 est.) 296,737 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA NA%
Population growth rate 0.31% (2004 est.) 0.91% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Hornafjordhur, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Religions Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist Lutheran Church of Iceland 85.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.1%, Roman Catholic Church 2%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.5%, other Christian 2.7%, other or unspecified 3.8%, unaffiliated 2.4% (2004)
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female


total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: 1 submarine cable
general assessment: extensive domestic service


domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links


international: country code - 354; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
Telephones - main lines in use 55,000 (2001) 190,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular 31,500 (2001) 279,100 (2003)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain mostly level with low hills in southwest mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Total fertility rate 1.38 children born/woman (2004 est.) 1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 0.5% (1999 est.) 3.1% (2004 est.)
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