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Compare Iceland (2001) - Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2004)

Compare Iceland (2001) z Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2004)

 Iceland (2001)Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2004)
 IcelandCocos (Keeling) Islands
Administrative divisions 23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla, Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla

note:
there may be four other counties
none (territory of Australia)
Age structure 0-14 years:
23.18% (male 33,238; female 31,191)

15-64 years:
65.01% (male 91,095; female 89,583)

65 years and over:
11.81% (male 14,681; female 18,118) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: NA


15-64 years: NA


65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Airports 87 (2000 est.) 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
12

over 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
4

914 to 1,523 m:
7 (2000 est.)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
75

1,524 to 2,437 m:
3

914 to 1,523 m:
20

under 914 m:
52 (2000 est.)
-
Area total:
103,000 sq km

land:
100,250 sq km

water:
2,750 sq km
total: 14 sq km


land: 14 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Kentucky about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Background 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. There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Birth rate 14.62 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget revenues:
$3.5 billion

expenditures:
$3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (1999)
revenues: NA


expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Capital Reykjavik West Island
Climate temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year
Coastline 4,988 km 26 km
Constitution 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Iceland

conventional short form:
Iceland

local long form:
Lyoveldio Island

local short form:
Island
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands


conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Currency Icelandic krona (ISK) Australian dollar (AUD)
Death rate 6.89 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external $2.6 billion (1999) NA
Dependency status - territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Barbara J. GRIFFITHS

embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavik

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

telephone:
[354] 5629100

FAX:
[354] 5629118
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Jon-Baldvin HANNIBALSSON

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

telephone:
[1] (202) 265-6653

FAX:
[1] (202) 265-6656

consulate(s) general:
New York
none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area); dispute with Denmark over the Faroe Islands fisheries median line boundary within 200 NM; disputes with Denmark, the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM none
Economic aid - donor $NA -
Economic aid - recipient - NA
Economy - overview Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant hydrothermal and 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 drops in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of 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 has been remarkably steady over the past five years at 4%-5%. Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry.
Electricity - consumption 6.574 billion kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) -
Electricity - production 7.069 billion kWh (1999) NA kWh
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
0.07%

hydro:
84.64%

nuclear:
0%

other:
15.29% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Environment - current issues water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Environment - international agreements party to:
Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation
-
Ethnic groups homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts Europeans, Cocos Malays
Exchange rates Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 84.810 (January 2001), 78.676 (2000), 72.335 (1999), 70.958 (1998), 70.904 (1997), 66.500 (1996) Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)

head of government:
Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)

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

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 29 June 1996 (next to be held NA June 2004); President GRIMSSON ran unopposed in June 2000 so there were no elections; prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON elected president; President GRIMSSON ran unopposed
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general


head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports $2 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 70%, animal products, aluminum, diatomite, ferrosilicon copra
Exports - partners EU 64% (UK 20%, Germany 13%, France 5%, Denmark 5%), US 15%, Japan 5% (1999) Australia
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends 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) the flag of Australia is used
GDP purchasing power parity - $6.85 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
15% (includes fishing 13%)

industry:
21%

services:
64% (1999 est.)
agriculture: NA


industry: NA


services: NA (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $24,800 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate 4.3% (2000 est.) NA
Geographic coordinates 65 00 N, 18 00 W 12 30 S, 96 50 E
Geography - note 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 islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
Highways total:
12,691 km

paved:
3,262 km

unpaved:
9,429 km (1999)
total: 15 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Imports $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles foodstuffs
Imports - partners EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 9%, Denmark 8%, Sweden 6%), US 11%, Norway 10% (1999) Australia
Independence 17 June 1944 (from Denmark) none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate 1.5% (2000 est.) NA
Industries fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism copra products and tourism
Infant mortality rate 3.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: NA


male: NA


female: NA (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.5% (2000 est.) NA
International organization participation Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 7 (2000) -
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the president) Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force 159,000 (2000) NA
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 5.1%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, manufacturing 12.9%, construction 10.7%, other services 59.5% (1999) the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
23%

forests and woodland:
1%

other:
76% (1993 est.)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2001)
Languages Icelandic Malay (Cocos dialect), English
Legal system civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held on 8 May 1999 (next to be held by April 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - Independence Party 40.7%, The Alliance (PA, People's Party, Women's List) 26.8%, Progressive Party 18.4%, Left-Green Alliance 9.1%, Liberal Party 4.2%; seats by party - Independence Party 26, The Alliance 17, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 6, Liberal Party 2
unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)


elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held NA
Life expectancy at birth total population:
79.52 years

male:
77.31 years

female:
81.92 years (2001 est.)
total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years (2004 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
99.9% (1997 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
-
Location Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
Map references Arctic Region Southeast Asia
Maritime claims continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,435 GRT/4,538 DWT

ships by type:
chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)
-
Military - note defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does have a five-person police force
Military branches no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note - Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik -
Military expenditures - dollar figure $0 -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
71,241 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
62,704 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 17 June (1944) Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Nationality noun:
Icelander(s)

adjective:
Icelandic
noun: Cocos Islander(s)


adjective: Cocos Islander
Natural hazards earthquakes and volcanic activity cyclone season is October to April
Natural resources fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite fish
Net migration rate -2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders Independence Party (conservative) or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance [Steinsvimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party [Sverrir HERMANNSSON]; People's Party (Social Democratic Party) or SDP [Sighvatyr BJORGIVINSSON]; Progressive Party (liberal) or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; The Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SVP, People's Movement, Women's List) [Ossur SKARPHEDINSSON]; Women's List or WL [Kristin ASTGEIRSDOTTIR] none
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 277,906 (July 2001 est.) 629 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA
Population growth rate 0.54% (2001 est.) 0.002% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar none; lagoon anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998) AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios 260,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km -
Religions Evangelical Lutheran 93%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic, none (1997) Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
Sex ratio at birth:
1.08 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.07 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
-
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal NA
Telephone system general assessment:
adequate domestic service

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

international:
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)
general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system


domestic: NA


international: country code - 61-891; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002)
Telephones - main lines in use 168,000 (1997) 287 (1992)
Telephones - mobile cellular 65,746 (1997) note - analog cellular service available
Television broadcast stations 14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997) NA
Terrain mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords flat, low-lying coral atolls
Total fertility rate 2.01 children born/woman (2001 est.) NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate 2.7% (January 2001) 60% (2000 est.)
Waterways none -
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