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Compare Iceland (2001) - Svalbard (2001)

Compare Iceland (2001) z Svalbard (2001)

 Iceland (2001)Svalbard (2001)
 IcelandSvalbard
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
-
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%
Agriculture - products potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish -
Airports 87 (2000 est.) 4 (2000 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 (2000 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.)
total:
3

under 914 m:
3 (2000 est.)
Area total:
103,000 sq km

land:
100,250 sq km

water:
2,750 sq km
total:
62,049 sq km

land:
62,049 sq km

water:
0 sq km

note:
includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Kentucky slightly smaller than West Virginia
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. First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory.
Birth rate 14.62 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA births/1,000 population
Budget revenues:
$3.5 billion

expenditures:
$3.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (1999)
revenues:
$11.5 million

expenditures:
$11.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Capital Reykjavik Longyearbyen
Climate temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Coastline 4,988 km 3,587 km
Constitution 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 -
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Iceland

conventional short form:
Iceland

local long form:
Lyoveldio Island

local short form:
Island
conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)
Currency Icelandic krona (ISK) Norwegian krone (NOK)
Death rate 6.89 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 population
Debt - external $2.6 billion (1999) -
Dependency status - territory of Norway; administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
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
-
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
-
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 focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia
Economic aid - donor $NA -
Economic aid - recipient - $8.2 million from Norway (1998)
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%. Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
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)
fossil fuel:
NA%

hydro:
NA%

nuclear:
NA%

other:
NA%
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

highest point:
Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Environment - current issues water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment NA
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 Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
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) Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 8.7784 (January 2001), 8.8018 (2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996)
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:
King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)

head of government:
Governor Morten RUUD (since NA November 1998) and Assistant Governor Odd Redar HUMLEGAARD (since NA)

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Exports $2 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $NA
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 70%, animal products, aluminum, diatomite, ferrosilicon -
Exports - partners EU 64% (UK 20%, Germany 13%, France 5%, Denmark 5%), US 15%, Japan 5% (1999) -
Fiscal year calendar year -
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 Norway 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.)
-
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 78 00 N, 20 00 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 northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
Highways total:
12,691 km

paved:
3,262 km

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

paved:
NA km

unpaved:
NA km
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 -
Imports - partners EU 56% (Germany 12%, UK 9%, Denmark 8%, Sweden 6%), US 11%, Norway 10% (1999) -
Independence 17 June 1944 (from Denmark) none (territory of Norway)
Industrial production growth rate 1.5% (2000 est.) NA%
Industries fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism -
Infant mortality rate 3.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) NA deaths/1,000 live births
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) 13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the president) -
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) -
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%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
100% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
Languages Icelandic Russian, Norwegian
Legal system civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction NA
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
-
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
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 Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Map references Arctic Region Arctic Region
Maritime claims continental shelf:
200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
exclusive fishing zone:
200 NM unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia

territorial sea:
4 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.)
none (2000 est.)
Military - note defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
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) NA
Nationality noun:
Icelander(s)

adjective:
Icelandic
-
Natural hazards earthquakes and volcanic activity ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Natural resources fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Net migration rate -2.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
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] -
Political pressure groups and leaders NA -
Population 277,906 (July 2001 est.) 2,332 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.54% (2001 est.) -3.55% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordhur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998) AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 260,000 (1997) NA
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Evangelical Lutheran 93%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic, none (1997) -
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 -
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:
probably adequate

domestic:
local telephone service

international:
satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Telephones - main lines in use 168,000 (1997) NA
Telephones - mobile cellular 65,746 (1997) NA
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 wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Total fertility rate 2.01 children born/woman (2001 est.) NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate 2.7% (January 2001) -
Waterways none none
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