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Compare Iceland (2005) - Jersey (2005)

Compare Iceland (2005) z Jersey (2005)

 Iceland (2005)Jersey (2005)
 IcelandJersey
Administrative divisions 8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland none (British crown dependency)
Age structure 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.)
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 8,222/female 7,658)


15-64 years: 67% (male 30,296/female 30,561)


65 years and over: 15.5% (male 6,176/female 7,899) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Airports 98 (2004 est.) 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 5


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 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: 103,000 sq km


land: 100,250 sq km


water: 2,750 sq km
total: 116 sq km


land: 116 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Kentucky about two-thirds the size of 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. The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.
Birth rate 13.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget revenues: $4.154 billion


expenditures: $4.058 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (2004 est.)
revenues: $601 million


expenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98 million (2000 est.)
Capital Reykjavik Saint Helier
Climate temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Coastline 4,988 km 70 km
Constitution 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Iceland


conventional short form: Iceland


local long form: Lydhveldidh Island


local short form: Island
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey


conventional short form: Jersey
Death rate 6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external $3.073 billion (2002) none
Dependency status - British crown dependency
Diplomatic representation from the US 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
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation in the US 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
none (British crown dependency)
Disputes - international 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 none
Economic aid - donor $NA -
Economic aid - recipient - none
Economy - overview 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. The Channel Island economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK.
Electricity - consumption 7.692 billion kWh (2002) 630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) -
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Electricity - production 8.271 billion kWh (2002) -
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Environment - current issues water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment NA
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 homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6% Jersey 51.1%, British 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Exchange rates Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001), 78.616 (2000) Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)


note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Executive branch 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%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshall Sir John CHESHIRE (since 24 January 2001) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA February 1995)


cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Exports 0 bbl/day (2001) $NA
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners UK 19.1%, Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 11.5%, US 9.8%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 4.6% (2004) UK
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description 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) white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with the three lions of England in yellow
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 11.2%


industry: 9.6%


services: 79.2% (2004 est.)
agriculture: 5%


industry: 2%


services: 93% (1996)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.) purchasing power parity - $40,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1.8% (2004 est.) NA%
Geographic coordinates 65 00 N, 18 00 W 49 15 N, 2 10 W
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 largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
Highways total: 13,004 km


paved/oiled gravel: 4,331 km


unpaved: 8,673 km (2004)
total: 577 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 15,470 bbl/day (2001) $NA
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners Germany 12.3%, US 9.9%, Norway 9.7%, Denmark 7.9%, UK 7.2%, Sweden 6.7%, Netherlands 6% (2004) UK
Independence 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark) none (British crown dependency)
Industrial production growth rate 8.8% (2004 est.) NA%
Industries fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Infant mortality rate 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.)
total: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 4% (2004 est.) 5.3% (2004)
International organization participation 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 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) Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Labor force 158,100 (2004 est.) 52,790 (2004)
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: 0.07%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.93% (2001)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2001)
Languages Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Legal system civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Legislative branch 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
unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators (elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes (elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-year terms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General all appointed by the monarch)


elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)


election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 53
Life expectancy at birth total population: 80.19 years


male: 78.13 years


female: 82.34 years (2005 est.)
total population: 79.24 years


male: 76.77 years


female: 81.91 years (2005 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
Location Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Map references Arctic Region Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Merchant marine 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 provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan) -
Military expenditures - dollar figure 0 -
National holiday Independence Day, 17 June (1944) Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Nationality noun: Icelander(s)


adjective: Icelandic
noun: Channel Islander(s)


adjective: Channel Islander
Natural hazards earthquakes and volcanic activity NA
Natural resources fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite arable land
Net migration rate 2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 2.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders 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] none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders NA none
Population 296,737 (July 2005 est.) 90,812 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.91% (2005 est.) 0.32% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Hornafjordhur, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Radio broadcast stations AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998) AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Religions 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) Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian
Sex ratio 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.)
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal NA years of age; universal adult
Telephone system 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)
general assessment: NA


domestic: NA


international: 3 submarine cables
Telephones - main lines in use 190,700 (2003) 73,900 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular 279,100 (2003) 61,400 (2001)
Television broadcast stations 14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997) 2 (1997)
Terrain mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Total fertility rate 1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate 3.1% (2004 est.) 0.9% (2004 est.)
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