Local timeReykjavik ·
Europe / Northern Europe · Card 022
Flag shown for Iceland

Iceland

Iceland is a country in Northern Europe. Its capital is Reykjavik.

Find Iceland

Reykjavik
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital
Reykjavik
Language guide
Languages spoken & official status
Currency
Icelandic króna (ISK)
Population
392,4042025 · World Bank
Area
103,000 km²39,768.51 square miles
Republic
1944Sovereignty in union with Denmark began in 1918.

Iceland in context

Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Reykjavik; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & environment

Landscape

Iceland is a North Atlantic island shaped by volcanic activity and ice. Its interior contains high plateaus, lava fields and mountains, while glaciers cover substantial upland areas. Most settlement lies around the more accessible coastal margins.

Glacial rivers, waterfalls and deeply cut fjords reflect the movement of ice and water. Young lava landscapes show continuing geological activity. These features can occur close together, making the contrast between bare volcanic ground and ice especially striking.

Climate & seasons

The North Atlantic moderates coastal temperatures despite Iceland’s latitude. Summers are cool, winters are windy, and the high interior is colder than the coast.

Geology & habitats

Active volcanoes and geothermal systems reflect Iceland’s tectonic setting. Cool maritime conditions and strong winds limit tree growth in many areas. Vegetation can be fragile on young soils, and glacial river flow changes with melt conditions.

Flag shown for Iceland

Flag

Blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Languages

Public and official use

Icelandic is the national and official language. Icelandic Sign Language is also legally recognized as the first language of people who rely on it.

Community and regional languages

Polish is an important community language, and English is widely learned and used as an additional language. Icelandic’s literary tradition preserves a close connection with older Norse texts, although the modern language continues to change.

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

History & status

Iceland was settled in the medieval period and later came under Norwegian and Danish rule. It became a sovereign kingdom in union with Denmark in 1918. A referendum led to the establishment of a republic in 1944.

  1. The Althing parliament is traditionally dated to this year

  2. Iceland becomes sovereign in union with Denmark

  3. The republic is established

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Economy

Main activities

Fishing, tourism and aluminum production are major activities. Hydropower and geothermal energy provide electricity and heat. Tourism and seafood exports connect the economy closely to international demand.

Industry and production

tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Population & economic trends

Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.

Population, 1970–2025

Thousands of people
392.42025 · thousands of people
0.00200.0400.0204.41970228.11980254.81990281.22000318.02010366.52020392.42025

Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.

Sources: World Bank · Population

View data table
Population: source values and plotted units
Year People Thousands of people
1970 204,438 204.438
1980 228,138 228.138
1990 254,826 254.826
2000 281,205 281.205
2010 318,041 318.041
2020 366,463 366.463
2025 392,404 392.404

Real GDP, 1990–2025

Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
23.12025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
0.0015.030.019902000201020202025

Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.

Sources: World Bank · Real GDP

View data table
Real GDP: source values and plotted units
Year Constant 2015 US$ Billions of constant 2015 US dollars
1990 9,505,724,857 9.506
1991 9,484,477,138 9.484
1992 9,164,480,917 9.164
1993 9,284,851,746 9.285
1994 9,619,928,854 9.620
1995 9,631,144,119 9.631
1996 10,064,319,597 10.064
1997 10,481,070,033 10.481
1998 11,215,843,690 11.216
1999 11,653,035,890 11.653
2000 12,224,638,525 12.225
2001 12,694,179,477 12.694
2002 12,763,018,327 12.763
2003 13,054,189,962 13.054
2004 14,049,259,326 14.049
2005 15,036,829,617 15.037
2006 15,889,660,324 15.890
2007 17,278,627,876 17.279
2008 17,572,297,288 17.572
2009 16,110,024,869 16.110
2010 15,752,089,366 15.752
2011 15,969,467,679 15.969
2012 16,156,200,541 16.156
2013 16,737,332,122 16.737
2014 17,057,653,884 17.058
2015 17,700,486,957 17.700
2016 18,801,118,750 18.801
2017 19,456,350,343 19.456
2018 20,363,166,153 20.363
2019 20,594,942,210 20.595
2020 19,226,227,455 19.226
2021 20,222,255,993 20.222
2022 22,013,401,667 22.013
2023 23,121,173,216 23.121
2024 22,824,557,131 22.825
2025 23,116,588,684 23.117

Human development

The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.

HDI · 20230.972Very High human developmentRank 1 of 193 · 2025 report

Human Development Index over time

19900.841
20000.902
20100.935
20200.965
20230.972
82.7 yearsLife expectancy at birth
13.9 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+

The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.

Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025

Government

Unitary parliamentary republic. Parliament (Althingi) has one chamber (a unicameral legislature).

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Knowledge check

Three questions about Iceland.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

Which currency is listed for Iceland?

Sources & notes

Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.

Reykjavik