World Factbook
Iceland
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: 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) meaning: red stands for the island's volcanic fires, white for the snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean
Capital
name
Reykjavik
etymology
the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steam from the hot springs in the area
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
64 09 N, 21 57 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
3 to 7 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)
amendment process
proposed by the Althingi; passage requires approval by the Althingi and by the next elected Althingi, and confirmation by the president of the republic; proposed amendments to Article 62 of the constitution – that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland – also require passage by referendum
Country name
etymology
Floki VILGERDARSON, an early Norse explorer of the island in the 10th century, applied the name "Land of Ice," from the local words ís (ice) and land (land)
local long form
none
local short form
Island
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Iceland
Independence
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th-century independence movement)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by the Danish model
Government type
unitary parliamentary republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)
subordinate courts
Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court
judge selection and term of office
judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president for an indefinite period
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister
chief of state
President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)
election results
2024: Halla TOMASDOTTIR elected president; percent of vote - Halla TOMASDOTTIR (independent) 34.1%, Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (Left-Green Movement) 25.2%, Halla Hrund LOGADOTTIR (independent) 15.7%, Jon GNARR (Social Democratic Alliance) 10.1%, Baldur PORHALLSSON (independent) 8.4%, other 6.5% 2020: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON reelected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (independent) 92.2%, Gudmundur Franklin JONSSON (independent) 7.8%
head of government
Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024)
most recent election date
1 June 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister
expected date of next election
June 2028
National holiday
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
National color(s)
blue, white, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Thingvellir National Park (c); Surtsey (n); Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice (n)
Political parties
Center Party or M Independence Party or D Liberal Reform Party or C People's Party or F Progressive Party or B Social Democratic Alliance or S
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
63 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Althingi)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/30/2024
expected date of next election
November 2028
percentage of women in chamber
46%
parties elected and seats per party
Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) (15); Independence Party (IP) (14); Liberal Reform Party (11); People’s Party (10); Center Party (8); Progressive Party (PP) (5)
National anthem(s)
title
"Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)
history
adopted 1918
lyrics/music
Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON
National symbol(s)
gyrfalcon
National coat of arms
Iceland’s coat of arms is derived from a 13th-century folktale about four guardians who protect the four corners of the nation; the bull protects the northwest, the eagle the northeast, the dragon the southeast, and the rock-giant the southwest; the shield displays the national flag, with red standing for Iceland’s volcanic fires, white for its snow and ice fields, and blue for the ocean
Administrative divisions
64 municipalities ( sveitarfelog , singular - sveitarfelagidh ); Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunabyggdh, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skagafjordhur, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 265-6656
chancery
House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007
telephone
[1] (202) 265-6653
chief of mission
Ambassador Svanhildur Hólm VALSDÓTTIR (since 18 September 2024)
email address and website
washington@mfa.is https://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[354] 562-9118
embassy
Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik
telephone
[354] 595-2200
mailing address
5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Erin SAWYER (since January 2025)
email address and website
ReykjavikConsular@state.gov https://is.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction