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.
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,
northwest of the UK
Population: 296,737 (July 2005 est.)
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.)
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