Iceland

LOCATION

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 Althingi, which was 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. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but the global financial crisis hit Iceland especially hard in the years after 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, primarily thanks to a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, 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 United Kingdom
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 4,970 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation: highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 557 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use: agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)
forest: 0.6% (2023 est.)
other: 82.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 0.5 sq km (2022)
Population distribution: Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west
Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity volcanism: Iceland is situated on top of a hotspot and experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar
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

Population: total: 364,036 (2024 est.)
male: 182,268
female: 181,768
Nationality: noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups: Icelandic 78.7%, Polish 5.8%, Danish 1%, Ukrainian 1%, other 13.5% (2024 est.)
Languages: Icelandic, English, Polish, Nordic languages, German
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 58.6% Roman Catholic 3.8%, Independent Congregation of Reykjavik 2.6%, Independent Congregation of Hafnarfjordur 1.9%, pagan worship 1.5%, Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association 1.4%, other (includes Zuist and Pentecostal) or unspecified 18.7%, none 7.7% (2024 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.8% (male 36,692/female 35,239)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 116,210/female 113,810)
65 years and over: 17.1% (2024 est.) (male 29,366/female 32,719)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 31.3 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 27 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.7 (2024 est.)
Median age: total: 38.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 37.4 years
female: 38.6 years
Population growth rate: 0.82% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 12.47 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: Iceland is almost entirely urban, with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west
Urbanization: urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.7 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 1.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 84 years (2024 est.)
male: 81.8 years
female: 86.3 years
Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.94 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8.6% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 4.37 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density: 2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 7.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 4.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 2.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 8% (2025 est.)
male: 7.9% (2025 est.)
female: 8% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 48.5% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 7.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 15.7% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 19 years (2022 est.)
male: 18 years (2022 est.)
female: 20 years (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff
International environmental agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Land use: agricultural land: 16.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 15% (2023 est.)
forest: 0.6% (2023 est.)
other: 82.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 94% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 3.101 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 376,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 2.725 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 5.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 225,300 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 55.5% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 80 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 198 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 300,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 170 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks: 2
global geoparks and regional networks: Katla; Reykjanes (2023)

Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: none
local short form: Island
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)
Government type: unitary parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Reykjavik
geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steam from the hot springs in the area
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
Legal system: civil law system influenced by the Danish model
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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Halla TOMASDOTTIR (since 1 August 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Kristrun FROSTADOTTIR (since 21 December 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister
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
most recent election date: 1 June 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%
expected date of next election: June 2028
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliament (Althingi)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 63 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/30/2024
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)
percentage of women in chamber: 46%
expected date of next election: November 2028
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 7 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president for an indefinite period
subordinate courts: Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court
Political parties: Center Party or M Independence Party or D Liberal Reform Party or CPeople's Party or FProgressive Party or B Social Democratic Alliance or S
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Svanhildur Hólm VALSDÓTTIR (since 18 September 2024)
chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
email address and website: washington@mfa.ishttps://www.government.is/diplomatic-missions/embassy-of-iceland-in-washington-d.c/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Erin SAWYER (since January 2025)
embassy: Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavik
mailing address: 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
telephone: [354] 595-2200
FAX: [354] 562-9118
email address and website: ReykjavikConsular@state.govhttps://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
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)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
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
National symbol(s): gyrfalcon
National color(s): blue, white, red
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
National anthem(s): title: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)
lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON
history: adopted 1918
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)

Economic overview: high-income North Atlantic island economy; not an EU member but market integration via European Economic Area (EEA); dominant tourism, fishing, and aluminum industries vulnerable to demand swings and disruption from volcanic activity; inflation remains above target rate; barriers to foreign business access and economic diversification
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $26.561 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $26.424 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $25.012 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 9% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $65,600 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $67,200 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $65,500 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $33.463 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 5.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 8.7% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 8.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4% (2024 est.)
industry: 19.4% (2024 est.)
services: 65.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 49.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 25.3% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.8% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 43.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -43.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, chicken, lamb/mutton, barley, potatoes, pork, beef, eggs, other meats, cucumbers/gherkins (2023)
Industries: tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products
Industrial production growth rate: -2.3% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 248,400 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.6% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 7.6% (2024 est.)
male: 8.3% (2024 est.)
female: 7% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 8.8% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 26.6 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 21.7% (2018 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $10.023 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $10.364 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2023: 80.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.3% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: -$845.319 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $290.603 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$698.165 million (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $13.916 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $13.702 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $13.114 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Netherlands 27%, Germany 11%, USA 10%, UK 8%, Norway 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: aluminum, fish, orthopedic appliances, animal meal, iron alloys (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $14.298 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $13.63 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $13.237 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Norway 11%, China 9%, Germany 9%, Netherlands 8%, USA 7% (2023)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, carbon-based electronics, aluminum oxide, computers (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $6.403 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $5.809 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.887 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 137.958 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 137.943 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 135.28 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 126.989 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 135.422 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 3.005 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 19.584 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 543 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity: 70.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 137,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 81 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 106,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 82,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 478,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally; every household is required to have RUV, which doubles as the emergency broadcast network; 3 privately owned TV stations; 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connections; RUV operates 3 national and 4 regional radio stations; 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), broadcasts nationwide; over 20 regional radio stations (2019)
Internet country code: .is
Internet users: percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 145,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TF
Airports: 82 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 39 (2023)
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 2, other 32
Ports: total ports: 43 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 2
small: 2
very small: 17
size unknown: 22
ports with oil terminals: 5
key ports: Grundartangi, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar

Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the Icelandic National Police, the regional police forces, and the Icelandic Coast Guard fall under the purview of the Ministry of Justice (2025)
Military - note: Iceland was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland is a NATO commitment, and NATO maintains an air policing presence in Icelandic airspace; Iceland participates in international peacekeeping missions with the civilian-manned Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU)Iceland also cooperates with the militaries of other regional countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) and the Joint Expeditionary Force (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK); in 1951, Iceland and the US concluded an agreement to make arrangements regarding the defense of Iceland and for the use of facilities in Iceland to that end (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 8,960 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 3,700 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 31 (2024 est.)