Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/110.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 10.8 KB | 380 lines

@node Geography (Iceland)
@section Geography (Iceland)

@display

Location:
  in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and Norway
Map references:
  Arctic Region, Europe, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  103,000 km2
 land area:
  100,250 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:
  4,988 km
Maritime claims:
 continental shelf:
  200 nm or the edge of continental margin
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK
  (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
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
Natural resources:
  fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
 arable land:
  1%  permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  20%
 forest and woodland:
  1%
 other:
  78%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity
Note:
  strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European
  country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe



@end display

@node People (Iceland)
@section People (Iceland)

@display

Population:
  261,270 (July 1993 est.)
 note:
  population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly
  from official population data because of volatile migration rates
Population growth rate:
  0.88% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  16.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.74 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  78.69 years
 male:
  76.45 years
 female:
  81.04 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  2.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Icelander(s)
 adjective:
  Icelandic
Ethnic divisions:
  homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts
Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1%
  (1988)
Languages:
  Icelandic
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
 total population:
  100%
 male:
  NA%
 female:
  NA%
Labor force:
  127,900
 by occupation:
  commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%, manufacturing 12.5%, fishing
  and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.8%, agriculture 4.0% (1990)



@end display

@node Government (Iceland)
@section Government (Iceland)

@display

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Iceland
 conventional short form:
  Iceland
 local long form:
  Lyoveldio Island
 local short form:
  Island
Digraph:
  IC
Type:
  republic
Capital:
  Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:
  23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns*,   (kaupstadhir, singular -
kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla,,   Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla,
Austur-Skaftafellssysla,
  Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla,
  Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,,   Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la,,   Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla,
Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*,,   Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,,
Skagafjardharsysla,
  Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla,
  Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla,,   Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
Independence:
  17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Constitution:
  16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system:
  civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ
  jurisdiction
National holiday:
  Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
Political parties and leaders:
  Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party,
  Steingrimur HERMANNSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;
  People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's List
Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
Elections:
 President:
  last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results - there
  was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
 Althing:
  last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995); results -
  Independence Party 38.6%, Progressive Party 18.9%, Social Democratic Party
  15.5%, People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.3%, Liberals 1.2%, other 3.1%;
  seats - (63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10,
  People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament (Althing)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (Haestirettur)



@end display

@node Government (Iceland 2. usage)
@section Government (Iceland 2. usage)

@display

Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
Member of:
  Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA,
  IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
  INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA,
  NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 chancery:
  2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
 telephone:
  [phone] through 6655
 FAX:
  [phone]
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
   (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jon GUNDERSEN
 embassy:
  Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik
 mailing address:
  USEMB, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
 telephone:
  [354] (1) 29100
 FAX:   [354] (1) 29139
Flag:
  blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends 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)



@end display

@node Economy (Iceland)
@section Economy (Iceland)

@display

Overview:
  Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an
  extensive welfare system, relatively low unemployment, and comparatively
  even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing
  industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of
  the workforce. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy -
  Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. Iceland's
  economy has been in recession since 1988. The recession deepened in 1992 due
  to severe cutbacks in fishing quotas and falling world prices for the
  country's main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon.
  Real GDP declined 3.3% in 1992 and is forecast to contract another 1.5% in
  1993. The center-right government's economic goals 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 recession has led to a
  wave of bankruptcies and mergers throughout the economy, as well as the
  highest unemployment of the post-World War II period. The national
  unemployment rate reached 5% in early 1993, with some parts of the country
  experiencing unemployment in the 9-10% range. Inflation, previously a
  serious problem, declined from double digit rates in the 1980s to only 3.7%
  in 1992.
National product:
  GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.5 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
  -3.3% (1992)
National product per capita:
  $17,400 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  5% (first quarter 1993)
Budget:
  revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $191 million (1992)
Exports:
  $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
 commodities:
  fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite
 partners:
  EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
Imports:
  $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
 commodities:
  machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
  textiles
 partners:   EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)
External debt:
  $3.9 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
  1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced, 19,940 kWh per capita
  (1992)
Industries:
  fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, geothermal
  power



@end display

@node Economy (Iceland 2. usage)
@section Economy (Iceland 2. usage)

@display

Agriculture:
  accounts for about 25% of GDP; fishing is most important economic activity,
  contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops - potatoes,
  turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; self-sufficient in crops; fish catch of
  about 1.4 million metric tons in 1989
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million
Currency:
  1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates:
  Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 63.789 (January 1993), 57.546 (1992),
  58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990), 57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year



@end display

@node Communications (Iceland)
@section Communications (Iceland)

@display

Highways:
  11,543 km total; 2,690 km hard surfaced, 8,853 km gravel and earth
Ports:
  Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur,
  Siglufjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
  10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,832 GRT/53,037 DWT; includes 3
  cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1
  chemical tanker
Airports:
 total:
  90
 usable:
  84
 with permanent-surface runways:
  8
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:   12
Telecommunications:
  adequate domestic service; coaxial and fiber-optical cables and microwave
  radio relay for trunk network; 140,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 5
  AM, 147 (transmitters and repeaters) FM, 202 (transmitters and repeaters)
  TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station carries all
  international traffic; a second INTELSAT earth station is scheduled to be
  operational in 1993



@end display

@node Defense Forces (Iceland)
@section Defense Forces (Iceland)

@display

Branches:
  Police, Coast Guard
 note:
  no armed forces, Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic
  Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 69,499; fit for military service 61,798 (1993 est.); no
  conscription or compulsory military service
Defense expenditures:
  none



@end display