1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Religions
Lutheran Church of Iceland 82.1%, Roman Catholic Church 2.4%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.3%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.6%, other Christian 2.8%, other religions 0.9%, unaffiliated 2.6%, other or unspecified 5.5% (2006 est.)
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Exports
fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite
scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts
External Debt
$124,500,000,000 $
$8,200,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - 85.619 (2008 est.), 63.391 (2007), 70.195 (2006), 62.982 (2005), 70.192 (2004)
laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.47 (2008 est.), 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.000%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
6
Location
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Area
103,000 km sq
69,700 km sq
Coastline
4,970 km
310 km
Climate
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
