Iceland Facts & Culture

What is the current population of Iceland?

As of the end of 2019, the population of Iceland was around 362,860. When you compare this to the landmass statistics below, it becomes apparent how Iceland is one of the least densely populated nations on the planet.

How large is the landmass of Iceland?

Iceland is the world's 18th largest island, and Europe's second-largest island after Great Britain. The main island is 101,826 km2 (39,315 sq mi), but the entire country is 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi) in size, of which 62.7% is tundra.

What languages do they speak in Iceland?

Icelandic is the the official language of Iceland. It is an Indo-European language of the North Germanic languages. The language is closely related to Faroese and Norwegian with minor differences resulting from Celtic influence in the ancient Icelandic literature.

Do people in Iceland speak English?

Throughout history, Iceland has always been a very secluded and isolated country, but that sure is not the case anymore! Almost every single Icelander speaks English with the younger generations becoming just as fluent in English as they are in their mother language.

What is the temperature in Iceland?

Iceland has four seasons, although sometimes it doesn't feel that way as the weather changes all the time. You'll probably hear the joke 'if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes' when you're in Iceland. Many people think that Iceland is constantly freezing cold but that is not the case. The average temperature in Reykjavík is around 1-2°C (33-35°F) in wintertime and around 12°C (54°F) in summer. The temperature in Reykjavík can drop down to -10°C (14°F) in winter, or go up to +10°C (50°F), and during summertime it can drop down to around 7°C (44°C) and go up to 25°C (77°F).

What is the history of Iceland?

The first people believed to have settled in Iceland were Irish monks who came in the 8th century A.D. They left, however, upon the arrival of pagan Norsemen, who arrived around 874 A.D. to seek freedom from Norway's oppressive king Harald Fairhair.

In 930 A.D. the early Icelanders founded the Althing, their supreme general assembly--the oldest parliament in the world. The adoption of Christianity followed in the year 1000. In 1262, Iceland became subject to Norwegian control and in 1380 came under Danish control, along with Norway. After the granting of a constitution (1874) and with an improving economy, Iceland finally became a sovereign state under a common king with Denmark in 1918. The Republic of Iceland was formally declared on June 17, 1944.

What is the telephone code to Iceland?

The code to Iceland from overseas is +354 plus a seven-digit number. There are no area codes in Iceland.

Does Iceland have a military?

No, Iceland has no army. Instead, the country has an excellent coast guard and a search-and-rescue team (ICE-SAR) that have specially-trained volunteers on call 24/7 to assist with weather emergencies, natural disasters, etc. They also operate this helpful website for travellers www.safetravel.is

For more frequently asked questions about your Iceland holiday, click here.