A Nordic Nation Establishing its Unique Identity
99%s1.
The country has a nearly 100 percent literacy rate. Halldor Laxness won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1955, and Unesco declared Reykjavik a City of Literature in 2011, only the fifth in the world. Researchers show that at least 90 percent of Icelanders age 16 or older read at least one book a year just for pleasure, and that the gift most requested by children at Christmas time is a book. s2.
LiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.) s3.
Ethnic: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 69.9%, Roman Catholic 3.8%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.9%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 2%, Asatru Association 1.1%, The Independent Congregation 1%, other religions 4% (includes Zuist and Pentecostal), none 6.1%, other or unspecified 9.2% (2017 est.) s4.
"For centuries Iceland's main industries were fishing, fish processing and agriculture. In the 19th century, 70–80% of Icelanders lived by farming, but there has been a steady decline over the years and now that figure is less than 5% of the total population. The raising of livestock, sheep (the traditional mainstay for generations of Icelandic farmers) and cattle (the latter grew rapidly in the 20th century), is the main occupation, but pigs and poultry are also reared; Iceland is self-sufficient in the production of meat, dairy products and eggs. There is also an important export trade in horses. Despite the cool climate and restricted growing season, a variety of food crops are grown, such as potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbage, kale, and cauliflower." s5.
Main industries: tourism, fish processing, aluminium smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power, hydropower.
The fishing industry is one of the most important industries. It provides 40% of export income and employs 7.0% of the workforce; therefore, the state of the economy remains sensitive to world prices for fish products. s6.
From the Lonely Planet:
The main health risks are caused by exposure to extreme climates; proper preparation will reduce the risks. Even on a warm day in the mountains, the weather can change rapidly – carry waterproof outer gear and warm layers, and inform others of your route. s7.
Click on the chart to the right for a PDF of Iceland's World Health Organization Profile, which includes extensive statistics about health in Iceland. s8.
Additionally, see the "Food, Health, and Happiness" section for more on health in Iceland, or check out the interviews section for different perspectives on health.
