Iceland

Official Language

Icelandic

Destination Stats

Population
Surface Area
Temperature
Water
Energy
Air Quality
Flora
Fauna
  • Reykjavik, Iceland | Ecology Prime
  • Iceland Arctic Fox | Ecology Prime

Welcome to Iceland… the fascinating geologic land of fire and ice in the North Atlantic Ocean close to Arctic Circle but with a more temperate climate than its polar neighborhood would imply!
This section provides additional distinctive details about Iceland that define its ecological uniqueness.  Just choose any tab for the area you would like to explore.

  • Total Population: 402,450
  • Projected: 423,578 by 2035
  • 50.2% Male; 49.8% Female
  • Birth Rate: 11.65 per 1,000 people
  • Death Rate: 6.85 per 1,000 people
  • Indigenous People:  Iceland is the only Arctic state without an indigenous population.
    (Iceland Arctic Council)
  • Ethnicities: Icelandic – 81.7%; Polish – 5.6%;  Danish – 0.6%; Other – 12.1%
  • 5.1 global hectares (gha) | 12.6 acres per person. 
  • This is the highest in the world, It is 90% higher than the global average of 2.7 gha | 6.6 acres per person
  • Iceland’s biocapacity is 17.83 gha | 44.1 acres per person, much higher than the global biocapacity of 1.6 gha | 2.96 acres.
  • Agriculture – 18.7%
    • Pastures & Grazing: 17.5%
    • Arable Land and Permanent Crops: 1.2%
  • Forests – 0.3%
  • Non-Agricultural/Artificial Space (Human Development): 0.4%
  • Open/Bare Spaces – 49.5%
  • Wetlands & Water Bodies: 9.7%
  • Semi-Natural Vegetation: 3.7%
  • Other: 17.7% (Includes lava fields, moss‑covered lava, glacial margins, mixed shrubland, transitional land, and unclassified natural surfaces.)
  • Primary Food Products
    • Produced mostly via geothermally heated greenhouses.  These include wild berries, tomatoes, apples and bananas.
    • Vegetables grown outside as well as in geothermally heated greenhouses: potatoes, beets, carrots, rutabaga, cabbage and rhubarb.
  • Top Non-crop Food Commodities: Fish and crustaceans/mollusks, meat and milk (sheep/lamb).
  • Top Non-Food Products: Aluminum, iron, steel.
  • Total water volume: 170 billion cubic meters (bcm) – or about 4.49 sextillion gallons.
  • Potable Water Supply per Person: 492,192 cubic meters | 130.02 million gallons.

Average Precipitation (includes rain and snow): 1,052.14 mm | 41.42 inches.
Note: Iceland has the world’s largest per‑capita renewable freshwater supply.

  • Total Energy Used: :112 trillion BTU | 2.82 MTOE | 32.8 billion kWh.
  • Global Rank in Energy Consumption: #102
  • Primary fuel sources used: Geothermal (65%), hydropower (20%), fossil fuels – primarily for transportation (15%). 100% of electricity is provided by renewable energy.
  • World’s first country to use 100% renewable sources for generating electricity. 
  • Global #1 leader in use of geothermal energy.
  • ~8,435 known species of flora and fauna.
  • ~5,000 – 6,000 flora species.
  • ~2,435 animal species.
  • Endangered or Threatened Species:
    • 8 mammals, including the Sei Whale, Blue Whale, Bowhead Whale, Right Whale, Narwhal, European Rabbit and Brown Bat.
    • Three bird species, including the Puffin, Horned Grebe, and Long-tailed Duck.
  • No reports of threatened plant species.
  • Half of Iceland’s vascular plants (the majority of plants on Earth) are thought to be survivors from the last Ice Age which ended some 11,700 years ago.
  • The Arctic Fox is Iceland’s only native land mammal.

These are six of the most captivating Natural wonders of Iceland… among many!

  • Aurora Borealis – The Northern Lights:  The most spectacular all-natural light show in the world is at its greatest visibility from September to April in Iceland when the sky is dark and clear. It is one of the most popular “Bucket List” items worldwide.
  • The Midnight Sun: Also known as the Polar Day, the un shines virtually 24 hours a day and can be seen during the peak summer months starting in June. The phenomenon comes from Earth’s axis being tilted directly toward the sun which places Iceland almost directly pointed at the sun.  Conversely, Iceland experiences Polar Nights during its winters that will include 24-hours of nighttime during its peak in December… but this also provides the4 best time to see The Northern Lights!
  • The Blue Lagoon: Perhaps the most well-known hot spring in Iceland and considered one of the world’s 20 greatest natural wonders, the Blue Lagoon maintains a temperature of 37–39 °C | 99–102 °F year-round and is available to people of all ages.  It is about 20 km |12 mi from Keflavík International Airport in southwest Iceland near the small fishing town of Grindavík.
  • Iceland’s Volcanoes:  The Land of Fire and Ice, Iceland is home to some of the most spectacular volcanic activity with 32 active volcanic systems that include 130 active and inactive volcanoes throughout the island country.  The most striking eruption in recent years occurred with the Fagradalsfjall Volcano which erupted in March 19, 2021, and most recently on August 3, 2022, lasting for three weeks.   Located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, Fagradalsfjall Volcano had been dormant for 6,000 years.  The volcanoes’ contrasting fierce heat with the force of the glaciers and Arctic weather create stunning beauty unlike anywhere else in the world… both during and after volcanic activity. 
  • Puffin Colonies:  Iceland is home to the largest Puffin colony in the world where 60% of the world’s Puffin species, between 8-9 million, nest and breed every summer.  Spotted mostly on rocky cliffs near the ocean, these birds are often called the cutest birds of the North sporting the black and white colors of penguins with a very colorful beak.
  • Gullfoss Waterfall:  Perhaps the most popular of Iceland’s awesome natural attractions, Gullfoss waterfalls is located in the high country about 115 km (72 mi) east-northeast of Reykjavik.  It is a two-tiered waterfall that is fed by the Hvítá River, a glacial river, which flows from the lake under Langjökull Glacier, the second largest glacier in Iceland.

There are many natural wonders of Iceland that collectively offer year-round amazement, beauty and pure fascination throughout the island country.  Click Here for other top natural attractions of Iceland!

Welcome from Iceland!

Thingvellir National Park – Iceland (Ecology Prime™ photo by Al Olszewski)

Iceland is the world’s 18th largest island, created directly by the volcanic activity along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean abutting the Arctic Ocean to the north and settled between Greenland and the United Kingdom.  It is the only portion of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Earth’s longest mountain range, that rises above sea level.  It is one of Earth’s northernmost inhabited places.

Iceland is a very young island in geologic terms. Viking explorers began to settle in Iceland in 874 C.E. mainly to seek out new land to farm.  Europe’s least densely populated country, it accounts for .005% of the world’s population occupying 103,125 km2 (39,816.7 mi2) of land surface. 

Iceland is popularly known as the land of fire and ice because of the astonishing engagement between its ice and glaciers and its volcanic activity.  Despite its very frigid name, the country is more temperate than polar because of the warming effects of the Gulf Stream ocean current which originates in the Gulf of Mexico and brings warm water (and warmer weather) into the North Atlantic. Because of this contact between the warm Gulf Stream effects and the Arctic climate, Iceland weather can be quite explosive. One could experience four distinct seasons in one day!  

Iceland is a truly wondrous geologic escapade where the native population is among the friendliest in the world. It is where the sun barely sets from May to July and barely shows itself from November to January, yet it is one of the safest places to live on the planet.  Although Iceland’s native population is only just over 402,000 people, you will never feel alone because of its over two million visitors each year!

Welcome to this beginning of Iceland’s cultural hub on Ecology Prime™, the country of The Midnight Sun!  This is Iceland….

Official and National Language: Icelandic 

Unique Iceland Facts: Did You Know…?

  • Iceland is located directly on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge which separates North America from Eurasia, the Eastern and Western hemispheres.  These two major tectonic plates (which are the land we live on) are moving apart at the rate of 2 cm (.8 inch) a year and will eventually split the country in two halves… in about a billion years.
  • Over 85% of Iceland’s energy needs comes from its own renewable energy sources, the vast majority of which is geothermal (produced from Earth’s internal heat).  Virtually 100% of the country’s electricity is provided by geothermal energy (over 90%) and hydroelectric renewable sources.
  • Iceland has among the cleanest, safest and best tasting water in the world, with some 95% of its drinking water coming from springs.  It is not treated with any chemicals because it is not necessary.
  • Icelandic sheep outnumber the country’s native human population by over 2-to-1 with over 800,000 of the unique breed.
  • The land surface of Iceland is primarily defined by its 130 volcanoes, 32 of which are currently active, creating its dramatic volcanic landscape of mountain ridges and extensive plateaus of moss-covered lava beds that meet the glacial rivers and ice. 
  • Volcano eruptions are seen more as attractions rather than dangers causing people to flee.   Earthquakes are generally minor and very infrequent.
Námafjall Geothermal Area (Ecology Prime™ photo by Al Olszewski)
  • Over 200 natural geothermal hot springs are spread across Iceland, and they are safe to swim in, even amidst freezing temperatures.. 
  • Swimming pools are very popular in Iceland, which has the highest number of naturally-heated pools per capita in the world. All of them are geothermally heated, and they are used year-round.  In 1940, Iceland passed a law that made swimming lessons mandatory for school students in grades 1 to 10.
  • Iceland (which is a land mass) and Greenland (a vast body of ice) were purposely given their names by their Viking explorers trying to keep people away from Iceland which they began to settle in the 9th century.
  • Iceland ranks #1 in the world in the Species Habitat Index (SHI) for habitat protection and wildlife preservation.
  • The only native land mammal in Iceland is the Arctic fox.
  • One of the most serious environmental problems in Iceland is the loss of vegetation by wind erosion.  Vegetation covers (in many areas only sparsely covers) only about 25% of Iceland’s land mass. (Government of Iceland – Icelandic Flora and Fauna)
  • About 40% of Iceland was forested prior to human settlement over 1,100 years ago, which was almost completely stripped for its lumber. But in 1908, the Iceland Forest Service was established to help reforest the country by planting new trees.  As a result, Iceland slowly began replanting forests, achieving 2% reforestation today.  Iceland’s goal is for 5% of its land to be covered by forests by 2070 and 12% by 2100.

See Iceland’s Active Volcano Locations: Click Here!

Population

Total Population: 402,450 | Projected by 2035 – 423,578

  • Population Density: 4.01 people per km2 / 10.3 people per mi2.
  • World Rank: #181, .004% of the world’s total population.
  • Most Populous City: Greater Reykjavik | 249,228.
  • Least Populous City (Village): Bakkafjordur (also Bakkafjörður) | 72.


CERTIFIED FACT….
Iceland is the least populated country in Europe with about 80% of its land uninhabited.

Surface Area

Total Surface Area: 103,125 km2 / 39,816.7 mi2

  • World Rank: #106.
  • Land Surface Area:  97.3% — 100,329 km2 | 38,737.2 mi2 (0.067% of the world’s total land area.)
  • Arable Land (suitable for growing crops): ~0.07 %.
  • Water Surface Area: 2.7% — 2,796 km2 | 1,079.5 mi2 (0.00077% of the world’s water surface.) 
  • Ice and Glacier Coverage: 11,000 km² | 4,247.1 mi².

ESSENTIAL FACTS…
❄️ Nearly 269 glaciers cover over 11,922 km2 (4,603 mi2) – or about 11.5% of Iceland’s surface (approximately .002% of Earth’s land surface).
⚠️ Glaciers lose 1 billion tons of ice a year on average.
⚓ Iceland has a 758,000 km2 (292,665 mi2 ) economic zone over water that extends 370.4 km (230.2 miles) outward from its 4,970 km (3,088.2 miles) coastline.

New! Mother Earth™

Temperature

Average Annual Temperature:

National Climatic Mean (Populated Areas)
4.3°C | 39.7°F
(From Iceland’s meteorological stations in towns and cities.)
Full Landmass Climatic Mean
1.5 – 2.0°C | 34.7 – 35.6°F
(Represents Iceland’s entire land surface.)

Warming Since 1990:
Populated regions: +0.8°C (1.44°F)
Full landmass: +0.8–1.0°C (1.44–1.8°F)

  • Average High : 7°C (44.6°F)
  • Average Low: 2.5°C (36.5°F). 
  • Hottest Month (average high): July | 12.2°C (57°F).  
  • Coldest Month (average low): January | -2.2°C (28°F).  
  • Coldest temperature on record: -19.4°C (-2.92°F) in Reykjavik, February 2008.
  • Hottest temperature on record: 27.5 °C (81.5°F) in Akureyri, July 2021. 

Water

Total Water Volume:

170 Billion Cubic Meters (bcm) | 4.49 Sextillion Gallons. 

  • Surface water: 166.6 bcm | 44.01 trillion gallons
  • Ground water: 3.4 bcm | 898.2 billion gallons
  • Annual precipitation: 1,052.14 mm | 41.42 inches
  • Potable or rechargeable water per resident: 492,192 cubic meters | 130.02 million gallons

Essential Facts….
🫗 About 95% of Iceland’s drinking water comes from springs.
🧊 Iceland’s glaciers contain about 3,600 cubic kilometers (951 trillion gallons) of ice, equal to about 3,300 cubic kilometers (870 trillion gallons) of water if melted.

Destinations: Indonesia

THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Official Language Indonesian Destination Stats Welcome from INDONESIA! Indonesia is Earth’s fifth largest archipelago, spanning thousands of islands that serve as a bridge between the Asian and Australian continents.  Home to the world’s fourth largest human population, Indonesia includes 17,504 mostly unpopulated islands that contain nearly 12 percent of Earth’s biodiversity spread over the equator…
Read More THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Energy

Annual Total Energy Usage:
112 trillion BTU | 2.82 MTOE | 32.8 billion kWh.

  • Global Ranking: #102.
  • Per Capita Usage: 53,832 kWh
    (world’s third highest).
  • Total of Global Energy Consumption: 0.038%
  • Energy Sources (% of total):  Geothermal (65%), hydropower (20%), fossil fuels – primarily for transportation (15%). 

Essential Fact:
Renewables provide 99.98% all of Iceland’s electricity needs. Virtually every resident has access to electricity.

Air Quality

Air Quality Index – AQI: 25 (Good)

  • Global Ranking: #11 least polluted nation of 117 monitored.*
  • Most Polluted City: Akranes | AQI = 21. – Good 
  • Least Polluted Region: Kopavogur and Reykjavik | AQI = 4 – Very Good
  • Leading Pollutants and Sources: sulfur as hydrogen sulfide emissions from geothermal power plants, industrial emissions, transportation (fishing vessels, mobile equipment /vehicles, machinery). 

ESSENTIAL FACT:
Pollution from electricity production and heating is extremely low due to Iceland’s almost total use of renewable energy for electricity.

Sources: Icelandic Meteorological Office; and IQAir global air quality monitoring.

LIVE!
View Iceland’s Air Quality
~ Click Here ~

Living Things

Arctic Fox

The Arctic Fox is one of the most astonishingly unique and heartiest mammal species on Earth, perfectly suited to live and survive in the planet’s harsh polar climate.
Read More Arctic Fox

Flora

Estimated Total Number Living Species – Flora and Fauna: ~8,000

(Non-human species. This is the total number that is estimated to exist but not all have been identified or recognized. Numbers are approximate due to various reporting methods used by various authoritative organizations.) 

IDENTIFIED FLORA SPECIES: ~5,000 – 6,000 (includes fungi and lichen).

  • Vascular plant species: ~540 (~0.14% of the world’s estimated 400,000 plant species). 
  • Tree and Large Shrubs Species: 150.
  • Ferns (native to Iceland): 23.
  • Fungi: ~3,000.

ESSENTIAL FACT…
✨ IUCN reports no threatened or endangered plant species in Iceland.

💫 IMPORTANT NOTE:
🔵 Estimated species represent the full biodiversity believed to exist in Iceland, including species not yet discovered or classified.
🔵 Identified species are those that have been observed and recorded, though some remain unclassified and may later be merged, split, or reassigned.
🔵 Estimated totals provide ecological completeness; identified totals reflect current scientific knowledge.

Fauna

IDENTIFIED FAUNA SPECIES: 2,435

(~0.027% of the world’s ~8.7 million identified animal species.)

  • Invertebrates – ~2,000
  • Insects: 1,245.
  • Arachnids: 160.
  • Crustaceans: 110.
  • Snails: 46.
  • Mollusks: 6 
  • Others: ~403
  • Aquatic (Fish) Species: 275
    Marine (270) and freshwater (5).
  • Bird Species: 80
    (Three of which are endangered)
  • Terrestrial and Marine Mammal Species: 52
  • Mammal Species: 28
    (Eight are threatened or endangered per IUCN Red List)
  • Reptile species: 0
  • Amphibian species: 0

ESSENTIAL FACT…
✨ Over 2,500 marine animal species have been found in Iceland’s exclusive economic zone.
🐏 🐎 Domestic Animals far outnumber the native Icelandic human population by over 3-to-1. Sheep are the most populous domestic animals numbering 800,00, followed by about 80,000 horses. There are also the populations of dogs – 58 different breeds including the popular Icelandic Sheepdog. Cattle, chickens and rabbits, among others, complete Iceland’s huge domestic animal population!.

Indigenous Ecology

The World’s Indigenous Peoples

Autochthonous [au·​toch·​tho·​nous] Indigenous, native – (Inhabiting a place or region from earliest known times. Indigenous rather than descended from migrants or colonists. Indigenous people are our pure connections to who we are… the direct ancestors of modern humans living today, Homo sapiens. That’s 100% US!   We evolved from our earlier human species – known in…
Read More The World’s Indigenous Peoples
Sources and Research | Ecology Prime

Iceland: Sources and Research References

Ecology Prime™ integrates data through a structured, multi‑source methodology that prioritizes the most reliable and authoritative national and scientific reporting. The organizations listed below represent the primary sources used for factual verification, along with additional references that support broader research and contextual understanding for the Iceland Destination.

Notable Environental Organizations and Platforms in Iceland

Iceland Universities with Environmental Studies | Ecology Prime

Notable Iceland Colleges & Universities for Environmental Studies

Research & Development Credits:

iConsult Collaborative
College of Professional Studies | Syracuse University

Ecology Prime™ Data Resources