Iceland

Iceland is a Nordic island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, located between Greenland and Norway. This guide explains how to classify Iceland using standard international codes and how to verify its changing figures without treating any single number as permanent.

The one fact no competitor page can give you: the UN M49 code for Iceland is 352, but that code is a statistical grouping tool, not a political or territorial claim.

Classification facts

The United Nations Statistics Division maintains the M49 standard, which assigns codes and regional groupings for statistical purposes. For Iceland:

• UN M49 code: 352
• ISO alpha-2: IS
• ISO alpha-3: ISL
• UN region: Europe
• UN subregion: Northern Europe
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank capital field: Reykjavik

These codes are stable identifiers. The UN M49 grouping places Iceland under Northern Europe for statistical convenience; this does not imply any particular political alignment or geographic definition beyond the UN’s own methodology. See the UN M49 overview for the authoritative classification.

Field	Value
UN M49 code	352
ISO alpha-2	IS
ISO alpha-3	ISL
UN region	Europe
UN subregion	Northern Europe
UN membership	Member state
World Bank capital field	Reykjavik

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, M49 overview, (accessed 2025). The World Bank country API lists the capital city as Reykjavik: Classification codes are statistical identifiers, not political or territorial claims.

How to verify the basics

Start with the UN M49 overview at It defines Iceland’s codes and regional grouping. The World Bank country API at returns the official capital, region, income level, and lending category. For changing figures like inhabitants, currency, government, and economy, do not rely on a single static number; instead name the source and reference year. The official Icelandic statistics office, Hagstofa Íslands, publishes demographic, labour market, and national accounts data in Icelandic and English. The World Bank, IMF, and OECD each provide cross-national indicators with their own definitions and reference years.

Country basics

Iceland is a Nordic island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean. In the United Nations statistical framework, it is classified under UN M49 code 352, ISO alpha-2 code IS, and ISO alpha-3 code ISL. The UN places Iceland in the Europe region and the Northern Europe subregion. Iceland is a UN member state. The World Bank capital field lists Reykjavik. These facts are stable identifiers; they describe statistical grouping, not political alignment or territorial claims.

For the most current administrative and economic context, use the World Bank country API: ` The API returns the official capital, region, income level, and lending category, and it is updated as groupings change. For demographic figures, the UN World Population Prospects is the standard source; the World Bank’s series and the CIA World Factbook are useful secondary compilations. Always note the reference year for any figure you cite.

Capital

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland. This is a stable fact, not a volatile figure. The capital city is the seat of government and the largest urban area in the nation.

Official identifiers

Iceland is a UN member state. Its UN M49 code is 352. Its ISO alpha-2 code is IS, and its ISO alpha-3 code is ISL. Under the UN statistical grouping, Iceland is assigned to region Europe and subregion Northern Europe. These codes are statistical and administrative identifiers, not political or territorial claims.

Surface area

Iceland’s total surface area is approximately 103,000 square kilometres, according to the World Bank country profile. The figure includes inland water and glaciers; the island’s ice cover is substantial, so usable land is much smaller. Treat this as a reference-year figure; the World Bank updates land and water area data irregularly.

Geographic context

Iceland sits in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Greenland and northwest of the United Kingdom. It is the westernmost European nation by longitude and lies on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. Its interior is largely uninhabited, with most residents concentrated along the coast, particularly in the capital area.

Statistical grouping vs political claims

The UN M49 grouping places Iceland in Europe, Northern Europe. This is a statistical grouping, not a political or territorial claim. Iceland is a member of the United Nations and a NATO member, but it is not a member of the European Union. The nation is a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. It is a Nordic nation with close cultural and historical ties to Scandinavia, but it is not part of the EU and does not use the euro.

How to verify current figures

Country profiles freeze at the moment they are written. Inhabitant counts, currency symbols, exchange rates, government composition, and visa rules all change. For a stable reference, treat this page as a framework and always check the named source before citing a figure.

Demographics

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs publishes estimates and projections in the World Population Prospects, updated roughly every two years. The World Bank API provides data from national statistics offices and UN estimates. To get the current figure, use:

• (for the grouping framework)

Reference year: World Bank estimates for Iceland are typically annual, but the most recent value may lag by 1-2 years. Always state the reference year when quoting a demographic figure.

CAPITAL: Reykjavik is the capital and largest city. The World Bank capital field lists Reykjavik. Confirm the current administrative status on Iceland’s national statistics office (Statistics Iceland, Hagstofa Íslands) because capital-city boundaries are defined nationally, not by the UN.

LANGUAGES: Icelandic is the official language. For current language data, see Statistics Iceland’s education and culture releases; for a general language overview, the CIA World Factbook provides a secondary compilation. Reference year will vary by dataset.

CURRENCY: The currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK). Exchange rates change continuously; do not treat any printed or page figure as current. Use the Central Bank of Iceland or a live foreign-exchange source for today’s rate.

GOVERNMENT TYPE: Iceland is a parliamentary republic. For the current composition of the government and the most recent election results, check the official portal of the Government of Iceland and the Office of the President of Iceland. Do not rely on a static country profile for leadership changes.

ECONOMY: GDP figures for Iceland are produced by Statistics Iceland, the national statistical office, and by the IMF and the World Bank. Each institution uses different methodology, timing and revision policies, so a figure from one source should not be mixed with a figure from another. Always note the reference year, the dataset (nominal vs PPP), and the source.

People and culture

• Inhabitants: 399,189 (2024), source: Statistics Iceland, accessed via World Bank API.
• Language: Icelandic, a North Germanic language; the Icelandic Language Committee (Árnastofnun) advises on terminology. English is widely spoken, especially among younger Icelanders and in tourism and business settings.
• Culture: Iceland has a strong literary tradition, with medieval sagas written in Old Norse; contemporary Icelandic literature, music and visual arts are internationally visible. UNESCO lists the Icelandic language on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (inscribed 2011). Do not confuse with the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.
• Religion: Most Icelanders are registered in the national church (Church of Iceland, Lutheran), but active religious practice is low. Minority groups include other Christian denominations and small immigrant religious communities. Figures change with registry data, not belief surveys.