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What do the numbers mean?
 Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.
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Source: This map and introductory text come from The CIA World Factbook. It is a concise, up-to-date, and often insightful source, but it reflects the bias of a US intelligence agency. Where available, links to the country pages of other organizations are listed below.
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Links to other Iceland sites:
CIA World Factbook
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