Icelandic People
Out of a population around 300.000, half live in the capital Reykjavík and its neighbouring towns in the southwest. The highland interior is uninhabited (and uninhabitable), and most centres of population are situated on the coast.
Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe with an average about three inhabitants per square km. Almost four-fifths of the country are uninhabited and mostly uninhabitable, the population being concentrated in a narrow coastal belt, valleys and the southwest corner of the country.
Iceland is a progressive modern European society with a high standard of living and a high level of technology and education.
Religion in Iceland
Freedom of religion is guaranteed in Iceland by the Constitution. There is a State church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, to which over 85% of the population belongs.
Education in Iceland
The level of education is high in Iceland. Literacy has been universal in Iceland since the end of the eighteenth century. In 1907 school attendance was made obligatory for all children aged 10-14. In 1946 compulsory school attendance was extended, and at present it covers the ages between seven and 16. Those who wish to continue their education either go to various specialized schools or to secondary schools.
