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Reykjavík

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Reykjavík(/ˈreɪkjəvɪk,-viːk/RAYK-yə-vik, -⁠veek;[4]Icelandic:[ˈreiːcaˌviːk]ⓘ) is thecapitaland largest city ofIceland.It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore ofFaxaflóibay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is theworld's northernmost capitalof a sovereign state.[a]Reykjavík has a population of around 140,000 as of 2023 (up from 121,822 in 2015). TheCapital Regionhas a population of around 248,000.[5]

Reykjavík
Capital cityandmunicipality
Skylinefrom theHallgrímskirkja
Höfði
Perlan
Fríkirkjan í Reykjavík
Alþingishúsið
Reykjavík Cathedral
Harpa
Hallgrímskirkja
Flag of Reykjavík
Flag
Coat of arms of Reykjavík
Coat of arms
Etymology:Old Norse:"Smoky bay"
Location of Reykjavík
Location of Reykjavík
Reykjavík is located in Iceland
Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Location inIceland
Coordinates:64°08′45″N21°56′33″W/ 64.14583°N 21.94250°W/64.14583; -21.94250
CountryIceland
RegionCapital Region
ConstituencyReykjavík Constituency North
Reykjavík Constituency South
Market right18 August 1786[1]
Government
• TypeCouncil–manager
• BodyCity Council
•MayorEinar Þorsteinsson[is](Progressive Party)
• City Council PresidentÞórdís Lóa Þórhallsdóttir
• City Executive Council ChairmanEinar Þorsteinsson
Area
[2]
273 km2(105 sq mi)
• Metro
1,062 km2(410 sq mi)
Population
(2023)[3]
139,875
• Density510/km2(1,300/sq mi)
•Metro
247,590
Time zoneUTC+00:00(Western European Time)
• Summer (DST)(Not Observed)
Postal code(s)
101–155
Municipal number0000
CouncilReykjavík City Council
Websitereykjavik.is

Reykjavík is believed to be the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland, which, according toLandnámabók,was established byIngólfur Arnarsonin 874AD.Until the 18th century, there was no urban development in the city location. The city was officially founded in 1786 as a trading town and grew steadily over the following decades, as it transformed into a regional and laternationalcentre ofcommerce,population, and governmental activities.

Reykjavík is the centre of Iceland'scultural,economic,andgovernmentalactivity, and is a popular tourist destination among foreigners. It is among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world.[6][7][8]

History

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See also:Timeline of ReykjavíkandHistory of Iceland
A painting by JohanPeter Raadsigof Ingólfr commanding his high seat pillars to be erected
Reykjavík in the 1860s

According to legend, the first permanentNorsesettlement in Iceland was established at Reykjavík byIngólfr Arnarsoncirca AD 870, as described in theBook of Settlement.Ingólfr is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Norse method: when land was in sight, he cast hishigh seat pillarsoverboard and promised to settle where the gods decided to bring them ashore. Two of his slaves then searched the coasts for three years before finding the pillars in the bay which eventually became the site of Reykjavík.[9]

Etymology

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The name is ofOld Norseorigin, derived from the rootsreykr('smoke') andvík('bay'). The name is said to be inspired by steam rising fromhot springsin the region. The original name wasReykjar-vík,[10]with an "r"suffixfor thegenitivesingularofreykr;the modern versionreykja-uses the genitive plural. The name's meaning is still transparent in modern Icelandic, and in modern Norwegian (røyk+vik). The name originally referred to both the bay on the northern shore of the modern city centre, betweenÖrfirisey[is]andLaugarnes,as well as the estate and farm of Ingólfr Arnarson. This form of the name fell out of use shortly after settlement, and the estate was referred to asVík á Seltjarnarnesiuntil the name Reykjavík was revived when urban development began centuries later.[10]The name has been translated asBay of Smokein English-language travel guides.[11]

Urban development

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The site of the modern city centre was farmland until the 18th century. In 1752,King Frederik V of Denmarkdonated the estate of Reykjavík to theInnréttingar[is]corporation. The leader of this movement wasSkúli Magnússon.In the 1750s, several houses were built to house thewoolindustry, which was Reykjavík's most important employer for a few decades and the original reason for its existence. Other industries were undertaken by the Innréttingar, such asfisheries,sulphur mining,agriculture, and shipbuilding.[12]

The Danish Crown abolished monopoly trading in 1786 and granted six communities around the country an exclusive trading charter. Reykjavík was one of them and the only one to hold on to the charter permanently. 1786 is thus regarded as the date of the city's founding. Trading rights were limited to subjects of the Danish Crown, and Danish traders continued to dominate trade in Iceland. Over the following decades, their business in Iceland expanded. After 1880,free tradewas expanded to all nationalities, and the influence of Icelandic merchants started to grow.

Rise of nationalism

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Reykjavík in 1881
Reykjavík in the 1920s

Icelandic nationalistsentiment gained influence in the 19th century, and the idea of Icelandic independence became widespread. Reykjavík, as Iceland's only city, was central to such ideas. Advocates of an independent Iceland realized that a strong Reykjavík was fundamental to that objective. All the important events in the history of the independence struggle were important to Reykjavík as well. In 1845 theAlþingi,the general assembly formed in 930 AD, was re-established in Reykjavík; it had been suspended a few decades earlier when it was located atÞingvellir.At the time it functioned only as an advisory assembly, advising the king about Icelandic affairs. The location of Alþingi in Reykjavík effectively established the city as the capital of Iceland.

In 1874, Iceland was given aconstitution;with it, Alþingi gained some limited legislative powers and in essence became the institution that it is today. The next step was to move most of the executive power to Iceland:Home Rulewas granted in 1904 when the office ofMinister for Icelandwas established in Reykjavík. On 1 December 1918, Iceland became a sovereign country, theKingdom of Iceland,inpersonal unionwith theCrown of Denmark.

By the 1920s and 1930s, most of the growing Icelandic fishing trawler fleet sailed from Reykjavík;codproduction was its main industry, but theGreat Depressionhit Reykjavík hard withunemployment,and labour union struggles sometimes became violent.

World War II

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On the morning of 10 May 1940, following the German occupation ofDenmarkandNorwayon 9 April 1940, four British warships approached Reykjavík and anchored in the harbour. In a few hours, theAlliedoccupation of Reykjavíkwas complete. There was no armed resistance, and taxi and truck drivers even assisted the invasion force, which initially had no motor vehicles. The Icelandic government had received many requests from the British government to consent to the occupation, but it always declined on the basis of itspolicy of neutrality.For the remaining years ofWorld War II,British and later American soldiers occupied camps in Reykjavík, and the number of foreign soldiers in Reykjavík became about the same as the local population of the city.[13]The Royal Regiment of Canadaformed part of the garrison in Iceland during the early part of the war.

The economic effects of the occupation were positive for Reykjavík: the unemployment of the Depression years vanished, and construction work began. The British builtReykjavík Airport,which remains in service today, mostly for short-haul flights (to domestic destinations and Greenland). The Americans, meanwhile, builtKeflavík Airport,situated 50 km (31 mi) west of Reykjavík, which became Iceland's primary international airport.[14]In 1944, the Republic of Iceland was founded and apresident,elected by the people, replaced the king; the office of the president was placed in Reykjavík.

Post-war development

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In thepost-waryears, the growth of Reykjavík accelerated. An exodus from the rural countryside began, largely because improved technology in agriculture reduced the need for manpower, and because of a population boom resulting from better living conditions in the country. A once-primitive village was rapidly transformed into a modern city. Private cars became common, and modern apartment complexes rose in the expanding suburbs.

In 1972, Reykjavík hosted the famousWorld Chess ChampionshipbetweenBobby FischerandBoris Spassky.The 1986Reykjavík SummitbetweenRonald ReaganandMikhail Gorbachevunderlined Reykjavík's international status.Deregulationin the financial sector and the computer revolution of the 1990s again transformed Reykjavík. The financial and IT sectors are now significant employers in the city.

The city has fostered some world-famous musicians and artists in recent years, including musiciansBjörk;MúmandSigur Rós;writerSjón;and visual artistRagnar Kjartansson.

Geography

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Reykjavik view during sunrise
Reykjavík seen from above
Esja,the mountain range to the north of Reykjavík

Reykjavík is located in the southwest ofIceland.The Reykjavík areacoastlineis characterized bypeninsulas,coves, straits, and islands.

During theIce Age(up to 10,000 years ago) a large glacier covered parts of the city area, reaching as far out asÁlftanes.Other parts of the city area were covered by sea water. In the warm periods and at the end of the Ice Age, some hills like Öskjuhlíð were islands. The former sea level is indicated by sediments (with clams) reaching (at Öskjuhlíð, for example) as far as 43 m (141 ft) above the current sea level. The hills of Öskjuhlíð and Skólavörðuholt appear to be the remains of formershield volcanoeswhich were active during the warm periods of the Ice Age. After the Ice Age, the land rose as the heavy load of the glaciers fell away, and began to look as it does today.

The capital city area continued to be shaped byearthquakesandvolcanic eruptions,such as the one 4,500 years ago in the mountain rangeBláfjöll,when the lava coming down the Elliðaá valley reached the sea at the bay of Elliðavogur.

The largest river to run through Reykjavík is theElliðaáRiver, which is non-navigable. It offerssalmonfishing within the city limits.[15]MountEsja,at 914 m (2,999 ft), is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Reykjavík.

The city of Reykjavík is mostly located on the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, but the suburbs reach far out to the south and east. Reykjavík is a spread-out city: most of its urban area consists of low-density suburbs, and houses are usually widely spaced. The outer residential neighbourhoods are also widely spaced from each other; in between them are the main traffic arteries and a lot of empty space. The city's latitude is 64°08' N, making it theworld's northernmost capitalof a sovereign state (Nuuk,the capital ofGreenland,is slightly further north at 64°10' (about 4 km) but Greenland is aconstituent country,not an independent state).

Panorama of Reykjavík seen fromPerlanwith the mountains Akrafjall (middle) andEsja(right) in the background
Panorama of Reykjavík seen fromPerlanat sunset in summer. As seen in the picture, Reykjavík's climate is mild enough for trees to grow.

Climate

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Reykjavík has asubpolar oceanic climate(Köppen:Cfc,Trewartha:Eolk)[16]closely bordering on asubarctic climate(Köppen:Dfc) in the 0°C isotherm. The city has had its present climate classification since the beginning of the 20th century.[17][18]

At 64° north, Reykjavík is characterized by extremes of day and night length over the course of the year. From 20 May to 24 July, daylight is essentially permanent as the sun never gets more than 5° below the horizon. Day length drops to less than five hours between 2 December and 10 January. The sun climbs just 3° above the horizon during this time. However, day length begins increasing rapidly during January and by month's end there are seven hours of daylight.

Despite its northern latitude, temperatures very rarely drop below −15 °C (5 °F) in the winter. The proximity to theArctic Circleand the strong moderation of theAtlantic Oceanin theIcelandiccoast (influence ofNorth Atlantic Current,an extension of theGulf Stream) shape a relatively mild winter and cool summer. The city's coastal location does make it prone to wind, however, andgalesare common in winter (influence of theIcelandic Low).[19]Summers are cool, with temperatures fluctuating between 10 and 15 °C (50 and 59 °F), rarely exceeding 20 °C (68 °F). This is a result of exposure to the maritime winds in its exposed west coast location that causes it to be much cooler in summer than similar latitudes in mainlandScandinavia.Contrasting this, winter days are milder than anywhere in far southernSwedenand the vast majority ofDenmark.In fact, winter temperatures are comparable to those ofNew York City,which is more than 20 degrees further south. Reykjavík averages 147 days of rain (more than 1mm) per year.[20]Droughts are uncommon, although they occur in some summers. In the summer of 2007, no rain was measured for one month. July and August are the warmest months of the year on average and January and February the coldest.

Summer tends to be the sunniest season, although May averages the most sunshine of any individual month. Overall, the city receives around 1,300 annual hours of sunshine,[21]which is comparable with other places in northern and north-western Europe such asIrelandandScotland,but substantially less than equally northern regions with a more continental climate, including theBothnian Baybasin in Scandinavia. Nonetheless, Reykjavík is one of the cloudiest and coolest capitals of any nation in the world. The highest temperature recorded in Reykjavík was 25.7 °C (78 °F), reported on 30 July 2008,[22]while the lowest-ever recorded temperature was −24.5 °C (−12 °F), recorded on 21 January 1918.[23]The coldest month on record is January 1918, with a mean temperature of −7.2 °C (19 °F). The warmest is July 2019, with a mean temperature of 13.4 °C (56 °F).[24]

Climate data for Reykjavík, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1829–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.6
(52.9) 		10.2
(50.4) 		14.2
(57.6) 		17.1
(62.8) 		20.6
(69.1) 		22.4
(72.3) 		25.7
(78.3) 		24.8
(76.6) 		20.1
(68.2) 		15.7
(60.3) 		12.9
(55.2) 		12.0
(53.6) 		25.7
(78.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8) 		3.3
(37.9) 		4.2
(39.6) 		6.9
(44.4) 		10.1
(50.2) 		13.0
(55.4) 		14.9
(58.8) 		14.1
(57.4) 		11.4
(52.5) 		7.6
(45.7) 		4.7
(40.5) 		3.3
(37.9) 		8.1
(46.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 0.7
(33.3) 		0.5
(32.9) 		1.2
(34.2) 		3.7
(38.7) 		6.7
(44.1) 		9.8
(49.6) 		11.6
(52.9) 		11.0
(51.8) 		8.5
(47.3) 		4.9
(40.8) 		2.2
(36.0) 		0.8
(33.4) 		5.1
(41.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.7
(28.9) 		−1.9
(28.6) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		1.0
(33.8) 		4.0
(39.2) 		7.2
(45.0) 		9.1
(48.4) 		8.6
(47.5) 		6.2
(43.2) 		2.7
(36.9) 		−0.1
(31.8) 		−1.6
(29.1) 		2.7
(36.9)
Record low °C (°F) −24.5
(−12.1) 		−17.6
(0.3) 		−16.4
(2.5) 		−16.4
(2.5) 		−7.7
(18.1) 		−0.7
(30.7) 		1.4
(34.5) 		−0.4
(31.3) 		−4.4
(24.1) 		−10.6
(12.9) 		−15.1
(4.8) 		−16.8
(1.8) 		−24.5
(−12.1)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 87.1
(3.43) 		90.6
(3.57) 		80.7
(3.18) 		59.0
(2.32) 		52.6
(2.07) 		43.3
(1.70) 		49.9
(1.96) 		64.5
(2.54) 		87.0
(3.43) 		79.8
(3.14) 		86.5
(3.41) 		94.9
(3.74) 		875.9
(34.48)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 19.9
(7.8) 		17.1
(6.7) 		23.2
(9.1) 		12.1
(4.8) 		1.6
(0.6) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		1.4
(0.6) 		8.7
(3.4) 		17.8
(7.0) 		101.8
(40.1)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) 15.3 15.0 14.2 12.0 10.8 9.3 10.3 11.6 15.0 13.1 13.7 14.6 154.9
Average snowy days(≥ 0 cm) 12.2 12.4 9.6 2.1 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 5.3 12.6 55.1
Averagerelative humidity(%) 78.1 77.1 76.2 74.4 74.9 77.9 80.3 81.6 79.0 78.0 77.7 77.7 77.8
Averagedew point°C (°F) −2.9
(26.8) 		−3.3
(26.1) 		−3.0
(26.6) 		−1.0
(30.2) 		2.0
(35.6) 		5.6
(42.1) 		7.9
(46.2) 		7.6
(45.7) 		5.1
(41.2) 		1.2
(34.2) 		−1.5
(29.3) 		−2.9
(26.8) 		1.2
(34.2)
Mean monthlysunshine hours 22.6 61.6 110.3 165.1 209.0 189.5 183.1 164.8 118.3 91.6 39.7 12.6 1,368.2
Percentpossible sunshine 12 25 29 36 35 28 28 31 31 31 21 16 27
Averageultraviolet index 0 0 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 0 0 2
Source 1:Icelandic Met Office,[25][26][27]NOAA[28]
Source 2: timeanddate (sunshine percent and dewpoints),[29]Weather Atlas, (UV)[30]and Meteo Climat[31]
Coastal temperature data for Reykjavík
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average sea temperature °C (°F) 3.9
(39.02) 		3.7
(38.66) 		4.1
(39.38) 		4.7
(40.46) 		6.5
(43.70) 		8.8
(47.84) 		10.5
(50.90) 		11.4
(52.52) 		9.9
(49.82) 		7.7
(45.86) 		6.4
(43.52) 		5.5
(41.90) 		6.9
(44.47)
Source 1: Seatemperature.net[32]

Cityscape

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Panorama of the northern seashore of Reykjavík, as seen from Örfirisey

City administration

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TheReykjavík City Councilgoverns the city of Reykjavík[33]and is directly elected by those aged over 18 domiciled in the city. The council has 23 members who are elected using theopen listmethod for four-year terms.

The council selects members of boards, and each board controls a different field under the city council's authority. The most important board is the City Board that wields the executive rights along with the City Mayor. The City Mayor is the senior public official and also the director of city operations. Other public officials control city institutions under the mayor's authority. Thus, the administration consists of two different parts:

  • The political power of City Council cascading down to other boards
  • Public officials under the authority of the city mayor who administer and manage implementation of policy.

Political control

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TheIndependence Partywas historically the city's ruling party; it had an overall majority from its establishment in 1929 until 1978, when it narrowly lost. From 1978 until 1982, there was a three-party coalition composed of thePeople's Alliance,theSocial Democratic Party,and theProgressive Party.In 1982, the Independence Party regained an overall majority, which it held for three consecutive terms. The 1994 election was won by Reykjavíkurlistinn (the R-list), an alliance of Icelandic socialist parties, led byIngibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir.This alliance won a majority in three consecutive elections, but was dissolved for the 2006 election when five different parties were on the ballot. The Independence Party won seven seats, and together with the one Progressive Party it were able to form a new majority in the council which took over in June 2006.

In October 2007 a new majority was formed on the council, consisting of members of the Progressive Party, theSocial Democratic Alliance,theLeft-Greensand the F-list (liberals and independents), after controversy regarding REI, a subsidiary of OR, the city's energy company. However, three months later the F-list formed a new majority together with the Independence Party.Ólafur F. Magnússon,the leader of the F-list, was elected mayor on 24 January 2008, and in March 2009 the Independence Party was due to appoint a new mayor. This changed once again on 14 August 2008 when the fourth coalition of the term was formed, by the Independence Party and the Social Democratic Alliance, withHanna Birna Kristjánsdóttirbecoming mayor.

TheCity Council election in May 2010saw a new political party,The Best Party,win six of 15 seats, and it formed a coalition with the Social Democratic Alliance; comedianJón Gnarrbecame mayor.[34]At the 2014 election, the Social Democratic Alliance had its best showing yet, gaining five seats in the council, whileBright Future(successor to the Best Party) received two seats and the two parties formed a coalition with theLeft-Green movementand thePirate Party,which won one seat each. The Independence Party had its worst election ever, with only four seats.

Mayor

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Main article:Mayor of Reykjavík

The mayor is appointed by the city council; usually one of the council members is chosen, but they may also appoint a mayor who is not a member of the council.

The post was created in 1907 and advertised in 1908. Two applications were received, fromPáll Einarsson[is],sheriff and town mayor ofHafnarfjörðurand fromKnud Zimsen[is],town councillor in Reykjavík. Páll was appointed on 7 May and was mayor for six years. At that time the city mayor received a salary of 4,500 ISK per year and 1,500 ISK for office expenses. The current mayor isEinar Þorsteinsson[is].[35]

Demographics

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Residential area of Reykjavík
Main article:Demographics of Iceland

Reykjavík is by far the largest and most populous settlement in Iceland. The municipality of Reykjavík had a population of 131,136 on 1 January 2020, comprising 36% of the country's population. TheCapital Region,which includes the capital and six municipalities around it, was home to 233,034 people; that is about 64% of the country's population.[36]

On 1 January 2019, of the city's population of 128,793, immigrants of the first and second generation numbered 23,995 (18.6%), increasing from 12,352 (10.4%) in 2008 and 3,106 (2.9%) in 1998.[37] The most common foreign citizens arePoles,Lithuanians,andLatvians.About 80% of the city's foreign residents originate inEuropean UnionandEFTAmember states, and over 58% are from the new member states of the EU, mainly formerEastern Bloccountries,which joined in 2004,2007and2013.[38]As of 1 January 2023, about 63% of the population was documented to live in the Greater Reykjavik area with a total of 242,995 inhabitants.[39]

Children of foreign origin form a more considerable minority in the city's schools: as many as a third in places.[40]The city is also visited by thousands of tourists, students, and other temporary residents, at times outnumbering natives in the city centre.[41]

Residents by citizenship (1 January 1998 – 2018)[42]
Citizenship[a] 2018 2008 1998
Number % of total
population 		% of foreign
citizens 		Number % of total
population 		% of foreign
citizens 		Number % of total
population 		% of foreign
citizens
Iceland 110,445 87.63% 109,111 91.82% 104,920 97.74%
Poland 5,526 4.38% 35.43% 3,146 2.65% 32.38% 95 0.09% 3.92%
Lithuania 1,733 1.37% 11.11% 811 0.68% 8.35% 8 0.01% 0.33%
Latvia 595 0.47% 3.82% 217 0.18% 2.23% 1 0.00% 0.04%
United Kingdom 487 0.39% 3.12% 222 0.19% 2.28% 153 0.14% 6.32%
Spain 482 0.38% 3.09% 87 0.07% 0.90% 41 0.04% 1.69%
Germany 481 0.38% 3.08% 450 0.38% 4.63% 148 0.14% 6.11%
United States 420 0.33% 2.69% 331 0.28% 3.41% 313 0.29% 12.93%
Romania 419 0.33% 2.69% 50 0.04% 0.51% 4 0.00% 0.17%
Philippines 409 0.32% 2.62% 453 0.38% 4.66% 110 0.10% 4.54%
Portugal 393 0.31% 2.52% 278 0.23% 2.86% 31 0.03% 1.28%
France 371 0.29% 2.38% 145 0.12% 1.49% 71 0.07% 2.93%
Denmark[b] 354 0.28% 2.27% 419 0.35% 4.31% 358 0.33% 14.79%
Vietnam 243 0.19% 1.56% 207 0.17% 2.13% 43 0.04% 1.78%
Italy 242 0.19% 1.55% 80 0.07% 0.82% 17 0.02% 0.70%
Thailand 216 0.17% 1.38% 286 0.24% 2.94% 155 0.14% 6.40%
Czech Republic 176 0.14% 1.13% 72 0.06% 0.74% 8 0.01% 0.33%
Hungary 172 0.14% 1.10% 48 0.04% 0.49% 3 0.00% 0.12%
China 164 0.13% 1.05% 144 0.12% 1.48% 40 0.04% 1.65%
Sweden 156 0.12% 1.00% 201 0.17% 2.07% 117 0.11% 4.83%
Croatia 153 0.12% 0.98% 18 0.02% 0.19% 8 0.01% 0.33%
Slovakia 127 0.10% 0.81% 91 0.08% 0.94% 3 0.00% 0.12%
Norway 120 0.10% 0.77% 141 0.12% 1.45% 154 0.14% 6.36%
Bulgaria 115 0.09% 0.74% 57 0.05% 0.59% 17 0.02% 0.70%
Russia 110 0.09% 0.71% 109 0.09% 1.12% 32 0.03% 1.32%
Syria 109 0.09% 0.70% 7 0.01% 0.07% 3 0.00% 0.12%
Netherlands 100 0.08% 0.64% 75 0.06% 0.77% 28 0.03% 1.16%
Ukraine 81 0.06% 0.52% 89 0.07% 0.92% 9 0.01% 0.37%
Canada 80 0.06% 0.51% 63 0.05% 0.65% 35 0.03% 1.45%
India 73 0.06% 0.47% 86 0.07% 0.89% 10 0.01% 0.41%
Greece 60 0.05% 0.38% 4 0.00% 0.04% 3 0.00% 0.12%
Ireland 60 0.05% 0.38% 25 0.02% 0.26% 13 0.01% 0.54%
Finland 59 0.05% 0.38% 62 0.05% 0.64% 51 0.05% 2.11%
Iran 56 0.04% 0.36% 16 0.01% 0.16% 5 0.00% 0.21%
Morocco 53 0.04% 0.34% 54 0.05% 0.56% 22 0.02% 0.91%
Afghanistan 50 0.04% 0.32% 1 0.00% 0.01% 0 0.00% 0.00%
Austria 49 0.04% 0.31% 45 0.04% 0.46% 17 0.02% 0.70%
Switzerland 48 0.04% 0.31% 32 0.03% 0.33% 11 0.01% 0.45%
Japan 45 0.04% 0.29% 34 0.03% 0.35% 14 0.01% 0.58%
Serbia[c] 43 0.03% 0.28% 69 0.06% 0.71%
Iraq 42 0.03% 0.27% 2 0.00% 0.02% 4 0.00% 0.17%
Mexico 40 0.03% 0.26% 15 0.01% 0.15% 12 0.01% 0.50%
Nigeria 40 0.03% 0.26% 25 0.02% 0.26% 3 0.00% 0.12%
Albania 39 0.03% 0.25% 15 0.01% 0.15% 1 0.00% 0.04%
Belgium 38 0.03% 0.24% 26 0.02% 0.27% 8 0.01% 0.33%
Australia 37 0.03% 0.24% 28 0.02% 0.29% 9 0.01% 0.37%
Brazil 37 0.03% 0.24% 26 0.02% 0.27% 8 0.01% 0.33%
Estonia 34 0.03% 0.22% 40 0.03% 0.41% 5 0.00% 0.21%
Colombia 32 0.03% 0.21% 72 0.06% 0.74% 10 0.01% 0.41%
Pakistan 30 0.02% 0.19% 6 0.01% 0.06% 4 0.00% 0.17%
Slovenia 25 0.02% 0.16% 6 0.01% 0.06% 3 0.00% 0.12%
Kosovo[d] 24 0.02% 0.15%
Kenya 23 0.02% 0.15% 23 0.02% 0.24% 2 0.00% 0.08%
Ethiopia 22 0.02% 0.14% 35 0.03% 0.36% 1 0.00% 0.04%
Nepal 20 0.02% 0.13% 40 0.03% 0.41% 2 0.00% 0.08%
Yugoslavia[e] 65 0.06% 2.68%
Other Asia 143 0.11% 0.92% 165 0.14% 1.70% 33 0.03% 1.36%
Other Africa 129 0.10% 0.73% 88 0.07% 0.91% 40 0.04% 1.65%
Other Americas 104 0.08% 0.67% 111 0.09% 1.14% 39 0.04% 1.61%
Other Europe[f] 41 0.03% 0.26% 223 0.19% 2.29% 81 0.08% 3.35%
Stateless 38 0.03% 0.27% 58 0.05% 0.60% 2 0.00% 0.08%
Other Oceania 11 0.01% 0.07% 10 0.01% 0.10% 0 0.00% 0.00%
Other EU and EFTA 8 0.01% 0.08% 5 0.00% 0.05% 0 0.00% 0.00%
Total:EUandEFTA[g] 12,583 9.98% 80.68% 6,835[h] 5.75% 70.35% 1,258[i] 1.17% 51.96%
Total:Asia 1,580 1.25% 10.13% 1,407 1.18% 14.48% 421 0.39% 17.39%
Total:Nordic countries[j] 689 0.55% 4.42% 823 0.69% 8.47% 680 0.63% 28.09%
Total:Northern America 500 0.40% 3.21% 394 0.33% 4.06% 348 0.32% 14.37%
Total:Europeoutside of
EUandEFTA		 338 0.27% 2.17% 523 0.44% 5.38% 278 0.26% 11.48%
Total:Africa 296 0.23% 1.90% 237 0.20% 2.44% 73 0.07% 3.02%
Total:Latin America
and the Caribbean		 213 0.17% 1.37% 224 0.19% 2.31% 69 0.06% 2.85%
Total:Oceania 48 0.04% 0.33% 38 0.03% 0.39% 9 0.01% 0.37%
Total foreign citizens 15,596 12.37% 100% 9,716 8.18% 100% 2,421 2.26% 100%
Total population 126,041 100% 118,827 100% 107,341 100%
aShowing only countries with 20 or more citizens in the 2018 census.
bIncluding citizens of theFaroe IslandsandGreenland.
cNot included in the 1998 census. See Yugoslavia.
dIncluded as part of Serbia in the 2008 census, and as part of Yugoslavia in the 1998 census.
eFederal Republic of Yugoslavia(1992–2006). Some persons who were registered as Yugoslavians after 1992 may in fact have origins in any of the six original republics of the union.
fIncluding citizens of unspecified countries of formerYugoslaviaand the formerSoviet Union.
gIncluding the Nordic countries except Iceland.
hNot including the2013 enlargement of the European Union.
iNot including the2004and2007 enlargement of the European Union.
jExcluding Iceland.
Historical population of Reykjavík

Districts

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Districts of Reykjavík

Reykjavík is divided into 10 districts:

In addition there arehinterlandareas (lightly shaded on the map) which are not assigned to any district.

Economy

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See also:Economy of IcelandandList of diplomatic missions in Iceland
Embassy of Denmark

Borgartúnis the financial centre of Reykjavík, hosting a large number of companies and three investment banks. Reykjavík has been at the centre of Iceland's economic growth and subsequent economic contraction over the 2000s, a period referred to in foreign media as the "Nordic Tiger" years,[43][44]or "Iceland's Boom Years".[45]The economic boom led to a sharp increase in construction, with large redevelopment projects such asHarpaconcert hall and conference centre and others. Many of these projects came to a halt in the followingeconomic crash of 2008.

There are 14 embassies in Reykjavik, in addition to ambassadorial residences, and representative offices for Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the European Union.[46]

Infrastructure

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Roads

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Per capitacarownership in Iceland is among the highest in the world at roughly 522 vehicles per 1,000 residents,[47]though Reykjavík is not severely affected bycongestion.Several multi-lane highways (mainlydual carriageways) run between the most heavily populated areas and most frequently driven routes. Parking spaces are also plentiful in most areas. Public transportation consists of a bus system calledStrætó bs.Route 1(the Ring Road) runs through the city outskirts and connects the city to the rest of Iceland.

Old harbour

Airports and seaports

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Reykjavík Airportis positioned inside the city, just south of the city centre. It is used for domestic flights, general aviation and medical flights.Keflavík International Airport,located around 40km southwest of the city, serves international flights and is the main gateway to the country. Since 1962, there has been some controversy regarding the location of the airport, since it takes up a lot of valuable space in central Reykjavík.

Reykjavík has twoseaports:the old harbour near the city centre, which is mainly used byfishermenandcruise ships,andSundahöfnin the east city, which is the largestcargoport in the country and serves largercruise ships.

Two steam locomotives were used to build the harbourReykjavík Docks railway;both are now on display in Reykjavík.

Railways

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There are no public railways in Iceland, because of its sparse population, but the locomotives used to build the docks are on display. Proposals have been made for a high-speed rail link between the city andKeflavík.[48]

District heating

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See also:Geothermal power in Iceland
Geothermally powered snow-melting system being installed on Skólavörðustígur, Reykjavík.

Volcanic activity provides all of Reykjavík and surrounding areas withgeothermaldistrict heatingsystems for both residential and industrial districts. In heavily trafficked areas, mostly in the city centre, pavements and streets use geothermalsnow-melting systems.Many driveways of private residences are also fitted with geothermal snow-melting systems. Geothermal hot water is also used to heat the city's numerous public pools and hot tubs. Natural hot water is used to heat roughly 90% of all buildings in Iceland.[49]Of total annual use of geothermal energy of 39PJ,space heating accounted for 48%.[50]

The total thermal capacity of Reykjavíks hot water production is around 830MW, and the city has an average heating demand of 473 MW.[51]Hot water for Reyjavík'sdistrict heatingcomes from twocombined heat and power(CHP)geothermal powerplants as well as lower temperature geothermal fields:[52]

Cultural heritage

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Safnahúsið

Safnahúsið(the Culture House) was opened in 1909 and has a number of important exhibits. Originally built to house the National Library and National Archives and also previously the location of the National Museum and Natural History Museum, in 2000 it was re-modeled to promote the Icelandic national heritage. Many of Iceland's national treasures are on display, such as thePoetic Edda,and theSagasin their original manuscripts. There are also changing exhibitions of various topics.[53]

Literary heritage

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Reykjavík is the capital, and in fact Iceland's only city, and as such, it plays a vital role in all cultural life in the country. The city is home to Iceland's main cultural institutions, boasts a flourishing arts scene and is renowned as a creative city with a diverse range of cultural happenings and dynamic grassroots activities. Most of the country's writers live in the city, and it also provides the setting for the majority of contemporary Icelandic literature – a development that has gone hand in hand with the rapid expansion of the city in the past 100 years or so.

Reykjavík is home to Icelandic medieval literature, including theSagas of the Icelandersand thePoetic Edda,landmarks of world literature still widely read and translated today. This literary heritage is the core of the nation's identity and narrative art is the single most important part of its cultural history. TheÁrni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studiesin Reykjavík is the centre of this heritage. It preserves manuscripts, conducts research on them and publishes texts for the public, in addition to offering research facilities and tutoring to foreign scholars and students. TheArnamagnæan Manuscript Collectionwas added to theUNESCOMemory of the World Register on 31 July 2009. Reykjavík city was designated as aUNESCO City of Literaturein 2011 and joined then theUNESCO Creatives Cities network.

Iceland is one of the smallest linguistic areas in the world, with only around 330,000 inhabitants and very few speakers outside the country. The language has not changed much since the time of settlement in the 9th century and modern Icelanders can still read the original medieval texts with relative ease. Literature plays a vital role in cherishing and cultivating the language, both original Icelandic literature and translations. Language undergoes constant renewal and development in fiction, and translation of foreign work has also been instrumental in conserving this thousand-year-old literary language.

Award-winning authors Several Reykjavík writers have received international and Nordic awards.Halldór Laxnesswas awarded theNobel Prize for Literaturein 1955 for "vivid epic power which has renewed the great narrative art of Iceland". The House of Halldór Laxness,Gljúfrasteinn,in the capital area can be visited year-round. A number of writers have won theNordic Council's Literature Prize,among them areThor Vilhjálmsson,Einar Már GuðmundssonandSjón,and authors such asGuðrún Helgadóttir,Kristín SteinsdóttirandRagnheiður Gestsdóttirare winners of TheNordic Children's Literature Prize.Crime writerArnaldur Indriðasonhas won prizes abroad, including The Golden Dagger Award. Among other prizes awarded to writers from Reykjavík are the Kairos Preis (Andri Snaer Magnason), the Swedish Academy's Nordic Literature Prize (Guðbergur Bergsson) and the Prix de Page (Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir). Contemporary Icelandic writers are published in an increased number in translations throughout the world.

Lifestyle

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Nightlife

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Laugavegurmain street in downtown Reykjavík

Alcoholis expensive at bars. People tend to drink at home before going out. Beer wasbannedin Iceland until 1 March 1989 but has since become popular among many Icelanders as their alcoholic drink of choice.[54]

Live music

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TheIceland Airwavesmusic festival is staged annually in November.[55]This festival takes place all over the city, and the concert venueHarpais one of the main locations. Other venues that frequently organise live music events are Kex, Húrra, Gaukurinn (grunge,metal,punk), Mengi (centre forcontemporary music,avant-garde musicandexperimental music),the Icelandic Operaand theNational Theatre of Icelandfor classical music.

New Year's Eve

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The arrival of the new year is a particular cause for celebration to the people of Reykjavík. Icelandic law states that anyone may purchase and use fireworks between 28th December and 6th January. As a result, every New Year's Eve the city is lit up withfireworksdisplays.[56]

Main sights

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Austurstrætistreet

Recreation

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Reykjavík Golf Clubwas established in 1934. It is the oldest and largest golf club in Iceland, and consists of two 18-hole courses – one atGrafarholtand the other at Korpa. The Grafarholt golf course opened in 1963, which makes it the oldest 18-hole golf course in Iceland. The Korpa golf course opened in 1997.[57]

Education

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Secondary schools

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Universities

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International schools

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Sports teams

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Laugardalsvöllur

Football

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Úrvalsdeild

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1. deild karla

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Other youth clubs

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Clubs classified as youth clubs offer youth teams where anyone can train with the team, though each club is based in a certain area of Reykjavík and mainly serves that area.

Other

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Twin towns – sister cities

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See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Iceland

Reykjavík istwinnedwith:[58]

In July 2013, mayor Jón Gnarr filed a motion before the city council to terminate the city's relationship with Moscow, in response to a trend ofanti-gay legislation in Russia.[59] Lviv in Ukraine replaced Moscow in 2023.[60]

Notable people

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Main article:List of people from Reykjavík

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Nuukis farther north, butGreenlandis an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

References

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Sources

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