Presentation to analyze the culture and family environment in Iceland for a class taken in Summer 2020.

1. UNESSAY:
ICELAND
Meredith Hansen
University of Georgia

2. The official name of Iceland is
Lýdhveldidh Ísland, or Republic of
Iceland. This island is in the North
Atlantic and close to the Artic Circle.
Due to its location, Iceland is home to
many active volcanoes, glaciers,
plateaus, mountains, hot springs,
waterfalls, and the Northern Lights.
The capital of Iceland is Reykjavík,
where more than 60% of the
country’s total population live.
Location & Geography
Image from https://www.britannica.com/place/Iceland

3. ICELAND’S LOCATION
This is Iceland on a
world map. The island
has the Greenland Sea
above it and the North
Atlantic Ocean below it.
The size of the land is
like Kentucky or Virginia.

4. This is the projected population
size of Iceland by July of 2020.
350, 734

5. — OECD Better Life Index
“Iceland performs well in many measures of well-being
relative to most other countries in the Better Life Index.
Iceland ranks at the top in jobs and earnings,
environmental quality and social connections, and
above the average in income and wealth, subjective
well-being, health status, personal security, civic
engagement, and education and skills.”

6. What potential
factors may
explain why
Iceland’s overall
quality of life
ranks so high in
comparison to
other countries
such as the United
States?
Culture & Family
02
Social Issues
04
Environmental Factors
01
Education, Employment,
& Economics
03
Geographic features, climate,
air quality, and sustainability
contribute to safety and
satisfaction.
Families in Iceland function
differently than other
countries. Standard of living
is higher, and the concept of
family is more flexible.
The education system in
Iceland differs from other
parts of the world.
Additionally, employment
rates are high despite level of
education completed.
In Iceland, there is only a
small percentage of those
who are living in poverty, and
there are low crime rates.
These social issues
contribute to overall well-
being and safety.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
How do environmental factors play a
role in the overall quality of life in
Iceland?
01

8. ● Aside from the breathtaking scenery in Iceland and the many scenic
views and excursions, there are several environmental factors that
could play a role in overall quality of life. For example, due to
Iceland’s small population size and abundance of renewable energy
sources utilized, there is little pollution and high air quality. Iceland
is said to be one of the most eco-friendly countries in the world.
● Those who live in Iceland emphasize being active and appreciating
nature.
● Since fishing is a major part of Iceland’s economy and exports,
harvesting marine resources sustainably is an economic and
environmental priority. Iceland prioritizes avoiding pollution in the
ocean and Icelandic waters are among the cleanest in the world.
● “About 85% of the total primary energy supply in Iceland is derived
from domestically produced renewable energy sources. This is the
highest share of renewable energy in any national total energy
budget.”
● The quality of our local living environment has a direct impact on
our health and well-being. Outdoor air pollution is one important
environmental issue that directly impacts the quality of people’s
lives.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

9. Top Left:
https://www.theneweconomy.
com/energy/iceland-
champions-the-power-of-
geothermal-energy-for-the-
environment-and-businesses
Bottom Left:
https://aviewoutside.com/top-
tips-for-visiting-the-blue-
lagoon-iceland/
Top Right:
https://www.goodnet.org/artic
les/these-5-countries-are-
totally-nailing-sustainability
Bottom Right:
https://blog.nationalgeographi
c.org/2016/08/05/icelandic-
cod-carrying-the-torch-for-
sustainable-seafood-at-the-
2016-rio-olympic-games/

10. REYKJAVIK’S WEATHER
CONDITIONS
SUNDAY,
JUNE 28
FRIDAY, JULY 3
56 degrees, intervals of clouds and sun.
Winds 10-15 mph. Sunrise at 3:10 am &
sunset at 11:52 pm.
SUNDAY, JULY 12
57 degrees, cloudy with rain
showers. Winds 10-15 mph. Sunrise
at 3:30 am & sunset at 11:34 pm.
With the climate being tempered
by the Gulf Stream, Iceland
maintains mild summers and cold
winters. This country’s daily
amount of visible sunlight varies
depending on location and time of
year: some locations see nearly
24 hours of sunlight in the
summer months. Weather
conditions such as strong winds,
rain, sunshine, or snow are
common and can change quickly.
60 degrees, considerable cloudiness and rain.
Winds 5-10 mph. Sunrise at 3:01 am & sunset
at 11:59 pm.

11. NORTHERN
LIGHTS
This is a time-lapse video of the
Northern Lights, or Aurora
Borealis. The prime time to view
the Northern Lights is during the
winter when Iceland has long
nights with little sunshine, or late
September to late March.

12. CULTURE & FAMILY
What aspects of the family and culture in
Iceland could explain the high quality of
life ratings?
02

13. CULTURE IN
ICELAND
The culture in Iceland is said
to be homogeneous. Aspects
of their culture include hot
springs, volcanoes,
waterfalls, nature, religion,
wildlife, fishing, literacy and
other intellectual pursuits.
Image from https://www.iamreykjavik.com/icelandic-culture-
character/iceland-customs-people-how-they-are

14. - Many agree that the family structure in Iceland is more flexible and
unconventional than other countries.
- For instance, according to data from January of 2020, there are
more married couples without children (33,969) than those with
children (23,103). There are also many consensual unions with
(10,595) and without children (4,575), and single mothers (10,999).
- 89% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in
times of need.
- Women usually don’t change their last names when getting married.
Parental leave is also 9 months there, compared to 3 months in the
U.S.
- 67% of the babies born in Iceland are born to unwed parents.
- The level of social network that individuals and families have most
likely correlates to overall satisfaction and quality of life. Since
Iceland has such high ratings of social support and diverse
families that are accepted in their culture, perhaps these factors
contribute to the high quality of life in Iceland.
CULTURE + FAMILY

15. EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT,
& ECONOMICS
How do education, employment, and the
economy contribute to quality of life?
03

16. LEVELS OF EDUCATION
IN ICELAND
Ages 1 to 6, not
mandatory. Not free of
charge, but largely
subsidized.
PRESCHOOL
Ages 6 to 16. Mandatory with
no alternative, home-school
options. Free of charge.
COMPULSORY
Ages 16-20. Similar to High
School in the United States.
UPPER SECONDARY
Students attend universities,
which accept everyone who has
completed upper secondary
education. There is no tuition to
attend.
HIGHER

17. - In 2018, 47% of young adults had obtained tertiary education. This
percentage increased especially among young adult women (25-34 years),
from 39% in 2008 to 56% in 2018.
- Although a large percentage of young adults did not obtain upper
secondary education, employment rates are still high among this group.
- Employment rates overall are high but increase with the level of education
attained.
- Young adults (25-34 years) with upper secondary education have an 84%
employment rate.
- Iceland holds one of the highest enrollment rates in early childhood
education and care: 95% of children are enrolled by age two.
- The pillars of the Icelandic economy are aluminum products, fishing, and
tourism. The United States is Iceland’s largest trading partner in terms of
imports and exports, and most tourists in Iceland come from the United
States.
- With more accessible education opportunities and higher employment
rates compared to the United States, this could relate to the high quality of
life ratings seen in Iceland.
EDUCATION,
EMPLOYMENT, +
ECONOMICS

18. SOCIAL ISSUES
What could potentially explain the low
rates of crime, poverty, and other social
issues?
04

19. — OSAC: Iceland 2019 Crime &
Safety Report
“The low level of general crime and very low level of
violent crime due to the high-standard of living, lack of
tension between social and economic classes, small
population, strong social attitudes against criminality,
high level of trust in law enforcement, and a well-
trained, highly-educated police force.”

20. - Many affirm that Iceland’s social classes are more homogenous and lack
stratification, which could attribute to the low occurrences of social
problems such as unemployment, crime, and overall high standards of
living.
- Iceland is a leader regarding human rights, with a very progressive and
accepting society related to gender, sexual orientation, and disability
issues.
- Despite beliefs about social equality related to disability, the abortion rate
for mothers who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome is nearly
100% and some say Iceland is eradicating the condition.
- Most police officers in this country are not armed with guns, only, pepper
spray and batons.
- It’s common to see babies sleeping outside alone, while parents eat or
shop places. This is so common due to the lack of crime.
- Low rates of crime and high trust in government, law enforcement, and
other civilians could contribute to overall well-being and satisfaction.
SOCIAL ISSUES

21. STATISTICS ON SOCIAL
ISSUES IN ICELAND
The cost of living in
Iceland is 24.43%
higher than in United
States.
Poverty
Iceland’s poverty rate
ratio was 0.054% in
2015. 6,000
Icelanders live in
severe poverty.
Iceland provides free
healthcare for all, and many
foods are organic. Having
hormones in food is illegal
there.
Crime
Iceland has traditionally
had a homicide rate of
less than one per year
for the last several
decades.
Many people in
Iceland have multiple
jobs and employment
rates are high across
the board..
Inequality
Iceland is ranked #1
for gender equality,
according to research
from the World
Economic Forum.
Unemployment
Healthcare
Cost of Living

22. For many years, I have admired Iceland’s beautiful scenery and excursions and have longed to travel there.
I chose this country to research because I wanted to learn more about Iceland’s culture. Having knowledge
about families and individuals in Iceland could benefit those wanting to travel there and give a better
understanding of how the country compares to the United States. For my project, I researched aspect of
Iceland’s culture of families and individuals that could potentially explain the high ratings in quality of life
overall compared to other countries like the United States. Iceland ranks at the top of all countries of the
world on many aspects of their society such as environmental policies, equality, education, employment,
economics, social issues, and more. Each of these factors closely affect families and individuals that live in
Iceland. Researching these topics as they relate to families and individuals gave the opportunity to learn
more about why Iceland has such high quality of life ratings and is said to be one of the best countries in
the world. Research shows that Iceland does have many positive aspects to the way citizens live: low crime
rates, strong social support, high employment rates, access to education, equality and other progressive
views, low poverty rate, and strong environmental conditions. In contrast to positive aspects of the lifestyle,
there are some negative aspects of living in Iceland: changing weather conditions, little sunlight at times,
and high cost of living. Overall, this project allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of Iceland, its
culture, and many of the families and individuals that are satisfied with their life there due to a number of
different aspects of the culture.
EXPLANATION OF PROJECT & RELATION TO
THEME

23. - Booth, Jessica. (2018, May 30). 12 surprising differences between
Icelandic and American culture. Insider. Retrieved from
https://www.insider.com/differences-between-iceland-and-american-
culture-2018-5#marriage-isnt-that-big-of-a-deal-in-iceland-12
- Central Intelligence Agency. (2018, February 01). The World Factbook:
Iceland. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-
world-factbook/geos/ic.html
- Countries and their Cultures. (n.d.). Iceland. Retrieved from
https://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Iceland.html
- Elder, S. (2017, May 17). What Does Education in Iceland Look Like?
Retrieved from https://borgenproject.org/education-in-iceland/
- Erludóttir, Lella. (2017, December 14). The best time to see the
northern lights in Iceland. Hey Iceland. Retrieved from
https://www.heyiceland.is/blog/nanar/5176/the-best-time-to-see-the-
northern-lights-in-iceland
- Government of Iceland. (n.d.). Air Quality. Retrieved from
https://www.government.is/topics/environment-climate-and-nature-
protection/air-quality/
- Government of Iceland. (n.d.). Energy. Retrieved from
https://www.government.is/topics/business-and-industry/energy/
REFERENCES

24. - Iceland with a View. (2018, August 20). The worst things about living
in Iceland. Retrieved from https://icelandwithaview.com/worst-things-
living-iceland/
- Inspired by Iceland. (n.d.). Environment. Retrieved from
https://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/nature-
environment/environment
- Karlsson, G., Kristinsson, V., & Matthíasson, B. (2020, March 23).
Iceland. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/place/Iceland
- Numbeo. (n.d.). Cost of living in Iceland. Retrieved from
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-
living/country_result.jsp?country=Iceland
- OECD Better Life Index. (n.d.). Iceland. Retrieved from
http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/iceland/
- Overseas Security Advisory Council. (2019, March 8). Iceland 2019
crime & safety report. Retrieved from
https://www.osac.gov/Country/Iceland/Content/Detail/Report/2d8cd
d85-eb54-4ec7-828a-15f4aeb18469
- Promote Iceland. (n.d.). Geography. Retrieved from
https://www.iceland.is/the-big-picture/nature-
environment/geography/
REFERENCES (CONTINUED)

25. - Staff. (2018, September 20). Iceland offers second highest quality of
life worldwide. Retrieved from https://icelandmag.is/article/iceland-
offers-second-highest-quality-life-worldwide
- Statistics Iceland. (2020, January). Family. Retrieved from
https://www.statice.is/statistics/population/family/family/
- The Weather Channel. (n.d.). 10 day weather – Reykjavík, capital,
Iceland. Retrieved from
https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Reykjav%C3%ADk+Reykjav%C
3%ADk+Iceland?canonicalCityId=485232806b5c2d06f6794b947ce82
218f9757e9ecb527dcb1bd6d9cf1780e26e
- Trafalgar. (2020, February 16). 13 strange and interesting facts about
Iceland. Retrieved from https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/facts-
about-iceland/
- World Travel Guide. (n.d.). Discover the climate and geography of
Iceland. Retrieved from
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/europe/iceland/weather-
climate-geography/
REFERENCES (CONTINUED)