text:
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 Althingi, 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. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. The economy is now on an upward trajectory, fueled primarily by a tourism and construction boom. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom
Geographic coordinates
Map references
Arctic Region
total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km
country comparison to the world: 109
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
Land boundaries
0 km
4,970 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm
continental shelf: 200nm or to the edge of the continental margin
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
mean elevation: 557 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur (at Vatnajokull Glacier) 2,110 m
Natural resources
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use
agricultural land: 18.7% (2011 est.)
arable land: 1.2% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 17.5% (2011 est.)
forest: 0.3% (2011 est.)
other: 81% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land
Population distribution
Iceland is almost entirely urban with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west
Natural hazards
earthquakes and volcanic activity volcanism: Iceland, situated on top of a hotspot, experiences severe volcanic activity; Eyjafjallajokull (1,666 m) erupted in 2010, sending ash high into the atmosphere and seriously disrupting European air traffic; scientists continue to monitor nearby Katla (1,512 m), which has a high probability of eruption in the very near future, potentially disrupting air traffic; Grimsvoetn and Hekla are Iceland's most active volcanoes; other historically active volcanoes include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar
Environment - current issues
water pollution from fertilizer runoff
Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
People and Society
343,518 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 81%, population with foreign background 19% (2018 est.)
note: population with foreign background includes immigrants and persons having at least one parent who was born abroad
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland (official) 67.2%, Roman Catholic 3.9%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.8%, Hafnarfjordur Free Church 2%, Asatru Association 1.2%, The Independent Congregation .9%, other religions 4% (includes Zuist and Pentecostal), none 6.7%, other or unspecified 11.3% (2018 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 20.4%(male 35,812 /female 34,249)
15-24 years: 13.22%(male 22,952 /female 22,444)
25-54 years: 39.76%(male 69,177 /female 67,401)
55-64 years: 11.87%(male 20,350 /female 20,426)
65 years and over: 14.76%(male 23,822 /female 26,885) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 51.6 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 30.8 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 20.8 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 4.8 (2015 est.)
Median age
total: 36.7 years (2018 est.)
male: 36.1 years
female: 37.3 years
country comparison to the world: 73
Population growth rate
1.08% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Birth rate
13.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Death rate
6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Net migration rate
3.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Population distribution
Iceland is almost entirely urban with half of the population located in and around the capital of Reykjavik; smaller clusters are primarily found along the coast in the north and west
urban population: 93.9% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.81% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
216,000 REYKJAVIK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
27.4 years (2015 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Infant mortality rate
total: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 221
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 83.1 years (2018 est.)
male: 80.9 years
female: 85.5 years
country comparison to the world: 7
Total fertility rate
1.99 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
8.3% (2016)
Physicians density
3.97 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density
3.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 98.7% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 100% of population (2015 est.)
total: 98.8% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 0% of population (2015 est.)
total: 1.2% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.1% (2018)
country comparison to the world: 124
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
<500 (2018)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
<100 (2018)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 83
Education expenditures
7.5% of GDP (2016)
country comparison to the world: 8
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 19 years
male: 18 years
female: 20 years (2016)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 7.9%
male: 8.6%
female: 7.1% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lydveldid Island
local short form: Island
etymology: Floki VILGERDARSON, an early explorer of the island (9th century), applied the name "Land of Ice" after spotting a fjord full of drift ice to the north and spending a bitter winter on the island; he eventually settled on the island, however, after he saw how it greened up in the summer and that it was, in fact, habitable
Government type
unitary parliamentary republic
name: Reykjavik
geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name means "smoky bay" in Icelandic and refers to the steamy, smoke-like vapors discharged by hot springs in the area
Administrative divisions
74 municipalities (sveitarfelog, singular - sveitarfelagidh); Akrahreppur, Akraneskaupstadhur, Akureyrarkaupstadhur, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Blonduosbaer, Bolungarvikurkaupstadhur, Borgarbyggdh, Borgarfjardharhreppur, Breidhdalshreppur, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Djupavogshreppur, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalsheradh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjardharkaupstadhur, Helgafellssveit, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunavatnshreppur, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhisbaer, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogsbaer, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavikurborg, Sandgerdhisbaer, Seltjarnarnesbaer, Seydhisfjardharkaupstadhur, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Skutustadhahreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmsbaer, Sudhavikurhreppur, Svalbardhshreppur, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Gardhur, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjabaer, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th Century independence movement)
National holiday
Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
history: several previous; latest ratified 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944 (at independence)
amendments: proposed by the Althingi; passage requires approval by the Althingi and by the next elected Althingi, and confirmation by the president of the republic; proposed amendments to Article 62 of the constitution – that the Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the state church of Iceland – also require passage by referendum; amended many times, last in 2013 (2016)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by the Danish model
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Iceland
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 to 7 years
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON (since 1 August 2016)
head of government: Prime Minister Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR (since 30 November 2017)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 June 2016 (next to be held in June 2020); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition becomes prime minister
election results: Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON elected president; percent of vote - Gudni Thorlacius JOHANNESSON 39.1%, Halla TOMASDOTTIR 27.9%, Andri Snaer MAGNASON 14.3%, David ODDSSON 13.7%, Sturla JONSSON 3.5%, invalid 1.5%
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Althingi or Parliament (63 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 28 October 2017 (next to be held in 2021)
election results: percent of vote by party - IP 25.2%, LGM 16.9%, SDA 12.1%, CP 10.9%, PP 10.7%, Pirate Party 9.2%, People's Party 6.9%, Reform Party 6.7%. other 1.5%; seats by party - IP 16, LGM 11, SDA 7, CP 7, PP 8, Pirate Party 6, Reform Party 4, People's Party 4
Judicial branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Haestirettur (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: judges proposed by Ministry of Interior selection committee and appointed by the president; judges appointed for an indefinite period
subordinate courts: Appellate Court or Landsrettur; 8 district courts; Labor Court
Political parties and leaders
Centrist Party (Midflokkurinn) or CP [Sigmundur David GUNNLAUGSSON]
Independence Party (Sjalfstaedisflokkurinn) or IP [Bjarni BENEDIKTSSON]
Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin-graent frambod) or LGM [Katrin JAKOBSDOTTIR]
People's Party (Flokkur Folksins) [Inga SAELAND]
Pirate Party (Piratar) [rotating leadership]
Progressive Party (Framsoknarflokkurinn) or PP [Sigurdur Ingi JOHANNSSON]
Reform Party (Vidreisn) [Thorgerdur Katrin GUNNARSDOTTIR]
Social Democratic Alliance (Samfylkingin) or SDA [Logi Mar EINARSSON]
International organization participation
Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Ambassador Geir Hilmar HAARDE (since 23 February 2015)
chancery: House of Sweden, 2900 K Street NW, #509, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey Ross GUNTER (since 2 July 2019)
telephone: [354] 595-2200
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
Flag description
blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean
National symbol(s)
gyrfalcon; national colors: blue, white, red
National anthem
name: "Lofsongur" (Song of Praise)
lyrics/music: Matthias JOCHUMSSON/Sveinbjorn SVEINBJORNSSON
note: adopted 1944; also known as "O, Gud vors lands" (O, God of Our Land), the anthem was originally written and performed in 1874
Economy - overview
Iceland's economy combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare system. Except for a brief period during the 2008 crisis, Iceland has in recent years achieved high growth, low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, particularly within the fields of tourism, software production, and biotechnology. Abundant geothermal and hydropower sources have attracted substantial foreign investment in the aluminum sector, boosted economic growth, and sparked some interest from high-tech firms looking to establish data centers using cheap green energy.Tourism, aluminum smelting, and fishing are the pillars of the economy. For decades the Icelandic economy depended heavily on fisheries, but tourism has now surpassed fishing and aluminum as Iceland's main export industry. Tourism accounted for 8.6% of Iceland's GDP in 2016, and 39% of total exports of merchandise and services. From 2010 to 2017, the number of tourists visiting Iceland increased by nearly 400%. Since 2010, tourism has become a main driver of Icelandic economic growth, with the number of tourists reaching 4.5 times the Icelandic population in 2016. Iceland remains sensitive to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports, and to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Icelandic Krona.Following the privatization of the banking sector in the early 2000s, domestic banks expanded aggressively in foreign markets, and consumers and businesses borrowed heavily in foreign currencies. Worsening global financial conditions throughout 2008 resulted in a sharp depreciation of the krona vis-a-vis other major currencies. The foreign exposure of Icelandic banks, whose loans and other assets totaled nearly nine times the country's GDP, became unsustainable. Iceland's three largest banks collapsed in late 2008. GDP fell 6.8% in 2009, and unemployment peaked at 9.4% in February 2009. Three new banks were established to take over the domestic assets of the collapsed banks. Two of them have majority ownership by the state, which intends to re-privatize them.Since the collapse of Iceland's financial sector, government economic priorities have included stabilizing the krona, implementing capital controls, reducing Iceland's high budget deficit, containing inflation, addressing high household debt, restructuring the financial sector, and diversifying the economy. Capital controls were lifted in March 2017, but some financial protections, such as reserve requirements for specified investments connected to new inflows of foreign currency, remain in place.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$18.18 billion (2017 est.)
$17.48 billion (2016 est.)
$16.29 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 153
GDP (official exchange rate)
$24.48 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
4% (2017 est.)
7.4% (2016 est.)
4.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$52,200 (2017 est.)
$51,700 (2016 est.)
$48,900 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 25
Gross national saving
25.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
29.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
24.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 50.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 23.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 47% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 5.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 19.7% (2017 est.)
services: 74.6% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products
potatoes, carrots, green vegetables, tomatoes, cucumbers; mutton, chicken, pork, beef, dairy products; fish
tourism, fish processing; aluminum smelting;; geothermal power, hydropower; medical/pharmaceutical products
Industrial production growth rate
2.4% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Labor force
198,700 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 22.2%
services: 73% (2008)
Unemployment rate
2.8% (2017 est.)
3% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Population below poverty line
note: 332,100 families (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index
28 (2006)
25 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 142
revenues: 10.39 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 10.02 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
42.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
1.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Public debt
40% of GDP (2017 est.)
51.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Fiscal year
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.8% (2017 est.)
1.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Central bank discount rate
5.4% (31 January 2012)
5.75% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 77
Commercial bank prime lending rate
7.26% (31 December 2017 est.)
8.24% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Stock of narrow money
$4.945 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.251 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Stock of broad money
$4.945 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$4.251 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Stock of domestic credit
$24.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$21.18 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Market value of publicly traded shares
$2.825 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$2.021 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$1.996 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Current account balance
$857 million (2017 est.)
$1.556 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$4.957 billion (2017 est.)
$4.483 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Exports - partners
Netherlands 25.5%, Spain 13.6%, UK 9.4%, Germany 7.6%, US 7%, France 6.3%, Norway 4.9%
Exports - commodities
fish and fish products (42%), aluminum (38%), agricultural products, medicinal and medical products, ferro-silicon (2015)
$6.525 billion (2017 est.)
$5.315 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners
Germany 10.7%, Norway 9.2%, China 7%, Netherlands 6.7%, US 6.4%, Denmark 6.2%, UK 5.7%, Sweden 4.1%
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$6.567 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$7.226 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Debt - external
$21.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$25.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$6.666 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$13.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$11.24 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$17.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Exchange rates
Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar -
111.7 (2017 est.)
120.81 (2016 est.)
120.81 (2015 est.)
131.92 (2014 est.)
116.77 (2013 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity - production
18.17 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - consumption
17.68 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - installed generating capacity
2.772 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Electricity - from fossil fuels
4% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
71% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Electricity - from other renewable sources
25% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Crude oil - production
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Crude oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Crude oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Crude oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Refined petroleum products - production
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Refined petroleum products - consumption
20,850 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Refined petroleum products - exports
2,530 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - imports
20,220 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
3.228 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 146,213
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 410,662
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Telephone system
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is modern and fully digitized, with satellite-earth stations, fiber-optic cables, and an extensive broadband network; LTE licenses providing 99% population coverage (2018)
domestic: liberalization of the telecommunications sector beginning in the late 1990s has led to increased competition especially in the mobile services segment of the market; 43 per 100 for fixed line and 121 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2018)
international: country code - 354; the CANTAT-3, FARICE-1, Greenland Connect and DANICE submarine cable system provides connectivity to Canada, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, UK, Denmark, and Germany; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) (2019)
Broadcast media
state-owned public TV broadcaster (RUV) operates 21 TV channels nationally (RUV and RUV 2, though RUV 2 is used less frequently); RUV broadcasts nationally, every household in Iceland is required to have RUV as it doubles as the emergency broadcast network; RUV also operates stringer offices in the north (Akureyri) and the east (Egilsstadir) but operations are all run out of RUV headquarters in Reykjavik; there are 3 privately owned TV stations; Stod 2 (Channel 2) is owned by Syn, following 365 Media and Vodafone merger, and is headquartered in Reykjavik; Syn also operates 4 sports channels under Stod 2; N4 is the only television station headquartered outside of Reykjavik, in Akureyri, with local programming for the north, south, and east of Iceland; Hringbraut is the newest station and is headquartered in Reykjavik; all of these television stations have nationwide penetration as 100% of households have multi-channel services though digital and/or fiber-optic connectionsRUV operates 3 radio stations (RAS 1, RAS2, and Rondo) as well as 4 regional stations (but they mostly act as range extenders for RUV radio broadcasts nationwide); there is 1 privately owned radio conglomerate, Syn (4 stations), that broadcasts nationwide, and 3 other radio stations that broadcast to the most densely populated regions of the country. In addition there are upwards of 20 radio stations that operate regionally (2019)
Internet country code
Internet users
total: 329,967
percent of population: 98.2% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 133,574
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Military and Security
Military expenditures
0.3% of GDP (2018)
0.3% of GDP (2017)
0.3% of GDP (2016)
0.3% of GDP (2015)
0.5% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 154
Military and security forces
no regular military forces; Icelandic Coast Guard; Icelandic National Police (2019)
Military - note
Iceland is the only NATO member that has no standing military force; defense of Iceland remains a NATO commitment and NATO maintains an air policing presence in Icelandic airspace; Iceland participates in international peacekeeping missions with the civilian-manned Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU) (2019)
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 5 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 43 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,413,950 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 102,356,809mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
96 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 59
Airports - with paved runways
total: 7 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 89 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 26 (2013)
under 914 m: 60 (2013)
total: 12,898 km (2012)
paved/oiled gravel: 5,647 km(excludes urban roads) (2012)
unpaved: 7,251 km (2012)
country comparison to the world: 126
Merchant marine
total: 33
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 27 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 122
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority filed a suit against Iceland, claiming the country violated the Agreement on the European Economic Area in failing to pay minimum compensation to Icesave depositors
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 69 (2018)


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Celebrating Over 50 Years Since 1964
Consult Our Executive Chef Minimum Event Size: 40 Weekdays/75-100 Weekends
Wedding Catering Services Livonia, MI
Gary's Catering provides many options for catering your wedding. We have a variety or Wedding Catering Services which include Wedding Buffets, Wedding Food Stations, and Wedding Brunch. Click on the catering services summarized below for details of each.
Treat your guests to an extraordinary wedding menu offered a affordable prices
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Bountiful, beautifully arranged buffet featuring decorative baskets, tiered displays & props.Popular condiments, wait staff, buffet table linen, china plates & stainless steel utensils.And a deluxe omelet station available.

subset: commoncrawl


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Home » ReR Label » NEWS FROM BABEL: Sirens and Silences: Work Resumed on The Tower
NEWS FROM BABEL: Sirens and Silences: Work Resumed on The Tower
News from Babel was the song project inaugurated by Chris Cutler with fellow ex Henry Cow composer Lindsay Cooper. The pieces for this first LP were written for a band that also included Zeena Parkins (harp - her first recording with the instrument) and the incomparable Dagmar Krause (another ex-band member) singing. Using the studio as an instrument and experimenting with unusual instrumentation and techniques, these are songs stretched into a less than familiar shape. Phil Minton and Cow bassist Georgie Born also appear. Re-mastered and repackaged with full text and illustrations enclosed. L.
Only available at this price as part of the ReR Sale Offer (minimum) 4 titles)
Code: ReRNFB1
Price: £5.00


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Curved, looping, and blind streets magnify the pastoral charm of Charlou, an exclusive enclave dotted with magnificent homes just east of Cherry Hills Village, where sightings of deer, fox, coyote, and pheasant are considered commonplace.
Although James B. Earl homesteaded the area in 1889, it wasn't until 1978 that Bansbach, Perry, and Macy, Inc. acquired a portion of the land from Charlou E. Dake and established the Charlou neighborhood. Up until then, most of what is now Charlou was given over to agricultural uses, primarily wheat farming and grazing.
Typical of the fabulous estate homes here is the 10,000 square foot Tuscan Villa at 45 Charlou Circle constructed entirely of imported natural materials and finishes. Other architectural styles include French Country, Mediterranean, and classic ranches on expansive lots with mature landscaping.
Despite the rural setting, Charlou is just minutes from Hampden Avenue (Colorado 285) and the junction of I-25 and I-225 putting residents just a short commute from Downtown Denver, the Tech Center, and Park Meadows Mall. The Southeast Light Rail line will begin providing stress-free service to Downtown, the Central Platte Valley, and the Park Meadows area later this year.
Three beautiful and challenging golf courses are also close by: Glenmoor Country Club, Cherry Hills Country Club, and the Willshire Golf Course.
Like Cherry Hills Village, Charlou doesn't allow commercial development; however, adjacent neighborhoods boast a wealth of shopping, fine restaurants, services, athletic facilities, and spas. Tennis and swim clubs also abound nearby.
Charlou belongs to the Cherry Creek School District, one of the leading districts in the country.


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KJ and her fun challenge have been such an inspiration to me. I have so many cookbooks and magazines but usually reach for the same ones over and over again (Donna Hay, anyone?) :)
I want to use other books, those I haven't taken out of the shelf for quite some time. Deciding which book to grab was not an easy task; choosing the recipe, on the other hand, was a walk in the park.
Nigella says that if you manage to resist the cake – which I dare you to – you can wrap it in a double layer of foil and leave it for a couple of days; both the flavor and the damp texture will increase. I don't know about that, since there was no cake left to be wrapped in foil after all. :)
I believe that the only way one could ever know if Nigella is telling the truth is by making two cakes at once. :)
Damp lemon and almond cake
from How to Be a Domestic Goddess
1 cup (226g/2 sticks) soft unsalted butter
¾ cup (150g) sugar
4 large eggs
1/3 cup (47g) all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups ground almonds
½ teaspoon almond extract
grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF; line the bottom of a 20cm (8-inch) springform pan with parchment paper – I used one with a removable bottom.
Cream together the butter and the sugar until almost white. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding a quarter of the flour after each addition. When all the eggs and flour have been incorporated, gently stir in the ground almonds, then the almond extract, lemon zest and juice. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan and bake for about 1 hour, checking after 50 minutes - you may have to cover the cake loosely with foil after 30 minutes so the top won't burn.
The cake is ready when the top is firm and a skewer comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake. Don't overbake the cake or it won't be damp.
Remove the cake from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes in the pan; then turn it out o a wire rack and leave till cool.
Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.
Serves 6-8


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Office of the Press Secretary
July 3, 2013
Statement by President Barack Obama on Egypt
As I have said since the Egyptian Revolution, the United States supports a set of core principles, including opposition to violence, protection of universal human rights, and reform that meets the legitimate aspirations of the people. The United States does not support particular individuals or political parties, but we are committed to the democratic process and respect for the rule of law. Since the current unrest in Egypt began, we have called on all parties to work together to address the legitimate grievances of the Egyptian people, in accordance with the democratic process, and without recourse to violence or the use of force.
The United States is monitoring the very fluid situation in Egypt, and we believe that ultimately the future of Egypt can only be determined by the Egyptian people. Nevertheless, we are deeply concerned by the decision of the Egyptian Armed Forces to remove President Morsy and suspend the Egyptian constitution. I now call on the Egyptian military to move quickly and responsibly to return full authority back to a democratically elected civilian government as soon as possible through an inclusive and transparent process, and to avoid any arbitrary arrests of President Morsy and his supporters. Given today's developments, I have also directed the relevant departments and agencies to review the implications under U.S. law for our assistance to the Government of Egypt.
The United States continues to believe firmly that the best foundation for lasting stability in Egypt is a democratic political order with participation from all sides and all political parties —secular and religious, civilian and military. During this uncertain period, we expect the military to ensure that the rights of all Egyptian men and women are protected, including the right to peaceful assembly, due process, and free and fair trials in civilian courts. Moreover, the goal of any political process should be a government that respects the rights of all people, majority and minority; that institutionalizes the checks and balances upon which democracy depends; and that places the interests of the people above party or faction. The voices of all those who have protested peacefully must be heard – including those who welcomed today's developments, and those who have supported President Morsy. In the interim, I urge all sides to avoid violence and come together to ensure the lasting restoration of Egypt's democracy.
No transition to democracy comes without difficulty, but in the end it must stay true to the will of the people. An honest, capable and representative government is what ordinary Egyptians seek and what they deserve. The longstanding partnership between the United States and Egypt is based on shared interests and values, and we will continue to work with the Egyptian people to ensure that Egypt's transition to democracy succeeds.


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From reports to issue briefs, we ensure accountability through peer review led by our Science Office, which provides data and scientific analysis that help shape and guide NRDC's policies and positions. We also offer a range of other resources, such as 101 guides and consumer-focused scorecards to increase access to knowledge about how everyone can be a catalyst for change.
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Megan's got another quilt on Fresh Poppy Design (our other blog) so check it out, here's a sneak peak:
Thanks to Amy for hosting such a fun event!
I love the mix of colors in your neice's quilt! That is what caught my eye first...then I saw the pattern which is very cute. I would love to be notified when the pattern is ready. Thanks for sharing.
haha, bless your mom's heart. she's funny! it's awesome and totally hip for a college girl. i remember when you guys were cutting the fabric for this ... wow, i love how it turned out! that's one lucky niece. but, now is every college-bound niece going to expect a Quiltstory original? ;)
I got so caught up in the world series that I forgot tonight was the time to post a quilt. dang. I don't know if I'll have anything.
Long comment - maybe should have been an email.
love you both!
Oh I love the quilt!! What a fun pattern.
Great quilt! And I thin your Mum is wrong, but don't tell her I said so!
Hi! I love your colourful quilt! If there is white, all the other colours may be mixed together (almost) and it works for me. But still I like also colour themed quilts. Your pattern is very good for lots of colours!
xxx Teje
The quilt is lovely! and I love how it was a family effort too-so cool! :)
I love the fabrics in your quilt. What a great design!! Thanks for sharing.
So pretty!!! I have to say I disagree with your mom, I love all the color - and I think it's all grounded and tempered by the white that you used for your neutral. :)
Your quilts are great. I like the way this was a combined effort. Great colours in the fabrics and the quilting is lovely too. This is good fun.
I am truly in love with your quilt. The pattern, the colors, every stitch. :o) And the landscape ... I would never want to leave. :o)
Have a wonderful day.
Sincerely, Trish
What a wonderful family collaboration!! It's a great quilt, and I love all the colors (sorry, Mom!)
This is my favorite time always....love the new quilt girls!!!
gorgeous quilt and stunning scenery
really a lovely quilt and a stunning photo! I also love using Minky as backing, it just makes it that more cuddly! How wonderful to come from a quilty family, :)
I totally love the fact that that this is a collaborative piece! and the minky will make it super-cuddly!
I love it - it so bright and happy. And the elephants are just to cute for words. I did a quilt with my Mum and we went for the more controlled color scheme. Sometimes I wish we hadn't....
I remember seeing this in the starting stage - just love the colors and prints on this. Thank you for sharing the finish of such a lovely quilt.
Very beautiful quilt, and the location, wow, very lucky. Really wonderful to be able to sew with your sisters and Mom, sweet!
Great quilt! My mom would probably say the same thing, but I love it!
Love it, love the colours. Your mom is cute.
I love the mix of colors!
The colors are what initially caught my eye! So bright and fun and happy! Just what I love!
I love your quilt and the fussy cutting is great. Fun you work together. Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
It's absolutely gorgeous! I love those elephants!
The colors are great and I like the elephants!
It's lovely - I can only assume your niece likes elephants?
Oh my. This is a beautiful quilt. I love the design. Well done!
It is a lovely quilt, I love that peacock lane fabric!
My mom and I often have disagreements about fabric choices too, but I hope your niece liked the quilt. I sure would! It's great and the fussy cutting is perfect.
I love it! And I love that your mom expressed her opinion, lol!
Thank you for sharing this lovely quilt. :)
I love it! Nice and bright - perfect for a young, college girl! But, hey, your mom is entitled to her opinion too. It's just a good thing you weren't making it for her ;)
with all due respect, I can't agree with Mum. The colours are fantastic and perfect for college. There's certainly enough white to balance it all. A very fun quilt!
yup, sorry mom, but this is a very fun quilt!
What a lovely quilt!
I don't know about "old school" but the quilts my great Grandmother made are the same veriety of colors and I love them too.
Love this quilt its gorgeous! What a lucky niece!!
Two of my favourite things. Quilts and elephants!
I'm sorry your mom doesn't like the quilt -- I think it's wonderful! What a great example of fussy cutting, too :)
I love those elephants! Great quilt!! Thanks for sharing!
I love this quilt - the colours, the fussy cutting and that it was a collaborative effort. I`m not sure your mum would like my quilts!
Wow - kind of an Irish Chain - but so much more interesting!
I think it's bright and interesting. Given it was for a 20 year old, I can see how the colors work and give it a fresh feel. If it were something for my house, I'd probably feel more like your mom. :)
You all did a great job on it and that's so nice your niece has something from you all.
Unlike your Mum, I love the quilt and the colours. It would be a boring world if we all liked the same thing!
LOL! Y'all are too funny! :) The quilt is lovely (I think the colors are awesome!) and its story was a lot of fun to read. Thanks so much for sharing! :)
Love you blog and the quilt! (and also the view!) Lily.
This is an awesome quilt for a girl. The fabric is quite unique.
I love it! Perfect and fresh for a collage age girl. She is lucky to have such a wonderful quilt!
Peacock Lane is such a fun fabric line. I think you did a wonderful job of designing a pattern that showcases the fabric nicely -- who cares what your mom says about the colors, I think it works! =)
Also great idea about the minky on the back - did it make it more difficult to quilt?
Absolutely love this quilt! The elephants are brilliant :-)
Sorry, Mom. The colors are perfect.
Great quilt.
I really love this quilt - fussy cutting the fabrics is a great idea!! I have a FQ set here and have been unsure of how to use it due to the lovely patterns and not wanting to chop them up too much:)
I love your mom already! Cherish her and ALL her comments!!! The quilt is fabulous! LOVE the colors and the happiness it oozes!
I love your quilt! I tend to live in the brighter the better camp, so this is very appealing to me. The fussy cuts are darling. Thanks for sharing it!
You did find a perfect location for photographing your quilt! Very fun...great to have so much love to give to your niece and wrap her up in.
I love those fabrics! The animals are so great :-)
~ meagan
Super cute all round success.Especially love the eles.
Lovely quilt. Very nice colors.
Would love to be notified when the patterns are available.
Oh...what a lucky young lady...and how wonderful you and your sister are so blessed to be able to quilt with each other and your mother. We often joked that they swapped babies in the hospital when I was born...my mother had no use for arts and crafts...and I have been holding a needle since I was big enough to know what one was. Beautiful quilt...thanks for sharing with us.
Such a pretty quilt - love the fussy cuts! I would love to know when this pattern is available. Thanks!!


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Parts of me are waxed, my toes are pedicured and fingers manicured, my favorite sundress and peep-toe heels are packed and I am raring to go!
We're almost packed and ready to fly off to the warmer parts of the world. Tomorrow the three of us will be boarding the plane and heading to Dubai, leaving the icy cold and snow behind us.
While Tom will return after a few days Soeren and I will be relaxing and enjoying the warmth for two whole weeks. So looking forward to seeing my parents and brother again too and enjoying home cooked Indian meals! It's been too long since mummy pampered me! The funny thing is she calls Soeren to check out what he wants for breakfast instead of asking her eldest what she wants for lunch!!
I hope to catch Beth and Komal for a few drinks and a bit of fun too and get connected with a few old school friends. Not to mention getting a fair bit of shopping done – Dubai Shopping Festival here I come. So the social calendar is filling fast!
Before I leave though I wanted to post a special something for a special someone. She celebrated her big birthday yesterday and if she would have been here as it was initially planned I would have baked her a nice little birthday cake. However, we had to change our plans and so I decided to make her a few bread rolls instead.
Jamie is hosting this month's Bread Baking Day #26 and she called out to us to celebrate her birthday by baking bread for a birthday party. A party I cannot miss.
A little while back I shared a very cherished recipe from my grandmother with you. Her Saffron Rice Pudding is my food recluse that I turn to when I need comforting. In that post I said that my nani's spice was saffron – a spice she used to bestow extra love on her loved ones.
That is what I am doing with my saffron bread rolls – sending a lot of love Jamie's way for her special day.
The recipe is from a fantastic book by Richard Bertinet – Dough: Simple Contemporary Breads. I tweaked it a bit to add some healthier wholemeal whole wheat flour. If you do decide to make this recipe do not be taken aback by the amount of water that goes into the recipe. It's a lot and the dough is extremely sticky. However, without adding any further flour and just by kneading, shaping and slapping the bread dough, for what seems to be hours (35 minutes for me) it transforms into a gorgeous smooth and silky dough.
According to Bertinet, the idea behind not adding a lot of flour is that by simply working the dough for a longer time and letting in more air the rolls are fluffier and softer instead of heavier and harder.
And that is exactly what these rolls were. Soft, fluffy and moist, filled with a wonderful, sensual and delicate aroma of saffron.
Saffron Wholemeal Whole Wheat Bread Rolls
[Adapted from a recipe by Richard Bertinet's - Dough: Simple Contemporary Breads]
Printable version of recipe here.
10g fresh yeast
250g all purpose flour
250g wholemeal whole wheat flour
10g salt
350 ml water
a nice pinch of saffron strands
a handful of cumin seedsMethod
- Allow the saffron strands to soak in the water. Pre-heat the oven to 250 degrees C.
- In a large bowl rub yeast and both flours with your fingertips until it looks like coarse breadcrumbs or streusel.
- Add salt and pour in the saffron-water (all of it). Now get hold of the bowl with one hand and with the other begin mixing the flour and water with your fingers until the dough begins to come together - approx. 2-3 minutes.
- It will be sticky – extremely sticky but resist adding any flour. The goal here is to work as much air into the dough by just stretching, kneading and pulling. Transfer the dough to a clean and unfloured work surface.
- Begin working the dough by taking both your hands, like two forks, under the dough and pull it upwards towards you. Then drop it back down and give it a knead. Continue kneading – the dough will be so sticky that you can hardly work with it but as you continue it will begin to come together and become more homogeneous.
- Once you have a smooth elastic dough you can lightly flour the surface and form the dough into a compact ball. Place in a lightly oiled bowl and covered let it rest for approx 1 hour.
- Prepare a baking sheet by spreading a clean kitchen towel and lightly flouring it.
- Transfer the dough ball on a lightly floured surface and using your fingers spread it into a rough rectangle. From the shorter side, fold 1/3 of the dough into the middle. Press gently with your fingertips, then fold the opposite side in a similar way.
- Divide the dough in about 10 pieces and form each piece into a compact ball. Dust the tops with flour and with a rolling pin gently indent the tops. Place the rolls on the floured kitchen towel making sure that they are not touching each other. Use the towel to separate each roll. Cover the baking sheet with another kitchen towel and let he rolls rise for 45 minutes.
- Reduce the oven to 220 degrees C. Sprinkle each roll with some cumin seeds and then bake on a hot stone or a hot baking sheet for approx. 12-15 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
When I make bread here it is often looked upon with a certain bit of skepticism. Living in Germany I do dot need to bake bread. In Wiemar I have a plethora of very good bakeries to choose from all making fantastic bread. However, once in awhile I will venture into bread making and when I announce it to my men – both look at each other, not understanding why I find the need to do so. But it's true – there is no bread like homemade bread. It's the experience, the aromas and the flavor that all come together for that better bread made in my own oven. These rolls were exquisite with the subtle aroma of saffron lingering into each bite. The cumin seeds added a spicy bite and the wholemeal whole wheat flour gave it a rustic appearance with a nuttier highlight.
I'll be catching you all on the other side sometime next week from sunny Dubai. Hopefully with a few macarons and spectacular sights and stories.
Last call to vote for What's For Lunch, Honey? at the weblog awards for the 2010 Bloggies. WFLH is one of the top five finalists in the category Best European Blog! If you have not voted yet may I please solicit your votes – you have till January 31st to vote for your favorite blogs in a huge variety of categories.
Have a brilliant weekend!
You might like these from WFLH:French Baguette | Tender Potato Focaccia & Bread Rolls | Bagels |
All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2010 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First


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§18B-10-1. Enrollment, tuition and other fees at education institutions; refund of fees.
(a) Each governing board shall fix tuition and other fees for each academic term for the different classes or categories of students enrolling at the state institution of higher education under its jurisdiction, including the fixing of different tuition and fees for online course delivery, and may include among the tuition and fees any one or more of the following as defined in section one-b of this article:
(1) Tuition and required educational and general fees;
(2) Auxiliary and auxiliary capital fees; and
(3) Required educational and general capital fees.
(b) A governing board may establish a single special revenue account for each or all of the following classifications of fees:
(1) All tuition and required educational and general fees collected;
(2) All auxiliary and auxiliary capital fees collected; and
(3) All required educational and general capital fees collected to support existing systemwide and institutional debt service and future systemwide and institutional debt service, capital projects and campus renewal for educational and general facilities.
(4) Subject to any covenants or restrictions imposed with respect to revenue bonds payable from the accounts, a governing board may expend funds from each special revenue account for any purpose for which funds were collected within that account regardless of the original purpose for which the funds were collected.
(5) If a governing board of an Exempted School establishes a single special revenue account for all the foregoing classifications of fees in this subsection, the governing board must account for each classification of fee separately in their internal accounting system.
(c) The purposes for which tuition and fees may be expended include, but are not limited to, health services, student activities, recreational, athletic and extracurricular activities. Additionally, tuition and fees may be used to finance a student's attorney to perform legal services for students in civil matters at the institutions. The legal services are limited to those types of cases, programs or services approved by the president of the institution where the legal services are to be performed.
(d) By October 1, 2011, the commission and council each shall propose a rule for legislative approval in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to govern the fixing, collection and expenditure of tuition and other fees by the governing boards under their respective jurisdictions.
(e) The schedule of all tuition and fees, and any changes in the schedule, shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting of the appropriate governing board and the board shall file with the commission or council, or both, as appropriate, and the Legislative Auditor a certified copy of the schedule and changes.
(f) The governing boards shall establish the rates to be charged full-time students, as defined in section one-b of this article, who are enrolled during a regular academic term. A governing board shall require by rule all fees be due not later than the end of the academic term, and shall provide for appropriate measures to provide for collections of fees past due.
(1) Undergraduate students taking fewer than twelve credit hours in a regular term shall have their fees reduced pro rata based upon one twelfth of the full-time rate per credit hour and graduate students taking fewer than nine credit hours in a regular term shall have their fees reduced pro rata based upon one ninth of the full-time rate per credit hour.
(2) Fees for students enrolled in summer terms or other nontraditional time periods shall be prorated based upon the number of credit hours for which the student enrolls in accordance with this subsection.
(3) The governing boards may establish rates applicable to tuition and fees for online course delivery without regard to the limitations contained in this subsection.
(g) All fees are due and payable by the student upon enrollment and registration for classes except as provided in this subsection:
(1) The governing boards shall permit fee payments to be made in installments over the course of the academic term.
(2) The governing boards also shall authorize the acceptance of credit cards or other payment methods which may be generally available to students for the payment of fees. The governing boards may charge the students for the reasonable and customary charges incurred in accepting credit cards and other methods of payment.
(3) If a governing board determines that a student's finances are affected adversely by a legal work stoppage, it may allow the student an additional six months to pay the fees for any academic term. The governing board shall determine on a case-by-case basis whether the finances of a student are affected adversely.
(4) A governing board may charge interest or fees for any deferred or installment payment plans.
(h) In addition to the other fees provided in this section, each governing board may impose, collect and distribute a fee to be used to finance a nonprofit, student-controlled public interest research group if the students at the institution demonstrate support for the increased fee in a manner and method established by that institution's elected student government. The fee may not be used to finance litigation against the institution.
(i) Governing boards shall retain tuition and fee revenues not pledged for bonded indebtedness or other purposes in accordance with the tuition rules proposed by the commission and council pursuant to this section. The tuition rules shall address the following areas:
(1) Providing a basis for establishing nonresident tuition and fees;
(2) Allowing governing boards to charge different tuition and fees for different programs;
(3) Authorizing a governing board to propose to the commission, council or both, as appropriate, a mandatory auxiliary fee under the following conditions: Provided, That the governing boards for the exempted schools may authorize a mandatory auxiliary fee without seeking approval of the commission:
(A) The fee shall be approved by the commission, council or both, as appropriate, and either the students below the senior level at the institution or the Legislature before becoming effective;
(B) Increases may not exceed previous state subsidies by more than ten percent;
(C) The fee may be used only to replace existing state funds subsidizing auxiliary services such as athletics or bookstores;
(D) If the fee is approved, the amount of the state subsidy shall be reduced annually by the amount of money generated for the institution by the fees. All state subsidies for the auxiliary services shall cease five years from the date the mandatory auxiliary fee is implemented;
(4) Establishing methodology, where applicable, to ensure that, within the appropriate time period under the compact, community and technical college tuition rates for students in all community and technical colleges will be commensurate with the tuition and fees charged by their peer institutions.
(j) A penalty may not be imposed by the commission or council upon any governing board based upon the number of nonresidents who attend the institution unless the commission or council determines that admission of nonresidents to any institution or program of study within the institution is impeding unreasonably the ability of resident students to attend the institution or participate in the programs of the institution. The governing boards shall report annually to the commission or council on the numbers of nonresidents and any other enrollment information the commission or council may request.
(k) Tuition and fee increases of the governing boards, except the exempted schools, are subject to rules adopted by the commission and council pursuant to this section and in accordance with article three-a, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The commission or council, as appropriate, shall examine individually each request from a governing board, including the exempted schools, for an increase and make its determinations as follows:
(1) A tuition and fee increase for resident students proposed by a governing board requires the approval of the commission or council, as appropriate, for any tuition and fee increase greater than ten percent in any one year or where the increase would be more than seven percent per year, averaged over a rolling three year period calculated by averaging the proposed increase with the increase for the immediate two previous years;
(2) In determining whether to approve or deny a governing board's request for a tuition and/or fee increase for resident students greater than the increases granted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the commission or council shall determine the progress the governing board has made toward meeting the conditions outlined in this subsection and shall make this determination the predominate factor in its decision. The commission or council shall consider the degree to which each governing board has met the following conditions:
(A) Maximizes resources available through nonresident tuition and fee charges to the satisfaction of the commission or council;
(B) Consistently achieves the benchmarks established in the compact pursuant to article one-d of this chapter or the master plan for exempted schools in article two-a of this chapter, including the provisions of article one-d required in the master plan;
(C) Continuously pursues the statewide goals for post-secondary education;
(D) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission or council that an increase will be used to maintain high-quality programs at the institution;
(E) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission or council that the governing board is making adequate progress toward achieving the goals for education established by the Southern Regional Education Board;
(F) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission or council that the governing board has considered the average per capita income of West Virginia families and their ability to pay for any increases; and
(G) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commission or council that base appropriation increases have not kept pace with recognized nationwide inflationary benchmarks.
(3) This section does not require equal increases among governing boards nor does it require any level of increase by a governing board.
(4) The commission and council shall report to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability regarding the basis for approving or denying each request as determined using the criteria established in this subsection.