Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Iceland: Reykjavík — Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Iceland is Reykjavík. Iceland sits in Europe, has a population of 372,899, and uses the ISK. Official languages include Icelandic.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Reykjavík
  • Continent: Europe
  • Population: ~372,899
  • Area: 103,000 km²
  • Population density: 3.6 people per km²
  • Official language: Icelandic
  • Currency: ISK
  • ISO code: IS

How big is Iceland?

By population, Iceland ranks 174th in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 106th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Iceland has 3.6 people per square kilometre, which is far below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Europe, Iceland is the 41th most populous country of 46.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Iceland in population are Belize (405,272) and Bahamas (409,984).

By land area, its closest counterparts are South Korea (100,210 km²) and Guatemala (108,889 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Icelandic is listed as an official language of Iceland alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.

Iceland uses the ISK, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Iceland

Reykjavík means 'smoky bay', named after the steam rising from hot springs that early settlers saw. Fire and ice: the flag has both, a red cross of volcanic fire inside white ice on a blue sea.

The flag of Iceland: blue, white and red

🇮🇸 The flag is a blue flag with a red Nordic cross outlined in white. The colours stand for the island's volcanic fires (red), its snow and ice fields (white) and the ocean (blue). The off-centre Nordic cross is shared with Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Region and neighbours

Iceland is an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle, between Greenland and Norway. As an island country it has no land neighbours.

Three facts about Iceland

  1. Iceland's parliament, the Althing, was founded in 930 and is one of the oldest parliaments in the world.
  2. The island sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where two tectonic plates are pulling apart, which is why it has so many volcanoes and hot springs.
  3. Reykjavík is the northernmost capital of a sovereign country, and most homes in Iceland are heated with geothermal water.

Sources: Wikipedia: Iceland, Wikipedia: Flag of Iceland, Wikipedia: Reykjavík, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Iceland

Iceland capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Iceland 🇮🇸?

    • Reykjavík
    • Tallinn
    • Zagreb
    • Helsinki
    Show answer

    Reykjavík

  2. What is the capital of Malta 🇲🇹?

    • Valletta
    • Vatican City
    • Vaduz
    • Kyiv
    Show answer

    Valletta

  3. What is the capital of Montenegro 🇲🇪?

    • Podgorica
    • Belgrade
    • Athens
    • Dublin
    Show answer

    Podgorica

  4. What is the capital of Luxembourg 🇱🇺?

    • Lisbon
    • Luxembourg
    • Vaduz
    • Madrid
    Show answer

    Luxembourg

  5. What is the capital of Cyprus 🇨🇾?

    • Skopje
    • Andorra la Vella
    • Nicosia
    • Helsinki
    Show answer

    Nicosia

Iceland capital quiz tip

Reykjavik, at about 64°N, is the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state, which makes it an easy one to pin on a map.

Iceland in Europe

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Iceland belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Iceland.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Iceland?

The capital of Iceland is Reykjavík.

What is the population of Iceland?

About 372,899, making it the 174th most populous country in the world.

How big is Iceland?

103,000 square kilometres, ranking 106th by land area, at a density of 3.6 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Iceland use?

The ISK, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Iceland flag?

The flag of Iceland is a blue flag with a red Nordic cross outlined in white. The colours stand for the island's volcanic fires (red), its snow and ice fields (white) and the ocean (blue). The off-centre Nordic cross is shared with Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Which countries border Iceland?

None. Iceland is an island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Arctic Circle, between Greenland and Norway, so it has no land borders with other countries.

How can I remember the capital of Iceland?

Reykjavík means 'smoky bay', named after the steam rising from hot springs that early settlers saw. Fire and ice: the flag has both, a red cross of volcanic fire inside white ice on a blue sea.

More capitals to learn

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