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Country Background

Iceland is an island in Northern Europe, located between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the United Kingdom. The capital of Iceland is Reykjavik. The official language is Icelandic. The country’s population in 2016 was 335,878 people. Like many other Nordic countries, Iceland is characterized by its comparatively strong welfare oriented profile. The country has a progressive tax system, an education system financed entirely through taxation, universal welfare insurance, and a social security benefits system. Iceland is a predominantly Christian country, with about 67% of the population belonging to the country's official church—the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Iceland is referred to as a parliamentary republic, which became an independent republic in 1944 after gaining independence from Denmark. It's Constitution was ratified in 1944 and was most recently revised in 2013. Iceland's system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Although not a member of the European Union, Iceland is a European Economic Area, which allows for access to the single market of the EU.

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in Iceland.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in Iceland.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Iceland has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Official Gazettes
  
  • Lögbirtingablað [Legal Publication Paper] official journal by the executive and judicial branches 
  • Stjórnartíðinda [Administrative Tidings] law gazette by the legislative and executive branches 
• Legislative 
• • Alþingi [Parliament; often anglicised as Althingi or Althing]
  • Laws and Regulations (Ministry of the Interior) 
• Executive
  
  • President
  • Prime Minister
  • Government Offices
• Judicial
  • Haestirettur [Supreme Court]
  • Héraðsdómstólanna [District Courts]

Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Iceland (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Iceland (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Iceland (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Iceland (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].