IS
Republic of Iceland
Iceland
Summary
- Official Name
- Republic of Iceland
- Population
- 358,000
- Principal Languages
- Icelandic
- Literacy Rate
- 99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
- International Conventions
- CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
- General References
- Campbell and King 2011
- Deaf Population
- About 200 (2005 M. Parkvall), below 1% of the population
- Language Counts
- The number of established languages listed for Iceland is 3. All are living languages. Of these, 2 are indigenous and 1 is non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 1 is developing, and 1 is vigorous. Also listed are 4 unestablished languages.
Languages
- Danish dan
- Users: 1,110 in Iceland (2022). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Riksmal, Danish
- English eng
- Users: 301,150 in Iceland, all users. L1 users: 1,150 in Iceland (2022). L2 users: 300,000 (2015). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- German, Standard deu
- Users: 1,110 in Iceland (2022). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
- Icelandic isl
- Widespread. Users: 300,000 in Iceland (2015 S. Ager). Total users in all countries: 328,960. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Act 61(2)). Autonym: íslenska Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, West Scandinavian
- Icelandic Sign Language icl
- Scattered, especially in and around Reykjavik. Users: 1,525, all users. L1 users: 275 (Thorvaldsdóttir and Stefánsdóttir 2015). Estimated 250–300 deaf signers (less than 0.1%, Thorvaldsdóttir and Stefánsdóttir 2015:410). Other estimates: 250 (2014 EUD); 300 (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture); 1,400 (2014 IMB). L2 users: 1,250 (Thorvaldsdóttir and Stefánsdóttir 2015). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2011, Act. No. 61, Articles 3, 5, 7, 9, 13), Establishes right of use for deaf people and their families; development and promotion; an Icelandic Sign Language Council; interpreters in courts. Alternate Names: ITM, ÍTM, Íslenskt táknmál Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- Lithuanian lit
- Users: 1,540 in Iceland (2022). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
- Polish pol
- Users: 9,810 in Iceland (2022). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Languages by Status
Icelandic
[isl] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Act 61(2)). 300,000 in Iceland (2015 S. Ager). Total users in all countries: 328,960.
English
[eng] 5* (Dispersed). 301,150 in Iceland, all users. L1 users: 1,150 in Iceland (2022). L2 users: 300,000 (2015).
Icelandic Sign Language
[icl] 6a (Vigorous). Recognized language (2011, Act. No. 61, Articles 3, 5, 7, 9, 13), Establishes right of use for deaf people and their families; development and promotion; an Icelandic Sign Language Council; interpreters in courts. 1,525, all users. L1 users: 275 (Thorvaldsdóttir and Stefánsdóttir 2015). Estimated 250–300 deaf signers (less than 0.1%, Thorvaldsdóttir and Stefánsdóttir 2015:410). Other estimates: 250 (2014 EUD); 300 (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture); 1,400 (2014 IMB). L2 users: 1,250 (Thorvaldsdóttir and Stefánsdóttir 2015).
Maps
Graphs
Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
Language Status Profile
Full explanation