_#_Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular—sysla)
and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular—kaupstadhur); Akranes*,
Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla,
Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla,
Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*,
Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*, Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasysla,
Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla,
Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,
Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla,
Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vestmannaeyjar*,
Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
_#_Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
_#_Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
_#_Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
_#_National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
_#_Executive branch: president, prime minister, Cabinet
_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Althingi with an Upper House (Efri Deild) and a Lower House (Nedri Deild)
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur)
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State—President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1
August 1980);