Question 1

True or false: Iceland uses geothermal energy to heat most of its homes and produce electricity.

Accepted Answer

True. Thanks to volcanic activity, geothermal power heats about 90% of homes and generates a significant portion of the country's electricity.

Question 2

True or false: Iceland is covered almost entirely by ice, hence its name.

Accepted Answer

False. Only about 10% of Iceland is glaciated; much of the land is volcanic, with lava fields, hot springs, and green valleys.

Question 3

True or false: Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe.

Accepted Answer

False. Greenland is more sparsely populated, but it's part of North America; Iceland has about 3.5 people per sq km, less dense than most of Europe.

Question 4

True or false: Polar bears are native to Iceland and roam its coastal regions year-round.

Accepted Answer

False. Polar bears are not native; they occasionally drift on ice floes from Greenland but are rare and not a resident species.

Question 5

True or false: Iceland has no mosquitoes, making it one of the few places on Earth without them.

Accepted Answer

True. The cold climate and fluctuating temperatures prevent mosquitoes from completing their life cycle, so they're absent in Iceland.

Question 6

True or false: Iceland is the only country in the world without a standing army.

Accepted Answer

False. Many countries lack a standing army, including Costa Rica, Panama, and several others; Iceland has a coast guard but no army.

Question 7

True or false: The Icelandic language has remained virtually unchanged for over a thousand years.

Accepted Answer

True. Old Norse sagas from the 13th century are still readable by modern Icelanders, as the language evolved very slowly.

Question 8

True or false: Icelanders traditionally believe in elves and build roads around their supposed habitats.

Accepted Answer

True. A 2007 survey found 54% of Icelanders don't rule out elf existence, and construction projects sometimes adjust for elf folklore.

Iceland Trivia Questions