Question 1

True or false: Iceland is covered entirely by glaciers and ice caps year-round.

Accepted Answer

False. Only about 10% of Iceland is covered by glaciers. The coastline and lowlands are green and habitable, thanks to the Gulf Stream's warming effect.

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 has a population of over 10 million people.

Accepted Answer

False. Iceland's population is around 376,000 as of 2023. It is one of the least densely populated countries in Europe.

Question 4

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 5

True or false: Iceland has no standing army, navy, or air force.

Accepted Answer

True. Iceland is one of the few NATO members without a military. It relies on a coast guard and a peacekeeping force, and its defense is guaranteed by NATO.

Question 6

True or false: Iceland uses geothermal energy to heat about 90% of its homes.

Accepted Answer

True. Iceland sits on volcanic hot spots. Geothermal power provides about 90% of the country's heating, making it a world leader in renewable energy.

Question 7

True or false: Iceland has no native trees or forests.

Accepted Answer

False. Iceland does have forests, though they are sparse. Native birch woodlands cover about 1.5% of the land, and reforestation efforts are increasing tree cover.

Question 8

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 9

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

Accepted Answer

True. With approximately 3.5 people per square kilometer, Iceland has the lowest population density of any fully sovereign European country. Greenland is less dense but is an autonomous territory of Denmark, not a sovereign state.

Question 10

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 11

True or false: Iceland is the northernmost country in the world.

Accepted Answer

False. Greenland (part of Denmark) extends farther north. Iceland's northernmost point is just south of the Arctic Circle, but several countries lie farther north.

Question 12

True or false: Iceland has more than 100 active volcanoes on its territory.

Accepted Answer

False. Iceland has about 130 volcanic mountains, but only around 30–35 are considered active (erupted in the Holocene, the past ~11,700 years). The claim of over 100 active volcanoes is not supported by geological surveys.

Question 13

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.

Question 14

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 15

True or false: Modern Icelandic speakers can read the Old Norse sagas from the 13th century.

Accepted Answer

True. Icelandic has changed relatively little since the medieval period; modern Icelanders can still read the 13th-century sagas with some effort, though pronunciation has evolved.

Question 16

True or false: Iceland established the world's oldest surviving parliament, the Althing, in 930 AD.

Accepted Answer

True. The Althing was founded in 930 AD at Thingvellir. It is considered the oldest continuous parliament in existence, though it was suspended for a time.

Iceland Trivia Questions