Iceland

Iceland, settled by Norse Vikings in the 9th century, developed the world's oldest parliamentary democracy (Althing, 930 CE). Full republic status came in 1944. Iceland joined NATO in 1949 and participates in the EU Single Market via the EEA. The 2008 banking collapse, in which all three major banks failed, became a landmark case in international financial regulation debates.

• Existed: 1944 CE – present
• Type: Entity
• Government: Parliamentary Republic
• Capital: Reykjavik