The first thing that comes to our mind when we hear the word Iceland is cold with constant ice and snow! 🥶🌬️ But there are more important things you all should know about this country! 🧐🇮🇸 Did you know that there is a national database called Islendingabok to check the residents’ family ties and ancestry? 🤔🤫 Also, they don’t have traditional last names! 🤯🤨 Interested in more? 😏 I will share more jaw-dropping details in this article! 👇
In Iceland, dating isn’t a big thing—most people meet at bars and quickly grow close. If they click, they often move in together right away. Marriage isn’t rushed either, with many couples tying the knot only after having children—if they stay together that long. There’s no stigma around breakups or being single. Since Iceland’s population is small, finding a partner isn’t always easy, and the cold climate isn’t exactly romantic.
Interesting fact! Even after separating, many couples maintain warm and friendly ties for the sake of their kids or mutual friends.
Almost everyone in Iceland is connected in some way—either directly or through mutual acquaintances. Many people are even distant relatives. There’s a national database called Íslendingabók, where residents can check family ties and trace their ancestry. Social media plays a big role too, with people using it to stay in touch, even with neighbors and relatives.
Social hierarchies are virtually nonexistent—everyone is considered equal, regardless of gender, social standing, or wealth. Icelanders don’t have traditional last names either. Instead, their surnames are based on their parents’ names, with “dottir” (daughter) or “son” (son) added at the end. When naming a child, parents must choose from an approved list or seek official permission for unique names.
Due to Iceland’s high living costs, many people juggle multiple jobs. A football coach might also be a dentist, an athlete could work in advertising, and a dancer might spend time on a fishing vessel. But despite their busy schedules, Icelanders know how to unwind, and their country is packed with pubs and bars where they do just that.
People in Iceland have a deep sense of trust in each other. They don’t worry about theft—cars and houses are often left unlocked, and children roam freely without supervision. The country doesn’t have a military, and neither the government nor the people feel threatened by foreign invasions. There are police and security personnel, but they don’t carry weapons.
With a sparse population—just two to three people per hectare—most homes are surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. Iceland is filled with fields, volcanoes, glaciers, hills, geysers, and waterfalls. It’s not unusual for someone’s house to be located in the middle of a vast open field or beside a scenic lake.
The climate is mild yet chilly, with winter temperatures rarely dropping below -5°C and summer rarely exceeding 12-15°C. To stay warm, Icelanders wear hand-knitted sweaters made from high-quality sheep’s wool—a craft practiced by both men and women. Another favorite way to beat the cold is by soaking in geothermal hot springs, which are abundant and free to access. Interestingly, the same mineral-rich underground water that fills these springs also flows through the country’s water supply.
Did you already know these fascinating facts about Iceland and its people?
