The municipalities of Iceland ( is, Sveitarfélög ) are local administrative areas in
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...
that provide a number of services to their inhabitants such as
kindergarten
Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cen ...
s,
elementary school
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...
s,
waste management,
social services
Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...
,
public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is usually owned by a government authority, either central or local. Although the common goal of public housing is to provide affordable housing, the details, terminology, de ...
,
public transportation
Public transport (also known as public transportation, public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) is a system of transport for passengers by group travel systems available for use by the general public unlike private transport, typica ...
, services to
senior citizen
Old age refers to ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings, and is thus the end of the human life cycle. Terms and euphemisms for people at this age include old people, the elderly (worldwide usage), OAPs (British usage ...
s and
disabled
Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, s ...
people. They also govern
zoning
Zoning is a method of urban planning in which a municipality or other tier of government divides land into areas called zones, each of which has a set of regulations for new development that differs from other zones. Zones may be defined for a s ...
and can voluntarily take on additional functions if they have the budget for it. The autonomy of municipalities over their own matters is guaranteed by the
Icelandic constitution.
History
The origin of the municipalities can be traced back to the
commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
period in the 10th century when rural communities were organized into
communes
An intentional community is a voluntary residential community which is designed to have a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork from the start. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, ...
(''hreppar'' ) with the main purpose of providing help for the poorest individuals in society. When
urbanization
Urbanization (or urbanisation) refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the corresponding decrease in the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It is predominantly th ...
began in Iceland during the 18th and 19th centuries, several independent
township
A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries.
Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, C ...
s (''kaupstaðir'' ) were created. The role of municipalities was further formalized during the 20th century and by the end of the century there was no longer any official distinction between urban and rural municipalities.
The trend in recent years has been to transfer more functions and power from the state to the municipalities. This has called for larger municipalities. The government encourages municipalities to merge but has taken a different approach to the issue than governments in other
Nordic countries where forced amalgamation is regularly carried out (such as the
municipal reform in
Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
that took effect in 2007). Instead, the process is voluntary. Municipalities negotiate possible mergers among themselves, and any merger must first receive approval from the relevant municipality's constituent voting electorate in a referendum. A similar approach is used by the
Faroese government. However, municipalities having a population of below 50 may be forced to merge.
The number of municipalities peaked in the mid-20th century. There were 229 of them in 1950. By 1995, their number had been reduced to 170. In the year 2000, only 124 municipalities remained in Iceland, and since 2022 there are 64.
Government
The municipalities are governed by municipal councils which are directly elected every four years. Municipal elections were last held on 14 May 2022. The sizes of these councils vary from five members in the smallest municipalities to fifteen in the largest one. Most municipalities except for the very small ones hire an executive manager who may or may not be a member of the municipal council. These managers are usually referred to as
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
s (''bæjarstjóri'' or ''borgarstjóri'' ) in the mostly urban municipalities but "municipal manager" (''sveitarstjóri'' ) in the rural or mixed municipalities. It is common for these executive managers to be professionally hired and
politically independent.
List of municipalities
History
Over the years, the number of municipalities in Iceland changed from 229 in 1953 to 64 in 2022:
*14 May 2022 (reduced to 64)
**
Skútustaðahreppur merged with
Þingeyjarsveit.
**
Stykkishólmsbær and
Helgafellssveit merged (name pending).
**
Svalbarðshreppur merged with
Langanesbyggð.
**
Akrahreppur merged with
Skagafjörður
Skagafjörður () is a deep fjord and its valley in northern Iceland.
Location
Skagafjörður, the fjord, is about 40 km long and 15 km wide, situated between Tröllaskagi to the east and the Skagi Peninsula to the west. There are ...
.
**
Blönduósbær and
Húnavatnshreppur merged to form
Húnabyggð
*17 February 2020 (reduced to 69)
**
Borgarfjarðarhreppur,
Djúpavogshreppur,
Fljótsdalshérað, and
Seyðisfjarðarkaupstaður merged to form
Múlaþing.
*24 January 2019
**
Akureyrarkaupstaður renamed into
Akureyrarbær.
*7 January 2019
**Sandgerði/Garður renamed into
Suðurnesjabær.
*26 May 2018 (reduced to 72)
**
Breiðdalshreppur merged with
Fjarðabyggð.
**
Sandgerði and
Garður merged to form Sandgerði/Garður.
*13 August 2013
**Seltjarnarneskaupstaður renamed into
Seltjarnarnesbær.
*1 January 2013 (reduced to 74)
**
Álftanes merged with
Garðabær.
*1 January 2012 (reduced to 75)
**Bæjarhreppur merged with
Húnaþing vestra
*11 June 2010 (reduced to 76)
**Arnarneshreppur merged with
Hörgárbyggð.
*1 June 2009 (reduced to 77)
**Grímseyjarhreppur merged with
Akureyrarkaupstaður.
*15 July 2008 (reduced to 78)
**Aðaldælahreppur merged with
Þingeyjarsveit.
*12 September 2007
**Höfðahreppur renamed into
Skagaströnd.
*8 April 2006 (reduced to 79)
**Þórshafnarhreppur and Skeggjastaðahreppur merged to form
Langanesbyggð.
*11 March 2006 (reduced to 80)
**Áshreppur merged with
Húnavatnshreppur.
**Hólmavíkurhreppur and Broddaneshreppur merged to form
Strandabyggð.
*20 February 2006 (reduced to 82)
**Saurbæjarhreppur merged with
Dalabyggð.
*11 February 2006 (reduced to 83)
** Gaulverjabæjarhreppur, Hraungerðishreppur, and Villingaholtshreppur merged to form
Flóahreppur.
*28 January 2006 (reduced to 85)
**
Ólafsfjarðarbær and
Siglufjarðarkaupstaður merged to form
Fjallabyggð.
*21 January 2006 (reduced to 86)
**
Húsavíkurbær, Kelduneshreppur,
Öxarfjarðarhreppur, and
Raufarhafnarhreppur merged to form
Norðurþing.
*10 January 2006
**Vatnsleysustrandarhreppur renamed into
Vogar.
*8 October 2005 (reduced to 89)
**Mjóafjarðarhreppur, Fáskrúðsfjarðarhreppur, and Austurbyggð merged with
Fjarðabyggð.
*23 April 2005 (reduced to 92)
**Borgarfjarðarsveit, Hvítársíðuhreppur, and Kolbeinsstaðahreppur merged with
Borgarbyggð.
*20 November 2004 (reduced to 95)
**Bólstaðarhlíðarhreppur, Sveinsstaðarhreppur, Svínavatnshreppur, and Torfalækjarhreppur merged to form
Húnavatnshreppur.
**Hvalfjarðarstrandarhreppur, Innri-Akraneshreppur, Leirár- og Melahreppur, and Skilmannahreppur merged to form
Hvalfjarðarsveit.
*1 November 2004 (reduced to 101)
**Austur-Hérað, Fellahreppur, and Norður-Hérað merged to form
Fljótsdalshérað.
*1 August 2004 (reduced to 103)
**Hríseyjarhreppur merged with
Akureyrarkaupstaður.
*17 June 2004
**Bessastaðahreppur renamed into
Álftanes.
*28 January 2004
**Gerðahreppur renamed into
Garður.
*10 May 2003 (reduced to 104)
**Stöðvarhreppur and Búðahreppur merged to form Austurbyggð.
*9 June 2002 (reduced to 105)
**Kirkjubólshreppur merged with Hólmavíkurhreppur.
*16 March 2002 (reduced to 106)
**Holta- og Landsveit, Djúpárhreppur, and Rangárvallahreppur merged to form
Rangárþing ytra.
*12 March 2002 (reduced to 108)
**Húsavíkurkaupstaður and Reykjahreppur merged to form Húsavíkurbær.
*11 February 2002 (reduced to 109)
**Þingvallahreppur, Laugardalshreppur, and Biskupstungnahreppur merged to form
Bláskógabyggð.
*21 January 2002 (reduced to 111)
**Gnúpverjahreppur and Skeiðahreppur merged to form
Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur
*31 December 2001 (reduced to 112)
**Vindhælishreppur merged with
Skagabyggð.
*20 November 2001 (reduced to 113)
**Austur-Eyjafjallahreppur, Vestur-Eyjafjallahreppur, Austur-Landeyjahreppur, Vestur-Landeyjahreppur, Fljótshlíðarhreppur, and Hvolhreppur merged to form
Rangárþing eystra.
*15 November 2001 (reduced to 118)
**Hálshreppur, Ljósavatnshreppur, Bárðdælahreppur, and Reykdælahreppur merged to form
Þingeyjarsveit.
*26 April 2001 (reduced to 121)
**Engihlíðarhreppur merged with
Blönduósbær.
*1 January 2001 (reduced to 122)
**Skriðuhreppur, Öxnadalshreppur, and Glæsibæjarhreppur merged to form
Hörgárbyggð.
*7 June 1998 (reduced to 124)
**Kjalarneshreppur merged with
Reykjavíkurborg.
**Skriðdalshreppur, Vallahreppur, Egilsstaðabær, Eiðahreppur, and Hjaltastaðarhreppur merged to form Austur-Hérað.
**Dalvíkurkaupstaður, Svarfaðardalshreppur, and Árskógshreppur merged to form
Dalvíkurbyggð.
**
Neskaupstaður, Eskifjarðarkaupstaður and Reyðarfjarðarhreppur merged to form
Fjarðabyggð.
**Staðarhreppur, Fremri Torfustaðahreppur, Ytri Torfustaðahreppur, Hvammstangahreppur, Kirkjuhvammshreppur, Þverárhreppur, and Þorkelshólshreppur merged to form
Húnaþing vestra.
**Selfosskaupstaður, Stokkseyrarhreppur, Eyrarbakkahreppur, and Sandvíkurhreppur merged to form
Árborg.
**Lundarreykjardalshreppur, Reykholtsdalshreppur, Hálsahreppur, and Andakílshreppur merged to form Borgarfjarðarsveit.
*6 June 1998 (reduced to 145)
**Sauðárkrókskaupstaður, Skefilsstaðahreppur, Skarðshreppur, Staðarhreppur, Seyluhreppur, Lýtingsstaðahreppur, Rípurhreppur, Viðvíkurhreppur, Hólahreppur, Hofshreppur, and Fljótahreppur merged to form
Skagafjörður
Skagafjörður () is a deep fjord and its valley in northern Iceland.
Location
Skagafjörður, the fjord, is about 40 km long and 15 km wide, situated between Tröllaskagi to the east and the Skagi Peninsula to the west. There are ...
.
**Bæjarhreppur, Borgarhafnarhreppur, Hofshreppur, and Hornafjarðarbær merged to form
Hornafjörður.
*1 June 1998 (reduced to 155)
**Grímsneshreppur and Grafningshreppur merged to form
Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur.
*14 February 1998 (reduced to 158)
**Þverárhlíðarhreppur, Borgarhreppur, and Álftaneshreppur merged with
Borgarbyggð.
*1 January 1998 (reduced to 161)
**Skógarstrandarhreppur merged with
Dalabyggð.
*27 December 1997 (reduced to 163)
**Hlíðarhreppur, Jökuldalshreppur, and Tunguhreppur merged to form Norður-Hérað.
*1 June 1996 (reduced to 165)
**Ísafjarðarkaupstaður, Þingeyrarhreppur, Mýrahreppur, Mosvallahreppur, Flateyrarhreppur, and Suðureyrarhreppur merged to form
Ísafjarðarbær.
*19 April 1995 (increased to 170)
**Helgafellssveit split from
Stykkishólmur
Stykkishólmur () is a town and municipality situated in the western part of Iceland, in the northern part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is a center of services and commerce for the area. Most of the people make their living from fishing and ...
.
*1 January 1995 (reduced to 169)
**Ögurhreppur and Reykjarfjarðarhreppur merged with
Súðavíkurhreppur.
*12 June 1994 (reduced to 171)
**Höfn, Nesjahreppur, and Mýrahreppur merged to form Hornafjarðarbær.
*11 June 1994 (reduced to 173)
**Suðurdalahreppur, Haukadalshreppur, Laxárdalshreppur, Hvammshreppur, Fellsstrandarhreppur, and Skarðshreppur merged to form
Dalabyggð.
**Staðarsveit, Breiðuvíkurhreppur, Neshreppur utan Ennis, and Ólafsvíkurbær merged to form
Snæfellsbær
Snæfellsbær () is a municipality located in western Iceland, in the southwestern part of the Snæfellsnes
The Snæfellsnes () is a peninsula situated to the west of Borgarfjörður, in western Iceland.
The Snæfellsjökull volcano, regard ...
.
**Hafnahreppur, Keflavíkurbær, and Njarðvíkurbær merged to form
Reykjanesbær
Reykjanesbær () is a municipality on the Southern Peninsula (''Suðurnes'') in Iceland, though the name is also used by locals to refer to the suburban region of Keflavík and Njarðvík which have grown together over the years. The municipalit ...
.
**Norðfjarðarhreppur merged with
Neskaupstaður.
**Barðastrandarhreppur, Rauðasandshreppur, Patrekshreppur, and Bíldudalshreppur merged to form
Vesturbyggð.
**Sauðaneshreppur merged with Þórshafnarhreppur.
**Norðurárdalshreppur, Stafholtstungnahreppur, Borgarnesbær, and Hraunhreppur merged to form
Borgarbyggð.
**Eyjarhreppur and Miklaholtshreppur merged to form
Eyja- og Miklaholtshreppur.
**Nauteyrarhreppur í Norður-Ísafjarðarsýslu and Hólmavíkurhreppur í Strandasýslu merged to form Hólmavíkurhreppur.
**Snæfjallahreppur í Norður-Ísafjarðarsýslu merged with Ísafjarðarkaupstaður.
**Helgafellssveit merged with
Stykkishólmur
Stykkishólmur () is a town and municipality situated in the western part of Iceland, in the northern part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula. It is a center of services and commerce for the area. Most of the people make their living from fishing and ...
.
*1 January 1994 (reduced to 195)
**Fjallahreppur merged with Öxarfjarðarhreppur.
*1 July 1993 (reduced to 196)
**Landmannahreppur and Holtahreppur merged to form Holta- og Landsveit.
*1 October 1992 (reduced to 197)
**Beruneshreppur, Búlandshreppur, and Geithellnahreppur merged to form
Djúpavogshreppur.
*1 January 1992 (reduced to 199)
**Hörðudalshreppur merged with Miðdalahreppur to form Suðurdalahreppur.
**Fellshreppur í Strandasýslu merged with Óspakseyrarhreppur to form Broddaneshreppur.
*17 February 1991 (reduced to 201)
**Presthólahreppur merged with Öxarfjarðarhreppur.
*1 January 1991 (reduced to 202)
**Hrafnagilshreppur, Saurbæjarhreppur, and Öngulsstaðahreppur merged to form
Eyjafjarðarsveit.
*10 June 1990 (reduced to 204)
**Hofsóshreppur and Fellshreppur merged with Hofshreppur.
**Hörglandshreppur, Kirkjubæjarhreppur, Skaftártunguhreppur, Leiðvallahreppur, and Álftavershreppur merged to form
Skaftárhreppur.
*1 April 1990 (reduced to 210)
**Fróðárhreppur merged with Ólafsvíkurkaupstaður.
**Auðkúluhreppur merged with Þingeyrarhreppur.
**Seyðisfjarðarhreppur merged with
Seyðisfjarðarkaupstaður.
*1 January 1989 (reduced to 213)
**Selvogshreppur merged with
Ölfushreppur.
*1 April 1988 (reduced to 214)
**Haganeshreppur merged with Holtshreppur to form Fljótahreppur.
*1 January 1988 (reduced to 215)
**Helgustaðahreppur merged with Eskifjarðarkaupstaður.
*4 July 1987 (reduced to 216)
**Geiradalshreppur, Gufudalshreppur, Múlahreppur, and Flateyjarhreppur merged with
Reykhólahreppur.
*1 July 1987 (reduced to 220)
**Ketildalahreppur merged with Suðurfjarðarhreppur to form Bíldudalshreppur.
*1 January 1987 (reduced to 221)
**Hrófbergshreppur merged with Hólmavíkurhreppur.
*30 July 1986 (reduced to 222)
**Klofningshreppur merged with Fellsstrandarhreppur.
*1984 (reduced to 223)
**Dyrhólahreppur merged with Hvammshreppur to form
Mýrdalshreppur.
*1972 (reduced to 224)
**Flateyjarhreppur merged with Hálshreppur.
** Loðmundarfjarðarhreppur merged with
Borgarfjarðarhreppur.
*1971 (reduced to 226)
** Eyrarhreppur merged with Ísafjarðarkaupstaður.
*1 January 1964 (reduced to 227)
**Grunnavíkurhreppur merged with Snæfjallahreppur.
*1953 (229 municipalities reduced to 228)
**Sléttuhreppur is deserted and included in Ísafjarðarkaupstaður, but not officially merged until 1995.
See also
*
List of cities and towns in Iceland
Most municipalities in Iceland include more than one settlement. For example, four localities ( Selfoss, Stokkseyri, Eyrarbakki, and Tjarnabyggð) can all be found in the municipality of Árborg.
A number of municipalities only contain a sin ...
*
Constituencies of Iceland
Iceland is divided into 6 constituencies for the purpose of selecting representatives to parliament.National Electoral Commission of Iceland 2013, p. 4
History
The current division was established by a 1999 constitution amendment and was an att ...
*
References
External links
Maps of the municipalities
{{DEFAULTSORT:Municipalities Of Iceland
Subdivisions of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...
Iceland, Municipalities
Iceland 2
Municipalities, Iceland
Iceland geography-related lists