The Capital Region ( ) is a
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
in southwestern Iceland. It is one of the two classified
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics or NUTS () is a geocode standard for referencing the administrative divisions of countries for statistical purposes. The standard, adopted in 2003, is developed and regulated by the European ...
(NUTS-2) statistical
regions of Iceland
The regions of Iceland are eight areas of Iceland that roughly follow the arrangement of parliamentary constituencies as they were between 1959 and 2003. These regions are not incorporated polities but rather recognized groupings of municipaliti ...
. The region encompasses an area of , and consists of the national capital
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...
and six
municipalities
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
around it. Though it is much smaller than the other regions of Iceland, the region hosts about two-thirds of the population of the country.
Classification
The country of Iceland is organized into eight
regions
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
for statistical and administrative purposes.
The
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics or NUTS () is a geocode standard for referencing the administrative divisions of countries for statistical purposes. The standard, adopted in 2003, is developed and regulated by the European ...
(NUTS) organizes the country into two broader level sub-divisions. These are classified as a
NUTS-2 statistical
regions of Iceland
The regions of Iceland are eight areas of Iceland that roughly follow the arrangement of parliamentary constituencies as they were between 1959 and 2003. These regions are not incorporated polities but rather recognized groupings of municipaliti ...
, and incorporate one or more regions within it.
The regions form the NUTS-3 territorial units under them.
Geography
The Capital Region of Iceland incorporates the regions around the nation's capital
Reykjavik, encompassing an area of .
The region is located in the south-western corner of the island, which is situated at the confluence of the
North Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for ...
and
Arctic
The Arctic (; . ) is the polar regions of Earth, polar region of Earth that surrounds the North Pole, lying within the Arctic Circle. The Arctic region, from the IERS Reference Meridian travelling east, consists of parts of northern Norway ( ...
oceans. Apart from its western coast, the region is bordered by
Southern Peninsula
Southern Peninsula (, ) is an administrative unit and part of Reykjanesskagi (pronounced ), or Reykjanes Peninsula, a region in southwest Iceland. It was named after Reykjanes, the southwestern tip of Reykjanesskagi.
The region has a populati ...
to the south,
Western Region to the north, and
Southern Region to the east.
Sub-divisions
Seven municipalities make up the Capital Region with Reykjavík being the most populated by far with 138,772 inhabitants.
While
Kjósarhreppur is the largest municipality by area, spread around , it is entirely rural and has the least population.
Seltjarnarnes is the smallest municipality by land area.
Each municipality has its own elected council, and take care of utilities like waste policy, public transport and fire fighting.
]
Demographics
The region hosts about two-thirds of the population of the country.
As of 2025, there are 249,054 people residing the region, of whom 126,527 are male, 122,378 are female, and 149 are
Non-binary gender, non-binary/
other. The population density is of 238.10 inhabitants per square kilometre.
The region has a very high
Human Development Index
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical composite index of life expectancy, Education Index, education (mean years of schooling completed and expected years of schooling upon entering the education system), and per capita income i ...
, and is one of the most developed regions in Europe.
Of the labor force, nearly 25% are involved in professional and administrative work including government offices.
For statistic purposes,
Statistics Iceland
Statistics Iceland () is the main official institute providing statistics on the nation of Iceland. It was created by the Althing in 1913, began operations in 1914 and became an independent government agency under the Prime Minister's Office on ...
has defined contiguous urban areas which are different from municipal boundaries. An urban area might straddle multiple municipalities and a single municipality may contain more than one urban area.
The Greater Reykjavik area houses more than 98% of the population of the region, incorporating three of the six municipalities completely, and most parts of Reykjavik and two other municipalities except
Kjósarhreppur. The remaining population is spread across the minor urban areas of
Álftanes
Álftanes () is the name of a town and a collection of small peninsulas in Iceland. It means ''swan peninsula''.
The best known of these peninsulas extrudes from the eastern part of Reykjanes with the town of the same name in the Capital Region ...
,
Grundarhverfi, and Mosfellsdalur. There is a small percent of population that is classified as rural.
See also
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Akureyri
Akureyri (, ) is a town in northern Iceland, the country's fifth most populous Municipalities of Iceland, municipality (under the official name of Akureyrarbær , 'town of Akureyri') and the largest outside the Capital Region (Iceland), Capital R ...
*
Krýsuvík (volcanic system)
The volcanic system of Krýsuvík (or Krísuvík, both pronounced in Icelandic language, Icelandic, also Trölladyngja-Krýsuvík or Krýsuvík-Trölladyngja volcanic system), is situated in the south–west of Iceland on the Reykj ...
*
Regions of Iceland
The regions of Iceland are eight areas of Iceland that roughly follow the arrangement of parliamentary constituencies as they were between 1959 and 2003. These regions are not incorporated polities but rather recognized groupings of municipaliti ...
Notes
References
External links
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{{Authority control
Geography of Reykjavík
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...