National identification numbering A national identification number, national identity number, or national insurance number or JMBG/EMBG is used by the governments of many countries as a means of tracking their citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents for the purpose ...

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 ...

was established in 1953 when the birth number system was implemented. In 1959, the name number system was implemented and used parallel to the birth number. The third and present system is the identification number which replaced both previous systems.

Birth number (1953–1988)

The birth number ( is, fæðingarnúmer, links=no) was the first national identification number in Iceland. It was composed of 6 numbers but was later extended to 8 numbers.

Name number (1959–1988)

The name number ( is, nafnnúmer, links=no) was the second national identification number in Iceland. It was based on the individual's name and thus allowed alphabetical ordering since computers at the time could not work with the alphabet directly.

Identification number (1987–present)

The

identification number An identifier is a name that identifies (that is, labels the identity of) either a unique object or a unique ''class'' of objects, where the "object" or class may be an idea, physical countable object (or class thereof), or physical noncountable ...

( is, kennitala, links=no) is the third and current national identification number in Iceland.

References

Watson, Ian (2010). A short history of national identification numbering in Iceland. Bifröst Journal of Social Science — 4
{{Iceland topics National identification numbers

Birth number (1953–1988)

Name number (1959–1988)

Identification number (1987–present)

See also

References