Administrative divisions of Iceland

The Islands administrative divisions taking place in 8 regions ( landsvæði ), which in turn are divided into municipal districts. Since 2003 there is also six constituencies in Iceland. Iceland in four national district ( landsfjórðungar ) was organized early in the year 965, the oriented to the four cardinal directions.

History State Quarter ( landsfjórðungar )

Traditionally, Iceland was divided into four landsfjórðungar (singular landsfjórðungur ) or country district, oriented to the four cardinal directions. These were administrative regions that were established in the year 965 for the purpose of regional assemblies ( fjórðungsþing ) to organize, and for the District Courts ( fjórðungsdómar ). Each country district was divided into three local meetings, except Norðlendingafjórðungur, which had four. Each country also had three quarters Goden ( goðorð ) under the command of a chief ( Godi ). The district courts were competent when plaintiff and defendant in the same county were, otherwise the Althingi was responsible.

Subsequent administrative divisions related to circles ( sýslur ) and municipalities. Especially from 1874, when the new constitution Islands established electoral districts on the basis of counties and municipalities, the provincial district gradually lost any official meaning, although they still exist in the current language, if of the country is mentioned.

The state quarter were:

Regions ( landsvæði )

Iceland is divided into 8 landsvæði (regions). These are primarily used for statistical purposes. The district court districts follow this classification. Although these regions have no administrative function, they are considered sub-national units within the meaning of the international standard ISO 3166-2: IS, their codes are used as the region numbers in the table and map below

Sýsla and kaupstaður

The eight regions are traditionally in 22 sýslur (plural of sýsla, see SYSSEL, such as administrative districts ) and 20 county-level municipalities ( 8 kaupstaðir, 7 Bæir, 1 borg and 4 more) structured. Until 1996 there was a 23 circle, Vestur - Isafjardarsysla (Code 4700), which was then dissolved by incorporation of all its remaining communities in the municipality Ísafjarðarbær. A district would then correspond to the Hreppur.

It has been oriented to the classification in sýslur mainly due to the geographical division of the country. Finally, these units were further divided and in the 20th century they had become 23.

As in the 18th century were formed in Iceland cities and towns, was invented, ie the then Danish state administration, a mainland European customs similar market law and this gave districts places that belonged to themselves no such district administration, even if they were in such a geographically. They were called kaupstaður, kaupstaðir plural.

The senior administrative officials of the districts hot sýslumaður.

Sýslumenn

In addition, there is a newer division into 25 sýslumenn, the police districts, each of which is headed by a Sýslumaður.

Constituencies

Since 2003, there are six constituencies in Iceland.

Communities ( sveitarfélög )

At the lowest administrative level, there are 79 Sveitarfélög (municipalities), including the independent municipalities (as of December 2006). This number has decreased in recent years through mergers community ( in part due to rural exodus and for reasons of administrative efficiency) continuously.

The largest community is Reykjavíkurborg with 118 326 inhabitants.

Subkommunale level

On subkommunaler level only the capital Reykjavík is divided into ten municipalities ( hverfi ).