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Municipalities of Iceland

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Municipalities of Iceland
Sveitarfélög Íslands (Icelandic)
CategoryMunicipality
Location Iceland
Found inRegions
Number62 (as of 2024)
PopulationsSmallest: Árneshreppur (pop. 53)
Largest: Reykjavík (pop. 140,000)
AreasSmallest: Seltjarnarnes (2.11 km2)
Largest: Þingeyjarsveit (12,019.59 km2)
Government
  • Municipal council

The municipalities of Iceland (Icelandic: Sveitarfélög [ˈsveiːtarˌfjɛːˌlœːx]) are local administrative areas in Iceland that provide a number of services to their inhabitants such as kindergartens, elementary schools, waste management, social services, public housing, public transportation, services to senior citizens and disabled people. They also govern zoning 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

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Politics of Iceland
Government
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Executive
Judiciary
Elections
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The origin of the municipalities can be traced back to the commonwealth period in the 10th century when rural communities were organized into communes (hreppar [r̥ɛhpar̥]) with the main purpose of providing help for the poorest individuals in society. When urbanization began in Iceland during the 18th and 19th centuries, several independent townships (kaupstaðir [ˈkʰœypˌstaːðɪr̥]) 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 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.[1] From 1986 to 1998, their number decreased from 222 to 124. From 2000 to 2024, their number decreased from 124 to the current figure of 62.

Government

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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 mayors (bæjarstjóri [ˈpaiːjarˌstjouːrɪ] or borgarstjóri [ˈpɔrkarˌstjouːrɪ]) in the mostly urban municipalities but "municipal manager" (sveitarstjóri [ˈsveiːtarˌstjouːrɪ]) in the rural or mixed municipalities. It is common for these executive managers to be professionally hired and politically independent.

List of municipalities

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Vernacular name Official name Region Population[2]
(2021 Census)		 Area
(km2) 		LAU code Mayor (Party)
Reykjavík Reykjavíkurborg Höfuðborgarsvæðið 129,886 274.19 0000 Einar Þorsteinsson (B)
Kópavogur Kópavogsbær Höfuðborgarsvæðið 37,366 79.99 1000 Ármann Kristinn Ólafsson (D)
Seltjarnarnes Seltjarnarnesbær Höfuðborgarsvæðið 4,567 2.11 1100 Ásgerður Halldórsdóttir (D)
Garðabær Höfuðborgarsvæðið 17,224 75.46 1300 Gunnar Einarsson (D)
Hafnarfjörður Hafnarfjarðarkaupstaður Höfuðborgarsvæðið 29,000 144.07 1400 Haraldur L. Haraldsson (Ind.)
Mosfellsbær Höfuðborgarsvæðið 12,340 186.16 1604 Haraldur Sverrisson (D)
Kjósarhreppur Höfuðborgarsvæðið 274 284.08 1606 Guðný Guðrún Ívarsdóttir (Ind.)
Reykjanesbær Suðurnes 18,847 144.48 2000 Kjartan Már Kjartansson (Ind.)
Grindavíkurbær Suðurnes 3,445 423.46 2300 Róbert Ragnarsson (Ind.)
Suðurnesjabær Suðurnes 3,533 82.46 2505 Magnús Stefánsson (Ind.)
Vogar Sveitarfélagið Vogar Suðurnes 1,288 164.4 2506 Ásgeir Eiríksson (Ind.)
Akranes Akraneskaupstaður Vesturland 7,496 8.57 3000 Regína Ásvaldsdóttir (Ind.)
Skorradalshreppur Vesturland 77 215.8 3506 Árni Hjörleifsson (Ind.)
Hvalfjarðarsveit Vesturland 637 481.06 3511 Björgvin Helgason (Ind.)
Borgarbyggð Vesturland 3,636 4926.85 3609 Björn Bjarki Þorsteinsson (D)
Grundarfjarðarbær Vesturland 842 149.08 3709 Eyþór Garðarsson (Ind.)
Eyja- og Miklaholtshreppur Vesturland 110 383.51 3713 Eggert Kjartansson (Ind.)
Snæfellsbær Vesturland 1,622 682.04 3714 Kristinn Jónasson (Ind.)
Stykkishólmur Vesturland 1,233 253.47 3716 Sturla Böðvarsson (D)
Dalabyggð Vesturland 633 2426.88 3811 Jóhannes Haukur Hauksson (Ind.)
Bolungarvík Bolungarvíkurkaupstaður Vestfirðir 929 108.08 4100 Elías Jónatansson (Ind.)
Ísafjarðarbær Vestfirðir 3,674 2380.55 4200 Arna Lára Jónsdóttir (Ind.)
Reykhólahreppur Vestfirðir 245 1096.23 4502 Karl Kristjánsson (Ind.)
Vesturbyggð Vestfirðir 1,280 1511.43 4607 Rebekka Hilmarsdóttir (D)
Súðavík Súðavíkurhreppur Vestfirðir 189 750.35 4803 Pétur G. Markan (Ind.)
Árneshreppur Vestfirðir 37 705.41 4901 Eva Sigurbjörnsdóttir (Ind.)
Kaldrananeshreppur Vestfirðir 109 458.4 4902 Finnur Ólafsson (Ind.)
Strandabyggð Vestfirðir 416 1833.88 4911 Jón Gísli Jónsson (Ind.)
Húnaþing vestra Norðurland vestra 1,183 3022.83 5508 Guðný Hrund Karlsdóttir (Ind.)
Skagaströnd Sveitarfélagið Skagaströnd Norðurland vestra 460 52.6 5609 Magnús B. Jónsson (Ind.)
Húnabyggð Norðurland vestra 1,377 4487.18 5613
Skagafjörður Norðurland vestra 4,204 5542.46 5716 Ásta Björg Pálmadóttir (Ind.)
Akureyri Akureyrarbær Norðurland eystra 18,921 135.55 6000 Ásthildur Sturludóttir (Ind.)
Norðurþing Norðurland eystra 2,945 3732.78 6100 Kristján Þór Magnússon (Ind.)
Fjallabyggð Norðurland eystra 1,954 363.83 6250 Gunnar Ingi Birgisson (Ind.)
Dalvíkurbyggð Norðurland eystra 1,816 597.35 6400 Bjarni Þ. Bjarnason (B)
Eyjafjarðarsveit Norðurland eystra 1,046 1774.83 6513 Karl Frímannsson (Ind.)
Hörgársveit Norðurland eystra 619 893.97 6515 Snorri Finnlaugsson (Ind.)
Svalbarðsstrandarhreppur Norðurland eystra 432 54.39 6601 Eiríkur H. Hauksson (Ind.)
Grýtubakkahreppur Norðurland eystra 371 431.43 6602 Þröstur Friðfinnsson (Ind.)
Tjörneshreppur Norðurland eystra 53 198.86 6611 Steinþór Heiðarsson (Ind.)
Þingeyjarsveit Norðurland eystra 1,231 12019.59 6613 Dagbjört Jónsdóttir (Ind.)
Langanesbyggð Norðurland eystra 588 2483.16 6710 Elías Pétursson (Ind.)
Fjarðabyggð Austurland 4,955 1614.45 7300 Páll Björgvin Guðmundsson (Ind.)
Múlaþing Austurland 4,853 10669.19 7400 Björn Ingimarsson (Ind.)
Vopnafjarðarhreppur Austurland 635 1903.31 7502 Ólafur Áki Ragnarsson (Ind.)
Fljótsdalshreppur Austurland 90 1516.3 7505 Gunnþórunn Ingólfsdóttir (Ind.)
Hornafjörður Sveitarfélagið Hornafjörður Suðurland 2,297 6309.44 7708 Björn Ingi Jónsson (D)
Vestmannaeyjar Vestmannaeyjabær Suðurland 4,194 16.14 8000 Elliði Vignisson (D)
Árborg Sveitarfélagið Árborg Suðurland 10,258 157.19 8200 Ásta Stefánsdóttir (D)
Mýrdalshreppur Suðurland 729 749.09 8508 Ásgeir Magnússon (Ind.)
Skaftárhreppur Suðurland 560 6944.26 8509 Eygló Kristjánsdóttir (Ind.)
Ásahreppur Suðurland 222 2942.32 8610 Egill Sigurðsson (Ind.)
Rangárþing eystra Suðurland 1,828 1839.93 8613 Ísólfur Gylfi Pálmason (B)
Rangárþing ytra Suðurland 1,698 3187.09 8614 Ágúst Sigurðsson (D)
Hrunamannahreppur Suðurland 781 1375.07 8710 Jón G. Valgeirsson (Ind.)
Hveragerði Hveragerðisbær Suðurland 2,723 9.03 8716 Aldís Hafsteinsdóttir (D)
Ölfus Sveitarfélagið Ölfus Suðurland 2,277 736.32 8717 Gunnsteinn R. Ómarsson (Ind.)
Grímsnes- og Grafningshreppur Suðurland 569 899.44 8719 Ingibjörg Harðardóttir (Ind.)
Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur Suðurland 533 2231.74 8720 Kristófer Tómasson (Ind.)
Bláskógabyggð Suðurland 1,124 3300 8721 Valtýr Valtýsson (Ind.)
Flóahreppur Suðurland 661 288.9 8722 Eydís Þ. Indriðadóttir (Ind.)

History

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From 1953 to 2024, the number of municipalities in Iceland decreased from 229 to 62:[3]

  • 1 August 2024 (reduced to 62)
  • 19 May 2024 (reduced to 63)
  • 14 May 2022 (reduced to 64)
  • 17 February 2020 (reduced to 69)
  • 24 January 2019
  • 7 January 2019
  • 26 May 2018 (reduced to 72)
  • 13 August 2013
  • 1 January 2013 (reduced to 74)
  • 1 January 2012 (reduced to 75)
  • 11 June 2010 (reduced to 76)
  • 1 June 2009 (reduced to 77)
  • 15 July 2008 (reduced to 78)
  • 12 September 2007
  • 8 April 2006 (reduced to 79)
    • Þórshafnarhreppur and Skeggjastaðahreppur merged to form Langanesbyggð.
  • 11 March 2006 (reduced to 80)
  • 20 February 2006 (reduced to 82)
  • 11 February 2006 (reduced to 83)
    • Gaulverjabæjarhreppur, Hraungerðishreppur, and Villingaholtshreppur merged to form Flóahreppur.
  • 28 January 2006 (reduced to 85)
  • 21 January 2006 (reduced to 86)
  • 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)
  • 1 August 2004 (reduced to 103)
  • 17 June 2004
  • 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)
  • 31 December 2001 (reduced to 112)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • 1 June 1998 (reduced to 155)
  • 14 February 1998 (reduced to 158)
    • Þverárhlíðarhreppur, Borgarhreppur, and Álftaneshreppur merged with Borgarbyggð.
  • 1 January 1998 (reduced to 161)
  • 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)
  • 1 January 1995 (reduced to 169)
  • 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.
    • Hafnahreppur, Keflavíkurbær, and Njarðvíkurbær merged to form Reykjanesbær.
    • 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.
  • 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)
  • 1 April 1988 (reduced to 214)
  • 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)
  • 1972 (reduced to 224)
  • 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

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References

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  1. ^ "Municipalities in Iceland in 1950" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  2. ^ "Census: Population by sex, age and municipality 2011 and 2021". Statistics Iceland. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  3. ^ "Sameiningar sveitarfélaga". samband.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Association of Local Authorities. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
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