Entwicklung und Räumliche Differenzierung der Bevölkerung Islands

Abstract

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image sizeABSTRACTDevelopment and spatial differentiation of population in Iceland.Due to orographic, edaphic, and climatic factors the area of settlement in Iceland has been confined to the overgrown lowlands, the lower parts of the valleys and the narrow seabord. Between 874 and 930 the Vikings settled the country. Because of the large tracts of land needed for cattle keeping the settlers lived mostly on isolated farms. At the coast fishery provided an additional source of income. At the beginning of the 13th century the total population was 80 000, compared to 50 000 in 1703. This decline can be attributed to diminishing pastures because of deflation that was caused by exhaustive grazing.Since the end of the 19th century the population has increased rapidly (1890: 71 000; 1974: 216 000) due to a sharp decline of the mortality rate and only a slight decline of the birth rate. During the same period the increasing importance of fishery and consequent changes in the economic structure have led to a significant spatial differentiation as regards both the dynamics and the structure of population. The development and growth of compact settlements at the seaboard bears this out. In 1901 only Reykjavik had more than 2 000 inhabitants, in 1972 more than two thirds of the population were living in compact settlements with a population of more than 2 000. The increase in population has been especially great on Reykjanes in the SW (1860: 10% of the population; 1974: 59%). It is here that Greater Reykjavik, the only metropolitan area in Iceland, is situated. All other parts of the country register a proportional or even absolute decrease in population. Especially infra- structural differences between the open country and the larger settlements have been responsible for a moving back of the frontier of settlement in many areas.