Did you know that Iceland is the best country in the world to live in? There are uncountable reasons why Iceland is the best country on the planet. We’ll discuss 20 reasons why Iceland is the best country on the planet.
You’ve probably heard about Iceland before and might have even traveled to Iceland, but did you know that according to many sources in the world, Iceland is the best country in the world to live in? And it’s not only because of the magical Blue Lagoon or Icelandic northern lights!
Let’s see what Iceland has to offer to Icelandic citizens!
1- outdoor geothermal heated pools open all year round
Icelandic government understands that Iceland is dark and frozen half of the year, so, they still kept their Viking ancestors tradition of having hot pools year-round, regardless of the weather.
Most people hang out at these heated pools after work instead of going to bars!
2- the landscape of Iceland is so lunar-like
Iceland landscape is too similar to the surface of the moon that both Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong practiced how to land on the moon in Iceland!
And the movie Interstellar was recorded in Iceland!
3-Iceland has the highest percentage of writers in its population
Iceland has a higher percentage of writers in its population than any other country in the world. That means that Icelandic people are bookworms which again means, Iceland s a well-educated country!
The capital of Iceland, Reykjavik is a UNESCO City of Literature.
4- Jón Gnarr, an Icelandic comedian and actor became the elected mayor of Reykjavik
Jón Gnarr is an Icelandic celebrity who established a political party called the “Best Party” consisting of people with no political background! His promises included things like “free towels in all swimming pools, a polar bear for the Reykjavík zoo”.
He actually won the election and became the mayor of Reykjavik from 2010 to 2014! He even appeared as a drag queen to support the LGBT community in Iceland!
5- Iceland is the best place on earth to catch the Northern Lights
6- Iceland has never had a military
Iceland has never had a military, nor entered any conflict, except once called the “Cod War,” which was about fishing! (the UK attempted to fish in Iceland waters and in response, Icelanders made underwater scissors to cut their nets and Icelanders won!)
7- Icelanders have no understanding of traffic
The only traffic they have in Iceland looks like this!
8- Iceland is the best country in the world for women
Iceland has the smallest gender gap in the world! Icelanders have a law that prohibits employers to pay less to women compared to men for the same job!
9- Icelanders still speak Icelandic
Icelandic is more than a thousand years old but it has almost not changed during Iceland’s history! In fact, Icelanders can still read the ancient Sagas!
10- Iceland has the biggest desert in Europe
Iceland is too big and the terrain is so different that Iceland has the biggest desert in Europe.
11- Iceland is constantly growing
Since Iceland is a volcanic island and the volcanoes are still active there, throwing out lava, the land is constantly growing in Iceland!
12- Iceland police have no gun, but a funny Instagram account
Iceland polices don’t carry guns because the country is so safe that they don’t have to! Iceland’s police only killed one person in the history of the country that they apologized for!
13- Iceland is one of the happiest countries in the world
Iceland is constantly among the top 5 happiest countries in the world. In 2019, Iceland was the 4th happiest country on the planet!
14- Iceland is the land of the midnight sun
The sun almost doesn’t set in Iceland for about 6 months, and to celebrate it, Icelanders throw a 3 days music festival called “Secret Solstice”. During the festival, the sun doesn’t set!
15- Iceland’s most famous restaurant is a small hot dog stand
Those hot dogs from Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur are unofficially Iceland’s national dish!
16- Iceland is home to the most powerful waterfall in the world
Iceland is home to the most powerful waterfall in the world, as well as the largest waterfall complex in Europe.
17- Icelandic children save Puffins
Every August, newborn puffins are to fly over the north Atlantic from the cliffs of the Westman Island, but a lot of them get distracted by the lights of the town of Heimaey and end up in Heimaey’s streets. As a tradition, children take them back to the cliffs, so they can start their journey.
18- small-town feeling
Even though Reykjavik is the biggest city in Iceland with 220,000 residents, it feels like a small town, since each neighborhood has its own school, playground, and swimming pool. Reykjavik feels like a few villages uniting as a whole when needed!
19- Everyone speaks English
Because of the small population of Icelandic speakers, entertainment companies don’t bother translating movies, videos, or other things, so, everyone starts learning English at a very young age by playing video games and watching American TV shows. However, students start learning English at the age of 12.
20- No one has a bodyguard
Icelanders feel very safe in their country and no one feels the need to have a bodyguard, even the politicians! The Presidents of the country don’t even bother having anti-bullet cars since it’s seen as a waste of money!
I simply love your article! ❤
Glad to hear that! Thank you for your comment! 😊
Oh, I like this article so much! I want to go to Iceland.
I don’t blame you, it’s an amazing country!
Thank you for your comment! 😊
I can’t wait to visit some day.
You’ll love it!
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Well we have to try that to know
Exactly!
I’d love to go and settle there :((
It’s such an awesome country to live in but in a long term, the weather might be annoying!
The hot pools remind me of my parents when they lived in Maine lol… oh the hot tub is cool when is snowing and freezing they said… while yes when you are IN the water … but then I had to get out and get inside lol / I did not like that part lol
The northern lights would be phenomenal to see like that!! Whoa!! 😮 how lucky!!
Their traffic looks just like the traffic in Maine lol… my mom used to complain about the traffic… her one car lol… and the only stop lights they had were yellow blinking caution lights – not even red yellow and green lol … I used to tease her every time she mentioned traffic – come to Cali mom lol
Countries who aren’t equal with men and women – suck!!! US included! Kudos to Iceland – how it should be.
Iceland has a lot… I think they even have that house I want lol … the one by itself on a cliff lol
I love that they are happy. Even in the cold lol
Very interesting!! Huh. Did not know these things – thank you
Now you made me curious about Maine! I’ve never been there! Would love to visit it after the pandemic! 😊
Teasing moms is always nice! Lol! 😀
I’ve never lived somewhere with no traffic but i know it’s one of those luxuries that I’ll get used to in no time!
Haha Maine is backwoods… very beautiful – a lot of untouched beauty ❤️ forest everywhere!!
I learned the hard way though when my kids were little and still wearing DIAPERS… the entire state like shuts down at 9pm!!! You don’t have your supplies – you screwed lol – that happened to me ONE time and then after that I made sure I have everything I need before 9pm!!!! lol … I have 24 hour stuff so ya know that was a learning experience with Maine lol … but is gorgeous absolutely beautiful! Winters can be very cold and very snowy!!!
I have lived in areas with little traffic before – but not without the 24 hour stores lol … my country area has little traffic once I get there – but not on the highways and not in the cities 🤨
That’s hard. I’m so used to go shopping after 9 pm! Lol!
Thank you for the insight tho! 😊
It was actually in early 2019 when Iceland made it illegal to pay women less than men. I happened to do a project on the gender pay gap then, and I wished I could have said more about that new law. I’m interested to see what effect it has. I have wanted to visit Iceland for so long! I saw The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and also Where to Invade Next and I was hooked! Did you know that when the recession happened in 2008, Iceland was successful in holding their bankers accountable?
Right! Actually last night, I was watching an episode of Down to earth where Zac Efron has had traveled to some of my favorite places and he mentioned the 2008 issue and that how Iceland could keep things ok. It’s just a surreal country to me!
Thank you fro your comment! 😊
It is surreal! Michael Moore talked to 3 female CEOs and they said outright they would never want to live in America! Also, just seeing those three female CEOs together, I just think that could never happen in America without people losing their s**t! 3 female CEOs and they lift each other up?? Quelle horreur!! 😱😂
😂😂😂
Exactly!
“Iceland has no understanding of traffic”! Priceless! A fabulous place to live. My bags are packed and I’m ready to go…❤❤❤
Lol! I know, right? It’s just awesome over there! They literally have no big city by international definition!
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Fabulous! A wonderful place to be!!!
Must be a really happy, peaceful country
Exactly! They’re so happy and chill all the time!
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Welcome🙂
Great Country!
Right! It’s awesome!
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I thought it is only land no country. Have you visited it?
That would be North Pole which is supposed to be neutral but still some countries are taking over some parts of it because of its natural resources.
Thabk you for your comment! 😊
Its all right.
E’ l’unico paese estero che vorrei vedere.
Wow! Iceland fascinates me. I knew someone who went and she said it was great and had a lot of great pictures from there.
It is super nice in there!
I wish you can visit it there soon! 😊
I have been trying to seek out the Northern Lights my whole life. Been to Iceland 3 times ..probably didn’t stay long enough.
Me too. That’s right. You should visit it there at certain times and there are actually some tours for it if you Google them.
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Women earn the same as men after the 1975 women’s strike. 90% of women participated! Cool country.
It is an awesome country!
Thank you for your comment! 😊