Iceland
Parliament
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Unicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
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Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
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30 Nov 2024
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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No information available
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Early elections
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Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
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30 Nov 2028
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Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
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63
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
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11
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Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
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1,206
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Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
638
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Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
568
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Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
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47.1%
Voter turnout
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Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
268,422
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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The Social Democratic Alliance (SDA), led by Ms. Kristrún Frostadóttir, became the largest party in the 63-member Parliament following the snap elections held in November 2024. The SDA won 15 seats, up from six seats in 2021. Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson's Independence Party (IP) came second, winning 14 seats, down from 16. The SDA formed a coalition government with the Liberal Reform Party (led by Ms. Katrín Gunnarsdóttir) and the People’s Party (led by Ms. Inga Sæland). The coalition jointly holds 36 seats. It is the first time that all governing parties in Iceland have been headed by women.
On 21 December, President Halla Tómasdóttir presented a new government under Ms. Frostadóttir (SDA). At 36, she is the youngest ever Prime Minister of Iceland. She announced that her government would work to cut inflation and interest rates, and hold a referendum on Iceland’s membership of the European Union by 2027. On 4 February 2025, the newly elected Parliament held its first session and elected Ms. Thórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir (SDA) as its new Speaker.
The snap elections in 2024 followed the collapse of the outgoing coalition government in October (see note). Prime Minister Benediktsson (IP) resigned due to a disagreement over the treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers. Key electoral issues in 2024 included migration, energy and housing, and the country’s potential accession to the European Union.
Note:
The coalition government comprised the three largest parties in the outgoing legislature: the Independence Party, the Left-Green Movement, and the Progressive Party. In April 2024, the then Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir (Left-Green) resigned to contest the 2024 presidential election, which she lost. Mr. Benediktsson (IP) succeeded her as Prime Minister in late April. -
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
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6
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Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
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54.5%
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Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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23.8%
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Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
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Yes
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Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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3
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Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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Social Democratic Alliance (SDA), Liberal Reform Party, People’s Party (PP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total |
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Social Democratic Alliance (SDA) | 15 |
Independence Party (IP) | 14 |
Liberal Reform Party | 11 |
People’s Party | 10 |
Center Party | 8 |
Progressive Party (PP) | 5 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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34
- Number of women elected
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29
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
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46.0%
- Women Directly Elected
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29
- Sources
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Parliament (05.12.2024)
https://www.government.is/library/05-Rikisstjorn/Platform-for-the-Coalition-Government_21-December-2024.pdf
https://www.government.is
https://www.reuters.com
https://apnews.com/
https://www.france24.com/en
https://www.icelandreview.com
https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is
https://www.brusselstimes.com
New legislature
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Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
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34
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Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
29
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Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
46.0%
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First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
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27
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Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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42.9%
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Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
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04 Feb 2025
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Thorunn Sveinbjarnardottir (Female)
Date of birth: 22 Nov 1965 -
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
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Social Democratic Alliance (SDA)
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Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
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04 Feb 2025