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Iceland — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in Iceland is 90,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Iceland is 30.32 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Iceland ranked at No. 1411

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Iceland ranked at No. 152

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Iceland are reported to have 3753 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Iceland are reported to have 1,0394 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Total Number of Gun Deaths

In Iceland, annual deaths resulting from firearms total

2009: 45

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Rate of All Gun Deaths per 100,000 People

In Iceland, the annual rate of all gun deaths per 100,000 population is

2009: 1.285

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Iceland, annual homicides by any means total

2004: 36
2003: 0
2002: 47
2001: 1
2000: 58
1999: 2

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Iceland, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2004: 1.056
2003: 0.00
2002: 1.417
2001: 0.35
2000: 1.788
1999: 0.72

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Number of Gun Homicides

ChartIn Iceland, annual firearm homicides total

2007: 19
2006: 1
2005: 1
2004: 06
2003: 0
2000: 19
1996: 1

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Rate of Gun Homicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Iceland, the annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population is

2007: 0.329
2006: 0.33
2005: 0.34
2004: 0.006
2003: 0.00
2000: 0.369
1996: 0.37

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Number of Gun Suicides

ChartIn Iceland, annual firearm suicides total

2009: 410
2008: 4
2007: 5
2006: 7
2005: 4
2004: 4
2003: 5
2002: 3
2001: 6
2000: 7
1999: 3
1998: 3
1997: 7
1996: 6

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Rate of Gun Suicide per 100,000 People

ChartIn Iceland, the annual rate of firearm suicide per 100,000 population is

2009: 1.2510
2008: 1.25
2007: 1.61
2006: 2.3
2005: 1.35
2004: 1.37
2003: 1.73
2002: 1.04
2001: 2.1
2000: 2.49
1999: 1.08
1998: 1.1
1997: 2.58
1996: 2.23

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Iceland is reported to be US$2,40911 (2009)

Import Control

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Iceland is reported to be US$1,548,42611 (2009)

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Iceland, only licensed gun owners12 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Licensing Records

In Iceland, authorities maintain a record12 of individual civilians licensed to acquire, possess, sell or transfer a firearm or ammunition

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Iceland, the law requires12 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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Gun Dealer Record Keeping

In Iceland, licensed firearm dealers are required13 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority

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Gun Manufacturer Record Keeping

In Iceland, licensed gun makers are required13 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Iceland, State agencies are required14 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Iceland, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law15

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Firearm Tracing

In Iceland, state authorities carry out16 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Iceland voted to begin17 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has been signed, but not yet ratified18 by Iceland

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Iceland committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects19

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Iceland has submitted one or more national reports20 21 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Iceland, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated22 21

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated21 by Iceland to other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Iceland has declared1 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Iceland has been a Member State of the United Nations since 194623

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list24 Iceland as a Participating State
Last Updated on 12 April 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

3.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

5.

WHO.2011.‘Inter-country Comparison of Mortality for Selected Cause of Death – Total Firearm Death.’ European Detailed Mortality Database (DMDB).Copenhagen:World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe,15 September. (Q5684)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2006.‘Reported Overall Homicide Numbers and Rates per 100,000 Population for 64 Countries, 2003-04.’ Ninth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2003 – 2004).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,10 December. (Q9)Full Citation

7.

UNODC.2005.‘Recorded Homicide and Firearm Homicide in 53 Countries, Completed or Attempted.’ Eighth United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (2001-2002).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,15 April. (Q1077)Full Citation

8.

UNODC.2004.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (1998-2000).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,19 March. (Q91)Full Citation

9.

WHO.2012.‘Inter-country Comparison of Mortality for Selected Cause of Death – Gun Homicide in Iceland.’ European Detailed Mortality Database (DMDB).Copenhagen:World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe,14 February. (Q6076)Full Citation

10.

WHO.2012.‘Inter-country Comparison of Mortality for Selected Cause of Death – Gun Suicide in Iceland.’ European Detailed Mortality Database (DMDB).Copenhagen:World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe,29 February. (Q6148)Full Citation

11.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

12.

Iceland.2008.‘Legislation, Regulations, Administrative Procedures – Licensing and Civilian Gun Registration.’ National Report of Iceland on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations,7 April. (Q4792)Full Citation

13.

Iceland.2008.‘Legislation, Regulations, Administrative Procedures – Shop Owners and Manufacturers.’ National Report of Iceland on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations,7 April. (Q4791)Full Citation

14.

Iceland.2008.‘Stockpile Management and Security.’ National Report of Iceland on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations,7 April. (Q4793)Full Citation

15.

Iceland.2008.‘Marking, Record Keeping and Tracing – Marking.’ National Report of Iceland on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations,7 April. (Q4794)Full Citation

16.

Iceland.2008.‘Marking, Record Keeping and Tracing – Tracing.’ National Report of Iceland on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations,7 April. (Q4795)Full Citation

17.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

18.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

19.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

20.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

21.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

22.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

23.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

24.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation