Iceland

Iceland is the westernmost European nation and one of the world's least densely populated countries, with most of the population in the southwestern urban areas. The dominant ethnic group is Icelandic (Nordic-Celtic) and the dominant religion is Evangelical Lutheran, which is the state church. Icelandic women enjoy a high standard of living, a comprehensive state welfare system, high educational attainment, and more gender equality than most women in other countries. Most women work, although there is still a gender gap in wages. Women have attained the highest political offices. Iceland was first of 134 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2009 Global Gender Gap Report.

The average age at marriage is 31, and women continue to use their maiden names after marriage. The 2009 fertility rate was two births per woman. Out-of-wedlock childbirths are common and carry no social or legal stigma. The 2009 infant mortality rate was very low at 2 per 1,000 live births and the maternal mortality rate was 4 per 100,000 live births. Women receive three months of paid maternity leave at 80 percent of their wages, paid by the state social security system. Parenting and childrearing classes are common and most parents attend. Many families use day care centers to care for their children while they're at work as most parents work outside the home.

Education is compulsory from ages 7 to 16 and almost all people complete the primary level. Students in remote areas alternate weeks at boarding schools with weeks at home during the academic year. Preschool, general and technical secondary schools, vocational schools, and universities also are available. Female school enrollment rates stood at 97 percent for the primary level, 92 percent at the secondary level, and 96 percent at the tertiary level. Education at the third level for men was only 52 percent. On average, children attend school for 17.6 years. The 2009 literacy rate was among the highest in the world at 100 percent for both genders.