1.5 Health and Social Status

1.5 Health and Social Status

  • Number of Disability Pensioners
  • Population Happiness
  • Population Election Participation
  • Public Health Index of the Directorate of Health
  • On Index

Number of Disability Pensioners

1.5 a. Ratio of Disability Pensioners

This graph shows the comparison between the percentage of disability pensioners in the country as a whole and in the central area. Disability pensioners are relatively fewer in the central area than in the whole country if 2012 is excluded. Since 2016, the percentage of disability pensioners has decreased in the central area and has not followed the national trend, as the percentage of disability pensioners has risen slightly.

Original data and processing cannot be published due to how small the groups are in individual municipalities in the central area.

Number of Disability Pensioners

1.5 b. Age Distribution

Original data and processing cannot be published due to how small the groups are in individual municipalities in the central area.

Number of Disability Pensioners

1.5 c. Gender Balance

Original data and processing cannot be published due to how small the groups are in individual municipalities in the central area.

Population Happiness

1.5 d. Median happiness per capita in the Central Area and Iceland

Median happiness with 95% confidence limits

The whole country 7,81 (+/-0,042)

Central area 7,68 (+/-0,252)

 

Happiness 8 and over with 95% confidence limits

The whole country 66,6% (+/-0,011)

Central area 62,6% (+/-0,085)

Population Election Participation

1.5 e. Population Participation in Presidential Election 

This graph shows information on population participation in the central area compared to the whole country, the eastern and the western area. In the numbers and data shown here, the whole of Norðurþing municipality is considered within the central area. 

The graph shows participation in presidential elections in 2012, 2016, and 2020.

In 2012, five individuals ran against the incumbent President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who then ran for president for the fifth time. In 2016, nine candidates were running for the office of President of Iceland. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson won the election with 39.08% of the vote. Participation in the 2016 election was much higher than in 2012, probably because a new president was going to be voted at the time, as Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson did not stand for re-election. In 2020, two candidates were running for president as Guðmundur Franklín Jónsson ran against the incumbent president.

Original data and processing

Population Election Participation

1.5 f. Gender Balance of Voters in Presidential Elections

This graph shows the gender balance in presidential elections in 2012, 2016, and 2020 in the whole country, the western area, the central area, and the eastern area.

More people voted in 2016 than in 2012. In 2020 voter turnout fell again. Fewer men than women vote in general.

Original data and processing

Population Election Participation

1.5 g. Population Participation in Parliamentary Elections

Population participation in parliamentary elections in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2021. 

Original data and processing

Population Election Participation

1.5 h. Gender Balance of Voters in Parliamentary Elections

This graph shows the gender balance of voters in parliamentary elections in 2013, 2016 and 2017.

Original data and processing

 

Population Election Participation

1.5 i. Election Participation in Municipal Elections

This graph shows election participation in municipal elections in 2010, 2014 and 2018. 

Original data and processing

Population Election Participation

1.5 j. Gender Balance of Voters in Municipal Elections

The graph shows the gender balance of voters in municipal elections in 2010 and 2014. Gender participation is relatively even between areas but the biggest difference between genders seems to be in the central area, 2-4%. Election participation increased significantly in the eastern area in 2014. The explanation would most likely be that in 2010, in Langanesbyggð municipality, voters could elect certain people but in 2014 political parties were voted for in the municipal elections 

Original data and processing

Public Health Index of the Directorate of Health

The Directorate of Health publishes public health indices by public health jurisdictions in Iceland.

Public Health Indices are scales of measurements that give indication on the health and condition of the nation. The indices make it easier for municipalities and health care services to improve the health and condition of the population in the area. The indices used to measure the health and condition of the Icelandic people were chosen with that in mind that they purported an opportunity for health promotion and preventive measures. 

A few of them will be published here since the numbers for the North are different from the numbers for the whole country.

2018

  • Excessive drinking by adults below country average.
  • Fewest antibacterial drug prescription for children under 5 years old.
  • Most hip joint replacements.
  • Percentage of those who have a hard time making ends meet above country average.
  • Most people considering their physical health bad.
  • Most people on a waiting list for a hospital room in the country.

 

2017

  • Use of anti-depressants over national average.
  • Use of cholesterol reducing medication over national average.
  • Antibacterial drug prescriptions for children under 5 years old below national average.
  • Mouth tobacco use among upper secondary students below national average.
  • Adult smokers below national average.
  • Adult happiness the lowest in comparison to other public health jurisdictions and national average.
  • Consumption of carbonated beverages by upper secondary students and adults below national average.

 

2016

  • Frequency of binge drinking by adults lower.
  • Comparatively fewer upper secondary students drink carbonated beverages every day.
  • Lower use of antibacterial drugs for children under 5 years old.
  • Comparatively fewer adults consider their physical health bad.
  • Lower percentage of children in year 8-10 with the highest value on a scale for well-being.
  • Comparatively more adults with highest value on a scale for stress.

More information on public health indices by public health jurisdictions.

 

 

On Index

The percentage of disability pensioners is lower in Iceland than in the other Nordic countries. Most people receiving disability pensions are of working age and it is important to monitor if the percentage of disability pensioners in the area reflect the situation in the country as a whole, both overall but also by the gender and age division.

It is both interesting and useful to monitor the population's happiness in times of upheaval and after to compare it to the whole country. Data will come from the research "Heilsa og líðan Íslendinga" that the Directorate of Health conducts.

Election participation has in general decreased in the last few years. The right to vote is important in a democratic society. It is important to monitor the development of election participation in the area and whether it is consistent with the national average. 

The index will publish information on the number of disability pensioners by age and the percentage of disability pensioners aged 18-66 years old, information on population happiness and election participation in municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections.

Health indices from the Directorate of Health will also be published where variations from the national average are shown by public health jurisdictions. Health indices in the North that variate from the national average and can be different between the researches of the directorate will be published.

Frequency

Data on number of disability pensioners will be published yearly but data on population happiness every 5 years. Information on election participation will be published at least every 4 years for every type of elections. Data should be published no later than 15th of March.

Area

Data from the central area and the whole country will be compared.

Accountability

The project manager is responsible for acquiring the data and publishing it according to the publishing schedule.

Source Material

Data will be collected from Tryggingastofnun (Social Security Office), Statistics Iceland and Directorate of Health.