Reykjavík is Iceland's capital and largest city, situated on Faxaflói Bay's southern shore in southwestern Iceland. As the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state (64°08′ N), it is home to approximately 139,000 residents as of 2025. The broader Capital Region encompasses a population of around 249,000.
In 1904, Home Rule was granted to Iceland, and the office of Minister for Iceland was established in Reykjavík.
In 1907, the post of city mayor was created in Reykjavík.
In 1908, the post of city mayor was advertised in Reykjavík, receiving two applications.
Safnahúsið (the Culture House) was opened in 1909 and has a number of important exhibits.
January 1918 was the coldest month on record in Reykjavík, with a mean temperature of −7.2 °C (19 °F).
In December 1918, Iceland became a sovereign country known as the Kingdom of Iceland, in personal union with the Crown of Denmark.
In 1929, the Independence Party was established and became the ruling party in Reykjavík.
In April 1940, Germany occupied Denmark and Norway, leading to the Allied occupation of Reykjavík in May 1940.
On the morning of May 1940, British warships approached Reykjavík, and the Allied occupation of Reykjavík began without armed resistance following the German occupation of Denmark and Norway in April 1940.
In 1944, the Republic of Iceland was founded in Reykjavík. A president, elected by the people, replaced the king, with the office of the president located in Reykjavík.
In 1955, Halldór Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for "vivid epic power which has renewed the great narrative art of Iceland".
Since 1962, there has been some controversy regarding the location of Reykjavík Airport, due to its use of valuable space in central Reykjavík.
In 1963, the Grafarholt golf course opened, which makes it the oldest 18-hole golf course in Iceland.
In 1972, Reykjavík hosted the World Chess Championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky.
In 1978, the Independence Party narrowly lost its overall majority in Reykjavík.
In 1982, the Independence Party regained an overall majority in the Reykjavík City Council.
In 1986, the Reykjavík Summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev took place, highlighting Reykjavík's international importance.
On March 1, 1989, beer was no longer banned in Iceland and has since become popular.
In 1994, Reykjavíkurlistinn (the R-list), an alliance of Icelandic socialist parties led by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, won the Reykjavík election.
In 1997, the Korpa golf course opened.
In 1998, immigrants of the first and second generation numbered 3,106 (2.9%) in Reykjavík.
In 2000, Safnahúsið was re-modeled to promote the Icelandic national heritage.
In 2004, several countries, mainly former Eastern Bloc countries, joined the EU, impacting the demographics of foreign residents in Reykjavík.
In June 2006, the Independence Party, along with the Progressive Party, formed a new majority in the Reykjavík City Council.
In October 2007, a new majority was formed on the Reykjavík City Council, consisting of members of the Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Alliance, the Left-Greens and the F-list (liberals and independents), following controversy regarding REI.
During the summer of 2007, Reykjavík experienced a drought, with no rain measured for one month.
In 2007, several countries, mainly former Eastern Bloc countries, joined the EU, impacting the demographics of foreign residents in Reykjavík.
On January 24, 2008, Ólafur F. Magnússon, the leader of the F-list, was elected mayor of Reykjavík.
In July 2008, the highest temperature ever recorded in Reykjavík was 25.7 °C (78 °F).
On August 14, 2008, the fourth coalition of the term was formed in Reykjavík, by the Independence Party and the Social Democratic Alliance, with Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir becoming mayor.
In 2008, immigrants of the first and second generation numbered 12,352 (10.4%) in Reykjavík.
The economic boom in Reykjavík during the 2000s led to a sharp increase in construction, but many projects came to a halt with the economic crash of 2008.
In March 2009, the Independence Party was due to appoint a new mayor in Reykjavík.
On July 31, 2009, the Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
In May 2010, The Best Party won six of 15 seats in the Reykjavík City Council election and formed a coalition with the Social Democratic Alliance; comedian Jón Gnarr became mayor.
In 2011, Reykjavík city was designated as a UNESCO City of Literature and joined the UNESCO Creatives Cities network.
In 2013, several countries, mainly former Eastern Bloc countries, joined the EU, impacting the demographics of foreign residents in Reykjavík.
At the 2014 Reykjavík election, the Social Democratic Alliance had its best showing yet, gaining five seats in the council, while Bright Future received two seats and the two parties formed a coalition with the Left-Green movement and the Pirate Party, which won one seat each.
July 2019 was the warmest month on record in Reykjavík, with a mean temperature of 13.4 °C (56 °F).
In 2019, immigrants of the first and second generation numbered 22,311 (17.8%) in Reykjavík.
On January 1, 2024, immigrants of the first and second generation numbered 33,731 (24.6%) in Reykjavík.
On January 1, 2025, Reykjavík had a population of 138,772, comprising 35.6% of Iceland's population, while the Capital Region had a population of 249,054.
In 2025, Reykjavík had a population of around 139,000, making it the largest city in Iceland. The Capital Region had a population of approximately 249,000 in 2025.
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