Heilbrigðisskýrslur - 01.12.1962, Qupperneq 198

Public Health in Iceland 1962. — A Summary.
1. The climatic conditions were on the whole fairly favourable. The
raean temperature was 0.3 centigrades (C) above the average.
The year was a year of incipient prosperity and strong economic
growth. Gross national product increased by 8 per cent, and per capita
product thus by 6.1 per cent. Industrial peace was maintained, apart
from a long trawler strike. The current value of gross output from
fisheries and fish processing increased by 12 per cent, most of which
represented an increase in volume. Construction activity increased by
15 per cent. The volume of external trade increased very much, exports
of goods and services by 22 per cent, and imports of goods and services
by 20 per cent. The balance of trade was positive for the second
consecutive year and the foreign exchange reserves increased still further.
Cost of living, including' direct taxes and family allowances, rose by 10.9
per cent, limiting the rise in real wage rates to 2.5 per cent. Actual
earnings increased very much more, or by 10.3 per cent in real value,
after tax and family allowances, for married workers, skilled and un-
skilled, and seamen. Private consumption increased by 9.8 per cent, or
8 per cent per capita. Public consumption increased by 7.1 per cent and
gross fixed asset formation by 16.9 per cent. Hospital buildings amounted
to 40.4 mill. Ikr. and increased in real terms by 61 per cent on the
year before.
2. Population, Births and Deaths. The population was on December
lst 1962 183478 including Reykjavík 74978 (1961: 180058 and 73388).
The estimated midyear population was 181768 (178675). The Marriage
rate was 7.5 (7.5), the live birth rate 25.9 (25.5) and the death rate 6.8
(7.0) per 1000 inhabitants. The infant mortality rate was 17.0 (19.4) per
1000 born alive.