Iceland review - 2014, Page 23

nordic countries (the eU average is
4 percent), up from around 2 percent
in 1996. These statistics don’t give the
full picture though, as there are also
many individuals with a foreign back-
ground or foreigners who have taken up
icelandic citizenship. Poles make up the
largest group with roughly 36 percent,
followed by nationals from lithuania,
Denmark, Germany, latvia, the U.K.,
the U.S., the Philippines and Thailand.
While many foreigners come to iceland to work,
some are here to study—international enrolments at
icelandic universities have been on the rise—while oth-
ers move for love after meeting an icelander abroad.
Juan Camilo román estrada fits the last description. at
the age of 28, he moved to iceland in 2007 after meeting
an icelandic woman in his home country of Colombia.
Juan says his experience in iceland as an immigrant
has been overwhelmingly positive—from having a
large network of icelandic friends, to learning the lan-
guage and finding work in line with his education and