20th Century
| Year | Date | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1915 | Universal suffrage. | |
| 1916 | The political parties Social Democratic Party and Progressive Party are founded. | |
| 1918 | 1 December | Iceland becomes a sovereign, independent nation. The Danish King remains head of state. |
| 1922 | Jarðræktarlögin. | |
| 1929 | The Icelandic Independence Party is founded. | |
| 1930 | 20 December | The Icelandic Communist Party is founded. The Icelandic State Radio begins broadcasting. |
| 1939 | Following the occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany, a national emergency government is formed under Sveinn Björnsson. | |
| 1940 | 10 May | The British invade, violating Icelandic neutrality. |
| 1941 | 7 July | The United States Army, still officially neutral, replaces the British occupation force. |
| 1944 | 17 June | Iceland becomes an independent republic, severing the last political ties to Denmark. Sveinn Björnsson becomes president. |
| 1946 | The Keflavik Agreement. | |
| 1948 | Iceland receives Marshall Aid from the United States. | |
| 1949 | 30 March | Riots break out on Austurvöllur. |
| 4 April | Iceland joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. | |
| 1951 | The United States Army establishes a base in Keflavík. | |
| 1952 | 1 August | Fishing limits extended to 4 miles. Ásgeir Ásgeirsson becomes president. |
| 1958 | Fishing limits extended to 12 miles. | |
| 1963 | 14 November | Volcanic eruption forms Surtsey. |
| 1966 | 30 September | The Icelandic State Television begins its first broadcasts. |
| 1968 | 1 August | Kristján Eldjárn becomes president. Collapse in the fishing industry. |
| 1970 | 1 January | Iceland joins the European Free Trade Association. |
| 1972 | Fishing limits extended to 50 miles. | |
| 1973 | 23 January | Volcanic eruption in the Westman Islands. |
| 1975 | Fishing limits extended to 200 miles. | |
| 1980 | 1 August | Vigdís Finnbogadóttir becomes president of Iceland, the first woman in the world to become elected head of state. |
| 1994 | 1 January | Iceland joins the European Economic Area. |
| 1996 | 1 August | Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson becomes president. |
Read more about this topic: Timeline Of Icelandic History