In which country do approximately one out of ten people publish a book during their lifetime?

If you’ve ever wanted to pen a novel, you’ll find plenty of kindred spirits in Iceland. This island nation of just over 300,000 people boasts more writers, books published, and books read, per capita, than anywhere else in the world. It is estimated that one in 10 people in the country will write and publish a book in their lifetime.

There’s even an Icelandic phrase for the phenomenon: ‘Ad ganga med bok I maganum’ (Everyone gives birth to a book, or, Everyone has a book in their stomach).

The tradition of writing runs deep; as early as the 13th century, Icelandic sagas were written to tell the fascinating history of Norse settlers on the island. Icelanders are voracious readers, too; there are more books read here per capita than anywhere else in the world.

Genres run the gamut: modern sagas, poetry, children's books, literary and erotic fiction, and crime writing. Crime novel sales figures in Iceland are staggering; they double those of its Nordic neighbors.

Even Christmas traditions draw on Icelanders’ love of books; ‘Jolabokaflod’ (Christmas Book Flood), is the time of year when most books are published; entire families wrap themselves in warm blankets and get lost in a good book.