Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Katrín in 2023
Katrín Jakobsdóttir
Born	1 2, 1976
Birthplace	Reykjavík, Iceland
Nationality	Icelandic
Occupation	Politician, author
Known for	Prime Minister of Iceland (2017–2024)
Education	University of Iceland (BA, MA)
Spouse(s)	Gunnar Sigvaldason
Children	3
Awards	WHO Champion for European Well-being Economy Initiative (2023), Chair of Council of Women World Leaders (2020)

Katrín Jakobsdóttir (Template:IPA-is; born 1 February 1976) is an Icelandic former politician and author who served as the Prime Minister of Iceland from 30 November 2017 to 9 April 2024. A member of the Left-Green Movement, she represented the Reykjavík North constituency in the Althing, Iceland's parliament, from 2007 to 2024. Prior to becoming prime minister, she served as Iceland's Minister of Education, Science and Culture from 2009 to 2013 under Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. Katrín was Iceland's second female prime minister, following Sigurðardóttir, and led a coalition government that placed gender equality, climate policy, and welfare at the centre of its agenda. She chaired the Left-Green Movement from 2013 until 2024, when she stepped down to run for president of Iceland. Beyond politics, she co-authored a crime novel set in Reykjavík and has become an international voice on climate change and public health. In June 2025, she was appointed to head a new World Health Organization commission on health and climate in the European Region. Throughout her political career, she earned a reputation for trustworthiness; a 2015 poll found that 59% of respondents named her the most trustworthy politician in Iceland, and she maintained the highest prime ministerial approval ratings in the country's modern history.

Early Life

Katrín Jakobsdóttir was born on 1 February 1976 in Reykjavík, Iceland. She grew up in the Icelandic capital, where she developed an early interest in literature and politics. Details of her family background and childhood remain largely private, consistent with Iceland's small and close-knit political culture, though her later academic pursues in Icelandic literature suggest a formative environment that encouraged intellectual engagement.

Katrín's upbringing in Reykjavík placed her at the centre of Iceland's political and cultural life. The country's capital served as the hub for the nation's universities, media, and government institutions, providing proximity to the civic institutions that would shape her later career. Iceland's political landscape during Katrín's formative years was characterised by a multiparty system in which coalition governments were the norm, and political participation rates were among the highest in the world.

Education

Katrín Jakobsdóttir attended the University of Iceland, where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree. Her academic focus was on Icelandic literature, a field that informed both her political communication style and her later literary endeavours. The University of Iceland, the country's oldest and largest institution of higher education, provided her with a grounding in the humanities and Icelandic cultural tradition. Her academic background distinguished her among Icelandic politicians, many of whom came from backgrounds in law, economics, or business. In a 2015 interview, Katrín described education as "our best investment," reflecting the influence her own educational experience had on her political priorities.

Career

Early Political Career and the Left-Green Movement

Katrín Jakobsdóttir became involved with the Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin – grænt framboð) early in her political career. She was appointed deputy chairperson of the party in 2003, a position that placed her among the party's senior leadership at a relatively young age. The Left-Green Movement, founded in 1999, positioned itself as a left-wing, environmentalist, and feminist party within Iceland's multiparty political system.

In the 2007 Icelandic parliamentary elections, Katrín won a seat in the Althing representing the Reykjavík North constituency. Her election to parliament marked the beginning of a continuous tenure in the Althing that would last until 2024. As a member of parliament, she engaged with issues related to education, culture, and social policy, establishing herself as a prominent voice within the Left-Green Movement's parliamentary group.

Minister of Education, Science and Culture (2009–2013)

Following the 2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis, which led to the collapse of the previous government, new elections were held in April 2009. The Left-Green Movement, in coalition with the Social Democratic Alliance, formed a new government under Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. Katrín was appointed Minister of Education, Science and Culture, a portfolio she held from 2 February 2009 to 23 May 2013. She also served as Minister of Nordic Cooperation during the same period, coordinating Iceland's engagement with fellow Nordic nations through institutions such as the Nordic Council.

As education minister, Katrín oversaw policy in a period of fiscal constraint following the financial crisis. Her tenure in the ministry allowed her to shape education policy during a transformative period in Icelandic governance, as the post-crisis government pursued reforms in financial regulation, democratic participation, and social welfare. The experience in cabinet government provided her with executive experience that would later prove relevant to her role as prime minister.

Chairperson of the Left-Green Movement

On 24 February 2013, Katrín Jakobsdóttir was elected chairperson of the Left-Green Movement, succeeding Steingrímur J. Sigfússon. Her election as party leader came at a challenging time for the Left-Greens, as the party faced the prospect of losing government power in the upcoming 2013 elections. The party did indeed move to the opposition benches after the April 2013 elections, as a centre-right coalition took power.

During her years leading the party in opposition from 2013 to 2017, Katrín built a public profile that extended well beyond the Left-Green Movement's traditional voter base. Her personal popularity significantly exceeded that of her party. A 2015 poll found that 59% of Icelanders named her the most trustworthy politician in the country, a remarkable figure in a fragmented multiparty system. This personal standing positioned her as a potential prime ministerial candidate as Iceland headed toward the 2017 elections.

2017 Elections and Formation of Government

The 2017 Icelandic parliamentary election, held on 28 October 2017, took place against the backdrop of political instability, with Iceland having held elections three times in four years. The Left-Green Movement, under Katrín's leadership, won eleven seats in the Althing, making it a significant player in coalition negotiations despite not being the largest party.

Initial efforts by leftist parties to form a government did not succeed. Following these failed negotiations, President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson granted Katrín the mandate to form a government on 28 November 2017. She assembled a coalition government that brought together the Left-Green Movement, the Independence Party, and the Progressive Party — an unusual combination spanning the left-right spectrum.

On 30 November 2017, Katrín Jakobsdóttir took office as the 28th Prime Minister of Iceland, becoming the country's second female prime minister after Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. At 41 years of age, she was one of the younger leaders to take office in Iceland. The New York Times covered her appointment, noting the formation of the ideologically diverse coalition.

Prime Minister (2017–2024)

Katrín Jakobsdóttir's tenure as prime minister spanned more than six years, making hers one of the longer-serving governments in recent Icelandic history. Her government's policy agenda centred on several key areas: gender equality, climate action, education, and welfare.

Gender Equality

Gender equality was a central priority of Katrín's government. Iceland had already been ranked as the world's most gender-equal country by the World Economic Forum prior to her taking office, and her government pursued policies aimed at reinforcing and extending this position. In a 2018 interview with the BBC, Katrín spoke about Iceland's equal pay legislation, stating that equality "doesn't just happen by sitting and waiting." During her six years as prime minister, she initiated various legal and institutional measures to advance gender equality.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

The COVID-19 pandemic presented a major governance challenge during Katrín's time in office. Iceland pursued a strategy that combined extensive testing with contact tracing, drawing international attention for its approach. In October 2020, Katrín participated in a Washington Post Live event, where she discussed Iceland's pandemic response and what other countries could learn from it, speaking with foreign affairs columnist David Ignatius. Iceland's relatively low death toll and its use of population-wide screening were cited internationally as examples of effective pandemic management.

2021 Elections and Continued Government

Katrín led her coalition into the 2021 Icelandic parliamentary election. The election results were closely contested, and post-election polling indicated that the largest share of those surveyed wanted Katrín to continue as prime minister. French media also covered the election closely, noting the political complexities of Iceland's coalition system. The three-party coalition was ultimately renewed, allowing Katrín to continue as prime minister for a second term.

EU Membership Debate

Iceland's relationship with the European Union remained a topic of political discussion during Katrín's tenure. The Left-Green Movement had historically been sceptical of EU membership for Iceland, and the question of whether to resume accession talks was a recurring theme. During the 2017 campaign, commentary from other political figures suggested that Left-Green voters opposed EU membership. Under Katrín's leadership, Iceland did not resume EU accession negotiations.

2024 Presidential Campaign

In April 2024, Katrín Jakobsdóttir announced her decision to leave the office of prime minister and step down as chair of the Left-Green Movement to run for president of Iceland in the 2024 Icelandic presidential election. She was succeeded as prime minister by Bjarni Benediktsson on 9 April 2024, and Guðmundur Ingi Guðbrandsson succeeded her as chair of the Left-Green Movement on 5 April 2024.

The presidential election took place on 1 June 2024. Katrín finished in second place, receiving 25.1% of the popular vote. Her departure from the prime ministership and the Althing marked the end of a 17-year career in the Icelandic parliament.

Post-Political Career and International Roles

Following her departure from Icelandic politics, Katrín Jakobsdóttir has pursued an active international role, particularly in the areas of public health, climate change, and democratic governance. In May 2025, she delivered a lecture at the London School of Economics and Political Science on "The Politics of Equality, the 'Populist Moment' and the Power of New Technologies," discussing democratic challenges stemming from social inequalities, authoritarian politics, and new technologies.

In June 2025, the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe appointed Katrín to head a new commission on health and climate change in the European Region. The commission was tasked with offering "pragmatic and cost-effective health sector solutions to address climate change." In an accompanying opinion piece, Katrín wrote that "the climate crisis is a health crisis" and called for accelerated action on climate change to protect public health.

Literary Work

In addition to her political career, Katrín Jakobsdóttir is known as a co-author of crime fiction. In October 2022, while still serving as prime minister, she published a debut crime novel set in Reykjavík. The Guardian reported that the book, which came together during the COVID-19 pandemic, placed her in "a long list of fiction-writing politicians." Her academic background in Icelandic literature informed her literary work, and the novel attracted international media attention given the novelty of a sitting prime minister publishing fiction.

Personal Life

Katrín Jakobsdóttir is married to Gunnar Sigvaldason. The couple have three children together. The family resides in Reykjavík. Katrín has spoken publicly about balancing the demands of political leadership with family life, a subject that has drawn media attention given Iceland's international profile on gender equality and work-life balance.

Her interest in literature extends beyond her academic and professional work. Her co-authorship of a crime novel published in 2022 reflects a longstanding engagement with Icelandic literary culture, consistent with her master's degree in Icelandic literature from the University of Iceland.

Recognition

On 19 February 2020, Katrín Jakobsdóttir was named Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international network of current and former female heads of state and government.

In June 2023, the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, appointed Katrín as a WHO Champion for the European Well-being Economy Initiative. This appointment recognised her government's efforts to integrate well-being indicators into economic policymaking, moving beyond traditional GDP-based measures of national progress.

Her appointment in June 2025 as head of the WHO commission on health and climate in the European Region further extended her international recognition in the fields of public health and climate policy.

Throughout her political career, Katrín consistently recorded high public approval ratings in Iceland. The 2015 poll identifying her as the most trustworthy politician among 59% of respondents was notable in a country with multiple political parties and no tradition of dominant political personalities. During her tenure as prime minister, she maintained the highest approval ratings recorded for a prime minister in Iceland, a fact noted by both domestic and international media.

Legacy

Katrín Jakobsdóttir's career in Icelandic politics spanned nearly two decades, from her first election to the Althing in 2007 to her departure in 2024. As Iceland's second female prime minister, she held the office for more than six years — longer than her predecessor Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir's four-year tenure — and led a coalition government that combined parties from across the political spectrum.

Her government's emphasis on gender equality built upon Iceland's existing position as a global leader in the field, while her response to the COVID-19 pandemic drew international attention to Iceland's public health capabilities. The coalition she assembled in 2017, joining the left-wing Left-Green Movement with the centre-right Independence Party and Progressive Party, was notable for its ideological breadth and its durability in a political system where coalition governments often prove fragile.

Katrín's transition from national politics to international public health advocacy after the 2024 presidential election reflects a pattern seen among former heads of government who leverage their experience in global policy forums. Her appointment to lead the WHO's European commission on health and climate in 2025 positioned her as a continuing participant in international policy discussions on climate change and public health.

Her literary work, while secondary to her political career, added an unusual dimension to her public profile. The publication of a crime novel by a sitting prime minister attracted media coverage that extended beyond Iceland's borders, contributing to international awareness of Icelandic culture and the country's literary tradition.

In Icelandic politics, Katrín's personal popularity — consistently exceeding that of her party — represented an unusual phenomenon in a country where party identification has traditionally been more significant than individual political celebrity. Her sustained high approval ratings, both as opposition leader and as prime minister, set benchmarks in Icelandic political polling.