Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Iceland
Iceland: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 294,776 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
294,776 tonnes
Change on year
up 429.5%
World rank
61st
of 215 countries
All-time high
339,938 tonnes
in 2007
All-time low
-329,731 tonnes
in 1969
Years of data
85
1937–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Iceland, 1937–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Iceland stood at 294,776 tonnes.
The figure is up 429.5% on the previous year and up 777.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Iceland peaked at 339,938 tonnes in 2007 and was at its lowest, -329,731 tonnes, in 1969.
Iceland ranks 61st of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | -3,664 tonnes | — |
| 1941 | -12,782 tonnes | +248.9% |
| 1942 | 25,297 tonnes | -297.9% |
| 1943 | 34,500 tonnes | +36.4% |
| 1944 | -18,997 tonnes | -155.1% |
| 1945 | -20,659 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1946 | 77,513 tonnes | -475.2% |
| 1947 | 89,836 tonnes | +15.9% |
| 1948 | 122,031 tonnes | +35.8% |
| 1949 | 21,090 tonnes | -82.7% |
| 1950 | -2,709 tonnes | -112.8% |
| 1951 | -95,264 tonnes | +3416.6% |
| 1952 | 131,904 tonnes | -238.5% |
| 1953 | 139,232 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1954 | -135,568 tonnes | -197.4% |
| 1955 | 131,904 tonnes | -197.3% |
| 1956 | 36,640 tonnes | -72.2% |
| 1957 | 14,656 tonnes | -60.0% |
| 1958 | 128,121 tonnes | +774.2% |
| 1959 | 146,352 tonnes | +14.2% |
| 1960 | -25,617 tonnes | -117.5% |
| 1961 | -120,913 tonnes | +372.0% |
| 1962 | 106,167 tonnes | -187.8% |
| 1963 | 106,255 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 3,604 tonnes | -96.6% |
| 1965 | 87,937 tonnes | +2340.0% |
| 1966 | 98,899 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1967 | -51,298 tonnes | -151.9% |
| 1968 | 150,286 tonnes | -393.0% |
| 1969 | -329,731 tonnes | -319.4% |
| 1970 | 124,606 tonnes | -137.8% |
| 1971 | 83,906 tonnes | -32.7% |
| 1972 | 10,626 tonnes | -87.3% |
| 1973 | 267,194 tonnes | +2414.5% |
| 1974 | -11,547 tonnes | -104.3% |
| 1975 | -125,007 tonnes | +982.6% |
| 1976 | 87,841 tonnes | -170.3% |
| 1977 | 201,349 tonnes | +129.2% |
| 1978 | 18,180 tonnes | -91.0% |
| 1979 | 62,179 tonnes | +242.0% |
| 1980 | -121,175 tonnes | -294.9% |
| 1981 | -113,846 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1982 | -154,151 tonnes | +35.4% |
| 1983 | -51,319 tonnes | -66.7% |
| 1984 | 267,216 tonnes | -620.7% |
| 1985 | -187,111 tonnes | -170.0% |
| 1986 | 157,590 tonnes | -184.2% |
| 1987 | 64,836 tonnes | -58.9% |
| 1988 | -3,942 tonnes | -106.1% |
| 1989 | 55,338 tonnes | -1503.8% |
| 1990 | 325,522 tonnes | +488.2% |
| 1991 | -118,913 tonnes | -136.5% |
| 1992 | 146,256 tonnes | -223.0% |
| 1993 | 150,818 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1994 | -50,861 tonnes | -133.7% |
| 1995 | 119,669 tonnes | -335.3% |
| 1996 | 54,056 tonnes | -54.8% |
| 1997 | 95,378 tonnes | +76.4% |
| 1998 | 19,899 tonnes | -79.1% |
| 1999 | 202,663 tonnes | +918.5% |
| 2000 | 91,797 tonnes | -54.7% |
| 2001 | -67,749 tonnes | -173.8% |
| 2002 | 127,003 tonnes | -287.5% |
| 2003 | -6,558 tonnes | -105.2% |
| 2004 | 121,733 tonnes | -1956.3% |
| 2005 | -130,810 tonnes | -207.5% |
| 2006 | 178,022 tonnes | -236.1% |
| 2007 | 339,938 tonnes | +91.0% |
| 2008 | 317,168 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 2009 | -81,039 tonnes | -125.6% |
| 2010 | -103,812 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 2011 | -123,158 tonnes | +18.6% |
| 2012 | -4,326 tonnes | -96.5% |
| 2013 | -10,356 tonnes | +139.4% |
| 2014 | -43,516 tonnes | +320.2% |
| 2015 | 95,733 tonnes | -320.0% |
| 2016 | -47,351 tonnes | -149.5% |
| 2017 | 117,286 tonnes | -347.7% |
| 2018 | 54,406 tonnes | -53.6% |
| 2019 | -112,715 tonnes | -307.2% |
| 2020 | -213,734 tonnes | +89.6% |
| 2021 | 151,729 tonnes | -171.0% |
| 2022 | 107,050 tonnes | -29.4% |
| 2023 | -89,450 tonnes | -183.6% |
| 2024 | 294,776 tonnes | -429.5% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 294,776 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes, 21.5× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 294,776 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -1,028 tonnes. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | -3416.6% | -2,709 tonnes | -95,264 tonnes |
| 1973 | +2414.5% | 10,626 tonnes | 267,194 tonnes |
| 1965 | +2340.0% | 3,604 tonnes | 87,937 tonnes |
| 2004 | +1956.3% | -6,558 tonnes | 121,733 tonnes |
| 1989 | +1503.8% | -3,942 tonnes | 55,338 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | -3,664 tonnes | -3,664 tonnes | -3,664 tonnes | 1 |
| 1940s | 35,314 tonnes | -20,659 tonnes | 122,031 tonnes | 9 |
| 1950s | 49,527 tonnes | -135,568 tonnes | 146,352 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2,559 tonnes | -329,731 tonnes | 150,286 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 71,933 tonnes | -125,007 tonnes | 267,194 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | -8,656 tonnes | -187,111 tonnes | 267,216 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 94,449 tonnes | -118,913 tonnes | 325,522 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 88,950 tonnes | -130,810 tonnes | 339,938 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | -17,781 tonnes | -123,158 tonnes | 117,286 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,074 tonnes | -213,734 tonnes | 294,776 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 58 Jamaica 332,848 tonnes compare
- 59 Afghanistan 309,679 tonnes compare
- 60 El Salvador 302,409 tonnes compare
- 62 Paraguay 291,031 tonnes compare
- 63 Costa Rica 287,922 tonnes compare
- 64 Ethiopia 266,630 tonnes compare
More climate change data for Iceland
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 16.80 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 462.45 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 110.24 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 352.21 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.416 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 12.58 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 92.86 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 92.86 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.3504 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) 92.72 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Iceland?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Iceland was 294,776 tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 339,938 tonnes in 2007.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -329,731 tonnes in 1969.
- How does Iceland rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Iceland ranks 61st out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 777.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 85 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual growth in total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.