Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in Iceland
Iceland: Annual CO₂ emissions from coal was 867,962 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
867,962 tonnes
Change on year
up 29.3%
World rank
91st
of 179 countries
All-time high
867,962 tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
0 tonnes
in 1974
Years of data
87
1936–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in Iceland, 1936–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, annual co₂ emissions from coal in Iceland stood at 867,962 tonnes. That is the highest value across all 87 years on record.
That represents a change of up 29.3% on the previous year and up 38.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from coal in Iceland peaked at 867,962 tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes, in 1974.
That places Iceland 91st out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual CO₂ emissions from coal in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | 21,984 tonnes | — |
| 1937 | 18,320 tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1940 | 357,677 tonnes | +1852.4% |
| 1941 | 335,113 tonnes | -6.3% |
| 1942 | 340,555 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1943 | 369,301 tonnes | +8.4% |
| 1944 | 352,606 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 1945 | 312,956 tonnes | -11.2% |
| 1946 | 329,181 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1947 | 333,846 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1948 | 336,178 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1949 | 276,702 tonnes | -17.7% |
| 1950 | 230,832 tonnes | -16.6% |
| 1951 | 164,880 tonnes | -28.6% |
| 1952 | 146,560 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1953 | 116,781 tonnes | -20.3% |
| 1954 | 106,256 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1955 | 150,224 tonnes | +41.4% |
| 1956 | 109,920 tonnes | -26.8% |
| 1957 | 84,272 tonnes | -23.3% |
| 1958 | 80,608 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1959 | 73,280 tonnes | -9.1% |
| 1960 | 58,447 tonnes | -20.2% |
| 1961 | 43,968 tonnes | -24.8% |
| 1962 | 43,968 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 29,395 tonnes | -33.1% |
| 1964 | 33,069 tonnes | +12.5% |
| 1965 | 18,320 tonnes | -44.6% |
| 1966 | 14,656 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 1967 | 11,020 tonnes | -24.8% |
| 1968 | 10,967 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1969 | 3,664 tonnes | -66.6% |
| 1970 | 3,654 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 3,664 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 3,655 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1973 | 3,656 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1975 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1976 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1977 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1978 | 0 tonnes | — |
| 1979 | 51,296 tonnes | — |
| 1980 | 65,952 tonnes | +28.6% |
| 1981 | 109,920 tonnes | +66.7% |
| 1982 | 113,584 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 164,490 tonnes | +44.8% |
| 1984 | 230,832 tonnes | +40.3% |
| 1985 | 245,488 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 274,237 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1987 | 219,840 tonnes | -19.8% |
| 1988 | 227,168 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1989 | 234,045 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 282,147 tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1991 | 245,148 tonnes | -13.1% |
| 1992 | 242,904 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 297,981 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1994 | 292,943 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 296,014 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 281,272 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 319,935 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1998 | 284,473 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1999 | 358,060 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 2000 | 465,699 tonnes | +30.1% |
| 2001 | 502,106 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2002 | 512,880 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 510,264 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 525,751 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 484,469 tonnes | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 515,156 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2007 | 596,389 tonnes | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 639,214 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 621,769 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 626,117 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 639,488 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 658,973 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 661,003 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 625,169 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 2015 | 661,182 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 660,089 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 693,221 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 715,029 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 684,012 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 667,573 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 726,493 tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2022 | 769,759 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 2023 | 671,270 tonnes | -12.8% |
| 2024 | 867,962 tonnes | +29.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 867,962 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.88 million tonnes, 46% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 867,962 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.11 million tonnes, 21% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from coal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | +1852.4% | 18,320 tonnes | 357,677 tonnes |
| 1974 | -100.0% | 3,656 tonnes | 0 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 20,152 tonnes | 18,320 tonnes | 21,984 tonnes | 2 |
| 1940s | 334,412 tonnes | 276,702 tonnes | 369,301 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 126,361 tonnes | 73,280 tonnes | 230,832 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 26,747 tonnes | 3,664 tonnes | 58,447 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 6,592 tonnes | 0 tonnes | 51,296 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 188,556 tonnes | 65,952 tonnes | 274,237 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 290,088 tonnes | 242,904 tonnes | 358,060 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 537,370 tonnes | 465,699 tonnes | 639,214 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 662,428 tonnes | 625,169 tonnes | 715,029 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 740,611 tonnes | 667,573 tonnes | 867,962 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
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 annual co₂ emissions from coal in Iceland?
- Annual co₂ emissions from coal in Iceland was 867,962 tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 867,962 tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes in 1974.
- How does Iceland rank for annual co₂ emissions from coal?
- Iceland ranks 91st out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.8%. 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 Annual CO₂ emissions from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 87 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from coal, measured in tonnes.