Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland
Iceland: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 355,921 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
355,921 tonnes
Change on year
up 1.7%
World rank
99th
of 197 countries
All-time high
4.56 million tonnes
in 1959
All-time low
154,474 tonnes
in 2006
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland stood at 355,921 tonnes.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland peaked at 4.56 million tonnes in 1959 and was at its lowest, 154,474 tonnes, in 2006.
Iceland ranks 99th of 197 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.
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1.47 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 1.46 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1852 | 1.45 million tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1853 | 1.43 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1854 | 1.42 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1855 | 1.41 million tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1856 | 1.39 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1857 | 1.37 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1858 | 1.36 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1859 | 1.34 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1860 | 1.24 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 1861 | 1.19 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1862 | 1.16 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1863 | 1.12 million tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1864 | 1.09 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1865 | 1.06 million tonnes | -2.7% |
| 1866 | 1.03 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1867 | 1.00 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1868 | 980,596 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1869 | 958,869 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1870 | 944,140 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1871 | 927,981 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1872 | 912,739 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1873 | 898,523 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1874 | 885,186 tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1875 | 872,398 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1876 | 859,941 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1877 | 845,285 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1878 | 831,581 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1879 | 817,548 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1880 | 797,580 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1881 | 780,908 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1882 | 764,750 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1883 | 748,702 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 1884 | 732,470 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1885 | 715,872 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1886 | 699,128 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1887 | 681,944 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1888 | 664,320 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1889 | 644,901 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1890 | 625,738 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1891 | 605,989 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1892 | 586,606 tonnes | -3.2% |
| 1893 | 567,151 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1894 | 548,574 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1895 | 530,547 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1896 | 513,216 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1897 | 495,996 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1898 | 478,775 tonnes | -3.5% |
| 1899 | 461,517 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 1900 | 443,747 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1901 | 426,966 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1902 | 410,441 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1903 | 393,697 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1904 | 372,665 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1905 | 299,788 tonnes | -19.6% |
| 1906 | 204,781 tonnes | -31.7% |
| 1907 | 231,785 tonnes | +13.2% |
| 1908 | 229,733 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1909 | 206,723 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1910 | 909,112 tonnes | +339.8% |
| 1911 | 1.14 million tonnes | +25.3% |
| 1912 | 1.28 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1913 | 1.41 million tonnes | +10.3% |
| 1914 | 1.53 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1915 | 1.63 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1916 | 1.72 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1917 | 1.80 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1918 | 1.88 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1919 | 1.95 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1920 | 1.83 million tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1921 | 1.82 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1922 | 1.83 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1923 | 1.85 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1924 | 1.88 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1925 | 1.90 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1926 | 1.92 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1927 | 1.95 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1928 | 1.97 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1929 | 2.00 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1930 | 2.05 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1931 | 2.09 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1932 | 2.12 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1933 | 2.15 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1934 | 2.17 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1935 | 2.20 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1936 | 2.23 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1937 | 2.25 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1938 | 2.28 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1939 | 2.30 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 2.19 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1941 | 2.16 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1942 | 2.15 million tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1943 | 2.14 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1944 | 2.14 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1945 | 2.13 million tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1946 | 2.13 million tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1947 | 2.13 million tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1948 | 2.13 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1949 | 2.13 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1950 | 2.57 million tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1951 | 2.93 million tonnes | +13.9% |
| 1952 | 3.25 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1953 | 3.53 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1954 | 3.78 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1955 | 3.98 million tonnes | +5.5% |
| 1956 | 4.16 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1957 | 4.31 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1958 | 4.45 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1959 | 4.56 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 3.21 million tonnes | -29.6% |
| 1961 | 2.75 million tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1962 | 2.47 million tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1963 | 2.27 million tonnes | -8.1% |
| 1964 | 2.10 million tonnes | -7.9% |
| 1965 | 1.94 million tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1966 | 1.80 million tonnes | -7.2% |
| 1967 | 1.67 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1968 | 1.57 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1969 | 996,974 tonnes | -36.3% |
| 1970 | 899,878 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1971 | 810,953 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 1972 | 729,539 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 1973 | 651,239 tonnes | -10.7% |
| 1974 | 583,089 tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1975 | 519,995 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 1976 | 484,381 tonnes | -6.8% |
| 1977 | 423,192 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1978 | 371,090 tonnes | -12.3% |
| 1979 | 337,601 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1980 | 313,675 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1981 | 315,067 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 297,993 tonnes | -5.4% |
| 1983 | 287,001 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 278,208 tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1985 | 287,844 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1986 | 276,119 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1987 | 269,597 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 264,431 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 308,692 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1990 | 278,061 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 1991 | 269,780 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1992 | 248,273 tonnes | -8.0% |
| 1993 | 251,570 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 277,108 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1995 | 246,404 tonnes | -11.1% |
| 1996 | 282,458 tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1997 | 210,094 tonnes | -25.6% |
| 1998 | 185,472 tonnes | -11.7% |
| 1999 | 193,899 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 194,778 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 185,618 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 180,562 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2003 | 179,536 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 175,872 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 246,441 tonnes | +40.1% |
| 2006 | 154,474 tonnes | -37.3% |
| 2007 | 169,094 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 2008 | 229,623 tonnes | +35.8% |
| 2009 | 189,026 tonnes | -17.7% |
| 2010 | 1.03 million tonnes | +443.8% |
| 2011 | 236,511 tonnes | -77.0% |
| 2012 | 424,694 tonnes | +79.6% |
| 2013 | 312,942 tonnes | -26.3% |
| 2014 | 298,103 tonnes | -4.7% |
| 2015 | 299,825 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 303,599 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 357,570 tonnes | +17.8% |
| 2018 | 351,744 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 326,792 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 2020 | 314,628 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 321,113 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 341,118 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 2023 | 349,875 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 355,921 tonnes | +1.7% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 355,921 tonnes is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is -377,832 tonnes. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +443.8% | 189,026 tonnes | 1.03 million tonnes |
| 1910 | +339.8% | 206,723 tonnes | 909,112 tonnes |
| 2012 | +79.6% | 236,511 tonnes | 424,694 tonnes |
| 2011 | -77.0% | 1.03 million tonnes | 236,511 tonnes |
| 2005 | +40.1% | 175,872 tonnes | 246,441 tonnes |
| 2008 | +35.8% | 169,094 tonnes | 229,623 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 1.41 million tonnes | 1.34 million tonnes | 1.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 1.08 million tonnes | 958,869 tonnes | 1.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 879,532 tonnes | 817,548 tonnes | 944,140 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 723,058 tonnes | 644,901 tonnes | 797,580 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 541,411 tonnes | 461,517 tonnes | 625,738 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 322,033 tonnes | 204,781 tonnes | 443,747 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.53 million tonnes | 909,112 tonnes | 1.95 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.90 million tonnes | 1.82 million tonnes | 2.00 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.18 million tonnes | 2.05 million tonnes | 2.30 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.14 million tonnes | 2.13 million tonnes | 2.19 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.75 million tonnes | 2.57 million tonnes | 4.56 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.08 million tonnes | 996,974 tonnes | 3.21 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 581,096 tonnes | 337,601 tonnes | 899,878 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 289,863 tonnes | 264,431 tonnes | 315,067 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 244,312 tonnes | 185,472 tonnes | 282,458 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 190,502 tonnes | 154,474 tonnes | 246,441 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 393,964 tonnes | 236,511 tonnes | 1.03 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 336,531 tonnes | 314,628 tonnes | 355,921 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 land-use change in Iceland?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland was 355,921 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 land-use change recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.56 million tonnes in 1959.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 154,474 tonnes in 2006.
- How does Iceland rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Iceland ranks 99th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. 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 Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change, measured in tonnes.