Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre in Iceland
Iceland: Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre was 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1,665 tonnes per square kilometre
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
147th
of 204 countries
All-time high
1,665 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
165.22 tonnes per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre in Iceland, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre in Iceland stood at 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 25.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre in Iceland peaked at 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 165.22 tonnes per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places Iceland 147th out of 204 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 165.22 tonnes per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 177.17 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.2% |
| 1963 | 190.18 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.3% |
| 1964 | 203.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 1965 | 217.14 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 232.05 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.9% |
| 1967 | 246.45 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.2% |
| 1968 | 262.34 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1969 | 274.95 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 288.79 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 303.48 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 318.27 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 335.73 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 353.07 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 369.16 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 1976 | 386.13 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 405.11 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1978 | 424.27 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 444.05 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 462.63 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1981 | 480.06 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 1982 | 495.96 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1983 | 511.35 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 529.4 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 545.59 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1986 | 563.35 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1987 | 581.75 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 600.12 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1989 | 619.03 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 641.2 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 662.17 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 684.61 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1993 | 708.55 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.5% |
| 1994 | 731.99 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 756.61 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 1996 | 781.78 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 807.9 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 834.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 862.56 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 891.81 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 920.39 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 950.23 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 980.01 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 1,011 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 1,041 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 1,072 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 1,107 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 1,145 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 1,182 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 1,218 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 1,253 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 1,288 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 1,323 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 1,357 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 1,393 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 1,428 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 1,464 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 1,492 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 1,527 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 1,560 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 1,595 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 1,630 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.1% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre is below the median for high income countries, which is 42,545 tonnes per square kilometre, 4% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 32,173 tonnes per square kilometre, 5% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 218.75 tonnes per square kilometre | 165.22 tonnes per square kilometre | 274.95 tonnes per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 362.81 tonnes per square kilometre | 288.79 tonnes per square kilometre | 444.05 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 538.92 tonnes per square kilometre | 462.63 tonnes per square kilometre | 619.03 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 747.16 tonnes per square kilometre | 641.2 tonnes per square kilometre | 862.56 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,030 tonnes per square kilometre | 891.81 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,182 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,374 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,218 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,527 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,612 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,560 tonnes per square kilometre | 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 144 Zimbabwe 2,118 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 145 Ghana 1,782 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 146 Gambia 1,667 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 148 Peru 1,634 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 149 Nicaragua 1,596 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 150 Senegal 1,488 tonnes per square kilometre 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 cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre in Iceland?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre in Iceland was 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 1,665 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 165.22 tonnes per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Iceland rank for cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre?
- Iceland ranks 147th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Cumulative CO₂ emissions by world region divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.