Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland
Iceland: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 204.04 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
204.04 million tonnes
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
134th
of 197 countries
All-time high
204.04 million tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
1.47 million tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Cumulative 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
The most recent figure for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland is 204.04 million tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland peaked at 204.04 million tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.47 million tonnes, in 1850.
That places Iceland 134th out of 197 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.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1.47 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 2.94 million tonnes | +99.2% |
| 1852 | 4.39 million tonnes | +49.3% |
| 1853 | 5.82 million tonnes | +32.7% |
| 1854 | 7.24 million tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1855 | 8.64 million tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1856 | 10.03 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1857 | 11.41 million tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1858 | 12.77 million tonnes | +11.9% |
| 1859 | 14.11 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1860 | 15.35 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1861 | 16.54 million tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1862 | 17.70 million tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1863 | 18.82 million tonnes | +6.3% |
| 1864 | 19.90 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1865 | 20.96 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1866 | 21.99 million tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1867 | 22.99 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1868 | 23.97 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1869 | 24.93 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1870 | 25.88 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1871 | 26.80 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1872 | 27.72 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1873 | 28.62 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1874 | 29.50 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1875 | 30.37 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1876 | 31.23 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1877 | 32.08 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1878 | 32.91 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1879 | 33.73 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1880 | 34.53 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1881 | 35.31 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1882 | 36.07 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1883 | 36.82 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1884 | 37.55 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1885 | 38.27 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1886 | 38.97 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1887 | 39.65 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1888 | 40.31 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1889 | 40.96 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1890 | 41.58 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1891 | 42.19 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1892 | 42.78 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1893 | 43.34 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 43.89 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1895 | 44.42 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1896 | 44.94 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1897 | 45.43 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1898 | 45.91 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1899 | 46.37 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1900 | 46.82 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1901 | 47.24 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1902 | 47.65 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1903 | 48.05 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1904 | 48.42 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1905 | 48.72 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1906 | 48.92 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1907 | 49.16 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1908 | 49.39 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1909 | 49.59 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1910 | 50.50 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1911 | 51.64 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1912 | 52.92 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1913 | 54.33 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1914 | 55.86 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1915 | 57.49 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1916 | 59.21 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1917 | 61.01 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1918 | 62.89 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1919 | 64.85 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1920 | 66.67 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1921 | 68.49 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1922 | 70.33 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1923 | 72.18 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1924 | 74.06 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1925 | 75.96 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1926 | 77.88 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1927 | 79.83 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1928 | 81.80 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1929 | 83.80 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1930 | 85.85 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1931 | 87.94 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1932 | 90.06 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1933 | 92.20 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1934 | 94.38 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1935 | 96.58 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1936 | 98.81 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1937 | 101.06 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1938 | 103.33 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1939 | 105.63 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1940 | 107.82 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1941 | 109.98 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1942 | 112.13 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1943 | 114.27 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1944 | 116.41 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1945 | 118.54 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1946 | 120.67 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1947 | 122.80 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1948 | 124.93 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1949 | 127.06 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1950 | 129.63 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1951 | 132.56 million tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1952 | 135.81 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1953 | 139.34 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 143.12 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1955 | 147.10 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1956 | 151.27 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 155.58 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 160.02 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 164.59 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 167.80 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1961 | 170.55 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1962 | 173.02 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 175.30 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1964 | 177.39 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1965 | 179.33 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 181.13 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1967 | 182.80 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1968 | 184.37 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1969 | 185.36 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 186.26 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 187.07 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1972 | 187.81 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 188.46 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1974 | 189.04 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 189.56 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 190.04 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1977 | 190.47 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 190.84 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1979 | 191.18 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 191.49 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 191.80 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 192.10 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 192.39 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 192.67 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 192.96 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 193.23 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 193.50 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 193.76 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 194.07 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 194.35 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 194.62 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 194.87 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 195.12 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 195.40 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 195.65 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 195.93 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 196.14 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 196.32 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 196.52 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 196.71 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 196.90 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 197.08 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 197.26 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 197.43 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 197.68 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 197.83 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 198.00 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 198.23 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 198.42 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 199.45 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 199.69 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 200.11 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 200.42 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 200.72 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 201.02 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 201.32 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 201.68 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 202.03 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 202.36 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 202.68 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 203.00 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 203.34 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 203.69 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 204.04 million tonnes | +0.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 204.04 million tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 323.46 million tonnes, 63% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 204.04 million tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.87 million tonnes, 48% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | +99.2% | 1.47 million tonnes | 2.94 million tonnes |
| 1852 | +49.3% | 2.94 million tonnes | 4.39 million tonnes |
| 1853 | +32.7% | 4.39 million tonnes | 5.82 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 7.88 million tonnes | 1.47 million tonnes | 14.11 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 20.32 million tonnes | 15.35 million tonnes | 24.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 29.88 million tonnes | 25.88 million tonnes | 33.73 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 37.84 million tonnes | 34.53 million tonnes | 40.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 44.09 million tonnes | 41.58 million tonnes | 46.37 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 48.40 million tonnes | 46.82 million tonnes | 49.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 57.07 million tonnes | 50.50 million tonnes | 64.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 75.10 million tonnes | 66.67 million tonnes | 83.80 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 95.58 million tonnes | 85.85 million tonnes | 105.63 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 117.46 million tonnes | 107.82 million tonnes | 127.06 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 145.90 million tonnes | 129.63 million tonnes | 164.59 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 177.70 million tonnes | 167.80 million tonnes | 185.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 189.07 million tonnes | 186.26 million tonnes | 191.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 192.80 million tonnes | 191.49 million tonnes | 194.07 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 195.49 million tonnes | 194.35 million tonnes | 196.52 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 197.55 million tonnes | 196.71 million tonnes | 198.42 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 200.88 million tonnes | 199.45 million tonnes | 202.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 203.35 million tonnes | 202.68 million tonnes | 204.04 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 131 Ireland 225.58 million tonnes compare
- 132 Estonia 216.48 million tonnes compare
- 133 Solomon Islands 215.49 million tonnes compare
- 135 Montenegro 195.06 million tonnes compare
- 136 Turkmenistan 183.97 million tonnes compare
- 137 Vanuatu 170.38 million 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 cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Iceland was 204.04 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 204.04 million tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.47 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does Iceland rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Iceland ranks 134th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.7%. 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 Cumulative 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
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.