Methane emissions in Iceland
Iceland: Methane emissions was 556,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
556,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 3.6%
World rank
165th
of 199 countries
All-time high
686,446 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2018
All-time low
73,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Iceland, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 556,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for methane emissions in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.6% on the previous year and down 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Iceland peaked at 686,446 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018 and was at its lowest, 73,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Iceland ranks 165th of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 73,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 74,171 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1852 | 75,020 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1853 | 75,869 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1854 | 76,718 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1855 | 77,566 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1856 | 78,389 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1857 | 79,212 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1858 | 80,034 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1859 | 80,875 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1860 | 81,716 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1861 | 81,792 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1862 | 81,869 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1863 | 81,944 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1864 | 82,019 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1865 | 82,091 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 82,163 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 82,234 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1868 | 82,304 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1869 | 82,384 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1870 | 82,462 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1871 | 82,535 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1872 | 82,608 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1873 | 82,680 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1874 | 82,751 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1875 | 82,820 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1876 | 82,888 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1877 | 82,956 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1878 | 83,024 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1879 | 83,091 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1880 | 83,157 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1881 | 83,215 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1882 | 83,273 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1883 | 83,331 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1884 | 83,388 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1885 | 83,446 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1886 | 83,501 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1887 | 83,556 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1888 | 83,612 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1889 | 83,668 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1890 | 83,759 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1891 | 83,830 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1892 | 83,901 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1893 | 83,972 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1894 | 84,042 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1895 | 84,112 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1896 | 84,185 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1897 | 84,257 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1898 | 84,330 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1899 | 84,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1900 | 84,474 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1901 | 84,538 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1902 | 84,601 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1903 | 84,664 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1904 | 84,715 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1905 | 84,778 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1906 | 84,800 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1907 | 84,903 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1908 | 84,966 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1909 | 85,030 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1910 | 85,079 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1911 | 93,487 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 1912 | 101,882 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 1913 | 110,285 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1914 | 118,693 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.6% |
| 1915 | 127,102 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1916 | 135,510 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1917 | 143,916 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1918 | 152,329 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1919 | 160,733 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1920 | 169,159 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1921 | 171,733 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1922 | 174,293 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1923 | 176,869 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1924 | 179,446 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1925 | 182,019 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1926 | 184,598 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1927 | 187,178 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1928 | 189,757 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1929 | 192,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1930 | 194,932 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1931 | 197,787 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1932 | 200,642 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1933 | 203,498 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1934 | 206,360 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1935 | 209,214 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1936 | 213,529 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1937 | 217,785 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1938 | 222,025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1939 | 226,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1940 | 230,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1941 | 238,168 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1942 | 245,529 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1943 | 253,152 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1944 | 260,829 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1945 | 269,283 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1946 | 278,067 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1947 | 287,178 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1948 | 296,659 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1949 | 306,496 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1950 | 318,616 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1951 | 329,399 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1952 | 342,284 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1953 | 356,473 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1954 | 370,994 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1955 | 387,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1956 | 403,744 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1957 | 420,999 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1958 | 439,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1959 | 457,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1960 | 476,958 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1961 | 491,972 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1962 | 508,527 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1963 | 510,390 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 515,087 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 531,499 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1966 | 564,690 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1967 | 566,552 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1968 | 570,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 580,404 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 559,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1971 | 563,376 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 590,283 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 615,311 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 623,937 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1975 | 627,309 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 620,017 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 623,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 632,954 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 629,196 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 597,300 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 1981 | 608,747 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 590,852 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1983 | 597,576 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 610,551 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 613,139 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 603,456 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 589,374 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 585,639 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 585,123 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 582,510 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1991 | 577,060 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 571,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1993 | 580,405 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 592,624 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 596,380 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 606,598 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 610,689 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 619,652 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 622,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 614,438 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 620,176 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 612,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 610,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 612,311 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 672,523 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 2006 | 676,847 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 655,638 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 662,596 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 642,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 636,788 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 611,749 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 587,030 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 578,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 601,273 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 2015 | 627,934 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 650,228 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 682,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 686,446 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 656,617 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 2020 | 606,127 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 601,730 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 595,463 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 577,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 556,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 556,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 7% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 556,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 6% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 77,117 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 73,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 80,875 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 82,052 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 81,716 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 82,384 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 82,782 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 82,462 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83,091 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 83,415 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83,157 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83,668 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 84,079 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83,759 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 84,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 84,747 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 84,474 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 85,030 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 122,902 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 85,079 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 160,733 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 180,740 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 169,159 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 192,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 209,214 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 194,932 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 226,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 266,623 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 230,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 306,496 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 382,674 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 318,616 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 457,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 531,625 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 476,958 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 580,404 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 608,486 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 559,136 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 632,954 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 598,176 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 585,123 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 613,139 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 595,973 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 571,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 622,500 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 637,942 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 610,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 676,847 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 631,990 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 578,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 686,446 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 587,529 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 556,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 606,127 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 162 Jamaica 759,063 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 163 Montenegro 589,323 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 164 Mauritius 570,183 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 166 Luxembourg 534,672 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 167 Belize 501,003 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 168 Comoros 400,656 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 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 methane emissions in Iceland?
- Methane emissions in Iceland was 556,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 686,446 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2018.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 73,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Iceland rank for methane emissions?
- Iceland ranks 165th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Methane emissions. 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
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.