Nitrous oxide emissions in Iceland
Iceland: Nitrous oxide emissions was 346,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
346,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
155th
of 201 countries
All-time high
462,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1978
All-time low
30,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Nitrous oxide 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
The most recent figure for nitrous oxide emissions in Iceland is 346,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions in Iceland peaked at 462,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1978 and was at its lowest, 30,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Iceland 155th out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrous oxide emissions in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 30,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 31,559 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1852 | 32,154 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1853 | 32,725 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1854 | 33,262 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1855 | 33,758 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1856 | 34,201 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1857 | 34,584 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 34,896 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 35,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 35,274 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 35,363 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1862 | 35,438 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 35,502 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 35,560 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 35,614 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 35,669 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 35,727 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 35,794 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 35,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 35,964 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1871 | 36,533 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1872 | 37,912 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1873 | 39,913 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1874 | 42,349 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1875 | 45,032 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1876 | 47,775 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1877 | 50,390 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1878 | 52,689 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1879 | 54,484 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1880 | 55,589 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1881 | 56,230 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1882 | 56,772 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 57,235 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 57,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 58,004 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 58,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 58,696 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 59,062 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 59,469 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 54,635 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.1% |
| 1891 | 60,846 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.4% |
| 1892 | 66,703 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 1893 | 72,145 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.2% |
| 1894 | 77,114 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1895 | 81,549 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1896 | 85,392 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1897 | 88,581 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1898 | 91,059 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1899 | 92,764 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1900 | 93,638 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1901 | 93,672 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1902 | 93,008 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1903 | 91,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1904 | 90,284 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1905 | 88,568 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1906 | 86,845 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1907 | 85,289 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1908 | 84,071 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1909 | 83,365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1910 | 83,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 1911 | 83,745 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1912 | 84,198 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1913 | 84,701 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1914 | 85,255 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1915 | 85,859 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1916 | 86,513 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1917 | 87,217 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1918 | 87,971 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1919 | 88,775 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1920 | 89,628 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1921 | 90,670 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1922 | 92,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1923 | 93,560 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1924 | 95,287 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1925 | 97,123 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1926 | 99,008 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1927 | 100,880 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1928 | 102,681 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1929 | 104,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1930 | 105,826 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1931 | 107,326 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1932 | 109,047 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1933 | 110,904 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1934 | 112,812 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1935 | 114,687 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1936 | 116,443 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1937 | 117,995 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1938 | 119,258 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1939 | 120,148 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1940 | 120,579 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1941 | 125,857 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1942 | 139,916 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.2% |
| 1943 | 160,604 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.8% |
| 1944 | 185,775 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1945 | 213,278 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.8% |
| 1946 | 240,965 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.0% |
| 1947 | 266,687 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.7% |
| 1948 | 288,295 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.1% |
| 1949 | 303,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1950 | 310,574 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1951 | 312,778 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1952 | 315,346 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1953 | 318,245 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 321,443 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 324,905 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1956 | 328,601 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1957 | 332,497 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1958 | 336,560 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1959 | 340,758 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1960 | 345,058 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1961 | 357,918 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1962 | 369,896 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1963 | 370,113 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1964 | 371,278 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1965 | 376,625 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 389,418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1967 | 393,863 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 395,489 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1969 | 394,282 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1970 | 385,334 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1971 | 389,360 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 407,732 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 424,240 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1974 | 432,692 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 445,846 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 442,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 449,153 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 462,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 456,436 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 432,478 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 440,602 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 425,308 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 427,679 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1984 | 429,252 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 434,867 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 433,964 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 427,562 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 429,418 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 429,526 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 381,324 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.2% |
| 1991 | 374,237 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1992 | 365,984 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 371,527 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 369,036 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 354,126 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1996 | 368,133 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1997 | 362,312 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1998 | 365,887 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 372,649 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 370,526 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 349,004 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 2002 | 357,684 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 352,673 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 348,619 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 348,570 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.0% |
| 2006 | 370,879 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 376,405 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 388,516 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 343,167 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.7% |
| 2010 | 342,991 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 347,060 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 348,879 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 342,209 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 360,751 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 367,524 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 361,699 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 372,781 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 364,211 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 355,019 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 351,511 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 353,965 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 349,602 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 347,529 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 346,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 346,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 14% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 346,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 9% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 33,322 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 35,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 35,581 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 35,274 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 35,872 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 44,304 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 35,964 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 54,484 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 57,705 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 55,589 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 59,469 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 77,079 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 54,635 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 92,764 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 89,056 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83,365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 93,672 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 85,758 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 83,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 88,775 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 96,519 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 89,628 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 104,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 113,445 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 105,826 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 120,148 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 204,560 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 120,579 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 303,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 324,171 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 310,574 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 340,758 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 376,394 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 345,058 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 395,489 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 429,545 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 385,334 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 462,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 431,066 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 425,308 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 440,602 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 368,522 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 354,126 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 381,324 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 360,604 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 343,167 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 388,516 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 356,312 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 342,209 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 372,781 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 349,813 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 346,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 353,965 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 152 Hong Kong 442,131 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 153 Cyprus 360,982 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 154 Jamaica 357,071 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 156 Gambia 300,809 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 157 Djibouti 268,521 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 158 East Timor 250,149 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 nitrous oxide emissions in Iceland?
- Nitrous oxide emissions in Iceland was 346,459 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 462,310 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1978.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 30,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Iceland rank for nitrous oxide emissions?
- Iceland ranks 155th out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. 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 Nitrous oxide 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.