Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal in Iceland
Iceland: Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal was 2.21 tonnes per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.21 tonnes per person
Change on year
up 27.4%
World rank
20th
of 179 countries
All-time high
2.96 tonnes per person
in 1940
All-time low
0 tonnes per person
in 1974
Years of data
87
1936–2024
Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal in Iceland, 1936–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes per person.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 2.21 tonnes per person for per capita co₂ emissions from coal in 2024.
That represents a change of up 27.4% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions from coal in Iceland peaked at 2.96 tonnes per person in 1940 and was at its lowest, 0 tonnes per person, in 1974.
That places Iceland 20th out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | 0.1903 tonnes per person | — |
| 1937 | 0.157 tonnes per person | -17.5% |
| 1940 | 2.96 tonnes per person | +1785.0% |
| 1941 | 2.73 tonnes per person | -7.6% |
| 1942 | 2.73 tonnes per person | +0.1% |
| 1943 | 2.92 tonnes per person | +6.6% |
| 1944 | 2.74 tonnes per person | -6.1% |
| 1945 | 2.39 tonnes per person | -12.7% |
| 1946 | 2.47 tonnes per person | +3.4% |
| 1947 | 2.47 tonnes per person | -0.3% |
| 1948 | 2.44 tonnes per person | -1.0% |
| 1949 | 1.98 tonnes per person | -19.1% |
| 1950 | 1.62 tonnes per person | -18.1% |
| 1951 | 1.13 tonnes per person | -29.9% |
| 1952 | 0.9918 tonnes per person | -12.5% |
| 1953 | 0.7747 tonnes per person | -21.9% |
| 1954 | 0.6888 tonnes per person | -11.1% |
| 1955 | 0.9523 tonnes per person | +38.3% |
| 1956 | 0.6823 tonnes per person | -28.3% |
| 1957 | 0.5115 tonnes per person | -25.0% |
| 1958 | 0.4784 tonnes per person | -6.5% |
| 1959 | 0.426 tonnes per person | -11.0% |
| 1960 | 0.3329 tonnes per person | -21.9% |
| 1961 | 0.2456 tonnes per person | -26.2% |
| 1962 | 0.2411 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 0.1583 tonnes per person | -34.3% |
| 1964 | 0.1749 tonnes per person | +10.5% |
| 1965 | 0.0952 tonnes per person | -45.6% |
| 1966 | 0.0749 tonnes per person | -21.3% |
| 1967 | 0.0554 tonnes per person | -26.0% |
| 1968 | 0.0544 tonnes per person | -1.8% |
| 1969 | 0.018 tonnes per person | -66.9% |
| 1970 | 0.0179 tonnes per person | -0.8% |
| 1971 | 0.0178 tonnes per person | -0.5% |
| 1972 | 0.0175 tonnes per person | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 0.0172 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 1974 | 0 tonnes per person | -100.0% |
| 1975 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1976 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1977 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1978 | 0 tonnes per person | — |
| 1979 | 0.2272 tonnes per person | — |
| 1980 | 0.2891 tonnes per person | +27.2% |
| 1981 | 0.4764 tonnes per person | +64.8% |
| 1982 | 0.4857 tonnes per person | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 0.6941 tonnes per person | +42.9% |
| 1984 | 0.9638 tonnes per person | +38.8% |
| 1985 | 1.02 tonnes per person | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 1.13 tonnes per person | +10.9% |
| 1987 | 0.8942 tonnes per person | -20.7% |
| 1988 | 0.9096 tonnes per person | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 0.9256 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 1.11 tonnes per person | +19.6% |
| 1991 | 0.9509 tonnes per person | -14.1% |
| 1992 | 0.9304 tonnes per person | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 1.13 tonnes per person | +21.4% |
| 1994 | 1.1 tonnes per person | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 1.11 tonnes per person | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 1.05 tonnes per person | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 1.18 tonnes per person | +12.8% |
| 1998 | 1.04 tonnes per person | -12.0% |
| 1999 | 1.29 tonnes per person | +24.4% |
| 2000 | 1.66 tonnes per person | +28.3% |
| 2001 | 1.76 tonnes per person | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 1.78 tonnes per person | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 1.76 tonnes per person | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 1.8 tonnes per person | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 1.63 tonnes per person | -9.3% |
| 2006 | 1.7 tonnes per person | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 1.91 tonnes per person | +12.9% |
| 2008 | 2.01 tonnes per person | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 1.95 tonnes per person | -3.1% |
| 2010 | 1.97 tonnes per person | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 2 tonnes per person | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 2.05 tonnes per person | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 2.04 tonnes per person | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 1.91 tonnes per person | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 2 tonnes per person | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 1.97 tonnes per person | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 2.02 tonnes per person | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 2.03 tonnes per person | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 1.9 tonnes per person | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 1.82 tonnes per person | -4.0% |
| 2021 | 1.95 tonnes per person | +7.1% |
| 2022 | 2.02 tonnes per person | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 1.73 tonnes per person | -14.4% |
| 2024 | 2.21 tonnes per person | +27.4% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2.21 tonnes per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.2688 tonnes per person, 8.2× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2.21 tonnes per person is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.418 tonnes per person, 5.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | +1785.0% | 0.157 tonnes per person | 2.96 tonnes per person |
| 1974 | -100.0% | 0.0172 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 0.1736 tonnes per person | 0.157 tonnes per person | 0.1903 tonnes per person | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.58 tonnes per person | 1.98 tonnes per person | 2.96 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.8257 tonnes per person | 0.426 tonnes per person | 1.62 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.1451 tonnes per person | 0.018 tonnes per person | 0.3329 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.0298 tonnes per person | 0 tonnes per person | 0.2272 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.7783 tonnes per person | 0.2891 tonnes per person | 1.13 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.09 tonnes per person | 0.9304 tonnes per person | 1.29 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.8 tonnes per person | 1.63 tonnes per person | 2.01 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.99 tonnes per person | 1.9 tonnes per person | 2.05 tonnes per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.95 tonnes per person | 1.73 tonnes per person | 2.21 tonnes per person | 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 per capita co₂ emissions from coal in Iceland?
- Per capita co₂ emissions from coal in Iceland was 2.21 tonnes per person in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.96 tonnes per person in 1940.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions from coal recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 tonnes per person in 1974.
- How does Iceland rank for per capita co₂ emissions from coal?
- Iceland ranks 20th out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions from coal rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. 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); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita CO₂ emissions from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 87 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from coal, measured in tonnes per person.