Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Iceland
Iceland: Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector was 25.8 kilograms per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Iceland, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Iceland is 25.8 kilograms per person, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Iceland peaked at 196.2 kilograms per person in 1990 and was at its lowest, 25.8 kilograms per person, in 2023.
That places Iceland 150th out of 187 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Iceland, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 196.2 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 155.15 kilograms per person | -20.9% |
| 1992 | 153.21 kilograms per person | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 151.65 kilograms per person | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 150.34 kilograms per person | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 149.52 kilograms per person | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 148.72 kilograms per person | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 110.62 kilograms per person | -25.6% |
| 1998 | 145.92 kilograms per person | +31.9% |
| 1999 | 108.13 kilograms per person | -25.9% |
| 2000 | 106.65 kilograms per person | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 70.16 kilograms per person | -34.2% |
| 2002 | 69.54 kilograms per person | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 69.06 kilograms per person | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 68.45 kilograms per person | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 67.37 kilograms per person | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 32.91 kilograms per person | -51.2% |
| 2007 | 32.09 kilograms per person | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 62.99 kilograms per person | +96.3% |
| 2009 | 31.39 kilograms per person | -50.2% |
| 2010 | 31.43 kilograms per person | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 31.33 kilograms per person | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 31.17 kilograms per person | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 30.87 kilograms per person | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 30.53 kilograms per person | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 30.21 kilograms per person | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 29.8 kilograms per person | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 29.11 kilograms per person | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 28.34 kilograms per person | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 27.72 kilograms per person | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 27.28 kilograms per person | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 26.84 kilograms per person | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 26.29 kilograms per person | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 25.8 kilograms per person | -1.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 25.8 kilograms per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 461.71 kilograms per person, 6% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 25.8 kilograms per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 509.82 kilograms per person, 5% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +96.3% | 32.09 kilograms per person | 62.99 kilograms per person |
| 2006 | -51.2% | 67.37 kilograms per person | 32.91 kilograms per person |
| 2009 | -50.2% | 62.99 kilograms per person | 31.39 kilograms per person |
| 1998 | +31.9% | 110.62 kilograms per person | 145.92 kilograms per person |
| 2001 | -34.2% | 106.65 kilograms per person | 70.16 kilograms per person |
| 1999 | -25.9% | 145.92 kilograms per person | 108.13 kilograms per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 146.95 kilograms per person | 108.13 kilograms per person | 196.2 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.06 kilograms per person | 31.39 kilograms per person | 106.65 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.05 kilograms per person | 27.72 kilograms per person | 31.43 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 26.55 kilograms per person | 25.8 kilograms per person | 27.28 kilograms per person | 4 |
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 by sector in Iceland?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Iceland was 25.8 kilograms per person in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 196.2 kilograms per person in 1990.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.8 kilograms per person in 2023.
- How does Iceland rank for per capita co₂ emissions by sector?
- Iceland ranks 150th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by sector rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in kilograms per person.