Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland
Iceland: Per capita greenhouse gas emissions was 12.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
12.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
25th
of 199 countries
All-time high
36.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1959
All-time low
1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person
in 1909
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland is 12.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 4.3% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland peaked at 36.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1959 and was at its lowest, 1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, in 1909.
That places Iceland 25th out of 199 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 greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 13.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | — |
| 1851 | 13.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 1852 | 13.09 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1853 | 12.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1854 | 12.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1855 | 12.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1856 | 11.94 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1857 | 11.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1858 | 11.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1859 | 11.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1860 | 10.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -9.8% |
| 1861 | 9.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.5% |
| 1862 | 9.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.6% |
| 1863 | 8.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.3% |
| 1864 | 8.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.1% |
| 1865 | 8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.9% |
| 1866 | 7.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 1867 | 7.42 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1868 | 7.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.5% |
| 1869 | 6.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.4% |
| 1870 | 6.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.5% |
| 1871 | 6.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 1872 | 6.45 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1873 | 6.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1874 | 6.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1875 | 6.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 1876 | 6.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1877 | 5.99 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1878 | 5.91 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.4% |
| 1879 | 5.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1880 | 5.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1881 | 5.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1882 | 5.49 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1883 | 5.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1884 | 5.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1885 | 5.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1886 | 5.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 1887 | 4.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1888 | 4.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.3% |
| 1889 | 4.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.7% |
| 1890 | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.6% |
| 1891 | 4.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.6% |
| 1892 | 4.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1893 | 4.25 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1894 | 4.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1895 | 4.07 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1896 | 3.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.2% |
| 1897 | 3.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 1898 | 3.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.6% |
| 1899 | 3.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
| 1900 | 3.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.3% |
| 1901 | 3.41 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.9% |
| 1902 | 3.34 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 1903 | 3.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.2% |
| 1904 | 3.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.9% |
| 1905 | 2.6 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -14.8% |
| 1906 | 2.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -15.7% |
| 1907 | 2.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1908 | 2.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.7% |
| 1909 | 1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.2% |
| 1910 | 7.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +290.2% |
| 1911 | 10.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +30.5% |
| 1912 | 11.66 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +16.5% |
| 1913 | 13.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +12.9% |
| 1914 | 14.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +10.4% |
| 1915 | 15.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.4% |
| 1916 | 16.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.5% |
| 1917 | 17.61 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.9% |
| 1918 | 18.58 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.5% |
| 1919 | 19.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
| 1920 | 18.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.8% |
| 1921 | 18.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1922 | 18.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1923 | 18.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1924 | 18.98 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.7% |
| 1925 | 19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1926 | 19.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.4% |
| 1927 | 19.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.1% |
| 1928 | 19.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1929 | 19.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1930 | 19.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 1931 | 19.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 1932 | 19.81 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1933 | 20.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.0% |
| 1934 | 20.17 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.8% |
| 1935 | 20.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1936 | 20.62 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1937 | 20.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1938 | 20.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1939 | 20.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.2% |
| 1940 | 23.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +13.6% |
| 1941 | 23.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.9% |
| 1942 | 23.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 1943 | 23.31 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.6% |
| 1944 | 23.03 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 1945 | 22.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.7% |
| 1946 | 23.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.3% |
| 1947 | 23.95 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.4% |
| 1948 | 24.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.1% |
| 1949 | 24.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1950 | 26.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.8% |
| 1951 | 27.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 29.63 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +8.4% |
| 1953 | 31.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.5% |
| 1954 | 31.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.4% |
| 1955 | 33.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.7% |
| 1956 | 34.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 34.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.2% |
| 1958 | 35.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 36.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 30.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.5% |
| 1961 | 27.51 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -10.1% |
| 1962 | 26.33 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.3% |
| 1963 | 25.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 1964 | 24.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.8% |
| 1965 | 23.43 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.0% |
| 1966 | 23.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1967 | 21.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.2% |
| 1968 | 21.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 17.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -21.8% |
| 1970 | 16.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 16.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.6% |
| 1972 | 16.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 17.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 16.69 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1975 | 15.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.3% |
| 1976 | 15.65 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1977 | 16.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.2% |
| 1978 | 15.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 15.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 14.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.8% |
| 1981 | 14.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 13.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.4% |
| 1983 | 12.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 13.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 12.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -6.3% |
| 1986 | 13.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 13.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -0.3% |
| 1988 | 13.08 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 13.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 14.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +6.5% |
| 1991 | 13.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 13.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 14.16 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 13.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 14.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 14.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 14.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 14.24 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 14.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 14.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 14.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 14.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 14.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 14.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 14.39 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 14.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 15.15 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 15.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 15.36 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 17.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +15.1% |
| 2011 | 14.73 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -16.7% |
| 2012 | 14.74 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 14.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 14.26 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 14.52 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 14.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 14.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 14.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 13.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 12.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -7.0% |
| 2021 | 12.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 12.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 12.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | -4.0% |
| 2024 | 12.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | +4.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 12.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 1.6× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 12.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.18 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person, 2.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Per capita greenhouse gas emissions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | +290.2% | 1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
| 1911 | +30.5% | 7.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.01 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 12.37 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 11.14 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 13.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1860s | 8.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.92 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10.05 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1870s | 6.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.82 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 6.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1880s | 5.22 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.72 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1890s | 4.11 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 4.5 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.77 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 3.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1910s | 14.48 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 7.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 19.38 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1920s | 18.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 18.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 19.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1930s | 20.23 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 19.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 20.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1940s | 23.57 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 22.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 24.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1950s | 32.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 26.55 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 36.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1960s | 24.12 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 17.06 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 30.59 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1970s | 16.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 15.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 17.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.46 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.78 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 14.75 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.13 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 13.44 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 14.84 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.83 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 14.35 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 15.93 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 13.53 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 17.67 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.68 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 12.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 22 Bolivia 12.89 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 23 Central African Republic 12.88 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 24 Libya 12.87 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 26 Uruguay 12.71 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 27 Taiwan 12.21 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person compare
- 28 South Korea 12.19 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person 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 per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland?
- Per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland was 12.85 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 36.64 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1959.
- What is the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.97 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per person in 1909.
- How does Iceland rank for per capita greenhouse gas emissions?
- Iceland ranks 25th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is per capita greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. 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); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita greenhouse gas 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
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes per person of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.