Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Iceland
Iceland: Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 7.3%
World rank
153rd
of 198 countries
All-time high
4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2008
All-time low
8,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry 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 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.3% on the previous year and up 9.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Iceland peaked at 4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2008 and was at its lowest, 8,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Iceland ranks 153rd of 198 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 8,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 8,990 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1852 | 9,122 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1853 | 9,251 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1854 | 9,375 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1855 | 9,494 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1856 | 9,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1857 | 9,662 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1858 | 9,734 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1859 | 9,815 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1860 | 9,885 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1861 | 9,923 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 9,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1863 | 9,993 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1864 | 10,026 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 10,056 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1866 | 10,085 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1867 | 10,114 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1868 | 10,143 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1869 | 10,182 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 10,223 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1871 | 10,313 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1872 | 10,499 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1873 | 10,757 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1874 | 11,066 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1875 | 11,401 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1876 | 11,743 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1877 | 12,070 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1878 | 12,358 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1879 | 12,587 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1880 | 12,734 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1881 | 12,817 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1882 | 12,888 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1883 | 12,950 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1884 | 13,005 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1885 | 13,055 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 13,100 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1887 | 13,146 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1888 | 13,194 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1889 | 13,246 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1890 | 14,164 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1891 | 14,435 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1892 | 14,728 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1893 | 15,040 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1894 | 15,371 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1895 | 15,719 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1896 | 16,086 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1897 | 16,469 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1898 | 16,866 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1899 | 17,276 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1900 | 17,698 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1901 | 18,168 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1902 | 18,702 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1903 | 19,283 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1904 | 19,881 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1905 | 20,503 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1906 | 21,078 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1907 | 21,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1908 | 22,259 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1909 | 22,751 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1910 | 23,151 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1911 | 23,574 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1912 | 23,946 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1913 | 24,297 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1914 | 24,633 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1915 | 24,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1916 | 25,282 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1917 | 25,610 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1918 | 25,962 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1919 | 26,329 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1920 | 26,752 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1921 | 27,172 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1922 | 27,658 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1923 | 28,217 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1924 | 28,808 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1925 | 29,401 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1926 | 29,981 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1927 | 30,516 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1928 | 30,981 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1929 | 31,359 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1930 | 31,619 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1931 | 31,816 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1932 | 32,043 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1933 | 32,292 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1934 | 32,563 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1935 | 32,833 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1936 | 55,174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +68.0% |
| 1937 | 51,764 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 1938 | 33,632 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -35.0% |
| 1939 | 33,867 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1940 | 459,203 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1255.9% |
| 1941 | 448,487 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1942 | 475,813 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.1% |
| 1943 | 512,519 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1944 | 495,713 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1945 | 477,969 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1946 | 558,693 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.9% |
| 1947 | 652,049 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.7% |
| 1948 | 777,966 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.3% |
| 1949 | 803,314 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1950 | 807,176 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1951 | 716,913 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.2% |
| 1952 | 855,171 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.3% |
| 1953 | 1.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.1% |
| 1954 | 873,053 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -12.8% |
| 1955 | 1.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.1% |
| 1956 | 1.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1957 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 1.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.8% |
| 1959 | 1.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.9% |
| 1960 | 1.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1961 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.0% |
| 1962 | 1.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.4% |
| 1963 | 1.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1964 | 1.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1965 | 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.8% |
| 1966 | 1.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1967 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 1.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1969 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.0% |
| 1970 | 1.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1971 | 1.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1972 | 1.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 2.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.7% |
| 1974 | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 1.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.9% |
| 1976 | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1977 | 2.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1978 | 2.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 2.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.6% |
| 1981 | 2.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 1.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.9% |
| 1983 | 1.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 2.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.9% |
| 1985 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.5% |
| 1986 | 2.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.4% |
| 1987 | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 2.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 2.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 2.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.0% |
| 1991 | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 1992 | 2.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1993 | 2.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1994 | 2.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 2.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 2.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 2.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1998 | 2.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 3.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 3.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 3.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 3.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 3.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 3.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 3.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 3.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 4.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 3.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 3.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 3.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 3.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 3.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 3.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 4.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 4.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 3.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 2021 | 3.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 2022 | 3.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 3.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 2024 | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for high income countries, which is 39.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 11% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 40.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 10% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry 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 | +1255.9% | 33,867 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 459,203 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1936 | +68.0% | 32,833 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 55,174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1938 | -35.0% | 51,764 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33,632 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 9,388 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9,815 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 10,037 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9,885 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10,182 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 11,302 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10,223 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12,587 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 13,013 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12,734 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13,246 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 15,615 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14,164 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17,276 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 20,203 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17,698 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22,751 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 24,774 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23,151 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 26,329 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 29,085 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 26,752 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 31,359 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 36,760 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 31,619 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 55,174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 566,173 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 448,487 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 803,314 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 1.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 716,913 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 150 Namibia 5.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 151 Sierra Leone 4.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 152 Burundi 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 154 Suriname 3.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 155 Liberia 3.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 156 Bahamas 3.44 million 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 total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Iceland?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Iceland was 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2008.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Iceland rank for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- Iceland ranks 153rd out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.5%. 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 Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry. 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 of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.