Greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland
Iceland: Greenhouse gas emissions was 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
161st
of 199 countries
All-time high
6.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1959
All-time low
170,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1909
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas 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
In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland stood at 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
The figure is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland peaked at 6.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1959 and was at its lowest, 170,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1909.
That places Iceland 161st out of 199 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.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 806,292 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 799,544 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1852 | 792,097 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1853 | 784,296 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1854 | 776,327 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1855 | 767,961 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1856 | 759,909 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1857 | 751,771 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1858 | 743,538 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1859 | 735,330 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1860 | 669,484 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.0% |
| 1861 | 637,175 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.8% |
| 1862 | 611,800 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1863 | 588,271 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1864 | 566,737 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1865 | 547,089 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.5% |
| 1866 | 529,103 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1867 | 512,256 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1868 | 496,430 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1869 | 481,699 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1870 | 471,221 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1871 | 461,286 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1872 | 453,150 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1873 | 446,417 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1874 | 440,779 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1875 | 436,056 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1876 | 431,930 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1877 | 426,930 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1878 | 421,957 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1879 | 416,430 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1880 | 408,466 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1881 | 400,737 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1882 | 392,983 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1883 | 385,248 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1884 | 377,356 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1885 | 369,229 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1886 | 361,081 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 1887 | 352,688 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1888 | 344,145 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1889 | 335,106 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1890 | 320,641 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 1891 | 317,214 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1892 | 313,640 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1893 | 309,602 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1894 | 305,701 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1895 | 301,767 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1896 | 297,890 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1897 | 293,458 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.5% |
| 1898 | 288,374 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1899 | 282,604 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1900 | 276,210 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1901 | 268,453 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1902 | 266,132 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1903 | 260,819 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1904 | 248,499 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1905 | 214,248 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.8% |
| 1906 | 182,869 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.6% |
| 1907 | 187,853 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1908 | 179,272 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1909 | 170,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 1910 | 671,574 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +294.7% |
| 1911 | 886,558 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.0% |
| 1912 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.7% |
| 1913 | 1.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.1% |
| 1914 | 1.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.5% |
| 1915 | 1.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 1916 | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1917 | 1.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1918 | 1.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1919 | 1.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1920 | 1.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 1921 | 1.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1922 | 1.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1923 | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1924 | 1.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1925 | 1.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1926 | 1.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1927 | 2.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1928 | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1929 | 2.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1930 | 2.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1931 | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1932 | 2.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1933 | 2.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1934 | 2.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1935 | 2.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1936 | 2.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 1937 | 2.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1938 | 2.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1939 | 2.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1940 | 2.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.1% |
| 1941 | 2.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1942 | 2.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1943 | 2.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1944 | 2.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1945 | 2.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1946 | 3.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1947 | 3.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1948 | 3.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1949 | 3.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1950 | 3.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1951 | 3.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1952 | 4.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.2% |
| 1953 | 4.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 1954 | 4.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1955 | 5.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1956 | 5.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1957 | 5.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1958 | 5.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1959 | 6.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1960 | 5.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.8% |
| 1961 | 4.92 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.3% |
| 1962 | 4.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 4.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1964 | 4.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.1% |
| 1965 | 4.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1966 | 4.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1967 | 4.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1968 | 4.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 3.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -21.1% |
| 1970 | 3.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1971 | 3.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 3.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 3.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1974 | 3.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1975 | 3.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 1976 | 3.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 3.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 3.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1979 | 3.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 3.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1981 | 3.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 3.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 1983 | 3.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 3.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.7% |
| 1985 | 3.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.6% |
| 1986 | 3.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 3.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1988 | 3.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 3.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 3.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1991 | 3.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 3.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 3.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1994 | 3.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 3.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1996 | 3.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 3.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1998 | 3.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 2000 | 4.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 4.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 4.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 4.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 4.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 4.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 4.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 4.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.2% |
| 2009 | 4.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2010 | 5.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.9% |
| 2011 | 4.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.4% |
| 2012 | 4.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 4.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 4.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 4.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 4.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 4.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2018 | 5.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 4.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 4.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.4% |
| 2021 | 4.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 4.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 4.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2024 | 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 11% of the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 50.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 10% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where 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 | +294.7% | 170,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 671,574 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1911 | +32.0% | 671,574 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 886,558 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 771,706 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 735,330 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 806,292 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 564,004 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 481,699 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 669,484 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 440,616 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 416,430 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 471,221 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 372,704 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 335,106 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 408,466 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 303,089 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 282,604 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 320,641 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 225,448 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 170,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 276,210 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 671,574 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.87 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 1.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 158 Lesotho 6.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 159 Suriname 5.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 160 Mauritius 5.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 162 East Timor 4.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 163 Bahamas 3.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 164 Solomon Islands 3.40 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 greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Iceland was 5.06 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 greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 6.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1959.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 170,129 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1909.
- How does Iceland rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Iceland ranks 161st out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. 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 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 of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.