Environment · Europe & Central Asia · High income
Iceland: environment and emissions
CO₂ per person is 8.52 t (2024), 25th of 203 in the world and 7th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. GHG per person is 11.08 t (2024), 27th of 203 in the world and 7th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia. GHG emissions is 4.3 Mt (2024), 155th of 203 in the world and 46th of 49 in Europe & Central Asia.
CO₂ per person
IcelandEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
GHG per person
IcelandEurope & Central AsiaHigh incomeWorld
15 indicators
Environment: Iceland in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Europe & Central Asia; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per personCO₂ emissions per capita, tonnes | 8.52 t2024 | 25/203 | 7/49 | 10.14 t | 11.75 t | 8.38 t | −19%since 2014 | 6.62 t | 9.75 t | 4.69 t | |
| GHG per personGreenhouse gas emissions per person, t CO₂e | 11.08 t2024 | 27/203 | 7/49 | 14.00 t | 15.72 t | 11.54 t | −22%since 2014 | 8.65 t | 12.50 t | 6.36 t | |
| GHG emissionsTotal greenhouse gas emissions excl. land use, Mt CO₂e | 4.3 Mt2024 | 155/203 | 46/49 | 3.9 Mt | 5.0 Mt | 4.2 Mt | −7.8%since 2014 | 7,953.3 Mt | 17,426.5 Mt | 53,206.4 Mt | |
| CO₂ emissionsCO₂ emissions, total excl. land use, Mt | 3.3 Mt2024 | 145/203 | 46/49 | 2.9 Mt | 3.7 Mt | 3.1 Mt | −4.9%since 2014 | 6,082.4 Mt | 13,596.6 Mt | 39,632.7 Mt | |
| MethaneMethane emissions, Mt CO₂e | 0.5 Mt2024 | 164/203 | 46/49 | 0.6 Mt | 0.6 Mt | 0.5 Mt | −18%since 2014 | 1,278.5 Mt | 2,534.1 Mt | 9,536.5 Mt | |
| Renewable energyRenewable energy, % of final energy consumption | 82.4%2021 | 13/212 | 1/54 | 60.7% | 76.0% | 82.9% | +5.3 ppsince 2011 | 15.1% | 12.8% | 19.7% | |
| Renewable powerRenewable electricity, % of output | 100.0%2016 | 2/206 | 1/51 | 99.9% | 100.0% | · | ±0.0 ppsince 2006 | 34.4% | 26.7% | 27.8% | |
| PM2.5 exposurePM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure, µg/m³ | 4.9 µg/m³2023 | 188/200 | 50/52 | 6.1 µg/m³ | 5.4 µg/m³ | 4.5 µg/m³ | +2.1%since 2013 | 14.4 µg/m³ | 13.0 µg/m³ | 32.9 µg/m³ | |
| Forest coverForest area, % of land area | 0.6%2024 | 202/214 | 53/57 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 0.6% | +0.1 ppsince 2014 | 38.6% | 36.2% | 31.1% | |
| FarmlandAgricultural land, % of land area | 16.2%2024 | 162/210 | 49/55 | 18.8% | 18.7% | 18.6% | −2.4 ppsince 2014 | 29.1% | 28.2% | 36.9% | |
| Arable landArable land, % of land area | 1.2%2024 | 180/206 | 50/53 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.2% | ±0.0 ppsince 2014 | 12.3% | 9.0% | 10.7% | |
| Protected areasTerrestrial and marine protected areas, % of territory | 2.9%2025 | 163/213 | 54/55 | · | · | 2.8% | +0.6 ppsince 2015 | 13.2% | 22.2% | 17.0% | |
| Water withdrawalsFreshwater withdrawals, % of internal resources | 0.2%2022 | 168/177 | 47/47 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% | ±0.0 ppsince 2012 | 6.7% | 6.4% | 9.0% | |
| Freshwater per personRenewable internal freshwater per person, m³ | 445,023 m³2022 | 1/183 | 1/48 | 604,541 m³ | 534,522 m³ | 463,894 m³ | −16%since 2012 | 7,674 m³ | 10,983 m³ | 5,393 m³ | |
| Cereal yieldCereal yield, kg per hectare | 1,972 kg/ha2024 | 119/179 | 44/48 | · | · | 4,858 kg/ha | — | 4,045 kg/ha | 5,394 kg/ha | 4,229 kg/ha |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- CO₂ per person−19%8.52 t in 2024
- GHG per person−22%11.08 t in 2024
- GHG emissions−7.8%4.3 Mt in 2024
- CO₂ emissions−4.9%3.3 Mt in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- PM2.5 exposure+2.1%4.9 µg/m³ in 2023
- Freshwater per person−16%445,023 m³ in 2022
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Iceland and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Iceland. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Iceland | Greenland | Faroe Islands |
|---|---|---|---|
| CO₂ per person | 8.52 t2024 | 10.45 t2024 | 0.04 t2024 |
| GHG per person | 11.08 t2024 | 11.60 t2024 | 1.77 t2024 |
| GHG emissions | 4.3 Mt2024 | 0.7 Mt2024 | 0.1 Mt2024 |
| CO₂ emissions | 3.3 Mt2024 | 0.6 Mt2024 | 0.0 Mt2024 |
| Methane | 0.5 Mt2024 | 0.1 Mt2024 | 0.0 Mt2024 |
| Renewable energy | 82.4%2021 | 11.7%2022 | 7.9%2022 |
| Renewable power | 100.0%2016 | 77.0%2021 | 38.1%2021 |
| PM2.5 exposure | 4.9 µg/m³2023 | 1.6 µg/m³2023 | — |
| Forest cover | 0.6%2024 | 0.0%2024 | 0.1%2024 |