Iceland

Northern Europe, Europe

CO2 emissions per person
9.67
t CO2/person/year · 2024
27th of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
1.05
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
35th of 193 countries
Renewable energy share
80.5
% of primary energy · 2024
1st of 79 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
4.60
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
216th of 241 countries
19402025

Iceland in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

01950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2014low 1966

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

CO2 emissions

3.80 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+62% since 1994144th highest of 215 · 2024
02419401960198020002020high 2008low 1937

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

9.67 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+9.5% since 199427th highest of 213 · 2024
051019401960198020002020high 2008low 1937

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Temperature anomaly

1.05 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+2.4 °C since 199535th highest of 193 · 2025
-2019401960198020002020Worldhigh 2014low 1966

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

0.56 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-6.1% since 1994165th highest of 199 · 2024
00.20.40.61850190019502000high 2018

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

5.06 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+37% since 1994161st highest of 199 · 2024
02461850190019502000high 1959low 1909

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

0.35 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-6.2% since 1994155th highest of 201 · 2024
00.20.41850190019502000high 1978

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Aviation emissions per person

2,580 kg CO2/person/year · 2024
+85% since 20133rd highest of 119 · 2024
02k4k201420162018202020222024World

Each person's share of the CO2 from flights taking off in their country, including passengers and freight. ICCT / Graver et al. via Our World in Data

Energy

Renewable energy share

80.5 % of primary energy · 2024
+21 pp since 19941st highest of 79 · 2024
050197019801990200020102020high 2020low 1966

The slice of a country's energy that comes from renewables such as wind, solar and hydro. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Fossil fuel share

19.5 % of primary energy · 2024
-21 pp since 199479th highest of 79 · 2024
050197019801990200020102020high 1966low 2020

The slice of a country's energy still coming from coal, oil and gas. The number the world is trying to shrink. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Energy use per person

159,676 kWh/person/year · 2024
+84% since 19943rd highest of 79 · 2024
0100k200k197019801990200020102020high 2018

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

0.05 % of electricity · 2024
+0.1 pp since 1994172nd highest of 195 · 2024
00.020.041990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

0.05 % of electricity · 2024
+0.1 pp since 1994103rd highest of 193 · 2024
00.020.040.061990200020102020high 2014

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 200081st highest of 194 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Electric car sales

62.0 % of new cars · 2025
+62 pp since 20124th highest of 59 · 2025
0204060201520202025Worldhigh 2023

The share of newly sold cars that are electric. Norway crossed 90% in the early 2020s; most of the world is following. International Energy Agency via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000174th highest of 195 · 2024
00.050.120002005201020152020high 2002

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000117th highest of 192 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Forest area

0.61 % of land · 2025
+0.4 pp since 1995201st highest of 212 · 2025
01020301990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
89th highest of 194 · 2021
00.5120002005201020152020high 2004

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.88 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-1.1% since 1994103rd highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020low 2015

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

20.9 % of land area · 2024
+0.7 pp since 201384th highest of 213 · 2024
01020201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

98.1 kg/person/year · 2023
+41% since 199323rd highest of 176 · 2023
050100198020002020Worldhigh 2017low 1996

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

71.9 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
-19% since 199346th highest of 198 · 2023
050100198020002020high 2008low 2009

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

0.50 % of territorial waters · 2024
+0.1 pp since 2013116th highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

94.2 % living in cities · 2025
+2.6 pp since 199530th highest of 236 · 2025
0501001960198020002020World

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Water stress

0.39 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
+0.2 pp since 2000170th highest of 179 · 2022
05101520002005201020152020Worldhigh 2012

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

445,023 m³/person/year · 2022
-32% since 19921st highest of 181 · 2022
0500k1M198020002020World

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Safely managed drinking water

100.0 % of population · 2024
+9.8 pp since 20001st highest of 159 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2019

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Annual precipitation

1,409 mm/year · 2025
+10% since 199557th highest of 192 · 2025
05001k1.5k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1953low 1965

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

5.20 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+9.7 pp since 199552nd highest of 192 · 2025
-2002019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1953low 1965

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

4.60 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+18% since 1998216th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2021low 2020

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

Ozone-depleting substances

0.00 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
-100% since 1991142nd highest of 168 · 2021
01002001990200020102020low 2010

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

Renewables already supply 80% of the energy used here, so the biggest personal wins are usually transport and diet.

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.

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