Average annual surface temperature in Iceland
Iceland: Average annual surface temperature was 2.87 °C in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.87 °C
Change on year
up 233.7%
World rank
184th
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.96 °C
in 2014
All-time low
-1.95 °C
in 1966
Years of data
86
1940–2025
Average annual surface temperature in Iceland, 1940–2025
Source: Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in °C.
Analysis
In 2025, average annual surface temperature in Iceland stood at 2.87 °C.
The figure is up 233.7% on the previous year and up 98.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average annual surface temperature in Iceland peaked at 2.96 °C in 2014 and was at its lowest, -1.95 °C, in 1966.
That places Iceland 184th out of 193 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average annual surface temperature in Iceland, year by year
| Year | °C | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | -0.7803 °C | — |
| 1941 | 0.7954 °C | -201.9% |
| 1942 | -0.5001 °C | -162.9% |
| 1943 | -1.17 °C | +133.8% |
| 1944 | -1.18 °C | +1.0% |
| 1945 | -0.1055 °C | -91.1% |
| 1946 | 0.2261 °C | -314.3% |
| 1947 | -1.08 °C | -577.0% |
| 1948 | -0.9254 °C | -14.2% |
| 1949 | 0.2356 °C | -125.5% |
| 1950 | 0.5016 °C | +112.9% |
| 1951 | 0.2673 °C | -46.7% |
| 1952 | 0.5132 °C | +92.0% |
| 1953 | 1.57 °C | +205.1% |
| 1954 | 0.8724 °C | -44.3% |
| 1955 | 0.6798 °C | -22.1% |
| 1956 | 1.67 °C | +145.6% |
| 1957 | -0.3682 °C | -122.0% |
| 1958 | -0.7115 °C | +93.3% |
| 1959 | -0.313 °C | -56.0% |
| 1960 | 0.0926 °C | -129.6% |
| 1961 | -0.6281 °C | -778.1% |
| 1962 | -1.24 °C | +97.4% |
| 1963 | -1.02 °C | -17.5% |
| 1964 | -0.1933 °C | -81.1% |
| 1965 | -1.1 °C | +469.7% |
| 1966 | -1.95 °C | +77.2% |
| 1967 | -0.5896 °C | -69.8% |
| 1968 | -0.3664 °C | -37.9% |
| 1969 | -0.5626 °C | +53.5% |
| 1970 | -0.4428 °C | -21.3% |
| 1971 | -0.0937 °C | -78.8% |
| 1972 | 1.02 °C | -1191.3% |
| 1973 | -0.833 °C | -181.4% |
| 1974 | 0.5693 °C | -168.3% |
| 1975 | -0.5046 °C | -188.6% |
| 1976 | 0.3725 °C | -173.8% |
| 1977 | 0.1357 °C | -63.6% |
| 1978 | -0.0098 °C | -107.2% |
| 1979 | -1.47 °C | +14881.2% |
| 1980 | 0.8892 °C | -160.5% |
| 1981 | -0.2869 °C | -132.3% |
| 1982 | 0.5493 °C | -291.5% |
| 1983 | 0.0069 °C | -98.8% |
| 1984 | 1.34 °C | +19485.1% |
| 1985 | 0.4977 °C | -63.0% |
| 1986 | 0.73 °C | +46.7% |
| 1987 | 2.03 °C | +177.5% |
| 1988 | 0.4666 °C | -77.0% |
| 1989 | 0.5949 °C | +27.5% |
| 1990 | 0.9897 °C | +66.3% |
| 1991 | 1.88 °C | +89.7% |
| 1992 | 0.9527 °C | -49.2% |
| 1993 | 0.9552 °C | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 0.8453 °C | -11.5% |
| 1995 | 0.4585 °C | -45.8% |
| 1996 | 1.7 °C | +271.5% |
| 1997 | 1.62 °C | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 0.931 °C | -42.7% |
| 1999 | 1.14 °C | +22.8% |
| 2000 | 1.46 °C | +27.3% |
| 2001 | 1.7 °C | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 2.07 °C | +21.9% |
| 2003 | 2.73 °C | +32.1% |
| 2004 | 2.48 °C | -9.1% |
| 2005 | 1.67 °C | -32.8% |
| 2006 | 2.25 °C | +35.0% |
| 2007 | 2.04 °C | -9.5% |
| 2008 | 1.78 °C | -12.8% |
| 2009 | 2.1 °C | +18.2% |
| 2010 | 2.21 °C | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 1.87 °C | -15.4% |
| 2012 | 2.14 °C | +14.4% |
| 2013 | 1.76 °C | -17.7% |
| 2014 | 2.96 °C | +68.3% |
| 2015 | 1.44 °C | -51.3% |
| 2016 | 2.84 °C | +97.1% |
| 2017 | 2.68 °C | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 2.16 °C | -19.4% |
| 2019 | 2.07 °C | -4.1% |
| 2020 | 1.58 °C | -23.4% |
| 2021 | 1.9 °C | +19.7% |
| 2022 | 1.72 °C | -9.2% |
| 2023 | 1.55 °C | -10.1% |
| 2024 | 0.8594 °C | -44.5% |
| 2025 | 2.87 °C | +233.7% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 2.87 °C is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.86 °C, 22% of the median. (65 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 2.87 °C is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.44 °C, 27% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Average annual surface temperature 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +19485.1% | 0.0069 °C | 1.34 °C |
| 1979 | -14881.2% | -0.0098 °C | -1.47 °C |
| 1972 | +1191.3% | -0.0937 °C | 1.02 °C |
| 1961 | -778.1% | 0.0926 °C | -0.6281 °C |
| 1947 | -577.0% | 0.2261 °C | -1.08 °C |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | -0.4483 °C | -1.18 °C | 0.7954 °C | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.4677 °C | -0.7115 °C | 1.67 °C | 10 |
| 1960s | -0.7562 °C | -1.95 °C | 0.0926 °C | 10 |
| 1970s | -0.1254 °C | -1.47 °C | 1.02 °C | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.6817 °C | -0.2869 °C | 2.03 °C | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.15 °C | 0.4585 °C | 1.88 °C | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.03 °C | 1.46 °C | 2.73 °C | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.21 °C | 1.44 °C | 2.96 °C | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.75 °C | 0.8594 °C | 2.87 °C | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More reference data data for Iceland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0288 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0708 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1854 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0964 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.062 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2576 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.7664 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0005 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average annual surface temperature in Iceland?
- Average annual surface temperature in Iceland was 2.87 °C in 2025, according to Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average annual surface temperature recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.96 °C in 2014.
- What is the lowest average annual surface temperature recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.95 °C in 1966.
- How does Iceland rank for average annual surface temperature?
- Iceland ranks 184th out of 193 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average annual surface temperature rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 98.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average annual surface temperature. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 86 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Temperature of the air measured 2 meters above the ground, encompassing land, sea, and in-land water surfaces.