Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iceland
Iceland: Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector was 722.47 kilograms per person in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
722.47 kilograms per person
Change on year
down 5.2%
World rank
22nd
of 193 countries
All-time high
1,256 kilograms per person
in 1990
All-time low
722.47 kilograms per person
in 2023
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iceland, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per person.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 722.47 kilograms per person for per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of down 5.2% on the previous year and down 19.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iceland peaked at 1,256 kilograms per person in 1990 and was at its lowest, 722.47 kilograms per person, in 2023.
That places Iceland 22nd out of 193 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iceland, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1,256 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 1,241 kilograms per person | -1.2% |
| 1992 | 1,187 kilograms per person | -4.3% |
| 1993 | 1,175 kilograms per person | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 1,165 kilograms per person | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 1,121 kilograms per person | -3.8% |
| 1996 | 1,153 kilograms per person | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 1,143 kilograms per person | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 1,167 kilograms per person | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 1,153 kilograms per person | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 1,138 kilograms per person | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 1,017 kilograms per person | -10.6% |
| 2002 | 1,043 kilograms per person | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 1,036 kilograms per person | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 992.57 kilograms per person | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 976.92 kilograms per person | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 1,020 kilograms per person | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 1,027 kilograms per person | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 1,039 kilograms per person | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 910.18 kilograms per person | -12.4% |
| 2010 | 911.48 kilograms per person | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 908.7 kilograms per person | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 935.01 kilograms per person | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 895.36 kilograms per person | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 915.98 kilograms per person | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 936.66 kilograms per person | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 923.8 kilograms per person | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 931.49 kilograms per person | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 878.53 kilograms per person | -5.7% |
| 2019 | 831.7 kilograms per person | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 818.27 kilograms per person | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 805.05 kilograms per person | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 762.42 kilograms per person | -5.3% |
| 2023 | 722.47 kilograms per person | -5.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 722.47 kilograms per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 234.74 kilograms per person, 3.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 722.47 kilograms per person is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 283.15 kilograms per person, 2.6× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1,176 kilograms per person | 1,121 kilograms per person | 1,256 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,020 kilograms per person | 910.18 kilograms per person | 1,138 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 906.87 kilograms per person | 831.7 kilograms per person | 936.66 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 777.05 kilograms per person | 722.47 kilograms per person | 818.27 kilograms per person | 4 |
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 per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iceland?
- Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector in Iceland was 722.47 kilograms per person in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 1,256 kilograms per person in 1990.
- What is the lowest per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 722.47 kilograms per person in 2023.
- How does Iceland rank for per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector?
- Iceland ranks 22nd out of 193 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita nitrous oxide emissions by sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in kilograms of carbon dioxide-equivalents per person.