Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Iceland
Iceland: Number of significant volcanic eruptions was 1 events in 2023. ▬ Flat
Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Iceland, 1104–2023
Source: National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in events.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 1 events for number of significant volcanic eruptions in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 49 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of significant volcanic eruptions in Iceland peaked at 2 events in 1510 and was at its lowest, 1 events, in 1104.
That places Iceland 6th out of 25 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1100s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1150s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1170s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1200s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1260s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1300s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1310s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1340s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1350s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1360s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1380s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1470s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1500s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1510s | 2 events | 2 events | 2 events | 1 |
| 1580s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1590s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1620s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1630s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1660s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1680s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1690s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1710s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1720s | 1.25 events | 1 events | 2 events | 4 |
| 1750s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1760s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1780s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1840s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1860s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 1870s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1910s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1920s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1940s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1970s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 3 |
| 1980s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 1990s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
| 2010s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 2 |
| 2020s | 1 events | 1 events | 1 events | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 3 Italy 2 events compare
- 3 Japan 2 events compare
- 3 Philippines 2 events compare
- 6 Chile 1 events compare
- 6 Colombia 1 events compare
- 6 Comoros 1 events compare
- 6 Costa Rica 1 events compare
- 6 Democratic Republic of Congo 1 events compare
- 6 Ecuador 1 events compare
- 6 Greece 1 events compare
- 6 Guatemala 1 events compare
- 6 Mexico 1 events compare
- 6 New Zealand 1 events compare
- 6 Nicaragua 1 events compare
- 6 Papua New Guinea 1 events compare
- 6 Portugal 1 events compare
- 6 Russia 1 events compare
- 6 Solomon Islands 1 events compare
- 6 Spain 1 events compare
- 6 Tanzania 1 events compare
- 6 Tonga 1 events compare
- 6 Vanuatu 1 events compare
More reference data data for Iceland
- Spring temperature anomalies -0.5453 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.1076 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.09 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 0.653 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 3.5 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 179.82 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of significant volcanic eruptions in Iceland?
- Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Iceland was 1 events in 2023, according to National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of significant volcanic eruptions recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 2 events in 1510.
- What is the lowest number of significant volcanic eruptions recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1 events in 1104.
- How does Iceland rank for number of significant volcanic eruptions?
- Iceland ranks 6th out of 25 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of significant volcanic eruptions rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of significant volcanic eruptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
A significant eruption is classified as one that meets at least one of the following criteria: caused fatalities, caused moderate damage (approximately $1 million or more), with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6 or larger, caused a tsunami, or was associated with a major earthquake.