Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Iceland
Iceland: Number of significant volcanic eruptions was 1 events in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
1 events
World rank
6th
of 25 countries
All-time high
2 events
in 1510
All-time low
1 events
in 1104
Years of data
49
1104–2023
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.
Number of significant volcanic eruptions in Iceland, year by year
| Year | events | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1104 | 1 events | — |
| 1151 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1158 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1177 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1206 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1262 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1300 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1311 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1341 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1357 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1362 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1389 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1477 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1500 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1510 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1580 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1597 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1625 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1629 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1636 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1660 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1684 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1693 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1712 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1716 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1717 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1721 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1726 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1727 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1729 | 2 events | +100.0% |
| 1753 | 1 events | -50.0% |
| 1755 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1875 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1947 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1 events | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1 events | +0.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 1 events is above the median for high income countries, which is 1 events, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 1 events is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1 events, 1.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.