15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow in Iceland
Iceland: 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow was 388.7 km2 in 2021. ▼ Falling
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow in Iceland, 2000–2021
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in km2.
Analysis
The most recent figure for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow in Iceland is 388.7 km2, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow in Iceland peaked at 499.3 km2 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 388.7 km2, in 2021.
Iceland ranks 15th of 57 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow in Iceland, year by year
| Year | km2 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 499.3 km2 | — |
| 2005 | 476 km2 | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 452 km2 | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 424.5 km2 | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 406.6 km2 | -4.2% |
| 2021 | 388.7 km2 | -4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 487.65 km2 | 476 km2 | 499.3 km2 | 2 |
| 2010s | 427.7 km2 | 406.6 km2 | 452 km2 | 3 |
| 2020s | 388.7 km2 | 388.7 km2 | 388.7 km2 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More environment data for Iceland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 3.89 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.587 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.47 °C (2025)
- Sawlogs and veneer logs — Production, annual growth rate -100 % change on previous year (2021)
- Sawlogs and veneer logs, non-coniferous — Production, annual growth -100 % change on previous year (2017)
- Other industrial roundwood — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Other industrial roundwood, non-coniferous (production) — Production 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Sawnwood — Production, per unit of GDP 0 m3 per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Sawnwood — Production, per capita 0 m3 per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow in Iceland?
- 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow in Iceland was 388.7 km2 in 2021, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- What is the highest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 499.3 km2 in 2000.
- What is the lowest 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 388.7 km2 in 2021.
- How does Iceland rank for 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow?
- Iceland ranks 15th out of 57 countries with data for 2021.
- Is 15.4.2a mountain green cover area: alpine; land cover: permanent snow rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of 15.4.2a Mountain green cover area: Alpine; Land Cover: Permanent snow and glaciers — Value. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO).
About this data
As the custodian agency of 22 SDG indicators, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is responsible for curating and refining the methodologies of these indicators, collecting data from national sources, ensuring their quality and compatibility with applicable standards and classifications, and disseminating data at global level. This FAOSTAT domain complements the global SDG database administered by the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), as well as FAO’s SDG indicators portal, by providing access to the available data for all SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship. While this metadata page provides summary information on all SDG indicators data disseminated through FAOSTAT, indicator-specific metadata can be accessed from the link on the right hand navigation column. This additional metadata file provides details on the methodology used to compile each indicators, their data sources and the contact information of the relevant FAO focal point. It includes the links to the official SDG Indicator metadata documents accessible from the UNSD global SDG database.SDG Indicators under FAO custodianship, consisting of 22 indicators and 66 series that fall under six goals: • Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production.• Goal 14: Life below water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.• Goal 15: Life on land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.