Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Iceland
Iceland: Average nitrate concentration in freshwater was 0.24 milligrams per liter in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Iceland, 2003–2021
Source: European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in milligrams per liter.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Iceland is 0.24 milligrams per liter, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 92.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Iceland peaked at 0.625 milligrams per liter in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.04 milligrams per liter, in 2003.
Iceland ranks 34th of 34 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Iceland, year by year
| Year | milligrams per liter | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 0.04 milligrams per liter | — |
| 2004 | 0.04 milligrams per liter | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.625 milligrams per liter | +1462.5% |
| 2006 | 0.5814 milligrams per liter | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 0.2694 milligrams per liter | -53.7% |
| 2008 | 0.2304 milligrams per liter | -14.5% |
| 2009 | 0.21 milligrams per liter | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 0.1925 milligrams per liter | -8.3% |
| 2011 | 0.125 milligrams per liter | -35.1% |
| 2012 | 0.185 milligrams per liter | +48.0% |
| 2013 | 0.2035 milligrams per liter | +10.0% |
| 2014 | 0.186 milligrams per liter | -8.6% |
| 2015 | 0.261 milligrams per liter | +40.3% |
| 2016 | 0.243 milligrams per liter | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 0.168 milligrams per liter | -30.9% |
| 2018 | 0.128 milligrams per liter | -23.8% |
| 2019 | 0.204 milligrams per liter | +59.4% |
| 2020 | 0.24 milligrams per liter | +17.6% |
| 2021 | 0.24 milligrams per liter | +0.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 0.24 milligrams per liter is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.9 milligrams per liter, 2% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 0.24 milligrams per liter is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.12 milligrams per liter, 1% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Average nitrate concentration in freshwater 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | +1462.5% | 0.04 milligrams per liter | 0.625 milligrams per liter |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.2852 milligrams per liter | 0.04 milligrams per liter | 0.625 milligrams per liter | 7 |
| 2010s | 0.1896 milligrams per liter | 0.125 milligrams per liter | 0.261 milligrams per liter | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.24 milligrams per liter | 0.24 milligrams per liter | 0.24 milligrams per liter | 2 |
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)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.8549 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -1.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Iceland?
- Average nitrate concentration in freshwater in Iceland was 0.24 milligrams per liter in 2021, according to European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 0.625 milligrams per liter in 2005.
- What is the lowest average nitrate concentration in freshwater recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.04 milligrams per liter in 2003.
- How does Iceland rank for average nitrate concentration in freshwater?
- Iceland ranks 34th out of 34 countries with data for 2021.
- Is average nitrate concentration in freshwater rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 92.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from European Environment Agency (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average nitrate concentration in freshwater. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average annual concentration of nitrate in groundwater.