Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iceland
Iceland: Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals was 71.1% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iceland, 1980–2022
Source: AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total freshwater withdrawal.
Analysis
The most recent figure for industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iceland is 71.1%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iceland peaked at 76.2% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 6.0%, in 1992.
That places Iceland 12th out of 179 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % of total freshwater withdrawal | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 9.3% | — |
| 1981 | 9.2% | -0.7% |
| 1982 | 9.1% | -0.7% |
| 1983 | 9.1% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 9.0% | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 8.9% | -0.7% |
| 1986 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 8.9% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 7.5% | -16.5% |
| 1992 | 6.0% | -19.7% |
| 1993 | 6.3% | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 6.6% | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 6.9% | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 7.3% | +4.7% |
| 1997 | 7.6% | +4.5% |
| 1998 | 7.9% | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 8.3% | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 8.6% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 8.5% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 8.5% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 22.7% | +167.4% |
| 2006 | 34.5% | +52.0% |
| 2007 | 44.5% | +28.9% |
| 2008 | 53.0% | +19.2% |
| 2009 | 60.3% | +13.9% |
| 2010 | 66.8% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 68.5% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 68.0% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 70.4% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 72.3% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 71.1% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 76.2% | +7.0% |
| 2017 | 71.1% | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 71.1% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 71.1% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 71.1% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 71.1% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 71.1% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.0% | 8.9% | 9.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.3% | 6.0% | 8.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 25.8% | 8.5% | 60.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.7% | 66.8% | 76.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.1% | 71.1% | 71.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 9 Republic of Moldova 73.1% compare
- 10 Puerto Rico 72.2% compare
- 11 Bulgaria 71.3% compare
- 13 Netherlands 70.2% compare
- 14 France 68.1% compare
- 15 Poland 65.5% compare
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)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, annual growth rate -11.35 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per unit of GDP 0 t per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import quantity, per capita 0.0161 t per person (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, annual growth rate -13.39 % change on previous year (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per unit of GDP 0 1000 USD per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Paper and paperboard — Import value, per capita 0.0341 1000 USD per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iceland?
- Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals in Iceland was 71.1% in 2022, according to AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 76.2% in 2016.
- What is the lowest industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.0% in 1992.
- How does Iceland rank for industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals?
- Iceland ranks 12th out of 179 countries with data for 2022.
- Is industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from AQUASTAT - FAO's Global Information System on Water and Agriculture, FAO, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Industrial water as a share of total water withdrawals. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Industrial water withdrawals as a percentage of total water withdrawals (which is the sum of water used for agriculture, industry, and municipal purposes).