Total waste generation, by activity in Iceland
Iceland: Total waste generation, by activity was 1.58 million in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
1.58 million
Change on year
up 49.0%
World rank
59th
of 78 countries
All-time high
1.58 million
in 2022
All-time low
501,426
in 2004
Years of data
9
2004–2022
Total waste generation, by activity in Iceland, 2004–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 1.58 million for total waste generation, by activity in 2022. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of up 49.0% on the previous year and up 198.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation, by activity in Iceland peaked at 1.58 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 501,426, in 2004.
Iceland ranks 59th of 78 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Total waste generation, by activity in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 501,426 | — |
| 2008 | 772,584 | +54.1% |
| 2010 | 510,941 | -33.9% |
| 2012 | 529,351 | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 815,148 | +54.0% |
| 2016 | 1.07 million | +30.9% |
| 2018 | 1.29 million | +21.2% |
| 2020 | 1.06 million | -18.0% |
| 2022 | 1.58 million | +49.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 1.58 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 19.71 million, 8% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 1.58 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 29.52 million, 5% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 637,005 | 501,426 | 772,584 | 2 |
| 2010s | 843,254 | 510,941 | 1.29 million | 5 |
| 2020s | 1.32 million | 1.06 million | 1.58 million | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 56 State of Palestine 2.00 million compare
- 57 North Macedonia 1.90 million compare
- 58 Honduras 1.68 million compare
- 60 Comoros 1.38 million compare
- 61 Montenegro 1.27 million compare
- 62 Panama 791,875 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)
- 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 total waste generation, by activity in Iceland?
- Total waste generation, by activity in Iceland was 1.58 million in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest total waste generation, by activity recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 1.58 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest total waste generation, by activity recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 501,426 in 2004.
- How does Iceland rank for total waste generation, by activity?
- Iceland ranks 59th out of 78 countries with data for 2022.
- Is total waste generation, by activity rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 198.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Total waste generation, by activity (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).