Total waste generation in Iceland
Iceland: Total waste generation was 9,253 tonnes in 2022. ▼ Falling
Total waste generation in Iceland, 2004–2022
Source: United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for total waste generation in Iceland is 9,253 tonnes, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 76.3% on the previous year and down 88.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total waste generation in Iceland peaked at 82,097 tonnes in 2012 and was at its lowest, 9,253 tonnes, in 2022.
That places Iceland 46th out of 62 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Total waste generation in Iceland, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 78,559 tonnes | — |
| 2010 | 72,071 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 2012 | 82,097 tonnes | +13.9% |
| 2014 | 28,885 tonnes | -64.8% |
| 2016 | 38,357 tonnes | +32.8% |
| 2018 | 47,418 tonnes | +23.6% |
| 2020 | 39,084 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 2022 | 9,253 tonnes | -76.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 9,253 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 293,977 tonnes, 3% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 9,253 tonnes is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 289,947 tonnes, 3% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 78,559 tonnes | 78,559 tonnes | 78,559 tonnes | 1 |
| 2010s | 53,766 tonnes | 28,885 tonnes | 82,097 tonnes | 5 |
| 2020s | 24,168 tonnes | 9,253 tonnes | 39,084 tonnes | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 43 Latvia 27,604 tonnes compare
- 44 Moldova 23,600 tonnes compare
- 45 Montenegro 12,959 tonnes compare
- 47 Luxembourg 6,882 tonnes compare
- 48 Mauritius 6,057 tonnes compare
- 49 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4,300 tonnes 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 in Iceland?
- Total waste generation in Iceland was 9,253 tonnes in 2022, according to United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest total waste generation recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 82,097 tonnes in 2012.
- What is the lowest total waste generation recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9,253 tonnes in 2022.
- How does Iceland rank for total waste generation?
- Iceland ranks 46th out of 62 countries with data for 2022.
- Is total waste generation rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 88.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Total waste generation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total waste generation, by activity (Tonnes).