This country profile features selected environmental indicators from the OECD Core Set, building on harmonised datasets available on OECD Data Explorer. The indicators reflect major environmental issues, including climate, air quality, freshwater resources, waste and the circular economy, and biodiversity. Differences with national data sources can occur due to delays in data treatment and publication, or due to different national definitions and measurement methods. The OECD is working with countries and other international organisations to further improve the indicators and the underlying data.
Environment at a Glance Indicators
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Iceland
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Copy link to ContextIceland has a small, open economy built on ample renewable energy potential, unique natural tourist attractions and fisheries. The country has a strong industrial base, mostly energy-intensive aluminium smelting. The population enjoys relatively high living standards. Average population density is low, but the majority of inhabitants are concentrated in urban settlements, which occupy only about 1% of Iceland’s area.
Iceland is just south of the Arctic Circle. Its topography is characterised by mountains cut by fjords and valleys in the central highlands, and lowlands along the coast. Glaciers, rivers and lakes cover 13% of the total area, resulting in abundant freshwater supplies. Agricultural land is scarce. Vegetation is mostly subarctic and characterised by abundant grasses, sedges and related species. Iceland is rich in geothermal energy. The seas around Iceland provide a rich diversity of marine resources, resulting from the influence of the Gulf Stream and the mixing of the warmer waters of the Atlantic with cold Arctic waters.
Climate change
Copy link to Climate changeEnergy mix
Copy link to Energy mixAir quality
Copy link to Air qualityAir emissions
Copy link to Air emissionsFreshwater resources
Copy link to Freshwater resourcesNo data available
Waste, materials and circular economy
Copy link to Waste, materials and circular economyMunicipal waste
Copy link to Municipal wasteMaterial consumption
Copy link to Material consumptionBiodiversity
Copy link to BiodiversityProtected areas
Copy link to Protected areasReferences and further reading
OECD (2014), OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Iceland 2014, OECD Environmental Performance Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264214200-en.