Energy intensity in Iceland
Iceland: Energy intensity was 11.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022. ▲ Rising
Energy intensity in Iceland, 2000–2022
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2022, energy intensity in Iceland stood at 11.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
That represents a change of down 3.2% on the previous year and down 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Iceland peaked at 15.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2011 and was at its lowest, 9.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2005.
Iceland ranks 8th of 201 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Iceland, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 10.64 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.7% |
| 2002 | 10.91 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 10.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 9.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 9.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 10.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +16.7% |
| 2007 | 11.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +8.9% |
| 2008 | 13.58 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +13.7% |
| 2009 | 15.27 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +12.4% |
| 2010 | 14.89 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2011 | 15.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 15.11 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 15.07 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 14.77 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 13.47 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -8.8% |
| 2016 | 11.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -11.4% |
| 2017 | 12.12 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 12.68 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 12.25 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 12.92 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 12.33 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.6% |
| 2022 | 11.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.46 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 9.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 15.27 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.79 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 11.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 15.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 11.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 12.92 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 5 New Caledonia 13.47 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 12.51 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 7 Mozambique 11.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 9 Marshall Islands 10.96 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 10 Curacao 10.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 11 Turkmenistan 10.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Iceland
- Fuel imports 9.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 7.9% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 36.2% (2025)
- Gas production 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Iceland?
- Energy intensity in Iceland was 11.93 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2022, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 15.65 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2011.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.39 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2005.
- How does Iceland rank for energy intensity?
- Iceland ranks 8th out of 201 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.