Ores and metals exports in Iceland
Iceland: Ores and metals exports was 36.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals exports in Iceland, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 36.2% for ores and metals exports in 2025.
The figure is up 5.6% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Iceland peaked at 42.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1963.
That places Iceland 11th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals exports in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 0.1% | — |
| 1963 | 0.1% | -20.1% |
| 1964 | 0.1% | +35.2% |
| 1965 | 0.1% | -21.2% |
| 1966 | 0.1% | +32.5% |
| 1967 | 0.2% | +59.6% |
| 1968 | 0.6% | +158.4% |
| 1969 | 6.6% | +1077.1% |
| 1970 | 14.6% | +122.0% |
| 1971 | 8.1% | -44.7% |
| 1972 | 17.6% | +117.8% |
| 1973 | 18.2% | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 15.8% | -13.2% |
| 1975 | 12.0% | -23.9% |
| 1976 | 18.0% | +49.7% |
| 1977 | 15.6% | -13.5% |
| 1978 | 14.3% | -8.4% |
| 1979 | 14.2% | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 12.9% | -9.6% |
| 1981 | 10.4% | -19.3% |
| 1982 | 11.0% | +5.9% |
| 1983 | 18.5% | +68.2% |
| 1984 | 15.6% | -15.6% |
| 1985 | 11.0% | -29.7% |
| 1986 | 10.0% | -8.7% |
| 1987 | 10.5% | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 11.6% | +11.0% |
| 1989 | 13.6% | +16.7% |
| 1990 | 11.1% | -18.4% |
| 1991 | 9.4% | -14.6% |
| 1992 | 9.8% | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 9.5% | -3.5% |
| 1994 | 10.8% | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 12.0% | +11.5% |
| 1996 | 10.6% | -11.6% |
| 1997 | 12.7% | +18.9% |
| 1998 | 14.4% | +13.8% |
| 1999 | 16.4% | +13.8% |
| 2000 | 19.3% | +17.8% |
| 2001 | 20.7% | +7.1% |
| 2002 | 19.4% | -6.2% |
| 2003 | 19.3% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 18.7% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 19.0% | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 24.1% | +26.5% |
| 2007 | 27.1% | +12.3% |
| 2008 | 39.9% | +47.4% |
| 2009 | 35.1% | -11.9% |
| 2010 | 42.0% | +19.6% |
| 2011 | 40.3% | -4.0% |
| 2012 | 37.7% | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 37.9% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 39.0% | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 40.2% | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 36.4% | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 41.5% | +14.3% |
| 2018 | 41.0% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 35.1% | -14.4% |
| 2020 | 36.1% | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 39.8% | +10.3% |
| 2022 | 42.1% | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 36.4% | -13.6% |
| 2024 | 34.3% | -5.7% |
| 2025 | 36.2% | +5.6% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 36.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.7%, 13.5× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 36.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.5%, 10.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals exports in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | +1077.1% | 0.6% | 6.6% |
| 1968 | +158.4% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| 1970 | +122.0% | 6.6% | 14.6% |
| 1972 | +117.8% | 8.1% | 17.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.0% | 0.1% | 6.6% | 8 |
| 1970s | 14.8% | 8.1% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.5% | 10.0% | 18.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.7% | 9.4% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.3% | 18.7% | 39.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.1% | 35.1% | 42.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.5% | 34.3% | 42.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 8 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 43.6% compare
- 9 New Caledonia 37.8% compare
- 10 Jamaica 37.6% compare
- 12 Australia 34.6% compare
- 13 Zimbabwe 33.8% compare
- 14 Mauritania 33.7% compare
More energy & mining data for Iceland
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -4.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0002 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 9.0% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 7.9% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Iceland?
- Ores and metals exports in Iceland was 36.2% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 42.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1963.
- How does Iceland rank for ores and metals exports?
- Iceland ranks 11th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.