Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland
Iceland: Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat was 22,453 animals in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
22,453 animals
Change on year
down 2.0%
World rank
146th
of 198 countries
All-time high
41,500 animals
in 1967
All-time low
17,658 animals
in 2014
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland, 1961–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in animals.
Analysis
In 2024, yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland stood at 22,453 animals.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and up 27.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland peaked at 41,500 animals in 1967 and was at its lowest, 17,658 animals, in 2014.
Iceland ranks 146th of 198 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland, year by year
| Year | animals | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 30,451 animals | — |
| 1962 | 39,519 animals | +29.8% |
| 1963 | 38,550 animals | -2.5% |
| 1964 | 39,050 animals | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 40,600 animals | +4.0% |
| 1966 | 39,500 animals | -2.7% |
| 1967 | 41,500 animals | +5.1% |
| 1968 | 27,021 animals | -34.9% |
| 1969 | 31,247 animals | +15.6% |
| 1970 | 29,370 animals | -6.0% |
| 1971 | 28,826 animals | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 31,750 animals | +10.1% |
| 1973 | 38,010 animals | +19.7% |
| 1974 | 38,117 animals | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 32,300 animals | -15.3% |
| 1976 | 36,700 animals | +13.6% |
| 1977 | 36,900 animals | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 34,000 animals | -7.9% |
| 1979 | 37,400 animals | +10.0% |
| 1980 | 25,484 animals | -31.9% |
| 1981 | 28,080 animals | +10.2% |
| 1982 | 24,850 animals | -11.5% |
| 1983 | 22,847 animals | -8.1% |
| 1984 | 22,635 animals | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 28,279 animals | +24.9% |
| 1986 | 29,871 animals | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 29,154 animals | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 23,743 animals | -18.6% |
| 1989 | 23,483 animals | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 22,684 animals | -3.4% |
| 1991 | 21,834 animals | -3.7% |
| 1992 | 24,856 animals | +13.8% |
| 1993 | 25,029 animals | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 25,948 animals | +3.7% |
| 1995 | 22,387 animals | -13.7% |
| 1996 | 23,208 animals | +3.7% |
| 1997 | 24,430 animals | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 23,559 animals | -3.6% |
| 1999 | 24,285 animals | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 24,252 animals | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 23,374 animals | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 22,700 animals | -2.9% |
| 2003 | 22,728 animals | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 21,465 animals | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 19,976 animals | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 17,863 animals | -10.6% |
| 2007 | 19,671 animals | +10.1% |
| 2008 | 19,830 animals | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 20,313 animals | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 21,343 animals | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 21,118 animals | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 22,251 animals | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 21,383 animals | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 17,658 animals | -17.4% |
| 2015 | 18,966 animals | +7.4% |
| 2016 | 22,606 animals | +19.2% |
| 2017 | 22,841 animals | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 22,807 animals | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 22,728 animals | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 21,462 animals | -5.6% |
| 2021 | 22,912 animals | +6.8% |
| 2022 | 23,459 animals | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 22,915 animals | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 22,453 animals | -2.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 22,453 animals is below the median for high income countries, which is 161,025 animals, 14% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 22,453 animals is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 433,650 animals, 5% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 36,382 animals | 27,021 animals | 41,500 animals | 9 |
| 1970s | 34,337 animals | 28,826 animals | 38,117 animals | 10 |
| 1980s | 25,843 animals | 22,635 animals | 29,871 animals | 10 |
| 1990s | 23,822 animals | 21,834 animals | 25,948 animals | 10 |
| 2000s | 21,217 animals | 17,863 animals | 24,252 animals | 10 |
| 2010s | 21,370 animals | 17,658 animals | 22,841 animals | 10 |
| 2020s | 22,640 animals | 21,462 animals | 23,459 animals | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More agriculture & rural data for Iceland
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 19.96 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0365 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 3,593 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.8983 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0578 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland?
- Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland was 22,453 animals in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 41,500 animals in 1967.
- What is the lowest yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 17,658 animals in 2014.
- How does Iceland rank for yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat?
- Iceland ranks 146th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Yearly number of animals slaughtered for meat. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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