Land animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland
Iceland: Land animals slaughtered for meat was 5.75 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.75 million
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
153rd
of 199 countries
All-time high
5.86 million
in 2017
All-time low
250,000
in 1961
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Land animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland, 1961–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, land animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland stood at 5.75 million.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and up 17.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland peaked at 5.86 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 250,000, in 1961.
Iceland ranks 153rd of 199 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Land animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 250,000 | — |
| 1962 | 250,000 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 250,000 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 250,000 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 250,000 | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 250,000 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 250,000 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 250,000 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 250,000 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 300,000 | +20.0% |
| 1971 | 330,000 | +10.0% |
| 1972 | 375,000 | +13.6% |
| 1973 | 450,000 | +20.0% |
| 1974 | 430,000 | -4.4% |
| 1975 | 447,000 | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 474,000 | +6.0% |
| 1977 | 500,000 | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 530,000 | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 580,000 | +9.4% |
| 1980 | 649,000 | +11.9% |
| 1981 | 701,000 | +8.0% |
| 1982 | 718,000 | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 1.03 million | +43.9% |
| 1984 | 1.05 million | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 1.44 million | +37.3% |
| 1986 | 1.94 million | +34.7% |
| 1987 | 1.63 million | -15.9% |
| 1988 | 1.00 million | -38.8% |
| 1989 | 1.12 million | +11.9% |
| 1990 | 1.26 million | +13.0% |
| 1991 | 1.32 million | +4.5% |
| 1992 | 1.34 million | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 1.30 million | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 1.07 million | -17.5% |
| 1995 | 1.55 million | +45.1% |
| 1996 | 1.36 million | -12.3% |
| 1997 | 1.66 million | +22.2% |
| 1998 | 2.11 million | +26.6% |
| 1999 | 2.25 million | +6.8% |
| 2000 | 2.21 million | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 2.76 million | +25.0% |
| 2002 | 3.38 million | +22.7% |
| 2003 | 4.17 million | +23.1% |
| 2004 | 3.73 million | -10.5% |
| 2005 | 3.86 million | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 4.41 million | +14.3% |
| 2007 | 5.08 million | +15.3% |
| 2008 | 4.79 million | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 4.60 million | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 4.36 million | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 4.88 million | +12.1% |
| 2012 | 5.01 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 4.96 million | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 4.91 million | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 5.07 million | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 5.44 million | +7.3% |
| 2017 | 5.86 million | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 5.68 million | -3.1% |
| 2019 | 5.81 million | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 5.48 million | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 5.52 million | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 5.62 million | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 5.80 million | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 5.75 million | -0.8% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 5.75 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 63.32 million, 9% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 5.75 million is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 89.25 million, 6% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 250,000 | 250,000 | 250,000 | 9 |
| 1970s | 441,600 | 300,000 | 580,000 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.13 million | 649,000 | 1.94 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.52 million | 1.07 million | 2.25 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.90 million | 2.21 million | 5.08 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.20 million | 4.36 million | 5.86 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.63 million | 5.48 million | 5.80 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More agriculture & rural data for Iceland
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.3084 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 4.77 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland?
- Land animals slaughtered for meat in Iceland was 5.75 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land animals slaughtered for meat recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.86 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest land animals slaughtered for meat recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 250,000 in 1961.
- How does Iceland rank for land animals slaughtered for meat?
- Iceland ranks 153rd out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is land animals slaughtered for meat rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Land animals slaughtered for meat. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 64 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).