Statistics Iceland
Statistical Database
Íslenska
Statistical database
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Changes in territory designation between years 1990-2023

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10/13/2025
Square kilometers (km2)
Umhverfisstofnun
UMH01111
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Mandatory
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In the original table, a distinction is made between touched and untouched land. Since the area of Iceland that is untouched is considered negligible, this distinction is removed in the processing here
Land is considered untouched when the area has never been used for settlement, agriculture or grazing, even if the land type otherwise offers it

Land category at the start of year

Forest at start of year

Forests are areas of land where there are trees that are or will be over 2m in height and with leaf cover over 10% of the visible surface of full growth. The area of the forest must be at least 0.5 ha and its minimum marsh width 20 m.

Cropland at start of year

Arable land is land where crops can be expected, such as fields and fields. Fields that have fallen into disuse move to the category 'Vegetated land'

Grassland at start of year

Vegetated land is land with a vascular plant cover of over 20%, such as peatlands, grasslands, scrublands, wetlands, vegetated lava, etc. Abandoned fields (older than 20 years) are included here, as well as reclamations, which were previously classified as other land but are older than 60 years.

Wetland at start of year

Wetlands are land areas that are mostly saturated with water. Wetlands in freshwater areas are especially taken into account here, but not land at sea level. Wetlands with a salinity effect (at sea level) are in the subcategory Unspoiled marshes and are not listed as a separate subcategory such as, for example, salt marshes.

Settlements at start of year

Settlements are land areas intended for permanent residence and the presence of people as well as roads (holy areas included), airports, ports and other industrial areas.

Other land at start of year

Other include glaciers, wastelands, auris, lava and other areas that are sparsely vegetated with vascular plant coverage below 20%.