Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Iceland
Iceland: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 13.91 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Iceland, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Iceland is 13.91 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Iceland peaked at 13.91 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 10.51 years, in 1990.
Iceland ranks 4th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Iceland, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.51 years | — |
| 1991 | 10.62 years | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 10.74 years | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 10.86 years | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 10.97 years | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 11.09 years | +1.1% |
| 1996 | 11.22 years | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 11.35 years | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 11.48 years | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 11.61 years | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 11.74 years | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 11.88 years | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 12.03 years | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 12.18 years | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 12.32 years | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 12.47 years | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 12.56 years | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 12.65 years | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 12.74 years | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 12.83 years | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 12.92 years | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 13.01 years | +0.7% |
| 2012 | 13.1 years | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 13.19 years | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 13.28 years | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 13.37 years | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 13.46 years | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 13.55 years | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 13.64 years | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 13.73 years | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 13.77 years | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 13.91 years | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 13.91 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 13.91 years | +0.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 13.91 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 13.91 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.05 years | 10.51 years | 11.61 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.34 years | 11.74 years | 12.83 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.32 years | 12.92 years | 13.73 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.87 years | 13.77 years | 13.91 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More education data for Iceland
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 6,661 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 6,167 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,056 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 32,314 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.17 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0838 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Iceland?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Iceland was 13.91 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 13.91 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.51 years in 1990.
- How does Iceland rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Iceland ranks 4th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.