Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Iceland

Iceland: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 32.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
32.3%
Change on year
up 5.7%
World rank
36th
of 129 countries
All-time high
33.9%
in 2018
All-time low
20.1%
in 1999
Years of data
24
1999–2023

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Iceland, 1999–2023

01020301999201120231999: 20.1 cumulative2000: 21.2 cumulative2001: 22.2 cumulative2002: 24.1 cumulative2003: 25.6 cumulative2004: 25.1 cumulative2005: 26.7 cumulative2007: 25.8 cumulative2008: 26.2 cumulative2009: 26.7 cumulative2010: 25.2 cumulative2011: 25.6 cumulative2012: 26.7 cumulative2013: 27.5 cumulative2014: 29.8 cumulative2015: 30 cumulative2016: 31.5 cumulative2017: 33 cumulative2018: 33.9 cumulative2019: 32.1 cumulative2020: 33.3 cumulative2021: 32.8 cumulative2022: 30.5 cumulative2023: 32.3 cumulative

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.

Analysis

Iceland recorded 32.3% for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in 2023.

That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Iceland peaked at 33.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 20.1%, in 1999.

Iceland ranks 36th of 129 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative) in Iceland, 1999 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1999 20.1%
2000 21.2% +5.4%
2001 22.2% +5.1%
2002 24.1% +8.2%
2003 25.6% +6.3%
2004 25.1% -1.9%
2005 26.7% +6.3%
2007 25.8% -3.4%
2008 26.2% +1.7%
2009 26.7% +1.8%
2010 25.2% -5.5%
2011 25.6% +1.5%
2012 26.7% +4.2%
2013 27.5% +3.0%
2014 29.8% +8.4%
2015 30.0% +0.7%
2016 31.5% +5.0%
2017 33.0% +4.8%
2018 33.9% +2.8%
2019 32.1% -5.5%
2020 33.3% +4.0%
2021 32.8% -1.6%
2022 30.5% -7.0%
2023 32.3% +5.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 20.1% 20.1% 20.1% 1
2000s 24.8% 21.2% 26.7% 9
2010s 29.5% 25.2% 33.9% 10
2020s 32.2% 30.5% 33.3% 4

Countries ranked near Iceland

  1. 33 Denmark 33.7% compare
  2. 34 Georgia 32.4% compare
  3. 35 Puerto Rico 32.3% compare
  4. 37 Tajikistan 31.5% compare
  5. 38 Republic of Moldova 31.3% compare
  6. 39 Estonia 30.7% compare

See the full ranking of 129 places →

More education data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Iceland?
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Iceland was 32.3% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in Iceland?
The highest recorded value was 33.9% in 2018.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in Iceland?
The lowest recorded value was 20.1% in 1999.
How does Iceland rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Iceland ranks 36th out of 129 countries with data for 2023.
Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in Iceland?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iceland data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-male-percent/iceland/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
129 places, 2,126 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.