Educational attainment rate … both post-secondary non-tertiary in Iceland
Iceland: Educational attainment rate … both post-secondary non-tertiary was 46.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Iceland, 2005–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Iceland is 46.9%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 18.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Iceland peaked at 48.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 31.0%, in 2005.
That places Iceland 21st out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 18 years of available data.
Educational attainment rate … both post-secondary non-tertiary in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 31.0% | — |
| 2007 | 38.5% | +24.3% |
| 2008 | 39.4% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 40.0% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 39.2% | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 37.0% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 38.7% | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 39.8% | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 40.8% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 41.7% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 44.3% | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 47.8% | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 48.7% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 46.3% | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 46.1% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 45.5% | -1.2% |
| 2022 | 45.7% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 46.9% | +2.7% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 46.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 39.4%, 1.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 46.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.3%, 1.3× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.2% | 31.0% | 40.0% | 4 |
| 2010s | 42.4% | 37.0% | 48.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.0% | 45.5% | 46.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More education data for Iceland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.24 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.18 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Iceland?
- Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary in Iceland was 46.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 48.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.0% in 2005.
- How does Iceland rank for educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary?
- Iceland ranks 21st out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment rate, completed post-secondary non-tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release