Educational attainment rate … both immigrant short-cycle tertiary in Iceland
Iceland: Educational attainment rate … both immigrant short-cycle tertiary was 42.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Iceland, 2007–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Iceland is 42.3%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 28.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Iceland peaked at 46.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 31.3%, in 2014.
That places Iceland 11th out of 32 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
Educational attainment rate … both immigrant short-cycle tertiary in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 38.5% | — |
| 2008 | 32.9% | -14.5% |
| 2009 | 37.2% | +13.1% |
| 2010 | 37.2% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 35.6% | -4.4% |
| 2012 | 31.5% | -11.5% |
| 2013 | 32.9% | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 31.3% | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 34.4% | +9.8% |
| 2016 | 35.8% | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 42.5% | +18.9% |
| 2018 | 43.7% | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 46.9% | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 42.1% | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 42.8% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 42.2% | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 42.3% | +0.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 42.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 35.9%, 1.2× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 42.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 35.4%, 1.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 36.2% | 32.9% | 38.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 37.2% | 31.3% | 46.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.3% | 42.1% | 42.8% | 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 short-cycle tertiary education in Iceland?
- Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in Iceland was 42.3% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 46.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.3% in 2014.
- How does Iceland rank for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- Iceland ranks 11th out of 32 countries with data for 2023.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.7%. 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 short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, immigrant background, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release