Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Iceland
Iceland: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 32,314 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
32,314
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
177th
of 218 countries
All-time high
33,023
in 2021
All-time low
24,560
in 1987
Years of data
53
1971–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iceland, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iceland stood at 32,314.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and up 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iceland peaked at 33,023 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 24,560, in 1987.
That places Iceland 177th out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 27,066 | — |
| 1972 | 27,336 | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 27,217 | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 27,046 | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 26,922 | -0.5% |
| 1976 | 26,418 | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 25,924 | -1.9% |
| 1978 | 25,138 | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 24,687 | -1.8% |
| 1980 | 24,599 | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 24,736 | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 24,809 | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 25,018 | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 25,280 | +1.0% |
| 1985 | 25,058 | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 24,603 | -1.8% |
| 1987 | 24,560 | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 25,108 | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 25,420 | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 25,525 | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 29,816 | +16.8% |
| 1992 | 29,649 | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 29,351 | -1.0% |
| 1994 | 28,960 | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 29,138 | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 29,221 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 29,342 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 29,705 | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 30,355 | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 31,282 | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 31,786 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 31,465 | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 31,470 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 30,984 | -1.5% |
| 2005 | 30,785 | -0.6% |
| 2006 | 30,421 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 30,084 | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 29,945 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 29,860 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 29,568 | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 29,432 | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 29,387 | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 29,578 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 29,892 | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 30,422 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 31,194 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | 31,981 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 32,421 | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 32,811 | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 32,832 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 33,023 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 32,697 | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 32,314 | -1.2% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 32,314 is below the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 14% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 32,314 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 7% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26,417 | 24,687 | 27,336 | 9 |
| 1980s | 24,919 | 24,560 | 25,420 | 10 |
| 1990s | 29,106 | 25,525 | 30,355 | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,808 | 29,860 | 31,786 | 10 |
| 2010s | 30,669 | 29,387 | 32,811 | 10 |
| 2020s | 32,716 | 32,314 | 33,023 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 174 Sao Tome and Principe 37,172 compare
- 175 Samoa 34,962 compare
- 176 Martinique 34,559 compare
- 178 French Polynesia 29,415 compare
- 179 Malta 27,337 compare
- 180 Bahamas 26,817 compare
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 enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iceland?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Iceland was 32,314 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 33,023 in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 24,560 in 1987.
- How does Iceland rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Iceland ranks 177th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 9.3%. 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 Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release