Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iceland
Iceland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 20,287 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
20,287
Change on year
down 7.3%
World rank
149th
of 200 countries
All-time high
22,034
in 2021
All-time low
1,706
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2023
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland stood at 20,287.
The figure is down 7.3% on the previous year and up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland peaked at 22,034 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,706, in 1971.
Iceland ranks 149th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1,706 | — |
| 1972 | 1,970 | +15.5% |
| 1973 | 2,267 | +15.1% |
| 1974 | 2,429 | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 2,695 | +11.0% |
| 1976 | 2,970 | +10.2% |
| 1977 | 3,100 | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 3,265 | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 4,176 | +27.9% |
| 1981 | 4,383 | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 4,627 | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 5,053 | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 5,212 | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 4,643 | -10.9% |
| 1986 | 4,724 | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 4,745 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 4,725 | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 5,005 | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 5,407 | +8.0% |
| 1991 | 5,225 | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 6,161 | +17.9% |
| 1993 | 5,672 | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 7,059 | +24.5% |
| 1995 | 7,385 | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 7,483 | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 7,908 | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 8,100 | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 8,462 | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 9,667 | +14.2% |
| 2001 | 10,184 | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 11,584 | +13.7% |
| 2003 | 13,347 | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 14,710 | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 15,169 | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 15,721 | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 15,821 | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 16,631 | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 16,919 | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 18,051 | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 18,845 | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 19,099 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 19,097 | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 19,901 | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 18,940 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 18,590 | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 17,967 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 17,835 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 18,297 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 19,222 | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 22,034 | +14.6% |
| 2022 | 21,882 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 20,287 | -7.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 20,287 is below the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 13% of the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 20,287 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 294,128, 7% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,550 | 1,706 | 3,265 | 8 |
| 1980s | 4,729 | 4,176 | 5,212 | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,886 | 5,225 | 8,462 | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,975 | 9,667 | 16,919 | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,662 | 17,835 | 19,901 | 10 |
| 2020s | 20,856 | 19,222 | 22,034 | 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 enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland was 20,287 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 22,034 in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,706 in 1971.
- How does Iceland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Iceland ranks 149th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, 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