Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both in Iceland
Iceland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both was 20,287 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iceland, 1971–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iceland is 20,287, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of 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 (number) in Iceland peaked at 22,034 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,706, in 1971.
That places Iceland 149th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 … gaps filled both 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% |
| 1979 | 3,720 | +14.0% |
| 1980 | 4,176 | +12.2% |
| 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 | 2,680 | 1,706 | 3,720 | 9 |
| 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 (number) in Iceland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iceland was 20,287 in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 22,034 in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 (number)?
- Iceland ranks 149th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.