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
53
1971–2023

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iceland, 1971–2023

05.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k197119972023

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, both sexes (number) in Iceland, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Iceland, 1971 to 2023.
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 146 Lesotho 21,586 compare
  2. 147 Montenegro 21,177 compare
  3. 148 Malta 21,120 compare
  4. 150 Guyana 18,454 compare
  5. 151 Maldives 16,632 compare
  6. 152 Somalia 15,672 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for Iceland

All data for Iceland →

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.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iceland. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/iceland/

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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

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

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
421 places, 19,011 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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.