Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iceland
Iceland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 17,835 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
17,835 number
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
144th
of 193 countries
All-time high
19,901 number
in 2014
All-time low
1,706 number
in 1971
Years of data
47
1971–2018
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 17,835 number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland peaked at 19,901 number in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1,706 number, in 1971.
Iceland ranks 144th of 193 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 | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1,706 number | — |
| 1972 | 1,970 number | +15.5% |
| 1973 | 2,267 number | +15.1% |
| 1974 | 2,429 number | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 2,695 number | +11.0% |
| 1976 | 2,970 number | +10.2% |
| 1977 | 3,100 number | +4.4% |
| 1978 | 3,265 number | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 4,176 number | +27.9% |
| 1981 | 4,383 number | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 4,627 number | +5.6% |
| 1983 | 5,053 number | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 5,212 number | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 4,643 number | -10.9% |
| 1986 | 4,724 number | +1.7% |
| 1987 | 4,745 number | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 4,725 number | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 5,005 number | +5.9% |
| 1990 | 5,407 number | +8.0% |
| 1991 | 5,225 number | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 6,161 number | +17.9% |
| 1993 | 5,672 number | -7.9% |
| 1994 | 7,059 number | +24.5% |
| 1995 | 7,385 number | +4.6% |
| 1996 | 7,483 number | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 7,908 number | +5.7% |
| 1998 | 8,100 number | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 8,462 number | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 9,667 number | +14.2% |
| 2001 | 10,184 number | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 11,584 number | +13.7% |
| 2003 | 13,347 number | +15.2% |
| 2004 | 14,710 number | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 15,169 number | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 15,721 number | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 15,821 number | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 16,631 number | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 16,919 number | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 18,051 number | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 18,845 number | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 19,099 number | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 19,097 number | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 19,901 number | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 18,940 number | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 18,590 number | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 17,967 number | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 17,835 number | -0.7% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 17,835 number is below the median for high income countries, which is 164,826 number, 11% of the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 17,835 number is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 257,598 number, 7% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,550 number | 1,706 number | 3,265 number | 8 |
| 1980s | 4,729 number | 4,176 number | 5,212 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 6,886 number | 5,225 number | 8,462 number | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,975 number | 9,667 number | 16,919 number | 10 |
| 2010s | 18,703 number | 17,835 number | 19,901 number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 141 Mauritania 23,417 number compare
- 142 Montenegro 22,709 number compare
- 143 Lesotho 21,586 number compare
- 145 Trinidad and Tobago 16,751 number compare
- 146 Somalia 15,672 number compare
- 147 Malta 15,220 number compare
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 enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iceland was 17,835 number in 2018, 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 19,901 number in 2014.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,706 number in 1971.
- How does Iceland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Iceland ranks 144th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.2%. 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.
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About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.