Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Iceland
Iceland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 13,388 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Iceland, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Iceland stood at 13,388.
The figure is down 7.3% on the previous year and up 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Iceland peaked at 14,505 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 422, in 1971.
That places Iceland 145th out of 195 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, female (number) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 422 | — |
| 1972 | 522 | +23.7% |
| 1973 | 660 | +26.4% |
| 1974 | 740 | +12.1% |
| 1975 | 909 | +22.8% |
| 1976 | 1,094 | +20.4% |
| 1977 | 1,200 | +9.7% |
| 1978 | 1,337 | +11.4% |
| 1981 | 2,179 | +63.0% |
| 1983 | 2,563 | +17.6% |
| 1984 | 2,699 | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 2,621 | -2.9% |
| 1989 | 2,806 | +7.1% |
| 1990 | 3,039 | +8.3% |
| 1991 | 3,001 | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 3,608 | +20.2% |
| 1993 | 3,266 | -9.5% |
| 1994 | 4,088 | +25.2% |
| 1995 | 4,250 | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 4,401 | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 4,626 | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 4,858 | +5.0% |
| 1999 | 5,260 | +8.3% |
| 2000 | 5,985 | +13.8% |
| 2001 | 6,383 | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 7,322 | +14.7% |
| 2003 | 8,497 | +16.0% |
| 2004 | 9,491 | +11.7% |
| 2005 | 9,846 | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 10,116 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 10,148 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 10,716 | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 10,875 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 11,453 | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 11,727 | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 11,929 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 11,879 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 12,423 | +4.6% |
| 2015 | 11,911 | -4.1% |
| 2016 | 11,850 | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 11,447 | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 11,339 | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 11,849 | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 12,523 | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 14,505 | +15.8% |
| 2022 | 14,436 | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 13,388 | -7.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 13,388 is below the median for high income countries, which is 97,133, 14% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 13,388 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 157,648, 8% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Iceland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +63.0% | 1,337 | 2,179 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 860.5 | 422 | 1,337 | 8 |
| 1980s | 2,574 | 2,179 | 2,806 | 5 |
| 1990s | 4,040 | 3,001 | 5,260 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,938 | 5,985 | 10,875 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11,781 | 11,339 | 12,423 | 10 |
| 2020s | 13,713 | 12,523 | 14,505 | 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, female in Iceland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Iceland was 13,388 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 14,505 in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 422 in 1971.
- How does Iceland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- Iceland ranks 145th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.7%. 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release