Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Iceland
Iceland: Expected years of schooling, males vs. females was 17.63 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Iceland, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 17.63 years for expected years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Iceland peaked at 18.6 years in 2013 and was at its lowest, 14.93 years, in 1990.
That places Iceland 12th out of 194 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Iceland, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 14.93 years | — |
| 1991 | 15.44 years | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 15.24 years | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 15.4 years | +1.1% |
| 1994 | 15.57 years | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 15.63 years | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 15.64 years | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 16 years | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 16.36 years | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 16.14 years | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 16.35 years | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 16.33 years | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 16.71 years | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 17.23 years | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 16.88 years | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 17.04 years | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 16.97 years | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 16.7 years | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 16.76 years | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 16.77 years | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 17.35 years | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 17.63 years | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 18.09 years | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 18.6 years | +2.8% |
| 2014 | 18.5 years | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 18.23 years | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 17.92 years | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 17.69 years | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 17.48 years | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 17.16 years | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 17.14 years | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 17.83 years | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 17.63 years | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 17.63 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.63 years | 14.93 years | 16.36 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.77 years | 16.33 years | 17.23 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.86 years | 17.16 years | 18.6 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.56 years | 17.14 years | 17.83 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More education data for Iceland
- 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)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 32,314 (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.17 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Iceland?
- Expected years of schooling, males vs. females in Iceland was 17.63 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6 years in 2013.
- What is the lowest expected years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.93 years in 1990.
- How does Iceland rank for expected years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Iceland ranks 12th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is expected years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Expected years of schooling, males vs. females. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of years a boy of school-entrance-age can expect to receive if the current age-specific enrollment rates persist throughout the child's life.