Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Iceland
Iceland: Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region was 599 children in 2023. ▲ Rising
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Iceland, 1994–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in children.
Analysis
In 2023, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Iceland stood at 599 children. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
That represents a change of up 19.1% on the previous year and up 66.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Iceland peaked at 599 children in 2023 and was at its lowest, 6 children, in 1996.
Iceland ranks 165th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Iceland, year by year
| Year | children | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 131 children | — |
| 1996 | 6 children | -95.4% |
| 1997 | 253 children | +4116.7% |
| 1998 | 322 children | +27.3% |
| 1999 | 374 children | +16.1% |
| 2000 | 272 children | -27.3% |
| 2001 | 218 children | -19.9% |
| 2002 | 373 children | +71.1% |
| 2003 | 298 children | -20.1% |
| 2004 | 291 children | -2.3% |
| 2005 | 265 children | -8.9% |
| 2006 | 335 children | +26.4% |
| 2007 | 436 children | +30.1% |
| 2008 | 473 children | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 478 children | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 351 children | -26.6% |
| 2011 | 375 children | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 337 children | -10.1% |
| 2013 | 359 children | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 356 children | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 389 children | +9.3% |
| 2016 | 327 children | -15.9% |
| 2017 | 345 children | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 361 children | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 395 children | +9.4% |
| 2020 | 474 children | +20.0% |
| 2021 | 476 children | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 503 children | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 599 children | +19.1% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 599 children is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,674 children, 16% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 599 children is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4,210 children, 14% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +4116.7% | 6 children | 253 children |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 217.2 children | 6 children | 374 children | 5 |
| 2000s | 343.9 children | 218 children | 478 children | 10 |
| 2010s | 359.5 children | 327 children | 395 children | 10 |
| 2020s | 513 children | 474 children | 599 children | 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 primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Iceland?
- Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region in Iceland was 599 children in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 599 children in 2023.
- What is the lowest primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 children in 1996.
- How does Iceland rank for primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region?
- Iceland ranks 165th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary-school-age children who are out of school by world region. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Children in the official primary school age range who are not enrolled in either primary or secondary education.