Population having attained at least basic education in Iceland
Iceland: Population having attained at least basic education was 98.2 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Population having attained at least basic education in Iceland, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, population having attained at least basic education in Iceland stood at 98.2.
That represents a change of down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population having attained at least basic education in Iceland peaked at 99.4 in 1965 and was at its lowest, 19.8, in 1870.
That places Iceland 37th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Population having attained at least basic education in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 19.8 | — |
| 1875 | 21.7 | +9.6% |
| 1880 | 23.6 | +8.8% |
| 1885 | 25.7 | +8.9% |
| 1890 | 28 | +8.9% |
| 1895 | 30.3 | +8.2% |
| 1900 | 32.7 | +7.9% |
| 1905 | 43.5 | +33.0% |
| 1910 | 52.6 | +20.9% |
| 1915 | 60.7 | +15.4% |
| 1920 | 62.2 | +2.5% |
| 1925 | 69.3 | +11.4% |
| 1930 | 75.8 | +9.4% |
| 1935 | 82.9 | +9.4% |
| 1940 | 90 | +8.6% |
| 1945 | 96.5 | +7.2% |
| 1950 | 99 | +2.6% |
| 1955 | 99.1 | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 99.2 | +0.1% |
| 1965 | 99.4 | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 99.3 | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 98.9 | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 98.8 | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 98.7 | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 98.6 | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 98.6 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 98.6 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 98.3 | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 98.3 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 98.2 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 98.2 | +0.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 98.2 is below the median for high income countries, which is 99, 99% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 98.2 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.95, 99% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population having attained at least basic education 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | +33.0% | 32.7 | 43.5 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 20.75 | 19.8 | 21.7 | 2 |
| 1880s | 24.65 | 23.6 | 25.7 | 2 |
| 1890s | 29.15 | 28 | 30.3 | 2 |
| 1900s | 38.1 | 32.7 | 43.5 | 2 |
| 1910s | 56.65 | 52.6 | 60.7 | 2 |
| 1920s | 65.75 | 62.2 | 69.3 | 2 |
| 1930s | 79.35 | 75.8 | 82.9 | 2 |
| 1940s | 93.25 | 90 | 96.5 | 2 |
| 1950s | 99.05 | 99 | 99.1 | 2 |
| 1960s | 99.3 | 99.2 | 99.4 | 2 |
| 1970s | 99.1 | 98.9 | 99.3 | 2 |
| 1980s | 98.75 | 98.7 | 98.8 | 2 |
| 1990s | 98.6 | 98.6 | 98.6 | 2 |
| 2000s | 98.45 | 98.3 | 98.6 | 2 |
| 2010s | 98.25 | 98.2 | 98.3 | 2 |
| 2020s | 98.2 | 98.2 | 98.2 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 34 Germany 98.4 compare
- 34 Peru 98.4 compare
- 36 New Zealand 98.3 compare
- 37 Bulgaria 98.2 compare
- 37 Costa Rica 98.2 compare
- 37 El Salvador 98.2 compare
- 37 Philippines 98.2 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 population having attained at least basic education in Iceland?
- Population having attained at least basic education in Iceland was 98.2 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population having attained at least basic education recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 99.4 in 1965.
- What is the lowest population having attained at least basic education recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.8 in 1870.
- How does Iceland rank for population having attained at least basic education?
- Iceland ranks 37th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population having attained at least basic education rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population having attained at least basic education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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