Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Iceland
Iceland: Population of compulsory school age, both sexes was 46,950 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Iceland, 1998–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Iceland is 46,950, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 7.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Iceland peaked at 47,966 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 42,664, in 1998.
Iceland ranks 164th of 197 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 42,664 | — |
| 1999 | 42,863 | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 43,384 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 43,936 | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 44,512 | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 45,059 | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 45,223 | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 44,872 | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 44,793 | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 44,449 | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 44,460 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 44,198 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 43,469 | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 43,076 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 42,872 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 42,817 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 43,254 | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 43,702 | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 44,253 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 45,017 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 45,744 | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 46,459 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 46,905 | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 47,342 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 47,571 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 47,966 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 47,171 | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 46,950 | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 42,764 | 42,664 | 42,863 | 2 |
| 2000s | 44,489 | 43,384 | 45,223 | 10 |
| 2010s | 44,066 | 42,817 | 46,459 | 10 |
| 2020s | 47,318 | 46,905 | 47,966 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
More education data for Iceland
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 19,512 (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.84 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,828 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 3.49 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 20,287 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -7.29 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2,908 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 660 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 13,388 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -7.26 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Iceland?
- Population of compulsory school age, both sexes in Iceland was 46,950 in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 47,966 in 2023.
- What is the lowest population of compulsory school age, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 42,664 in 1998.
- How does Iceland rank for population of compulsory school age, both sexes?
- Iceland ranks 164th out of 197 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of compulsory school age, both sexes rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.4%. 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, published as part of Population of compulsory school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release