School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Iceland
Iceland: School enrollment, primary (% gross) was 98.2% in 2023. ▬ Flat
School enrollment, primary in Iceland, 1971–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, primary in Iceland is 98.2%, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 53 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, primary in Iceland peaked at 100.1% in 1996 and was at its lowest, 98.2%, in 2023.
Iceland ranks 123rd of 205 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 98.9% | — |
| 1972 | 99.4% | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 99.0% | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 98.9% | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 99.0% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 99.6% | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 99.7% | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 99.8% | +0.2% |
| 1980 | 99.6% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 99.5% | -0.0% |
| 1982 | 99.6% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 99.7% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 99.4% | -0.3% |
| 1985 | 99.4% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 99.6% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 99.4% | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 99.4% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 99.7% | +0.3% |
| 1990 | 99.7% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 99.4% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 99.2% | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 99.8% | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 99.6% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 99.6% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 100.1% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 99.2% | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 99.0% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 98.9% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 99.1% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 99.3% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 98.9% | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 99.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 99.1% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 99.2% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 98.9% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 98.6% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 98.4% | -0.1% |
| 2009 | 98.4% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 98.8% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 98.8% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 98.8% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 98.8% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 98.8% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 98.7% | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 99.0% | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 98.9% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 98.9% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 98.8% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 98.6% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 98.6% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 98.5% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 98.2% | -0.3% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 98.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 99.8%, 98% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 98.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 101.2%, 97% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 99.2% | 98.9% | 99.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 99.5% | 99.4% | 99.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 99.4% | 98.9% | 100.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 98.9% | 98.4% | 99.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 98.8% | 98.7% | 99.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 98.5% | 98.2% | 98.6% | 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 school enrollment, primary in Iceland?
- School enrollment, primary in Iceland was 98.2% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, primary recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 100.1% in 1996.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, primary recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 98.2% in 2023.
- How does Iceland rank for school enrollment, primary?
- Iceland ranks 123rd out of 205 countries with data for 2023.
- Is school enrollment, primary rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, primary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.