School enrollment, tertiary in Iceland
Iceland: School enrollment, tertiary was 76.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, tertiary in Iceland, 1971–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
Iceland recorded 76.5% for school enrollment, tertiary in 2023.
The figure is down 10.0% on the previous year and down 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary in Iceland peaked at 86.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.8%, in 1971.
That places Iceland 40th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, tertiary in Iceland, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 9.8% | — |
| 1972 | 11.0% | +11.6% |
| 1973 | 12.3% | +12.0% |
| 1974 | 12.8% | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 13.9% | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 15.0% | +7.9% |
| 1977 | 15.3% | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 15.7% | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 19.6% | +24.5% |
| 1981 | 20.3% | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 21.4% | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 23.0% | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 23.4% | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 20.9% | -10.8% |
| 1986 | 21.4% | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 21.4% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 21.3% | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 22.7% | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 25.3% | +11.5% |
| 1991 | 25.4% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 30.1% | +18.6% |
| 1993 | 27.5% | -8.6% |
| 1994 | 33.7% | +22.5% |
| 1995 | 35.5% | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 35.7% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 37.5% | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 39.2% | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 41.3% | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 45.9% | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 46.9% | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 52.6% | +12.1% |
| 2003 | 60.0% | +14.1% |
| 2004 | 66.6% | +10.9% |
| 2005 | 69.8% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 73.0% | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 73.1% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 73.6% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 72.5% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 78.5% | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 79.9% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 79.6% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 78.4% | -1.5% |
| 2014 | 80.4% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 75.6% | -5.9% |
| 2016 | 74.7% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 71.3% | -4.5% |
| 2018 | 69.3% | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 70.6% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 74.6% | +5.6% |
| 2021 | 86.5% | +16.0% |
| 2022 | 85.0% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 76.5% | -10.0% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 76.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 73.5%, 1.0× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 76.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 74.7%, 1.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 13.2% | 9.8% | 15.7% | 8 |
| 1980s | 21.5% | 19.6% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.1% | 25.3% | 41.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 63.4% | 45.9% | 73.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 75.8% | 69.3% | 80.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 80.7% | 74.6% | 86.5% | 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, tertiary in Iceland?
- School enrollment, tertiary in Iceland was 76.5% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 86.5% in 2021.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.8% in 1971.
- How does Iceland rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
- Iceland ranks 40th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is school enrollment, tertiary rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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, tertiary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.