School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) in Iceland
Iceland: School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) was 3.68 years in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.68 years
Change on year
down 10.4%
World rank
43rd
of 196 countries
All-time high
4.3 years
in 2014
All-time low
0.4914 years
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2023
School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Iceland, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Iceland is 3.68 years, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 10.4% on the previous year and down 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Iceland peaked at 4.3 years in 2014 and was at its lowest, 0.4914 years, in 1971.
Iceland ranks 43rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years) (both sexes) in Iceland, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.4914 years | — |
| 1972 | 0.5484 years | +11.6% |
| 1973 | 0.6143 years | +12.0% |
| 1974 | 0.642 years | +4.5% |
| 1975 | 0.693 years | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 0.7476 years | +7.9% |
| 1977 | 0.7647 years | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 0.7856 years | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 0.9778 years | +24.5% |
| 1981 | 1.01 years | +3.7% |
| 1982 | 1.07 years | +5.3% |
| 1983 | 1.15 years | +7.9% |
| 1984 | 1.17 years | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 1.04 years | -10.8% |
| 1986 | 1.07 years | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 1.07 years | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 1.07 years | -0.4% |
| 1989 | 1.14 years | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 1.27 years | +11.5% |
| 1991 | 1.27 years | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 1.5 years | +18.6% |
| 1993 | 1.38 years | -8.6% |
| 1994 | 1.68 years | +22.5% |
| 1995 | 1.78 years | +5.4% |
| 1996 | 1.79 years | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 1.87 years | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 1.96 years | +4.6% |
| 1999 | 2.06 years | +5.3% |
| 2000 | 2.3 years | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 2.35 years | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 2.68 years | +14.3% |
| 2003 | 3.07 years | +14.5% |
| 2004 | 3.42 years | +11.2% |
| 2005 | 3.56 years | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 3.62 years | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 3.54 years | -2.2% |
| 2008 | 3.61 years | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 3.62 years | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 3.93 years | +8.7% |
| 2011 | 4.12 years | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 4.21 years | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 4.19 years | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 4.3 years | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 4.04 years | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 3.92 years | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 3.7 years | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 3.52 years | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 3.52 years | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 3.64 years | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 4.2 years | +15.3% |
| 2022 | 4.11 years | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 3.68 years | -10.4% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 3.68 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.58 years, 1.0× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 3.68 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.65 years, 1.0× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.6609 years | 0.4914 years | 0.7856 years | 8 |
| 1980s | 1.08 years | 0.9778 years | 1.17 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.66 years | 1.27 years | 2.06 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.18 years | 2.3 years | 3.62 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.95 years | 3.52 years | 4.3 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.91 years | 3.64 years | 4.2 years | 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 life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Iceland?
- School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes in Iceland was 3.68 years in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3 years in 2014.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4914 years in 1971.
- How does Iceland rank for school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes?
- Iceland ranks 43rd out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is school life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School life expectancy, tertiary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release