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Tertiary education enrollment — all countries

Tertiary education enrollment — Iceland

Tertiary education enrollment in Iceland in 2023 — 76.5%. Ranked 34 in the world out of 128. Since 1971, the indicator has risen by 66.7 pp.

2023 76.5% −8.5 pp vs 2022
World rank 34of 128
Period maximum 86.5%2021
Period minimum 9.8%1971

Trend over time

1971–2023 · % (gross ratio)

Tertiary education enrollment — Iceland, 1971–2023025507510019711977198319891995200120072013201920231971: 9.8%1972: 11%1973: 12.3%1974: 12.8%1975: 13.9%1976: 15%1977: 15.3%1978: 15.7%1980: 19.6%1981: 20.3%1982: 21.4%1983: 23%1984: 23.4%1985: 20.9%1986: 21.4%1987: 21.4%1988: 21.3%1989: 22.7%1990: 25.3%1991: 25.4%1992: 30.1%1993: 27.5%1994: 33.7%1995: 35.5%1996: 35.7%1997: 37.5%1998: 39.2%1999: 41.3%2000: 45.9%2001: 46.9%2002: 52.6%2003: 60%2004: 66.6%2005: 69.8%2006: 73%2007: 73.1%2008: 73.6%2009: 72.5%2010: 78.5%2011: 79.9%2012: 79.6%2013: 78.4%2014: 80.4%2015: 75.6%2016: 74.7%2017: 71.3%2018: 69.3%2019: 70.6%2020: 74.6%2021: 86.5%2022: 85%2023: 76.5%
Change over the period: +66.7 pp Annual average: 1.28 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Iceland

Iceland 76.5%
World 43.2%
Europe & Central Asia 81.5%
Northern Europe computed 82.7%
High-income countries computed 81.9%
Tertiary education enrollment — Iceland, by year Iceland All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 76.5 −8.5 pp
2022 85 −1.5 pp
2021 86.5 +11.9 pp
2020 74.6 +4 pp
2019 70.6 +1.3 pp
2018 69.3 −2 pp
2017 71.3 −3.4 pp
2016 74.7 −0.9 pp
2015 75.6 −4.8 pp
2014 80.4 +2 pp
2013 78.4 −1.2 pp
2012 79.6 −0.3 pp
2011 79.9 +1.4 pp
2010 78.5 +6 pp
2009 72.5 −1.1 pp
2008 73.6 +0.4 pp
2007 73.1 +0.2 pp
2006 73 +3.1 pp
2005 69.8 +3.3 pp
2004 66.6 +6.6 pp
2003 60 +7.4 pp
2002 52.6 +5.7 pp
2001 46.9 +1 pp
2000 45.9 +4.6 pp
1999 41.3 +2.1 pp
1998 39.2 +1.7 pp
1997 37.5 +1.7 pp
1996 35.7 +0.2 pp
1995 35.5 +1.8 pp
1994 33.7 +6.2 pp
1993 27.5 −2.6 pp
1992 30.1 +4.7 pp
1991 25.4 +0 pp
1990 25.3 +2.6 pp
1989 22.7 +1.4 pp
1988 21.3 −0.1 pp
1987 21.4 −0 pp
1986 21.4 +0.5 pp
1985 20.9 −2.5 pp
1984 23.4 +0.4 pp
1983 23 +1.7 pp
1982 21.4 +1.1 pp
1981 20.3 +0.7 pp
1980 19.6 —
1978 15.7 +0.4 pp
1977 15.3 +0.3 pp
1976 15 +1.1 pp
1975 13.9 +1 pp
1974 12.8 +0.6 pp
1973 12.3 +1.3 pp
1972 11 +1.1 pp
1971 9.8 —

Northern Europe, 2023

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

FI Finland 108.1 NO Norway 95.1 LV Latvia 85.7 SE Sweden 81.4 DK Denmark 81.2 GB United Kingdom 80.4 LT Lithuania 77 IS Iceland 76.5 EE Estonia 67.6
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The gross tertiary enrollment ratio — the number of students at universities and colleges (ISCED 5–8) as a percentage of the population in the five-year age interval that follows the end of school. It can exceed 100% because of older students and students from abroad, so in countries that act as magnets for international students the indicator is overstated.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), license CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.

Other indicators for Iceland

Education Population with tertiary education

What share of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Iceland by year Education Secondary school enrollment

The gross enrollment ratio for secondary school.

Iceland by year Education Researchers per million people

The number of researchers per million residents — in full-time equivalent.

Iceland by year Labor Youth unemployment

The unemployment rate at ages 15–24 — almost always two to three times the overall rate.

Iceland by year
All indicators for Iceland