8 answers, 2 from Iceland's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
Iceland's compulsory schools had 46,725 pupils in autumn 2025, 437 fewer than a year earlier, according to Statistics Iceland's compulsory schools release of 17 September 2026. About 8.6% of pupils were immigrants.
The count comes from the annual data collection on compulsory schools each October. There were 177 compulsory schools in the 2025 to 2026 school year, three more than a year earlier, including 13 private schools with 1,500 pupils and three special public schools with 191 pupils.
38.2% of 21-year-old women and 22.7% of 21-year-old men in Iceland were enrolled in tertiary education in 2025, according to Statistics Iceland's enrolment release of 3 June 2026. Both rates fell from 2024, when they were 39.8% and 25.1%.
The rates are for each single year of age, so they show how many are studying at that age, not how many ever graduate. Women enrol at higher rates than men at every age. Enrolment was 18.9% in the capital area and 12.6% elsewhere.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 99.8%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 95.7%; Iceland is 2nd highest of 45. Worldwide: 3rd of 134.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2023, is 108.9%. The peak was 122.0% in 2013 and the low 106.2% in 2008. Europe & Central Asia median: 102.3%; Iceland is 11th highest of 48. Of 138 countries with 2023 data, 19th highest.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross tertiary enrolment in Iceland was 76.5% in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 86.5%; its low point was 2018, at 69.3%. Europe & Central Asia median: 75.9%; Iceland is 24th highest of 49. Of 120 countries with 2023 data, 31st highest.
7.3% of GDP: that is government spending on education in Iceland for 2022, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 8.6% of GDP in 2020 and the low 6.8% of GDP in 2011. Europe & Central Asia median: 4.5% of GDP; Iceland is 2nd highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 11th of 155.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of primary pupils per teacher in Iceland was 10 in 2015. Europe & Central Asia median: 13; Iceland is 32nd highest of 38. World rank, highest first: 127th of 136.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the primary completion rate in Iceland at 98.6% in 2023. The peak was 99.5% in 2005 and the low 98.4% in 2020. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 97.9%, and Iceland placed 20th highest of 42. Of 131 countries with 2023 data, 45th highest.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error