Education in Iceland - Statistics & Facts

The education system of Iceland is divided into four levels: pre-primary education, primary education, upper secondary education, and higher education. More than one third of the population has completed tertiary education. Furthermore, the educational attainment is higher among women than men. In Europe, the Icelandic government spent the highest share of its gross domestic product on education.

A high share of public schools

In Iceland, education is mandatory for children between six and 16 years of age. A vast majority of the primary schools are public, and education is generally free of charge. Upper secondary education is not mandatory, but is available for every student that has completed primary education. Upper secondary students are usually between 16 and 19 years old, and there are more women than men graduating from upper secondary schools. Furthermore, female students enjoy reading more than their male counterparts. There are around 40 upper secondary schools in Iceland, and a total of around 20,000 students.

Higher education: no tuition fees and studying abroad

There are seven universities in Iceland, four of which are public. Students do not have to pay tuition fees at public universities, only registration fees. Despite this, many Icelandic students choose to study abroad. Denmark was the most popular destination, followed by England and Slovakia. The most popular area of study among Icelandic students is Social Sciences, Business, or Law. The University of Iceland, located in the capital Reykjavik, is the oldest in the country and was opened in 1911. In 2020, 4,269 people graduated from universities in Iceland. Of these, around 700 were Icelanders with a foreign background.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Feb 10, 2023

Key insights

Share of Icelanders who have completed a tertiary education
34.8 %
Number of primary schools
174
Number of university students
22,067
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Share of the population in Iceland in 2021, by level of education

Education Level & Skills

Population in Iceland 2021, by level of education

Educational attainment in Iceland in 2021, by gender

Education Level & Skills

Educational attainment in Iceland 2021, by gender

Number of university students in Iceland from 2010 to 2020, by gender

Education Level & Skills

Number of university students in Iceland 2010-2020, by gender

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Overview

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Overview

Pre-primary education

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Pre-primary education

Primary education

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Primary education

Upper secondary education

8

Upper secondary education

Higher education

8

Higher education

Well-being

4

Well-being

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