The number of 25-64 year olds with tertiary education has increased by 14.7 percentage points since 2003. A total of 73,600 persons had completed tertiary education in 2017, 42.4% of the population in this age group. In the same time period there was a decrease by about 11 percentage points among those who had only completed basic education, which were in total 39,700 in 2017, around 23% of the population aged 25-64 years. The proportion of those who had only completed upper secondary education has remained fairly stable since 2003, between 35% and 39% of the 25-64 year old population.
A more rapid increase in women with tertiary education than men
From 2003, the number of 25-64 year old women with tertiary education has increased more than the number of men. In the last 14 years the number of women with tertiary education has increased by about 20 percentage points with just over half of women aged 25-64 years having completed tertiary education in 2017. In the same time period the number of males with tertiary education has increased by a little less than 10 percentage points with almost 35% of 25-64 year old males having completed tertiary education in 2017. The proportion of those with tertiary education was highest in the age group 30-49 year olds, 39% for men and 60% for women. However, men who had completed a doctoral degree (1,400) were almost twice as many as the women (800).
A considerable difference in educational attainment by residence
The educational attainment of residents outside the capital region was considerably lower than of those living in the capital region in 2017, as has been the case in recent years. Almost 32% of 25-64 year old residents outside the capital region had only completed basic education, which was almost twice as many as in the capital region (17.5%). However, the same trend exists both inside and outside the capital region, with a continuous increase among those who have completed tertiary education. The largest difference in educational attainment by residence was among 25-64 year old men with tertiary education. They were about 43% of those living in the capital region but almost 20% of residents outside the capital region.
Higher employment rate with increased educational attainment
In 2017, the employment rate was highest among 25-64 year olds with tertiary education, almost 95%. Among those who had only completed upper secondary education the employment rate was about 91%, but was lowest among those who had only completed basic education, around 79%. Unemployment was highest among women who had only completed upper secondary education, 2.3%. Women who had only completed basic education had the lowest unemployment rate, 1.3%.
About the data
The data are based on the Statistics Iceland Labour Force Survey. The Labour Force Survey is based on international definitions and standards. The sample frame includes all Icelandic and foreign citizens aged 16–74 residing in Iceland. The total sample size in 2017 was 15,734. When those who had passed away and those who were living abroad had been deducted from the sample the net sample was 15,313 persons. The total number of usable answers was 10,488 which correspond to a 68.5% response rate. All results have been weighted by age and sex.