The enrolment rate is greatest among individuals who were born abroad of Icelandic parents and lowest among immigrants
The enrolment rate in 2004-2010 of 16 year olds born in 1988-1994 is 93.5% on average. Individuals without foreign origin are by far the largest group of students with an enrolment rate of 94.5% at the age of 16. The enrolment rate is greatest among individuals who were born abroad of Icelandic parents; 95.9% of whom attend school at the age of 16. Almost 90% of 16 year olds who were born in Iceland but have one parent with a foreign background attend school, and 85.0% of those who have one foreign parent but were born abroad. Almost 83% of second generation immigrants are enrolled in upper secondary schools at the age of 16 and 74.6% of immigrants. Immigrants are those who were born abroad and have both parents of foreign origin. Second generation immigrants are those who were born in Iceland of two immigrant parents. There are only approximately ten second generation immigrants in each cohort in these age groups. Therefore there are considerable fluctuations in their enrolment rate from one year to the next.

The enrolment rate at the age of 18 for individuals born in 1988-1994 is 77.6%. The rate is lowest among immigrants, or just over 50%, and the enrolment rate has dropped most since the age of 16 among this group of students. More than three out of every four second generation immigrants attend school at the age of 18. The enrolment rate at the age of 18 is highest among individuals who were born abroad of Icelandic parents, just as at the age of 16; 83.1%.

Data on all students in upper secondary and tertiary education in 1997-2010 by students’ origin have also been released. These data depict similar results as mentioned above, irrespective of whether the age group 16-20 years old or 16-29 years old is examined. The enrolment rate in upper secondary and tertiary education is lowest among immigrants and highest among those who were born abroad of Icelandic parents.

About the data
Statistics Iceland has compiled these data on students born in 1988-1994 from the Student Register on upper secondary and tertiary education. The data on the students’ origin come from a Statistics Iceland database on the population according to immigrant status. The Student Register includes all students in upper secondary and tertiary education in Iceland, apprentices and students abroad receiving financial support from the Student Loan Fund. Data on country of birth, the origin of parents and their parents are used to classify students by origin.

The data covers a group of students born in 1988-1994 who were residing in Iceland at the age of 16. This group of students is tracked in the register for a few years. No attempt is made to do a follow up of individuals who are not enrolled in schools. Therefore the data should not be interpreted as data on dropouts from school. Some individuals may have graduated, some emigrated and some might be deceased.