PISA Results Show Gaps Between Icelandic Municipalities

A first municipal breakdown of Iceland’s 2025 PISA results shows pupils in Reykjavík and Kópavogur above Iceland’s national average in reading, mathematics and science before demographic adjustment. Reykjanesbær was below Iceland’s national average in all three.

The figures cover Iceland’s seven largest municipalities and about 75% of participating pupils. They add local detail to Iceland’s historically weak national PISA results.

Demographic Adjustment Narrows—but Does Not Erase—the Gaps

• The seven municipalities cover about three quarters of participating pupils.
• Demographic adjustment reduces several gaps but does not erase them.
• Reykjavík remains above Iceland’s national average in all subjects; Reykjanesbær remains below the national average.

Reykjavík Remains Above Iceland’s National Average After Adjustment

In raw results, Akureyri was above the national average in science and mathematics, Garðabær above the national average in mathematics, and Hafnarfjörður below the national average in science and reading.

After adjustment for immigrant background and socioeconomic status, Reykjavík remained above Iceland’s national average in all three subjects. Outside the capital, only Kópavogur remained above the national average, in mathematics. Reykjanesbær remained below the national average in all subjects and Hafnarfjörður below the national average in science.

The ministry cautioned against treating the figures as a simple ranking of school quality. The results reflect student composition as well as teaching and organisation.

The data arrive as Iceland prepares changes to school-leaving grades and debates education spending and teacher shortages.

Sources: Ministry of Education and Children; RÚV.

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