What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between European Union and United States of America?

1.03 million number, with European Union ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for European Union and United States of America?

5 years are reported by both, from 2014 to 2018.

Where does this data come from?

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

European Union vs United States of America: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

European Union

19.97 million number

in 2019

United States of America

18.94 million number

in 2018

European Union rank

24th

United States of America rank

3rd

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes over time

European Union
United States of America

How they compare

European Union currently reports 19.97 million number against 18.94 million number in United States of America, a difference of 1.03 million number.

That makes European Union's figure about 1.1 times United States of America's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 5 shared years of data; in 2014 it was United States of America ahead.

European Union ranks 24th and United States of America ranks 3rd of 45 groups.

European Union has averaged higher in every one of the 1 decades both report.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, European Union or United States of America?: European Union, at 19.97 million number against 18.94 million number in United States of America as of 2019.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between European Union and United States of America?: 1.03 million number, with European Union ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for European Union and United States of America?: 5 years are reported by both, from 2014 to 2018.
How do European Union and United States of America rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?: European Union ranks 24th and United States of America ranks 3rd of 45 groups.
Where does this data come from?: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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European Union vs United States of America: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/european-union/united-states/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/european-union/united-states/">European Union vs United States of America: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit: number
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed: 04 September 2026

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.