South Asia vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes

South Asia
41.88 million number
in 2019
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2.47 million number
in 2018
South Asia rank
16th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
18th

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

  • South Asia
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
010.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M197019942019

How they compare

South Asia currently reports 41.88 million number against 2.47 million number in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 39.42 million number.

That makes South Asia's figure about 17.0 times United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's.

Across all 48 years both countries report, South Asia has been ahead every year.

South Asia ranks 16th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 18th of 45 groups.

South Asia has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Asia United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1970s 3.26 million number 689,609 number 2.57 million number South Asia
1980s 4.83 million number 976,954 number 3.85 million number South Asia
1990s 6.72 million number 1.66 million number 5.06 million number South Asia
2000s 14.95 million number 2.26 million number 12.69 million number South Asia
2010s 34.71 million number 2.42 million number 32.28 million number South Asia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes, South Asia or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
South Asia, at 41.88 million number against 2.47 million number in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2019.
What is the difference in enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes between South Asia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
39.42 million number, with South Asia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Asia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
48 years are reported by both, from 1971 to 2018.
How do South Asia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
South Asia ranks 16th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 18th 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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South Asia vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 11 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/south-asia/united-kingdom/

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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

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