Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ALECSO: Gulf Countries
ALECSO: Gulf Countries: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 2.74 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries stood at 2.74 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 21.9% on the previous year and up 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries peaked at 2.74 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 59,857, in 1978.
That places ALECSO: Gulf Countries 182nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ALECSO: Gulf Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.18 million | — |
| 1971 | 166,998 | -85.8% |
| 1972 | 169,147 | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 172,050 | +1.7% |
| 1974 | 177,109 | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 182,814 | +3.2% |
| 1976 | 191,554 | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 165,032 | -13.8% |
| 1978 | 59,857 | -63.7% |
| 1979 | 63,042 | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 69,981 | +11.0% |
| 1981 | 82,760 | +18.3% |
| 1982 | 95,132 | +14.9% |
| 1983 | 111,435 | +17.1% |
| 1984 | 120,821 | +8.4% |
| 1985 | 141,308 | +17.0% |
| 1986 | 155,493 | +10.0% |
| 1987 | 159,546 | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 1.07 million | +569.9% |
| 1989 | 173,556 | -83.8% |
| 1990 | 188,779 | +8.8% |
| 1991 | 196,626 | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 216,310 | +10.0% |
| 1993 | 248,071 | +14.7% |
| 1994 | 369,485 | +48.9% |
| 1995 | 406,825 | +10.1% |
| 1996 | 426,894 | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 453,718 | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 484,067 | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 580,887 | +20.0% |
| 2000 | 613,623 | +5.6% |
| 2001 | 643,595 | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 670,319 | +4.2% |
| 2003 | 763,232 | +13.9% |
| 2004 | 830,063 | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 883,617 | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 948,043 | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 1.02 million | +8.0% |
| 2008 | 1.11 million | +8.5% |
| 2009 | 1.22 million | +9.7% |
| 2010 | 1.39 million | +14.0% |
| 2011 | 1.53 million | +10.4% |
| 2012 | 1.74 million | +13.3% |
| 2013 | 1.91 million | +9.8% |
| 2014 | 2.08 million | +9.0% |
| 2015 | 2.14 million | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 2.27 million | +5.8% |
| 2017 | 2.26 million | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 2.21 million | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 2.25 million | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 2.23 million | -1.1% |
| 2021 | 2.19 million | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 2.23 million | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 2.24 million | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 2.74 million | +21.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in ALECSO: Gulf Countries changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +569.9% | 159,546 | 1.07 million |
| 1971 | -85.8% | 1.18 million | 166,998 |
| 1989 | -83.8% | 1.07 million | 173,556 |
| 1978 | -63.7% | 165,032 | 59,857 |
| 1994 | +48.9% | 248,071 | 369,485 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 252,724 | 59,857 | 1.18 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 217,888 | 69,981 | 1.07 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 357,166 | 188,779 | 580,887 | 10 |
| 2000s | 870,439 | 613,623 | 1.22 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.98 million | 1.39 million | 2.27 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.33 million | 2.19 million | 2.74 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near ALECSO: Gulf Countries
- 179 American Samoa 1,607 compare
- 180 Micronesia (country) 1,539 compare
- 181 Marshall Islands 1,449 compare
- 182 Suriname 1,417 compare
- 183 Monaco 1,304 compare
- 184 Seychelles 1,203 compare
- 185 San Marino 1,033 compare
More education data for ALECSO: Gulf Countries
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 21.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.68 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.5138 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 895,823 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -6.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.74 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 1.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 18.25 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries was 2.74 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ALECSO: Gulf Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 2.74 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ALECSO: Gulf Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 59,857 in 1978.
- How does ALECSO: Gulf Countries rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- ALECSO: Gulf Countries ranks 182nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in ALECSO: Gulf Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this ALECSO: Gulf Countries data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release