Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Gulf Countries
ALECSO: Gulf Countries: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 2.74 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.74 million
Change on year
up 21.9%
Rank
182nd
of 221 groups
All-time high
2.74 million
in 2024
All-time low
59,857
in 1978
Years of data
55
1970–2024
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 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% |
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, Federated States of 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 secondary education, both sexes 5.48 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 2.68 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 1.6% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 2.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 895,823 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 379,059 (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 98.4% (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, female 1.03 million (2023)
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes 2.11 million (2023)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 1.08 million (2023)
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