Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Member Countries
ALECSO: Member Countries: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 14.56 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
14.56 million
Change on year
up 7.0%
Rank
105th
of 221 groups
All-time high
14.56 million
in 2024
All-time low
882,354
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Member Countries, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Member Countries is 14.56 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 7.0% on the previous year and up 40.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Member Countries peaked at 14.56 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 882,354, in 1971.
ALECSO: Member Countries ranks 105th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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: Member Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.02 million | — |
| 1971 | 882,354 | -56.3% |
| 1972 | 934,815 | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 1.01 million | +8.1% |
| 1974 | 1.10 million | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 1.20 million | +10.0% |
| 1976 | 1.33 million | +10.5% |
| 1977 | 1.43 million | +7.4% |
| 1978 | 1.42 million | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 1.47 million | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 1.57 million | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 1.71 million | +9.0% |
| 1982 | 1.83 million | +6.9% |
| 1983 | 1.92 million | +4.7% |
| 1984 | 2.02 million | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 2.08 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 2.20 million | +5.7% |
| 1987 | 2.27 million | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 3.24 million | +42.8% |
| 1989 | 2.33 million | -28.1% |
| 1990 | 2.40 million | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 2.37 million | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 2.57 million | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 2.84 million | +10.4% |
| 1994 | 3.17 million | +11.5% |
| 1995 | 3.44 million | +8.7% |
| 1996 | 3.77 million | +9.6% |
| 1997 | 4.12 million | +9.3% |
| 1998 | 4.51 million | +9.3% |
| 1999 | 5.02 million | +11.3% |
| 2000 | 5.19 million | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 5.50 million | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 5.90 million | +7.1% |
| 2003 | 6.06 million | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 6.57 million | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 7.01 million | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 7.34 million | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 7.69 million | +4.8% |
| 2008 | 8.14 million | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 8.55 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 8.90 million | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 8.79 million | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 9.30 million | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 9.92 million | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 10.38 million | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 10.92 million | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 11.15 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 11.46 million | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 11.99 million | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 12.24 million | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 12.72 million | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 12.86 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 13.12 million | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 13.61 million | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 14.56 million | +7.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.28 million | 882,354 | 2.02 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.12 million | 1.57 million | 3.24 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.42 million | 2.37 million | 5.02 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.79 million | 5.19 million | 8.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.51 million | 8.79 million | 12.24 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.37 million | 12.72 million | 14.56 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near ALECSO: Member Countries
More education data for ALECSO: Member Countries
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 90.9% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 19.75 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 9.1% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 21.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 6.33 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 2.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male 28.97 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes 27.50 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 14.03 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 89.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Member Countries?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ALECSO: Member Countries was 14.56 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ALECSO: Member Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 14.56 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ALECSO: Member Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 882,354 in 1971.
- How does ALECSO: Member Countries rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- ALECSO: Member Countries ranks 105th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in ALECSO: Member Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this ALECSO: Member 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