Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Bangladesh
Bangladesh: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 3.95 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
3.95 million
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
10th
of 200 countries
All-time high
3.98 million
in 2023
All-time low
117,603
in 1970
Years of data
44
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh stood at 3.95 million.
The figure is down 0.7% on the previous year and up 90.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh peaked at 3.98 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 117,603, in 1970.
Bangladesh ranks 10th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Bangladesh, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 117,603 | — |
| 1972 | 136,113 | +15.7% |
| 1973 | 140,770 | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 183,833 | +30.6% |
| 1976 | 158,604 | -13.7% |
| 1977 | 181,756 | +14.6% |
| 1978 | 154,496 | -15.0% |
| 1979 | 232,780 | +50.7% |
| 1980 | 240,181 | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 244,091 | +1.6% |
| 1982 | 297,930 | +22.1% |
| 1983 | 386,542 | +29.7% |
| 1984 | 436,615 | +13.0% |
| 1985 | 461,073 | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 465,552 | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 415,232 | -10.8% |
| 1988 | 366,355 | -11.8% |
| 1989 | 370,900 | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 434,309 | +17.1% |
| 1999 | 709,224 | +63.3% |
| 2000 | 726,701 | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 878,537 | +20.9% |
| 2002 | 855,339 | -2.6% |
| 2003 | 877,335 | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 821,364 | -6.4% |
| 2005 | 911,600 | +11.0% |
| 2006 | 1.05 million | +15.6% |
| 2007 | 1.15 million | +8.7% |
| 2008 | 1.29 million | +13.0% |
| 2009 | 1.58 million | +22.2% |
| 2011 | 2.01 million | +26.9% |
| 2012 | 2.04 million | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 2.05 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 2.07 million | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 2.38 million | +15.3% |
| 2016 | 2.70 million | +13.2% |
| 2017 | 2.92 million | +8.4% |
| 2018 | 3.15 million | +7.7% |
| 2019 | 3.69 million | +17.3% |
| 2020 | 3.70 million | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 3.88 million | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 3.81 million | -1.7% |
| 2023 | 3.98 million | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 3.95 million | -0.7% |
Bangladesh compared with similar countries
- Bangladesh's 3.95 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 252,098, 15.7× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Bangladesh's 3.95 million is above the median for South Asia, which is 495,636, 8.0× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 163,244 | 117,603 | 232,780 | 8 |
| 1980s | 368,447 | 240,181 | 465,552 | 10 |
| 1990s | 571,766 | 434,309 | 709,224 | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.01 million | 726,701 | 1.58 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.56 million | 2.01 million | 3.69 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 3.86 million | 3.70 million | 3.98 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bangladesh
More education data for Bangladesh
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 571,690 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 387,056 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.73 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.77 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 16.69 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.67 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0961 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh was 3.95 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
- The highest recorded value was 3.98 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
- The lowest recorded value was 117,603 in 1970.
- How does Bangladesh rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Bangladesh ranks 10th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Bangladesh?
- Over the last ten years it is up 90.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bangladesh 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