Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium
Belgium: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 550,999 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 550,999 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2023. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 12.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium peaked at 550,999 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 124,857, in 1971.
That places Belgium 51st out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 124,857 | — |
| 1972 | 127,275 | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 141,002 | +10.8% |
| 1974 | 148,628 | +5.4% |
| 1975 | 152,129 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 187,382 | +23.2% |
| 1979 | 200,136 | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 198,745 | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 196,153 | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 213,281 | +8.7% |
| 1983 | 219,591 | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 226,890 | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 245,762 | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 247,499 | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 252,236 | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 254,329 | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 260,608 | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 271,007 | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 276,248 | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 307,130 | +11.2% |
| 1994 | 322,364 | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 352,630 | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 358,214 | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 351,788 | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 355,748 | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 359,265 | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 366,982 | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 374,532 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 386,110 | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 389,547 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 394,427 | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 393,687 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 401,652 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 425,219 | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 445,309 | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 462,419 | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 477,712 | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 488,488 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 495,910 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 504,745 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 508,270 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 526,760 | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 515,530 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 519,212 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 521,201 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 539,777 | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 549,399 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 550,999 | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 154,487 | 124,857 | 200,136 | 7 |
| 1980s | 231,509 | 196,153 | 260,608 | 10 |
| 1990s | 319,912 | 271,007 | 358,214 | 7 |
| 2000s | 384,717 | 355,748 | 425,219 | 10 |
| 2010s | 494,436 | 445,309 | 526,760 | 10 |
| 2020s | 540,344 | 521,201 | 550,999 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 80,763 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 15.7% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 102.11 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 102.1% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium was 550,999 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 550,999 in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 124,857 in 1971.
- How does Belgium rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Belgium ranks 51st out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release