Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 221,811 in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Costa Rica, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Costa Rica stood at 221,811.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 13.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Costa Rica peaked at 225,832 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 15,473, in 1970.
That places Costa Rica 93rd out of 200 countries with data for 2019, putting it 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 (number) in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 15,473 | — |
| 1971 | 17,588 | +13.7% |
| 1972 | 19,627 | +11.6% |
| 1973 | 22,631 | +15.3% |
| 1978 | 52,542 | +132.2% |
| 1979 | 55,378 | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 55,593 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 58,961 | +6.1% |
| 1982 | 58,974 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 58,927 | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 60,288 | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 63,771 | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 66,550 | +4.4% |
| 1987 | 71,585 | +7.6% |
| 1988 | 70,907 | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 74,682 | +5.3% |
| 1990 | 74,681 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 80,442 | +7.7% |
| 1992 | 88,324 | +9.8% |
| 2004 | 108,765 | +23.1% |
| 2011 | 194,933 | +79.2% |
| 2012 | 203,175 | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 205,247 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 216,751 | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 217,841 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 217,550 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 225,832 | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 217,101 | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 221,811 | +2.2% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 221,811 is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 1.4× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 221,811 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 116,843, 1.9× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Costa Rica 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +132.2% | 22,631 | 52,542 |
| 2011 | +79.2% | 108,765 | 194,933 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30,540 | 15,473 | 55,378 | 6 |
| 1980s | 64,024 | 55,593 | 74,682 | 10 |
| 1990s | 81,149 | 74,681 | 88,324 | 3 |
| 2000s | 108,765 | 108,765 | 108,765 | 1 |
| 2010s | 213,360 | 194,933 | 225,832 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
- 90 Burkina Faso 225,902 compare
- 91 Paraguay 225,211 compare
- 92 Palestine 223,977 compare
- 94 Mozambique 213,930 compare
- 95 Uruguay 202,346 compare
- 96 El Salvador 195,949 compare
More education data for Costa Rica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 37,015 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,772 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 62,694 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 61,047 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 464,490 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 460,126 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.03 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0897 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Costa Rica?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Costa Rica was 221,811 in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 225,832 in 2017.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 15,473 in 1970.
- How does Costa Rica rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Costa Rica ranks 93rd out of 200 countries with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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