Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Denmark
Denmark: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 290,902 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
290,902
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
79th
of 200 countries
All-time high
314,822
in 2016
All-time low
76,024
in 1971
Years of data
53
1971–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Denmark, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Denmark stood at 290,902.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Denmark peaked at 314,822 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 76,024, in 1971.
Denmark ranks 79th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 53 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Denmark, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 76,024 | — |
| 1972 | 86,545 | +13.8% |
| 1973 | 96,883 | +11.9% |
| 1974 | 103,553 | +6.9% |
| 1975 | 105,414 | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 110,271 | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 110,637 | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 117,656 | +6.3% |
| 1979 | 104,978 | -10.8% |
| 1980 | 106,579 | +1.5% |
| 1981 | 106,241 | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 106,669 | +0.4% |
| 1983 | 110,731 | +3.8% |
| 1984 | 113,157 | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 114,559 | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 116,319 | +1.5% |
| 1987 | 118,641 | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 122,256 | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 126,662 | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 134,731 | +6.4% |
| 1991 | 142,968 | +6.1% |
| 1992 | 150,159 | +5.0% |
| 1993 | 164,356 | +9.5% |
| 1994 | 169,619 | +3.2% |
| 1995 | 169,783 | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 174,975 | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 183,274 | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 189,970 | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 189,162 | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 192,022 | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 196,204 | +2.2% |
| 2003 | 201,746 | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 217,130 | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 232,255 | +7.0% |
| 2006 | 228,893 | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 232,194 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 230,707 | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 234,574 | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 240,536 | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 258,932 | +7.6% |
| 2012 | 275,009 | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 291,147 | +5.9% |
| 2014 | 301,399 | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 313,756 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 314,822 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 312,379 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 310,903 | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 308,567 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 307,632 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 308,152 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 309,576 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 298,347 | -3.6% |
| 2024 | 290,902 | -2.5% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 290,902 is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 1.8× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 290,902 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 294,128, 99% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 101,329 | 76,024 | 117,656 | 9 |
| 1980s | 114,181 | 106,241 | 126,662 | 10 |
| 1990s | 164,426 | 134,731 | 189,970 | 9 |
| 2000s | 215,489 | 189,162 | 234,574 | 10 |
| 2010s | 292,745 | 240,536 | 314,822 | 10 |
| 2020s | 302,922 | 290,902 | 309,576 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
- 76 Tajikistan 304,005 compare
- 77 Kyrgyzstan 297,355 compare
- 78 Hong Kong 291,578 compare
- 80 Azerbaijan 288,593 compare
- 81 Senegal 279,917 compare
- 82 Cuba 272,516 compare
More education data for Denmark
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 50,935 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,888 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,481 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 88,072 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 522,143 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 432,238 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8558 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0723 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Denmark?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Denmark was 290,902 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 314,822 in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 76,024 in 1971.
- How does Denmark rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Denmark ranks 79th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Denmark 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