Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ecuador
Ecuador: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.09 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Ecuador, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Ecuador is 1.09 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 13.5% on the previous year and up 86.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Ecuador peaked at 1.09 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 38,692, in 1971.
Ecuador ranks 39th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 Ecuador, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 38,692 | — |
| 1972 | 43,743 | +13.1% |
| 1973 | 57,677 | +31.9% |
| 1975 | 136,695 | +137.0% |
| 1976 | 170,173 | +24.5% |
| 1979 | 233,684 | +37.3% |
| 1980 | 255,418 | +9.3% |
| 1981 | 269,775 | +5.6% |
| 1982 | 261,075 | -3.2% |
| 1983 | 254,148 | -2.7% |
| 1984 | 266,222 | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 280,594 | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 271,956 | -3.1% |
| 1989 | 244,763 | -10.0% |
| 1990 | 197,614 | -19.3% |
| 1991 | 206,541 | +4.5% |
| 1995 | 202,682 | -1.9% |
| 1997 | 213,496 | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 534,522 | +150.4% |
| 2012 | 572,721 | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 586,105 | +2.3% |
| 2015 | 669,437 | +14.2% |
| 2018 | 741,558 | +10.8% |
| 2019 | 752,544 | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 913,455 | +21.4% |
| 2022 | 963,116 | +5.4% |
| 2023 | 1.09 million | +13.5% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 1.09 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 237,490, 4.6× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Ecuador's 1.09 million is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 116,843, 9.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Ecuador 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +150.4% | 213,496 | 534,522 |
| 1975 | +137.0% | 57,677 | 136,695 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 113,444 | 38,692 | 233,684 | 6 |
| 1980s | 262,994 | 244,763 | 280,594 | 8 |
| 1990s | 205,083 | 197,614 | 213,496 | 4 |
| 2000s | 534,522 | 534,522 | 534,522 | 1 |
| 2010s | 664,473 | 572,721 | 752,544 | 5 |
| 2020s | 989,857 | 913,455 | 1.09 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More education data for Ecuador
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 93,535 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 5,078 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 288,731 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 291,075 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.72 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0951 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Ecuador?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Ecuador was 1.09 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 1.09 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 38,692 in 1971.
- How does Ecuador rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Ecuador ranks 39th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 86.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ecuador 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 — 27 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release