Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)
ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420): Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 63.45 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
63.45 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
Rank
35th
of 221 groups
All-time high
63.45 million
in 2024
All-time low
3.02 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) recorded 63.45 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 39.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) peaked at 63.45 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.02 million, in 1971.
ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) ranks 35th of 221 groups 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 in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 11.35 million | — |
| 1971 | 3.02 million | -73.4% |
| 1972 | 9.98 million | +229.9% |
| 1973 | 3.38 million | -66.1% |
| 1974 | 10.06 million | +197.6% |
| 1975 | 10.14 million | +0.9% |
| 1976 | 3.86 million | -61.9% |
| 1977 | 3.90 million | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 4.05 million | +3.9% |
| 1979 | 4.23 million | +4.3% |
| 1980 | 4.30 million | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 4.59 million | +6.8% |
| 1982 | 4.60 million | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 5.28 million | +14.8% |
| 1984 | 5.75 million | +8.8% |
| 1985 | 5.97 million | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 6.32 million | +5.8% |
| 1987 | 6.69 million | +6.0% |
| 1988 | 6.26 million | -6.5% |
| 1989 | 6.63 million | +6.0% |
| 1990 | 7.08 million | +6.7% |
| 1991 | 7.37 million | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 11.91 million | +61.6% |
| 1993 | 12.11 million | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 12.39 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 8.07 million | -34.9% |
| 1996 | 9.45 million | +17.2% |
| 1997 | 9.79 million | +3.6% |
| 1998 | 13.26 million | +35.4% |
| 1999 | 13.48 million | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 13.75 million | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 14.57 million | +5.9% |
| 2002 | 15.40 million | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 16.57 million | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 17.52 million | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 18.16 million | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 19.96 million | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 22.81 million | +14.3% |
| 2008 | 26.02 million | +14.1% |
| 2009 | 28.23 million | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 32.00 million | +13.4% |
| 2011 | 38.90 million | +21.6% |
| 2012 | 42.04 million | +8.1% |
| 2013 | 42.48 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 45.50 million | +7.1% |
| 2015 | 48.28 million | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 48.98 million | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 50.38 million | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 51.65 million | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 53.77 million | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 55.08 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 58.09 million | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 59.85 million | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 62.61 million | +4.6% |
| 2024 | 63.45 million | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.40 million | 3.02 million | 11.35 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.64 million | 4.30 million | 6.69 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.49 million | 7.08 million | 13.48 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 19.30 million | 13.75 million | 28.23 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 45.40 million | 32.00 million | 53.77 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.82 million | 55.08 million | 63.45 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)
More education data for ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.5261 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 100.71 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1925 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 93.84 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.01 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 108.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 3.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.19 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) was 63.45 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- The highest recorded value was 63.45 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.02 million in 1971.
- How does ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) ranks 35th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this ESCAP: South and South-west Asia (sswa) (unsdcode:98420) 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