Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of

Iran, Islamic Republic of: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 3.34 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
3.34 million
Change on year
up 8.8%
World rank
14th
of 200 countries
All-time high
4.80 million
in 2015
All-time low
74,708
in 1971
Years of data
34
1971–2022

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1971–2022

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M5.0M1971199620221971: 74.7k1972: 97.3k1973: 115.3k1974: 123.1k1975: 135.4k1976: 151.9k1977: 154.2k1978: 155.8k1995: 909.5k1996: 1.0M1999: 1.3M2000: 1.4M2001: 1.6M2002: 1.6M2003: 1.7M2004: 2.0M2005: 2.1M2006: 2.4M2007: 2.8M2008: 3.4M2009: 3.3M2010: 3.8M2011: 4.1M2012: 4.4M2013: 4.4M2014: 4.7M2015: 4.8M2016: 4.3M2017: 4.1M2018: 3.6M2019: 3.4M2020: 3.2M2021: 3.1M2022: 3.3M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of is 3.34 million, measured in 2022.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.8% on the previous year and down 24.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of peaked at 4.80 million in 2015 and was at its lowest, 74,708, in 1971.

Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 14th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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 Iran, Islamic Republic of, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Iran, Islamic Republic of, 1971 to 2022.
Year Value Change
1971 74,708
1972 97,338 +30.3%
1973 115,311 +18.5%
1974 123,114 +6.8%
1975 135,354 +9.9%
1976 151,905 +12.2%
1977 154,215 +1.5%
1978 155,811 +1.0%
1995 909,476 +483.7%
1996 1.05 million +15.2%
1999 1.31 million +24.8%
2000 1.40 million +7.4%
2001 1.57 million +11.7%
2002 1.57 million -0.2%
2003 1.71 million +9.4%
2004 1.95 million +14.0%
2005 2.13 million +8.8%
2006 2.40 million +12.8%
2007 2.83 million +17.9%
2008 3.39 million +19.9%
2009 3.35 million -1.2%
2010 3.79 million +13.2%
2011 4.12 million +8.6%
2012 4.40 million +7.0%
2013 4.37 million -0.8%
2014 4.69 million +7.3%
2015 4.80 million +2.5%
2016 4.35 million -9.5%
2017 4.07 million -6.3%
2018 3.62 million -11.2%
2019 3.37 million -6.7%
2020 3.18 million -5.6%
2021 3.07 million -3.5%
2022 3.34 million +8.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 125,970 74,708 155,811 8
1990s 1.09 million 909,476 1.31 million 3
2000s 2.23 million 1.40 million 3.39 million 10
2010s 4.16 million 3.37 million 4.80 million 10
2020s 3.20 million 3.07 million 3.34 million 3

Countries ranked near Iran, Islamic Republic of

  1. 11 Japan 3.88 million compare
  2. 12 Egypt 3.87 million compare
  3. 13 Argentina 3.74 million compare
  4. 15 Germany 3.27 million compare
  5. 16 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3.20 million compare
  6. 17 France 2.88 million compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for Iran, Islamic Republic of

All data for Iran, Islamic Republic of →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 3.34 million in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
The highest recorded value was 4.80 million in 2015.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
The lowest recorded value was 74,708 in 1971.
How does Iran, Islamic Republic of rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 14th out of 200 countries with data for 2022.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Iran, Islamic Republic of?
Over the last ten years it is down 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iran, Islamic Republic of 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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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Iran, Islamic Republic of. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/iran-islamic-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
421 places, 18,321 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release