Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan
Japan: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 3.88 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
3.88 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
11th
of 200 countries
All-time high
3.96 million
in 1998
All-time low
1.82 million
in 1971
Years of data
37
1971–2023
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan stood at 3.88 million.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan peaked at 3.96 million in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1.82 million, in 1971.
That places Japan 11th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1.82 million | — |
| 1972 | 1.93 million | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 1.98 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 2.06 million | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 2.16 million | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 2.25 million | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 2.30 million | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 2.44 million | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 2.43 million | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 2.42 million | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 2.41 million | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 2.40 million | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 2.39 million | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 2.41 million | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 2.40 million | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 2.35 million | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 2.41 million | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 2.51 million | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 2.59 million | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 2.68 million | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 2.78 million | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 2.90 million | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 3.84 million | +32.5% |
| 1995 | 3.92 million | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 3.96 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 3.94 million | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 3.86 million | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 3.86 million | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.85 million | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 3.85 million | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.85 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 3.86 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 3.87 million | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 3.88 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 3.88 million | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 3.89 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 3.88 million | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.15 million | 1.82 million | 2.44 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.43 million | 2.35 million | 2.59 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.43 million | 2.68 million | 3.96 million | 7 |
| 2010s | 3.86 million | 3.85 million | 3.87 million | 7 |
| 2020s | 3.88 million | 3.88 million | 3.89 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 8 Philippines 5.14 million compare
- 9 Russia 4.52 million compare
- 10 Bangladesh 3.95 million compare
- 12 Egypt 3.87 million compare
- 13 Argentina 3.74 million compare
- 14 Iran, Islamic Republic of 3.34 million compare
More education data for Japan
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 440,864 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 58.8% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 11.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 101.13 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 101.1% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan was 3.88 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.96 million in 1998.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.82 million in 1971.
- How does Japan rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Japan ranks 11th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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