Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Laos
Laos: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 46,242 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Laos, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Laos recorded 46,242 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024.
That represents a change of up 23.2% on the previous year and down 64.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Laos peaked at 133,295 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 389, in 1973.
Laos ranks 139th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 424 | — |
| 1972 | 456 | +7.5% |
| 1973 | 389 | -14.7% |
| 1974 | 875 | +124.9% |
| 1975 | 828 | -5.4% |
| 1980 | 1,157 | +39.7% |
| 1981 | 1,408 | +21.7% |
| 1982 | 2,894 | +105.5% |
| 1983 | 3,924 | +35.6% |
| 1984 | 4,790 | +22.1% |
| 1985 | 5,173 | +8.0% |
| 1986 | 5,382 | +4.0% |
| 1988 | 5,322 | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 4,730 | -11.1% |
| 1993 | 6,071 | +28.4% |
| 1994 | 6,179 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 7,908 | +28.0% |
| 1996 | 11,724 | +48.3% |
| 1997 | 12,732 | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 10,293 | -19.2% |
| 1999 | 12,076 | +17.3% |
| 2000 | 14,149 | +17.2% |
| 2001 | 16,745 | +18.3% |
| 2002 | 23,018 | +37.5% |
| 2003 | 28,117 | +22.2% |
| 2004 | 33,760 | +20.1% |
| 2005 | 47,424 | +40.5% |
| 2006 | 56,716 | +19.6% |
| 2007 | 75,003 | +32.2% |
| 2008 | 89,457 | +19.3% |
| 2009 | 113,341 | +26.7% |
| 2010 | 118,295 | +4.4% |
| 2011 | 122,420 | +3.5% |
| 2012 | 122,093 | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 133,295 | +9.2% |
| 2014 | 129,784 | -2.6% |
| 2015 | 126,649 | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 119,934 | -5.3% |
| 2017 | 109,149 | -9.0% |
| 2018 | 103,824 | -4.9% |
| 2019 | 99,281 | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 91,229 | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 90,331 | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 98,865 | +9.4% |
| 2023 | 37,523 | -62.0% |
| 2024 | 46,242 | +23.2% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 46,242 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 252,098, 18% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Laos's 46,242 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,347, 45% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Laos 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +124.9% | 389 | 875 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 594.4 | 389 | 875 | 5 |
| 1980s | 3,756 | 1,157 | 5,382 | 8 |
| 1990s | 8,964 | 4,730 | 12,732 | 8 |
| 2000s | 49,773 | 14,149 | 113,341 | 10 |
| 2010s | 118,472 | 99,281 | 133,295 | 10 |
| 2020s | 72,838 | 37,523 | 98,865 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More education data for Laos
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 35,584 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,396 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 116,303 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 115,863 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 532,092 (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 739,554 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0716 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0939 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Laos?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Laos was 46,242 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 133,295 in 2013.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 389 in 1973.
- How does Laos rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Laos ranks 139th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 64.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Laos 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 — 46 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release