Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia
Malaysia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 1.17 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.17 million
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
38th
of 200 countries
All-time high
1.34 million
in 2016
All-time low
52,975
in 1979
Years of data
43
1979–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia, 1979–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia stood at 1.17 million.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 1.34 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 52,975, in 1979.
Malaysia ranks 38th 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 in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 52,975 | — |
| 1980 | 57,650 | +8.8% |
| 1982 | 67,368 | +16.9% |
| 1983 | 68,687 | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 77,750 | +13.2% |
| 1985 | 93,249 | +19.9% |
| 1986 | 109,545 | +17.5% |
| 1987 | 119,591 | +9.2% |
| 1988 | 120,714 | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 109,345 | -9.4% |
| 1990 | 121,412 | +11.0% |
| 1991 | 137,826 | +13.5% |
| 1992 | 160,566 | +16.5% |
| 1993 | 170,145 | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 191,290 | +12.4% |
| 1995 | 210,724 | +10.2% |
| 1998 | 442,625 | +110.0% |
| 1999 | 473,357 | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 549,205 | +16.0% |
| 2001 | 557,118 | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 632,309 | +13.5% |
| 2003 | 725,865 | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 731,077 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 696,760 | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 737,267 | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 805,136 | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 922,239 | +14.5% |
| 2009 | 1.00 million | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 1.06 million | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 1.04 million | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 1.08 million | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 1.12 million | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 1.13 million | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.30 million | +15.4% |
| 2016 | 1.34 million | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 1.25 million | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 1.28 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 1.22 million | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 1.19 million | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 1.15 million | -3.8% |
| 2022 | 1.12 million | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 1.14 million | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 1.17 million | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52,975 | 52,975 | 52,975 | 1 |
| 1980s | 91,544 | 57,650 | 120,714 | 9 |
| 1990s | 238,493 | 121,412 | 473,357 | 8 |
| 2000s | 735,767 | 549,205 | 1.00 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.18 million | 1.04 million | 1.34 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.15 million | 1.12 million | 1.19 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More education data for Malaysia
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 273,792 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 4 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 70.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 21.3% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 90.36 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 90.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia was 1.17 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.34 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 52,975 in 1979.
- How does Malaysia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Malaysia ranks 38th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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 — 43 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release