Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.17 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
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 (number) 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% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 1.17 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 237,490, 4.9× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 1.17 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,347, 11.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Malaysia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +110.0% | 210,724 | 442,625 |
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
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0859 units per person (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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release