Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Malta
Malta: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 21,120 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
21,120
Change on year
up 11.0%
World rank
148th
of 200 countries
All-time high
21,120
in 2023
All-time low
862
in 1980
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malta, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malta is 21,120, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is up 11.0% on the previous year and up 68.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malta peaked at 21,120 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 862, in 1980.
Malta ranks 148th 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 Malta, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,289 | — |
| 1971 | 2,405 | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 2,746 | +14.2% |
| 1973 | 2,571 | -6.4% |
| 1974 | 2,114 | -17.8% |
| 1975 | 2,397 | +13.4% |
| 1976 | 2,370 | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 2,463 | +3.9% |
| 1978 | 2,299 | -6.7% |
| 1979 | 1,592 | -30.8% |
| 1980 | 862 | -45.9% |
| 1981 | 947 | +9.9% |
| 1982 | 934 | -1.4% |
| 1983 | 1,010 | +8.1% |
| 1984 | 1,337 | +32.4% |
| 1985 | 1,408 | +5.3% |
| 1986 | 1,474 | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 1,449 | -1.7% |
| 1988 | 1,447 | -0.1% |
| 1989 | 1,682 | +16.2% |
| 1990 | 2,511 | +49.3% |
| 1991 | 3,123 | +24.4% |
| 1992 | 3,602 | +15.3% |
| 1993 | 4,662 | +29.4% |
| 1994 | 5,177 | +11.0% |
| 1995 | 5,805 | +12.1% |
| 1996 | 6,263 | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 6,368 | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 7,146 | +12.2% |
| 1999 | 6,915 | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 6,315 | -8.7% |
| 2001 | 7,422 | +17.5% |
| 2002 | 7,259 | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 8,946 | +23.2% |
| 2004 | 7,867 | -12.1% |
| 2005 | 9,441 | +20.0% |
| 2006 | 8,922 | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 9,811 | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 9,472 | -3.5% |
| 2009 | 10,352 | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 10,840 | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 11,491 | +6.0% |
| 2012 | 12,203 | +6.2% |
| 2013 | 12,574 | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 12,610 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 13,216 | +4.8% |
| 2016 | 13,329 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 14,425 | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 15,510 | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 16,068 | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 17,053 | +6.1% |
| 2021 | 18,336 | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 19,035 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 21,120 | +11.0% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 21,120 is below the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 13% of the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Malta's 21,120 is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 375,028, 6% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,325 | 1,592 | 2,746 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,255 | 862 | 1,682 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5,157 | 2,511 | 7,146 | 10 |
| 2000s | 8,581 | 6,315 | 10,352 | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,227 | 10,840 | 16,068 | 10 |
| 2020s | 18,886 | 17,053 | 21,120 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More education data for Malta
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4,664 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 70 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,949 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,626 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 32,424 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 27,337 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0495 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malta?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malta was 21,120 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 21,120 in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 862 in 1980.
- How does Malta rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Malta ranks 148th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 68.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta 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