Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia
MDG: Southern Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 55.16 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
55.16 million
Change on year
up 1.5%
Rank
38th
of 221 groups
All-time high
55.16 million
in 2024
All-time low
2.85 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia stood at 55.16 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.5% on the previous year and up 37.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia peaked at 55.16 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.85 million, in 1971.
That places MDG: Southern Asia 38th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 MDG: Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.76 million | — |
| 1971 | 2.85 million | -70.8% |
| 1972 | 9.81 million | +243.6% |
| 1973 | 3.21 million | -67.3% |
| 1974 | 9.87 million | +207.8% |
| 1975 | 9.88 million | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 3.53 million | -64.2% |
| 1977 | 3.54 million | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 3.69 million | +4.3% |
| 1979 | 3.89 million | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 4.02 million | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 4.35 million | +8.2% |
| 1982 | 4.35 million | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 5.00 million | +15.0% |
| 1984 | 5.41 million | +8.2% |
| 1985 | 5.55 million | +2.5% |
| 1986 | 5.85 million | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 6.19 million | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 5.72 million | -7.5% |
| 1989 | 6.04 million | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 6.39 million | +5.9% |
| 1991 | 6.62 million | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 11.10 million | +67.7% |
| 1993 | 11.18 million | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 11.24 million | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 6.89 million | -38.7% |
| 1996 | 7.86 million | +14.1% |
| 1997 | 8.36 million | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 11.85 million | +41.8% |
| 1999 | 12.02 million | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 12.17 million | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 12.96 million | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 13.73 million | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 14.65 million | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 15.55 million | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 16.05 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 17.62 million | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 20.36 million | +15.6% |
| 2008 | 23.49 million | +15.4% |
| 2009 | 25.31 million | +7.7% |
| 2010 | 28.48 million | +12.5% |
| 2011 | 35.09 million | +23.2% |
| 2012 | 37.69 million | +7.4% |
| 2013 | 37.51 million | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 40.03 million | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 42.22 million | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 42.29 million | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 43.18 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 44.09 million | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 45.99 million | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 47.11 million | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 49.81 million | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 51.56 million | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 54.32 million | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 55.16 million | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.00 million | 2.85 million | 9.88 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.25 million | 4.02 million | 6.19 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.35 million | 6.39 million | 12.02 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.19 million | 12.17 million | 25.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 39.66 million | 28.48 million | 45.99 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.59 million | 47.11 million | 55.16 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Southern Asia
More education data for MDG: Southern Asia
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.87 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 94.56 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 54.48 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.57 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 55.16 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.54 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 1.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 28.18 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in MDG: Southern Asia was 55.16 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in MDG: Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 55.16 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in MDG: Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.85 million in 1971.
- How does MDG: Southern Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- MDG: Southern Asia ranks 38th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this MDG: Southern Asia 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