Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Nepal
Nepal: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 633,053 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
633,053
Change on year
up 9.3%
World rank
47th
of 200 countries
All-time high
633,053
in 2024
All-time low
19,482
in 1976
Years of data
46
1974–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nepal, 1974–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nepal is 633,053, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 46 years on record.
That represents a change of up 9.3% on the previous year and up 51.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nepal peaked at 633,053 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 19,482, in 1976.
Nepal ranks 47th 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 21,760 | — |
| 1975 | 23,504 | +8.0% |
| 1976 | 19,482 | -17.1% |
| 1977 | 25,398 | +30.4% |
| 1978 | 31,942 | +25.8% |
| 1979 | 38,539 | +20.7% |
| 1981 | 51,356 | +33.3% |
| 1982 | 52,070 | +1.4% |
| 1983 | 48,229 | -7.4% |
| 1984 | 55,555 | +15.2% |
| 1985 | 54,452 | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 78,490 | +44.1% |
| 1987 | 83,356 | +6.2% |
| 1988 | 95,240 | +14.3% |
| 1989 | 102,130 | +7.2% |
| 1990 | 93,753 | -8.2% |
| 1991 | 110,239 | +17.6% |
| 1992 | 103,840 | -5.8% |
| 1993 | 102,882 | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 98,731 | -4.0% |
| 1995 | 93,176 | -5.6% |
| 1996 | 105,694 | +13.4% |
| 2000 | 94,401 | -10.7% |
| 2001 | 103,290 | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 119,670 | +15.9% |
| 2003 | 124,817 | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 147,123 | +17.9% |
| 2005 | 187,165 | +27.2% |
| 2006 | 202,076 | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 254,792 | +26.1% |
| 2008 | 284,973 | +11.8% |
| 2009 | 289,262 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 376,869 | +30.3% |
| 2011 | 385,454 | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 477,077 | +23.8% |
| 2014 | 418,708 | -12.2% |
| 2015 | 395,365 | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 361,077 | -8.7% |
| 2017 | 371,184 | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 404,718 | +9.0% |
| 2019 | 438,177 | +8.3% |
| 2020 | 441,819 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 466,828 | +5.7% |
| 2022 | 460,826 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 579,448 | +25.7% |
| 2024 | 633,053 | +9.3% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 633,053 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 252,098, 2.5× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 633,053 is above the median for South Asia, which is 495,636, 1.3× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26,771 | 19,482 | 38,539 | 6 |
| 1980s | 68,986 | 48,229 | 102,130 | 9 |
| 1990s | 101,188 | 93,176 | 110,239 | 7 |
| 2000s | 180,757 | 94,401 | 289,262 | 10 |
| 2010s | 403,181 | 361,077 | 477,077 | 9 |
| 2020s | 516,395 | 441,819 | 633,053 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 124,257 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 263,796 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 752,326 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nepal?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Nepal was 633,053 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 633,053 in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 19,482 in 1976.
- How does Nepal rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Nepal ranks 47th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 51.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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