Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Netherlands
Netherlands: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 985,327 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Netherlands, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Netherlands is 985,327, measured in 2023.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 24.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Netherlands peaked at 987,564 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 231,167, in 1971.
That places Netherlands 40th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 283,725 | 231,167 | 328,968 | 7 |
| 1980s | 387,000 | 350,778 | 415,847 | 10 |
| 1990s | 484,381 | 437,488 | 532,405 | 10 |
| 2000s | 553,414 | 487,649 | 618,502 | 10 |
| 2010s | 809,872 | 650,905 | 889,506 | 7 |
| 2020s | 970,104 | 937,421 | 987,564 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More education data for Netherlands
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 98,851 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.2% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 14.9% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 104.16 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 104.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Netherlands?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Netherlands was 985,327 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 987,564 in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 231,167 in 1971.
- How does Netherlands rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Netherlands ranks 40th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Netherlands 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 — 47 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release