Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Netherlands
Netherlands: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 985,327 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
985,327
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
40th
of 200 countries
All-time high
987,564
in 2021
All-time low
231,167
in 1971
Years of data
47
1971–2023
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.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 231,167 | — |
| 1972 | 247,964 | +7.3% |
| 1975 | 264,297 | +6.6% |
| 1976 | 288,026 | +9.0% |
| 1977 | 305,150 | +5.9% |
| 1978 | 320,501 | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 328,968 | +2.6% |
| 1980 | 350,778 | +6.6% |
| 1981 | 360,033 | +2.6% |
| 1982 | 371,515 | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 379,047 | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 384,407 | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 390,244 | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 404,866 | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 399,776 | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 413,488 | +3.4% |
| 1989 | 415,847 | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 437,488 | +5.2% |
| 1991 | 478,869 | +9.5% |
| 1992 | 493,563 | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 506,580 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 532,405 | +5.1% |
| 1995 | 502,928 | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 491,748 | -2.2% |
| 1997 | 468,970 | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 461,374 | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 469,885 | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 487,649 | +3.8% |
| 2001 | 504,042 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 516,769 | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 526,767 | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 543,396 | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 564,983 | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 579,622 | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 590,121 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 602,286 | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 618,502 | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 650,905 | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 780,014 | +19.8% |
| 2012 | 793,678 | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 842,601 | +6.2% |
| 2016 | 836,946 | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 875,455 | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 889,506 | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 937,421 | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 987,564 | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 985,327 | -0.2% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 985,327 is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 6.2× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 985,327 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 294,128, 3.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
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
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,472 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 23,856 (1985)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 247,743 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 240,049 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.14 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0937 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.064 units per person (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