Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan
Pakistan: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 2.68 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.68 million
Change on year
up 4.5%
World rank
19th
of 200 countries
All-time high
2.98 million
in 2021
All-time low
104,452
in 1972
Years of data
37
1971–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan stood at 2.68 million.
That represents a change of up 4.5% on the previous year and up 38.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan peaked at 2.98 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 104,452, in 1972.
Pakistan ranks 19th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 114,980 | — |
| 1972 | 104,452 | -9.2% |
| 1973 | 107,757 | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 111,826 | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 114,913 | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 127,932 | +11.3% |
| 1977 | 133,465 | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 148,451 | +11.2% |
| 1979 | 153,536 | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 156,558 | +2.0% |
| 1986 | 267,742 | +71.0% |
| 1987 | 271,838 | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 315,793 | +16.2% |
| 1990 | 304,922 | -3.4% |
| 1992 | 221,313 | -27.4% |
| 2003 | 401,056 | +81.2% |
| 2004 | 520,666 | +29.8% |
| 2005 | 782,621 | +50.3% |
| 2006 | 820,347 | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 954,698 | +16.4% |
| 2008 | 973,792 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 1.23 million | +25.9% |
| 2010 | 1.48 million | +20.9% |
| 2011 | 1.57 million | +6.1% |
| 2012 | 1.82 million | +15.5% |
| 2013 | 1.92 million | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 1.93 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 1.87 million | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 1.86 million | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 1.94 million | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 1.88 million | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 2.58 million | +37.6% |
| 2020 | 2.77 million | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 2.98 million | +7.6% |
| 2022 | 2.56 million | -14.2% |
| 2023 | 2.57 million | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 2.68 million | +4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 124,146 | 104,452 | 153,536 | 9 |
| 1980s | 252,983 | 156,558 | 315,793 | 4 |
| 1990s | 263,118 | 221,313 | 304,922 | 2 |
| 2000s | 811,311 | 401,056 | 1.23 million | 7 |
| 2010s | 1.89 million | 1.48 million | 2.58 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.71 million | 2.56 million | 2.98 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
More education data for Pakistan
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,024 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0989 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 445,877 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 59.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 36.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 10 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 5 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan was 2.68 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 2.98 million in 2021.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 104,452 in 1972.
- How does Pakistan rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Pakistan ranks 19th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 38.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Pakistan 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 — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release