Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal
Portugal: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 428,206 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Portugal, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 428,206 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2023. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 26.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Portugal peaked at 428,206 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 50,095, in 1971.
Portugal ranks 59th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 50,095 | — |
| 1972 | 53,389 | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 55,184 | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 59,845 | +8.4% |
| 1975 | 64,666 | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 79,702 | +23.3% |
| 1977 | 95,841 | +20.2% |
| 1978 | 85,360 | -10.9% |
| 1979 | 92,149 | +8.0% |
| 1980 | 91,373 | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 92,152 | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 94,958 | +3.0% |
| 1983 | 99,165 | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 101,308 | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 112,851 | +11.4% |
| 1986 | 103,585 | -8.2% |
| 1987 | 129,277 | +24.8% |
| 1990 | 156,701 | +21.2% |
| 1991 | 185,762 | +18.5% |
| 1992 | 190,856 | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 247,523 | +29.7% |
| 1994 | 276,534 | +11.7% |
| 1995 | 300,573 | +8.7% |
| 1996 | 319,525 | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 351,784 | +10.1% |
| 1999 | 356,790 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 337,507 | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 343,117 | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 346,963 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 356,390 | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 368,181 | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 380,235 | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 403,746 | +6.2% |
| 2022 | 417,215 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 428,206 | +2.6% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 428,206 is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 2.7× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 428,206 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 294,128, 1.5× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 70,692 | 50,095 | 95,841 | 9 |
| 1980s | 103,084 | 91,373 | 129,277 | 8 |
| 1990s | 265,116 | 156,701 | 356,790 | 9 |
| 2010s | 350,432 | 337,507 | 368,181 | 5 |
| 2020s | 407,350 | 380,235 | 428,206 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Portugal?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Portugal was 428,206 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 428,206 in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 50,095 in 1971.
- How does Portugal rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Portugal ranks 59th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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