Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 159,149 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Puerto Rico, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Puerto Rico is 159,149, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 5.1% on the previous year and down 35.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Puerto Rico peaked at 250,192 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 63,073, in 1971.
That places Puerto Rico 104th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 63,073 | — |
| 1972 | 69,620 | +10.4% |
| 1973 | 75,355 | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 84,390 | +12.0% |
| 1975 | 89,671 | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 97,517 | +8.7% |
| 1977 | 100,885 | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 119,970 | +18.9% |
| 1979 | 124,000 | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 129,708 | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 131,184 | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 137,171 | +4.6% |
| 2007 | 211,458 | +54.2% |
| 2008 | 227,546 | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 235,618 | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 249,372 | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 250,192 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 250,011 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 245,495 | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 241,168 | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 240,878 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 233,070 | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 227,255 | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 216,742 | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 198,179 | -8.6% |
| 2020 | 186,474 | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 184,921 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 167,691 | -9.3% |
| 2023 | 159,149 | -5.1% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 159,149 is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 1.0× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 159,149 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 116,843, 1.4× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Puerto Rico changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | +54.2% | 137,171 | 211,458 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 91,609 | 63,073 | 124,000 | 9 |
| 1980s | 132,688 | 129,708 | 137,171 | 3 |
| 2000s | 224,874 | 211,458 | 235,618 | 3 |
| 2010s | 235,236 | 198,179 | 250,192 | 10 |
| 2020s | 174,559 | 159,149 | 186,474 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More education data for Puerto Rico
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 20,845 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 14,445 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13,807 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 171,527 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 144,542 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.81 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0451 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Puerto Rico?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Puerto Rico was 159,149 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 250,192 in 2011.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 63,073 in 1971.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Puerto Rico ranks 104th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 35.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Puerto Rico 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 — 29 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release