Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia
SDG: Central and Southern Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 57.98 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
57.98 million
Change on year
up 3.1%
Rank
37th
of 221 groups
All-time high
57.98 million
in 2024
All-time low
3.71 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia is 57.98 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 39.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia peaked at 57.98 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.71 million, in 1971.
SDG: Central and Southern Asia ranks 37th of 221 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
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 SDG: Central and Southern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 10.59 million | — |
| 1971 | 3.71 million | -65.0% |
| 1972 | 10.69 million | +188.1% |
| 1973 | 4.10 million | -61.6% |
| 1974 | 10.79 million | +162.9% |
| 1975 | 10.82 million | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 4.51 million | -58.4% |
| 1977 | 4.56 million | +1.1% |
| 1978 | 4.74 million | +4.1% |
| 1979 | 4.97 million | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 5.14 million | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 5.45 million | +6.1% |
| 1982 | 5.46 million | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 6.12 million | +12.0% |
| 1984 | 6.54 million | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 6.68 million | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 6.96 million | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 7.31 million | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 6.82 million | -6.6% |
| 1989 | 7.14 million | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 7.52 million | +5.3% |
| 1991 | 7.78 million | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 12.25 million | +57.4% |
| 1993 | 12.28 million | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 12.31 million | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 7.95 million | -35.4% |
| 1996 | 8.86 million | +11.4% |
| 1997 | 9.32 million | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 12.80 million | +37.3% |
| 1999 | 12.93 million | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 13.22 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 14.13 million | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 15.01 million | +6.2% |
| 2003 | 16.03 million | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 17.04 million | +6.3% |
| 2005 | 17.55 million | +3.0% |
| 2006 | 19.25 million | +9.6% |
| 2007 | 22.00 million | +14.3% |
| 2008 | 25.15 million | +14.3% |
| 2009 | 26.93 million | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 30.04 million | +11.5% |
| 2011 | 36.66 million | +22.1% |
| 2012 | 39.29 million | +7.2% |
| 2013 | 39.07 million | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 41.54 million | +6.3% |
| 2015 | 43.68 million | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 43.73 million | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 44.65 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 45.57 million | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 47.60 million | +4.5% |
| 2020 | 48.88 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 51.73 million | +5.8% |
| 2022 | 53.47 million | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 56.24 million | +5.2% |
| 2024 | 57.98 million | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6.95 million | 3.71 million | 10.82 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.36 million | 5.14 million | 7.31 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.40 million | 7.52 million | 12.93 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.63 million | 13.22 million | 26.93 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.18 million | 30.04 million | 47.60 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 53.66 million | 48.88 million | 57.98 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Central and Southern Asia
More education data for SDG: Central and Southern Asia
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 8.99 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.4111 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.04 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 92.92 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.3161 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 99.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 58.28 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 29.55 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Central and Southern Asia was 57.98 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Central and Southern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 57.98 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Central and Southern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.71 million in 1971.
- How does SDG: Central and Southern Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Central and Southern Asia ranks 37th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Central and Southern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Central and Southern Asia 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