Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia
SDG: Eastern Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 68.23 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
68.23 million
Change on year
up 1.8%
Rank
29th
of 221 groups
All-time high
68.23 million
in 2024
All-time low
2.55 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
SDG: Eastern Asia recorded 68.23 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 35.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia peaked at 68.23 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.55 million, in 1971.
That places SDG: Eastern Asia 29th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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: Eastern Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.81 million | — |
| 1971 | 2.55 million | -71.0% |
| 1972 | 2.71 million | +6.1% |
| 1973 | 2.84 million | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 3.13 million | +10.1% |
| 1975 | 3.42 million | +9.2% |
| 1976 | 3.66 million | +7.0% |
| 1977 | 3.82 million | +4.5% |
| 1978 | 4.18 million | +9.4% |
| 1979 | 4.37 million | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 4.63 million | +6.0% |
| 1981 | 5.49 million | +18.5% |
| 1982 | 5.76 million | +5.0% |
| 1983 | 6.16 million | +7.0% |
| 1984 | 6.57 million | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 7.38 million | +12.4% |
| 1986 | 8.23 million | +11.5% |
| 1987 | 8.70 million | +5.7% |
| 1988 | 8.94 million | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 9.01 million | +0.8% |
| 1990 | 9.16 million | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 9.18 million | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 9.10 million | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 11.54 million | +26.7% |
| 1994 | 11.00 million | -4.7% |
| 1995 | 12.00 million | +9.1% |
| 1996 | 13.76 million | +14.6% |
| 1997 | 14.52 million | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 13.41 million | -7.7% |
| 1999 | 13.89 million | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 16.31 million | +17.5% |
| 2001 | 18.31 million | +12.3% |
| 2002 | 21.07 million | +15.1% |
| 2003 | 24.07 million | +14.2% |
| 2004 | 26.90 million | +11.7% |
| 2005 | 29.32 million | +9.0% |
| 2006 | 31.94 million | +8.9% |
| 2007 | 33.91 million | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 35.22 million | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 37.75 million | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 39.46 million | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 39.66 million | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 40.88 million | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 42.39 million | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 50.19 million | +18.4% |
| 2015 | 51.56 million | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 51.99 million | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 52.15 million | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 52.89 million | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 54.91 million | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 58.11 million | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 61.58 million | +6.0% |
| 2022 | 64.82 million | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 67.02 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 68.23 million | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.95 million | 2.55 million | 8.81 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.09 million | 4.63 million | 9.01 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 11.76 million | 9.10 million | 14.52 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.48 million | 16.31 million | 37.75 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 47.61 million | 39.46 million | 54.91 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.95 million | 58.11 million | 68.23 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Eastern Asia
More education data for SDG: Eastern Asia
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 83.3% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 51.47 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 16.7% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 58.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 45.36 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 7.46 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male 63.20 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes 56.33 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 30.25 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 81.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Eastern Asia was 68.23 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 68.23 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.55 million in 1971.
- How does SDG: Eastern Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Eastern Asia ranks 29th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Eastern Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Eastern 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