Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America
SDG: Europe and Northern America: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 52.05 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
52.05 million
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
43rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
54.66 million
in 2010
All-time low
24.83 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
SDG: Europe and Northern America recorded 52.05 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America peaked at 54.66 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 24.83 million, in 1971.
That places SDG: Europe and Northern America 43rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 39.46 million | — |
| 1971 | 24.83 million | -37.1% |
| 1972 | 25.77 million | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 26.72 million | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 27.31 million | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 28.14 million | +3.0% |
| 1976 | 29.46 million | +4.7% |
| 1977 | 30.00 million | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 30.38 million | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 30.40 million | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 30.84 million | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 30.99 million | +0.5% |
| 1982 | 32.21 million | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 31.71 million | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 32.66 million | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 31.82 million | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 32.13 million | +1.0% |
| 1987 | 32.33 million | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 32.84 million | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 33.93 million | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 34.63 million | +2.1% |
| 1991 | 34.66 million | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 35.81 million | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 36.06 million | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 36.61 million | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 36.98 million | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 37.67 million | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 37.30 million | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 38.39 million | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 40.07 million | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 40.65 million | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 43.64 million | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 46.71 million | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 48.75 million | +4.4% |
| 2004 | 49.83 million | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 50.79 million | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 52.01 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 52.83 million | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 53.55 million | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 54.51 million | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 54.66 million | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 54.60 million | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 53.76 million | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 52.83 million | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 51.89 million | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 50.75 million | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 50.04 million | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 49.64 million | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 49.54 million | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 49.82 million | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 50.28 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 50.76 million | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 51.33 million | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 51.92 million | +1.2% |
| 2024 | 52.05 million | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 29.25 million | 24.83 million | 39.46 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 32.15 million | 30.84 million | 33.93 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.82 million | 34.63 million | 40.07 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.33 million | 40.65 million | 54.51 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 51.75 million | 49.54 million | 54.66 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.27 million | 50.28 million | 52.05 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Europe and Northern America
- 40 Netherlands 985,327 compare
- 41 Myanmar 932,199 compare
- 42 Greece 872,882 compare
- 43 Kazakhstan 768,980 compare
- 44 Syrian Arab Republic 697,415 compare
- 45 Ghana 693,463 compare
- 46 Sudan 653,088 compare
More education data for SDG: Europe and Northern America
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 43.04 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 31.47 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.059 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 45.47 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.0656 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.83 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.3241 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.0622 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -1.06 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.1479 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Europe and Northern America was 52.05 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
- The highest recorded value was 54.66 million in 2010.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.83 million in 1971.
- How does SDG: Europe and Northern America rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Europe and Northern America ranks 43rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this SDG: Europe and Northern America 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