Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean
SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 31.11 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
31.11 million
Change on year
down 2.7%
Rank
57th
of 221 groups
All-time high
31.98 million
in 2023
All-time low
2.07 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean recorded 31.11 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and up 21.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean peaked at 31.98 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 2.07 million, in 1971.
SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 57th of 221 groups 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 in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.39 million | — |
| 1971 | 2.07 million | -52.8% |
| 1972 | 2.39 million | +15.2% |
| 1973 | 4.36 million | +82.5% |
| 1974 | 3.79 million | -13.1% |
| 1975 | 3.68 million | -3.0% |
| 1976 | 4.20 million | +14.0% |
| 1977 | 4.58 million | +9.1% |
| 1978 | 4.79 million | +4.7% |
| 1979 | 4.80 million | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 5.10 million | +6.4% |
| 1981 | 5.69 million | +11.5% |
| 1982 | 5.60 million | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 5.93 million | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 12.02 million | +102.6% |
| 1985 | 13.15 million | +9.4% |
| 1986 | 6.92 million | -47.4% |
| 1987 | 7.25 million | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 7.31 million | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 7.60 million | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 7.66 million | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 7.70 million | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 8.67 million | +12.6% |
| 1993 | 8.11 million | -6.5% |
| 1994 | 8.30 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 13.79 million | +66.1% |
| 1996 | 8.96 million | -35.0% |
| 1997 | 14.39 million | +60.6% |
| 1998 | 10.31 million | -28.4% |
| 1999 | 11.08 million | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 11.72 million | +5.8% |
| 2001 | 12.52 million | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 13.50 million | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 14.38 million | +6.5% |
| 2004 | 15.22 million | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 16.19 million | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 19.78 million | +22.2% |
| 2007 | 18.76 million | -5.1% |
| 2008 | 20.43 million | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 21.13 million | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 22.09 million | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 23.04 million | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 23.80 million | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 24.57 million | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 25.56 million | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 26.30 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 27.45 million | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 28.17 million | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 28.49 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 28.88 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 29.41 million | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 30.36 million | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 31.02 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 31.98 million | +3.1% |
| 2024 | 31.11 million | -2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.91 million | 2.07 million | 4.80 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.66 million | 5.10 million | 13.15 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.90 million | 7.66 million | 14.39 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.36 million | 11.72 million | 21.13 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.84 million | 22.09 million | 28.88 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.78 million | 29.41 million | 31.98 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean
More education data for SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 31.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 20.91 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.6877 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 31.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.4451 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.34 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 63.30 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5652 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -1.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.83 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean was 31.11 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 31.98 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.07 million in 1971.
- How does SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean ranks 57th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean 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