Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries
SDG: Least Developed Countries: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 12.39 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
12.39 million
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
116th
of 221 groups
All-time high
12.39 million
in 2024
All-time low
489,591
in 1970
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries stood at 12.39 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and up 52.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries peaked at 12.39 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 489,591, in 1970.
SDG: Least Developed Countries ranks 116th 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: Least Developed Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 489,591 | — |
| 1971 | 492,188 | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 531,010 | +7.9% |
| 1973 | 536,879 | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 570,783 | +6.3% |
| 1975 | 575,604 | +0.8% |
| 1976 | 572,029 | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 640,348 | +11.9% |
| 1978 | 664,965 | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 783,721 | +17.9% |
| 1980 | 836,350 | +6.7% |
| 1981 | 870,714 | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 952,861 | +9.4% |
| 1983 | 1.06 million | +11.0% |
| 1984 | 1.13 million | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 1.18 million | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 1.23 million | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 1.27 million | +3.3% |
| 1988 | 1.22 million | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 1.25 million | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 1.33 million | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 1.40 million | +4.9% |
| 1992 | 1.43 million | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 1.53 million | +7.4% |
| 1994 | 1.56 million | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 1.63 million | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 1.71 million | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 1.79 million | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 1.91 million | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 2.10 million | +10.0% |
| 2000 | 2.33 million | +10.8% |
| 2001 | 2.71 million | +16.3% |
| 2002 | 2.85 million | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 3.05 million | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 3.18 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 3.51 million | +10.4% |
| 2006 | 3.92 million | +11.5% |
| 2007 | 4.32 million | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 4.89 million | +13.2% |
| 2009 | 5.69 million | +16.4% |
| 2010 | 6.47 million | +13.7% |
| 2011 | 7.07 million | +9.3% |
| 2012 | 7.45 million | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 7.86 million | +5.4% |
| 2014 | 8.14 million | +3.6% |
| 2015 | 8.61 million | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 9.08 million | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 9.38 million | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 10.09 million | +7.5% |
| 2019 | 10.85 million | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 10.92 million | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 11.31 million | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 11.76 million | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 12.35 million | +5.0% |
| 2024 | 12.39 million | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 585,712 | 489,591 | 783,721 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.10 million | 836,350 | 1.27 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.64 million | 1.33 million | 2.10 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.65 million | 2.33 million | 5.69 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.50 million | 6.47 million | 10.85 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.75 million | 10.92 million | 12.39 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Least Developed Countries
More education data for SDG: Least Developed Countries
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes 75.92 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 36.37 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 6.7% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 39.55 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 22.98 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 4.43 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 93.3% (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, female 36.80 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes 74.48 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 37.68 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Least Developed Countries was 12.39 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Least Developed Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 12.39 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Least Developed Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 489,591 in 1970.
- How does SDG: Least Developed Countries rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Least Developed Countries ranks 116th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Least Developed Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Least Developed Countries 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