Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Western Asia
SDG: Western Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 14.60 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
14.60 million
Change on year
up 0.8%
Rank
104th
of 221 groups
All-time high
14.60 million
in 2023
All-time low
865,646
in 1971
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Western Asia, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Western Asia stood at 14.60 million. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 47.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Western Asia peaked at 14.60 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 865,646, in 1971.
That places SDG: Western Asia 104th out of 221 groups with data for 2023, putting it 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: Western Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3.65 million | — |
| 1971 | 865,646 | -76.3% |
| 1972 | 899,928 | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 936,430 | +4.1% |
| 1974 | 1.17 million | +24.8% |
| 1975 | 1.12 million | -4.4% |
| 1976 | 1.40 million | +25.3% |
| 1977 | 1.28 million | -8.7% |
| 1978 | 1.19 million | -6.9% |
| 1979 | 1.21 million | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 1.19 million | -1.8% |
| 1981 | 1.24 million | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 1.25 million | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 1.32 million | +5.2% |
| 1984 | 1.40 million | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 1.67 million | +19.6% |
| 1986 | 1.68 million | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 1.70 million | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 2.71 million | +59.0% |
| 1989 | 1.90 million | -29.6% |
| 1990 | 2.04 million | +7.2% |
| 1991 | 2.16 million | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 2.38 million | +10.2% |
| 1993 | 2.43 million | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 2.84 million | +16.8% |
| 1995 | 2.84 million | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 3.29 million | +16.0% |
| 1997 | 3.29 million | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 3.43 million | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 3.67 million | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 3.86 million | +5.3% |
| 2001 | 4.01 million | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 4.20 million | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 4.66 million | +10.9% |
| 2004 | 4.94 million | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 5.29 million | +7.1% |
| 2006 | 5.68 million | +7.3% |
| 2007 | 6.01 million | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 6.28 million | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 6.84 million | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 7.70 million | +12.6% |
| 2011 | 8.19 million | +6.3% |
| 2012 | 9.08 million | +10.9% |
| 2013 | 9.93 million | +9.4% |
| 2014 | 10.78 million | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 11.44 million | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 12.16 million | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 12.70 million | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 13.12 million | +3.3% |
| 2019 | 13.52 million | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 13.85 million | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 14.29 million | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 14.48 million | +1.3% |
| 2023 | 14.60 million | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.37 million | 865,646 | 3.65 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.61 million | 1.19 million | 2.71 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.84 million | 2.04 million | 3.67 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.18 million | 3.86 million | 6.84 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.86 million | 7.70 million | 13.52 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.30 million | 13.85 million | 14.60 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near SDG: Western Asia
More education data for SDG: Western Asia
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.901 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -0.0164 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 15.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.2265 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -3.11 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 28.52 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.54 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 15.03 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.8581 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 13.49 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Western Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: Western Asia was 14.60 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Western Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.60 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: Western Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 865,646 in 1971.
- How does SDG: Western Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: Western Asia ranks 104th out of 221 groups with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: Western Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: Western 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