Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: World
SDG: World: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 268.57 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: World, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: World stood at 268.57 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: World peaked at 268.57 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 36.21 million, in 1971.
SDG: World ranks 1st of 221 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 71.03 million | — |
| 1971 | 36.21 million | -49.0% |
| 1972 | 44.80 million | +23.7% |
| 1973 | 41.43 million | -7.5% |
| 1974 | 48.82 million | +17.8% |
| 1975 | 49.97 million | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 46.22 million | -7.5% |
| 1977 | 47.49 million | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 48.95 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 49.86 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 51.46 million | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 53.67 million | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 55.93 million | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 57.28 million | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 65.83 million | +14.9% |
| 1985 | 67.55 million | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 62.83 million | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 65.66 million | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 65.92 million | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 68.54 million | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 69.04 million | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 70.99 million | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 78.18 million | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 80.35 million | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 82.64 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 84.94 million | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 84.82 million | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 92.50 million | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 93.47 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 98.14 million | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 103.03 million | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 110.69 million | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 119.62 million | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 127.83 million | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 134.86 million | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 141.12 million | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 151.24 million | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 157.20 million | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 165.87 million | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 173.84 million | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 181.99 million | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 191.22 million | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 197.41 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 200.70 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 213.19 million | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 218.54 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 221.35 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 223.27 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 225.64 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 231.59 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 238.81 million | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 248.28 million | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 256.26 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 264.99 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 268.57 million | +1.4% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: World changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -49.0% | 71.03 million | 36.21 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 48.48 million | 36.21 million | 71.03 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.47 million | 51.46 million | 68.54 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 83.51 million | 69.04 million | 98.14 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 138.53 million | 103.03 million | 173.84 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 210.49 million | 181.99 million | 231.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 255.38 million | 238.81 million | 268.57 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near SDG: World
More education data for SDG: World
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 651.68 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 25.09 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 314.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 106.27 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 100.30 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5777 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 404.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 1.66 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: World?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in SDG: World was 268.57 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: World?
- The highest recorded value was 268.57 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in SDG: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.21 million in 1971.
- How does SDG: World rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- SDG: World ranks 1st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in SDG: World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this SDG: World 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release