Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden
Sweden: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 494,296 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 494,296 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.9% on the previous year and up 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden peaked at 494,296 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 128,879, in 1975.
Sweden ranks 55th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 141,218 | — |
| 1972 | 141,367 | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 133,168 | -5.8% |
| 1974 | 131,614 | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 128,879 | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 162,640 | +26.2% |
| 1977 | 171,181 | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 190,105 | +11.1% |
| 1979 | 198,798 | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 200,999 | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 171,356 | -14.7% |
| 1982 | 176,115 | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 181,103 | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 184,199 | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 179,478 | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 176,589 | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 175,588 | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 178,423 | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 181,146 | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 184,812 | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 192,611 | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 207,265 | +7.6% |
| 1993 | 222,826 | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 234,466 | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 245,932 | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 261,209 | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 275,217 | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 280,712 | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 335,124 | +19.4% |
| 2000 | 346,878 | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 358,020 | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 382,851 | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 414,657 | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 429,623 | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 426,723 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 422,614 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 413,710 | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 406,879 | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 422,580 | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 455,025 | +7.7% |
| 2011 | 463,530 | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 453,328 | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 436,603 | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 429,444 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 428,557 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 426,188 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 426,354 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 431,065 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 432,233 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 453,448 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 490,470 | +8.2% |
| 2022 | 484,150 | -1.3% |
| 2023 | 475,828 | -1.7% |
| 2024 | 494,296 | +3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 155,441 | 128,879 | 198,798 | 9 |
| 1980s | 180,500 | 171,356 | 200,999 | 10 |
| 1990s | 244,017 | 184,812 | 335,124 | 10 |
| 2000s | 402,454 | 346,878 | 429,623 | 10 |
| 2010s | 438,233 | 426,188 | 463,530 | 10 |
| 2020s | 479,638 | 453,448 | 494,296 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More education data for Sweden
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 71,551 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 4 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 62.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 16.7% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 13 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 7 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 114.87 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 114.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden was 494,296 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 494,296 in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 128,879 in 1975.
- How does Sweden rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Sweden ranks 55th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden 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