Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 337,303 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
337,303
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
70th
of 200 countries
All-time high
339,009
in 2022
All-time low
51,426
in 1971
Years of data
53
1971–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 337,303 for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland peaked at 339,009 in 2022 and was at its lowest, 51,426, in 1971.
Switzerland ranks 70th of 200 countries 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 (number) in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 51,426 | — |
| 1972 | 53,595 | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 56,534 | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 60,329 | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 62,584 | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 64,720 | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 72,375 | +11.8% |
| 1978 | 74,730 | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 78,120 | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 81,530 | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 85,127 | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 88,385 | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 90,568 | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 95,661 | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 105,897 | +10.7% |
| 1986 | 110,111 | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 117,017 | +6.3% |
| 1988 | 121,693 | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 125,158 | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 132,753 | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 137,486 | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 143,067 | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 146,266 | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 148,664 | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 148,154 | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 148,024 | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 152,653 | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 156,390 | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 156,879 | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 163,373 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 170,085 | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 185,965 | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 195,947 | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 199,696 | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 204,999 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 213,112 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 224,469 | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 233,488 | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 248,639 | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 257,696 | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 269,573 | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 279,832 | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 289,722 | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 294,450 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 295,149 | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 300,618 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 306,743 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 312,933 | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 319,534 | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 332,380 | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 339,009 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | 335,665 | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 337,303 | +0.5% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 337,303 is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 2.1× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 337,303 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 294,128, 1.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 63,824 | 51,426 | 78,120 | 9 |
| 1980s | 102,115 | 81,530 | 125,158 | 10 |
| 1990s | 145,940 | 132,753 | 156,390 | 9 |
| 2000s | 194,801 | 156,879 | 233,488 | 10 |
| 2010s | 285,536 | 248,639 | 312,933 | 10 |
| 2020s | 332,778 | 319,534 | 339,009 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More education data for Switzerland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,266 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 5,583 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,990 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 89,549 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 636,381 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 556,945 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.34 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0618 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland was 337,303 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 339,009 in 2022.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 51,426 in 1971.
- How does Switzerland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Switzerland ranks 70th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland 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