Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Thailand
Thailand: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 2.17 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand, 1971–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Thailand recorded 2.17 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2025.
That represents a change of up 7.3% on the previous year and down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand peaked at 2.50 million in 2007 and was at its lowest, 90,300, in 1971.
That places Thailand 24th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 90,300 | — |
| 1972 | 100,000 | +10.7% |
| 1973 | 105,000 | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 110,394 | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 136,263 | +23.4% |
| 1976 | 130,965 | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 175,438 | +34.0% |
| 1978 | 216,876 | +23.6% |
| 1979 | 375,242 | +73.0% |
| 1980 | 472,995 | +26.1% |
| 1981 | 361,400 | -23.6% |
| 1982 | 911,166 | +152.1% |
| 1983 | 1.06 million | +16.0% |
| 1984 | 1.12 million | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 1.07 million | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 1.03 million | -4.3% |
| 1988 | 884,237 | -13.9% |
| 1990 | 952,012 | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 1.16 million | +21.4% |
| 1995 | 1.18 million | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 1.22 million | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 1.33 million | +9.2% |
| 1998 | 1.52 million | +14.2% |
| 1999 | 1.81 million | +19.2% |
| 2000 | 1.90 million | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 2.10 million | +10.3% |
| 2002 | 2.16 million | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 2.21 million | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 2.25 million | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 2.36 million | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 2.34 million | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 2.50 million | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 2.43 million | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 2.42 million | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 2.43 million | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 2.50 million | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 2.43 million | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 2.41 million | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 2.43 million | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 2.24 million | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 2.41 million | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 2.31 million | -4.2% |
| 2018 | 2.23 million | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 2.16 million | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 2.02 million | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 2.04 million | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 2.00 million | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 2.07 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 2.02 million | -2.6% |
| 2025 | 2.17 million | +7.3% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 2.17 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 237,490, 9.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 2.17 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,347, 21.0× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Thailand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +152.1% | 361,400 | 911,166 |
| 1979 | +73.0% | 216,876 | 375,242 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 160,053 | 90,300 | 375,242 | 9 |
| 1980s | 863,395 | 361,400 | 1.12 million | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.31 million | 952,012 | 1.81 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 2.27 million | 1.90 million | 2.50 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.35 million | 2.16 million | 2.50 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.05 million | 2.00 million | 2.17 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More education data for Thailand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 243,991 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,596 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 758,147 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 716,498 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.26 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.45 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand was 2.17 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 2.50 million in 2007.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 90,300 in 1971.
- How does Thailand rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Thailand ranks 24th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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