Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Turkey
Turkey: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 7.00 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
7.00 million
Change on year
down 15.7%
World rank
6th
of 200 countries
All-time high
8.30 million
in 2022
All-time low
169,672
in 1972
Years of data
51
1971–2023
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Turkey, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Turkey recorded 7.00 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2023.
The figure is down 15.7% on the previous year and up 40.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Turkey peaked at 8.30 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 169,672, in 1972.
Turkey ranks 6th of 200 countries 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 Turkey, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 169,793 | — |
| 1972 | 169,672 | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 172,075 | +1.4% |
| 1974 | 185,285 | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 263,990 | +42.5% |
| 1976 | 327,082 | +23.9% |
| 1977 | 360,243 | +10.1% |
| 1978 | 359,792 | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 339,510 | -5.6% |
| 1980 | 279,779 | -17.6% |
| 1981 | 246,183 | -12.0% |
| 1982 | 254,446 | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 281,929 | +10.8% |
| 1984 | 335,080 | +18.9% |
| 1985 | 417,225 | +24.5% |
| 1986 | 469,992 | +12.6% |
| 1987 | 505,091 | +7.5% |
| 1988 | 534,459 | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 594,662 | +11.3% |
| 1990 | 685,500 | +15.3% |
| 1991 | 749,921 | +9.4% |
| 1992 | 810,781 | +8.1% |
| 1993 | 923,719 | +13.9% |
| 1994 | 1.14 million | +23.7% |
| 1995 | 1.17 million | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 1.43 million | +22.1% |
| 1998 | 1.41 million | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 1.46 million | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 1.61 million | +9.7% |
| 2002 | 1.68 million | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 1.92 million | +14.3% |
| 2004 | 1.97 million | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 2.11 million | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 2.34 million | +11.2% |
| 2007 | 2.45 million | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 2.53 million | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 2.92 million | +15.5% |
| 2010 | 3.53 million | +20.7% |
| 2011 | 3.82 million | +8.2% |
| 2012 | 4.35 million | +14.1% |
| 2013 | 4.98 million | +14.3% |
| 2014 | 5.47 million | +10.0% |
| 2015 | 6.06 million | +10.8% |
| 2016 | 6.69 million | +10.3% |
| 2017 | 7.20 million | +7.6% |
| 2018 | 7.56 million | +5.0% |
| 2019 | 7.78 million | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 7.98 million | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 8.28 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 8.30 million | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 7.00 million | -15.7% |
Turkey compared with similar countries
- Turkey's 7.00 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 237,490, 29.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Turkey's 7.00 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 294,128, 23.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 260,827 | 169,672 | 360,243 | 9 |
| 1980s | 391,885 | 246,183 | 594,662 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.09 million | 685,500 | 1.46 million | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.17 million | 1.61 million | 2.92 million | 9 |
| 2010s | 5.74 million | 3.53 million | 7.78 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.89 million | 7.00 million | 8.30 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Turkey
More education data for Turkey
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 788,294 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 184,302 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.05 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 980,973 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 12.31 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.87 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0649 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Turkey?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Turkey was 7.00 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Turkey?
- The highest recorded value was 8.30 million in 2022.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Turkey?
- The lowest recorded value was 169,672 in 1972.
- How does Turkey rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Turkey ranks 6th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Turkey?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Turkey 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