Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Turkey
Turkey: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes 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 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% |
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
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,022 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 299,967 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 21.0% (2025)
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