Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe
UIS: North America and Western Europe: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 38.88 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
38.88 million
Change on year
down 1.9%
Rank
52nd
of 221 groups
All-time high
39.65 million
in 2023
All-time low
15.84 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe stood at 38.88 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe peaked at 39.65 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 15.84 million, in 1971.
UIS: North America and Western Europe ranks 52nd of 221 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 28.48 million | — |
| 1971 | 15.84 million | -44.4% |
| 1972 | 16.53 million | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 17.37 million | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 18.03 million | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 18.55 million | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 20.12 million | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 20.09 million | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 20.39 million | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 20.39 million | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 20.84 million | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 21.45 million | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 22.58 million | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 22.20 million | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 23.22 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 22.58 million | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 23.05 million | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 23.01 million | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 23.84 million | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 25.00 million | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 25.68 million | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 25.76 million | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 27.13 million | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 27.57 million | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 28.20 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 28.38 million | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 28.52 million | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 27.43 million | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 28.10 million | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 28.89 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 28.48 million | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 30.14 million | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 31.97 million | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 32.94 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 33.58 million | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 33.73 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 34.43 million | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 34.78 million | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 35.21 million | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 36.31 million | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 36.99 million | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 37.59 million | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 37.86 million | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 37.83 million | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 37.79 million | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 37.70 million | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 37.70 million | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 37.77 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 38.01 million | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 38.52 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 38.93 million | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 39.20 million | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 39.30 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 39.65 million | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 38.88 million | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.58 million | 15.84 million | 28.48 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.78 million | 20.84 million | 25.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.57 million | 25.68 million | 28.89 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.16 million | 28.48 million | 36.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.77 million | 36.99 million | 38.52 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.19 million | 38.88 million | 39.65 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UIS: North America and Western Europe
More education data for UIS: North America and Western Europe
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 31.98 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1303 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 33.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.1311 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 21.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 38.88 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 606,356 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -1.94 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe was 38.88 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 39.65 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.84 million in 1971.
- How does UIS: North America and Western Europe rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- UIS: North America and Western Europe ranks 52nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UIS: North America and Western Europe 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