Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: World
UIS: World: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 268.57 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: World, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UIS: World recorded 268.57 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: World peaked at 268.57 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 36.21 million, in 1971.
That places UIS: World 1st out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 UIS: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 71.03 million | — |
| 1971 | 36.21 million | -49.0% |
| 1972 | 44.80 million | +23.7% |
| 1973 | 41.43 million | -7.5% |
| 1974 | 48.82 million | +17.8% |
| 1975 | 49.97 million | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 46.22 million | -7.5% |
| 1977 | 47.49 million | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 48.95 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 49.86 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 51.46 million | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 53.67 million | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 55.93 million | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 57.28 million | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 65.83 million | +14.9% |
| 1985 | 67.55 million | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 62.83 million | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 65.66 million | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 65.92 million | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 68.54 million | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 69.04 million | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 70.99 million | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 78.18 million | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 80.35 million | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 82.64 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 84.94 million | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 84.82 million | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 92.50 million | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 93.47 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 98.14 million | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 103.03 million | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 110.69 million | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 119.62 million | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 127.83 million | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 134.86 million | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 141.12 million | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 151.24 million | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 157.20 million | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 165.87 million | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 173.84 million | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 181.99 million | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 191.22 million | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 197.41 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 200.70 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 213.19 million | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 218.54 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 221.35 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 223.27 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 225.64 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 231.59 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 238.81 million | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 248.28 million | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 256.26 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 264.99 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 268.57 million | +1.4% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: World 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -49.0% | 71.03 million | 36.21 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 48.48 million | 36.21 million | 71.03 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.47 million | 51.46 million | 68.54 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 83.51 million | 69.04 million | 98.14 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 138.53 million | 103.03 million | 173.84 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 210.49 million | 181.99 million | 231.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 255.38 million | 238.81 million | 268.57 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UIS: World
More education data for UIS: World
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.3122 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.5777 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 314.66 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.7454 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 337.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.4213 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 206.57 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 129.51 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: World?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UIS: World was 268.57 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: World?
- The highest recorded value was 268.57 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.21 million in 1971.
- How does UIS: World rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- UIS: World ranks 1st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UIS: World 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