Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNESCO: Sids
UNESCO: Sids: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 1.42 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
1.42 million
Change on year
down 3.8%
Rank
201st
of 221 groups
All-time high
1.87 million
in 2009
All-time low
104,119
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNESCO: Sids, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNESCO: Sids is 1.42 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is down 3.8% on the previous year and up 6.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNESCO: Sids peaked at 1.87 million in 2009 and was at its lowest, 104,119, in 1971.
That places UNESCO: Sids 201st out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom 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 in UNESCO: Sids, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 357,064 | — |
| 1971 | 104,119 | -70.8% |
| 1972 | 124,944 | +20.0% |
| 1973 | 144,415 | +15.6% |
| 1974 | 396,777 | +174.7% |
| 1975 | 180,868 | -54.4% |
| 1976 | 436,768 | +141.5% |
| 1977 | 464,883 | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 482,614 | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 492,248 | +2.0% |
| 1980 | 508,057 | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 518,942 | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 539,449 | +4.0% |
| 1983 | 549,637 | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 573,434 | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 597,809 | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 472,037 | -21.0% |
| 1987 | 653,649 | +38.5% |
| 1988 | 665,285 | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 661,598 | -0.6% |
| 1990 | 666,969 | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 681,871 | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 687,977 | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 661,033 | -3.9% |
| 1994 | 646,575 | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 623,805 | -3.5% |
| 1996 | 621,035 | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 594,992 | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 699,506 | +17.6% |
| 1999 | 744,260 | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 767,379 | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 809,698 | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 837,517 | +3.4% |
| 2003 | 890,390 | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 1.09 million | +22.4% |
| 2005 | 1.20 million | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 1.45 million | +20.5% |
| 2007 | 1.66 million | +14.6% |
| 2008 | 1.83 million | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 1.87 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 1.76 million | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 1.67 million | -5.6% |
| 2012 | 1.55 million | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 1.39 million | -10.3% |
| 2014 | 1.34 million | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 1.32 million | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 1.33 million | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 1.43 million | +7.3% |
| 2018 | 1.44 million | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 1.46 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.47 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 1.49 million | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 1.46 million | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 1.48 million | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 1.42 million | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 318,470 | 104,119 | 492,248 | 10 |
| 1980s | 573,990 | 472,037 | 665,285 | 10 |
| 1990s | 662,802 | 594,992 | 744,260 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.24 million | 767,379 | 1.87 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.47 million | 1.32 million | 1.76 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.47 million | 1.42 million | 1.49 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNESCO: Sids
- 198 Cook Islands 113 compare
- 199 Anguilla 54 compare
- 200 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha 37 compare
More education data for UNESCO: Sids
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 91.4% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 2.15 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 8.6% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 2.22 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 2.22 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 397,920 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male 4.21 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes 3.20 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 1.63 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 91.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNESCO: Sids?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNESCO: Sids was 1.42 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UNESCO: Sids?
- The highest recorded value was 1.87 million in 2009.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UNESCO: Sids?
- The lowest recorded value was 104,119 in 1971.
- How does UNESCO: Sids rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- UNESCO: Sids ranks 201st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UNESCO: Sids?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNESCO: Sids 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