Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
UNICEF: All Unicef Countries: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 220.95 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
220.95 million
Change on year
up 2.0%
Rank
6th
of 221 groups
All-time high
220.95 million
in 2024
All-time low
17.17 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: All Unicef Countries recorded 220.95 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries peaked at 220.95 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 17.17 million, in 1971.
UNICEF: All Unicef Countries ranks 6th of 221 groups 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 UNICEF: All Unicef Countries, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 34.11 million | — |
| 1971 | 17.17 million | -49.7% |
| 1972 | 24.91 million | +45.1% |
| 1973 | 20.58 million | -17.4% |
| 1974 | 27.13 million | +31.8% |
| 1975 | 27.58 million | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 22.06 million | -20.0% |
| 1977 | 23.25 million | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 24.12 million | +3.7% |
| 1979 | 25.12 million | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 26.27 million | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 27.98 million | +6.5% |
| 1982 | 29.16 million | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 30.82 million | +5.7% |
| 1984 | 38.33 million | +24.4% |
| 1985 | 40.64 million | +6.0% |
| 1986 | 35.54 million | -12.5% |
| 1987 | 38.28 million | +7.7% |
| 1988 | 37.61 million | -1.8% |
| 1989 | 38.95 million | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 38.61 million | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 40.28 million | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 46.01 million | +14.2% |
| 1993 | 45.06 million | -2.1% |
| 1994 | 47.84 million | +6.2% |
| 1995 | 49.61 million | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 47.83 million | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 56.29 million | +17.7% |
| 1998 | 57.19 million | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 60.80 million | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 64.58 million | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 70.46 million | +9.1% |
| 2002 | 77.38 million | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 84.50 million | +9.2% |
| 2004 | 90.80 million | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 96.85 million | +6.7% |
| 2006 | 106.35 million | +9.8% |
| 2007 | 111.91 million | +5.2% |
| 2008 | 120.08 million | +7.3% |
| 2009 | 127.00 million | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 134.54 million | +5.9% |
| 2011 | 143.43 million | +6.6% |
| 2012 | 149.52 million | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 152.98 million | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 165.71 million | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 171.32 million | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 174.26 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 176.35 million | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 178.69 million | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 184.10 million | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 191.01 million | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 200.28 million | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 208.21 million | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 216.57 million | +4.0% |
| 2024 | 220.95 million | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 24.60 million | 17.17 million | 34.11 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 34.36 million | 26.27 million | 40.64 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 48.95 million | 38.61 million | 60.80 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 94.99 million | 64.58 million | 127.00 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 163.09 million | 134.54 million | 184.10 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 207.40 million | 191.01 million | 220.95 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
- 3 United States of America 18.05 million compare
- 4 Brazil 10.55 million compare
- 5 Indonesia 9.85 million compare
- 6 Türkiye 7.00 million compare
- 7 Mexico 5.39 million compare
- 8 Philippines 5.14 million compare
- 9 Russian Federation 4.52 million compare
More education data for UNICEF: All Unicef Countries
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.8422 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 294.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 178.96 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.1674 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 220.95 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 2.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 108.41 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries was 220.95 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- The highest recorded value was 220.95 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.17 million in 1971.
- How does UNICEF: All Unicef Countries rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- UNICEF: All Unicef Countries ranks 6th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: All Unicef Countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNICEF: All Unicef Countries 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