Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia
UNICEF: South Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 51.70 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
51.70 million
Change on year
up 1.5%
Rank
44th
of 221 groups
All-time high
51.70 million
in 2024
All-time low
2.78 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: South Asia recorded 51.70 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 46.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia peaked at 51.70 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.78 million, in 1971.
UNICEF: South Asia ranks 44th of 221 groups on this measure, in the top 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 UNICEF: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.69 million | — |
| 1971 | 2.78 million | -71.3% |
| 1972 | 9.71 million | +249.3% |
| 1973 | 3.09 million | -68.2% |
| 1974 | 9.75 million | +215.3% |
| 1975 | 9.74 million | -0.0% |
| 1976 | 3.38 million | -65.3% |
| 1977 | 3.39 million | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 3.53 million | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 3.70 million | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 3.79 million | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 4.08 million | +7.7% |
| 1982 | 4.03 million | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 4.65 million | +15.2% |
| 1984 | 5.02 million | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 5.12 million | +1.9% |
| 1986 | 5.37 million | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 5.66 million | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 5.14 million | -9.2% |
| 1989 | 5.40 million | +5.1% |
| 1990 | 5.71 million | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 5.88 million | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 10.32 million | +75.3% |
| 1993 | 10.36 million | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 10.40 million | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 5.98 million | -42.5% |
| 1996 | 6.82 million | +13.9% |
| 1997 | 7.24 million | +6.2% |
| 1998 | 10.64 million | +47.0% |
| 1999 | 10.71 million | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 10.76 million | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 11.39 million | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 12.16 million | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 12.94 million | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 13.59 million | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 13.93 million | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 15.22 million | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 17.53 million | +15.2% |
| 2008 | 20.10 million | +14.6% |
| 2009 | 21.96 million | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 24.68 million | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 30.97 million | +25.5% |
| 2012 | 33.29 million | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 33.14 million | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 35.34 million | +6.7% |
| 2015 | 37.41 million | +5.9% |
| 2016 | 37.94 million | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 39.11 million | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 40.47 million | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 42.62 million | +5.3% |
| 2020 | 43.92 million | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 46.74 million | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 48.21 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 50.93 million | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 51.70 million | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.88 million | 2.78 million | 9.75 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.83 million | 3.79 million | 5.66 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.41 million | 5.71 million | 10.71 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.96 million | 10.76 million | 21.96 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.50 million | 24.68 million | 42.62 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.30 million | 43.92 million | 51.70 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: South Asia
More education data for UNICEF: South Asia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 84.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1267 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 91.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 53.53 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 51.70 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 26.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.81 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia was 51.70 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 51.70 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.78 million in 1971.
- How does UNICEF: South Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- UNICEF: South Asia ranks 44th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNICEF: South Asia 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