Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia
WB: Europe & Central Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 44.64 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
44.64 million
Change on year
up 4.3%
Rank
51st
of 221 groups
All-time high
44.64 million
in 2024
All-time low
16.45 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia is 44.64 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia peaked at 44.64 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.45 million, in 1971.
That places WB: Europe & Central Asia 51st out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 WB: Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 27.77 million | — |
| 1971 | 16.45 million | -40.8% |
| 1972 | 16.96 million | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 17.59 million | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 17.92 million | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 18.25 million | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 18.84 million | +3.2% |
| 1977 | 19.51 million | +3.5% |
| 1978 | 19.64 million | +0.7% |
| 1979 | 19.71 million | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 19.82 million | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 19.43 million | -2.0% |
| 1982 | 20.36 million | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 19.82 million | -2.6% |
| 1984 | 20.79 million | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 20.26 million | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 20.22 million | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 20.59 million | +1.8% |
| 1988 | 20.87 million | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 21.22 million | +1.7% |
| 1990 | 21.44 million | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 21.33 million | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 21.86 million | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 22.22 million | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 23.09 million | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 23.48 million | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 24.54 million | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 25.62 million | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 26.66 million | +4.0% |
| 1999 | 27.83 million | +4.4% |
| 2000 | 29.26 million | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 31.03 million | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 32.90 million | +6.0% |
| 2003 | 34.70 million | +5.5% |
| 2004 | 35.51 million | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 36.62 million | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 37.56 million | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 38.14 million | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 38.52 million | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 38.95 million | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 39.39 million | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 39.23 million | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 38.70 million | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 38.28 million | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 38.05 million | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 37.63 million | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 37.77 million | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 38.14 million | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 38.50 million | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 39.15 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 40.00 million | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 41.54 million | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 42.42 million | +2.1% |
| 2023 | 42.82 million | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 44.64 million | +4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.26 million | 16.45 million | 27.77 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 20.34 million | 19.43 million | 21.22 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.81 million | 21.33 million | 27.83 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.32 million | 29.26 million | 38.95 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.48 million | 37.63 million | 39.39 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.28 million | 40.00 million | 44.64 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Europe & Central Asia
More education data for WB: Europe & Central Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 25.45 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.52 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.2954 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 83.79 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.058 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 26.90 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -0.0467 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 492,126 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 14.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13.77 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia was 44.64 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 44.64 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.45 million in 1971.
- How does WB: Europe & Central Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: Europe & Central Asia ranks 51st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Europe & Central 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