Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan
WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 20.71 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan stood at 20.71 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan peaked at 20.71 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 972,339, in 1971.
That places WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan 83rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.30 million | — |
| 1971 | 972,339 | -57.7% |
| 1972 | 1.04 million | +7.3% |
| 1973 | 1.15 million | +10.3% |
| 1974 | 1.43 million | +24.4% |
| 1975 | 1.38 million | -3.8% |
| 1976 | 1.71 million | +24.5% |
| 1977 | 1.65 million | -3.7% |
| 1978 | 1.66 million | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 1.76 million | +6.1% |
| 1980 | 1.90 million | +7.9% |
| 1981 | 2.09 million | +10.3% |
| 1982 | 2.29 million | +9.4% |
| 1983 | 2.44 million | +6.3% |
| 1984 | 2.60 million | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 2.86 million | +9.9% |
| 1986 | 2.90 million | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 3.02 million | +4.1% |
| 1988 | 4.09 million | +35.3% |
| 1989 | 3.23 million | -21.0% |
| 1990 | 3.35 million | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 3.35 million | -0.1% |
| 1992 | 3.67 million | +9.8% |
| 1993 | 3.90 million | +6.1% |
| 1994 | 4.35 million | +11.5% |
| 1995 | 4.63 million | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 5.13 million | +10.7% |
| 1997 | 5.62 million | +9.6% |
| 1998 | 6.09 million | +8.3% |
| 1999 | 6.72 million | +10.4% |
| 2000 | 7.01 million | +4.3% |
| 2001 | 7.48 million | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 7.88 million | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 8.22 million | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 9.03 million | +9.9% |
| 2005 | 9.88 million | +9.4% |
| 2006 | 10.47 million | +6.0% |
| 2007 | 11.42 million | +9.1% |
| 2008 | 12.40 million | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 13.04 million | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 13.99 million | +7.4% |
| 2011 | 14.38 million | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 15.46 million | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 16.10 million | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 16.97 million | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 17.56 million | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 17.33 million | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 17.46 million | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 17.45 million | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 18.19 million | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 18.69 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 18.95 million | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 19.04 million | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 19.75 million | +3.7% |
| 2024 | 20.71 million | +4.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan 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 | -57.7% | 2.30 million | 972,339 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.51 million | 972,339 | 2.30 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.74 million | 1.90 million | 4.09 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.68 million | 3.35 million | 6.72 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.68 million | 7.01 million | 13.04 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.49 million | 13.99 million | 18.19 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.43 million | 18.69 million | 20.71 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan
- 80 Azerbaijan 288,593 compare
- 81 Senegal 279,917 compare
- 82 Cuba 272,516 compare
- 83 Yemen 267,498 compare
- 84 Lebanon 265,390 compare
- 85 Tanzania, United Republic of 252,098 compare
- 86 New Zealand 251,357 compare
More education data for WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 4.42 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 16.51 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 3.77 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 35.93 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 5.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 32.16 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.28 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.29 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 43.62 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 2.72 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan was 20.71 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 20.71 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 972,339 in 1971.
- How does WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan ranks 83rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Middle East & North Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan 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