Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)
WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income): Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 17.54 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
17.54 million
Change on year
up 2.7%
Rank
97th
of 221 groups
All-time high
17.54 million
in 2024
All-time low
747,450
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income), 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) is 17.54 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) peaked at 17.54 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 747,450, in 1971.
WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 97th of 221 groups on this measure, 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 (excluding High Income), year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 861,393 | — |
| 1971 | 747,450 | -13.2% |
| 1972 | 810,273 | +8.4% |
| 1973 | 905,665 | +11.8% |
| 1974 | 996,484 | +10.0% |
| 1975 | 1.12 million | +12.0% |
| 1976 | 1.26 million | +13.3% |
| 1977 | 1.40 million | +10.6% |
| 1978 | 1.51 million | +8.3% |
| 1979 | 1.60 million | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 1.73 million | +8.1% |
| 1981 | 1.91 million | +10.6% |
| 1982 | 2.09 million | +9.1% |
| 1983 | 2.21 million | +6.0% |
| 1984 | 2.37 million | +7.0% |
| 1985 | 2.46 million | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 2.63 million | +6.7% |
| 1987 | 2.74 million | +4.3% |
| 1988 | 2.90 million | +5.8% |
| 1989 | 2.93 million | +1.2% |
| 1990 | 3.04 million | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 3.01 million | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 3.20 million | +6.2% |
| 1993 | 3.49 million | +9.0% |
| 1994 | 3.72 million | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 4.04 million | +8.6% |
| 1996 | 4.50 million | +11.4% |
| 1997 | 4.90 million | +9.0% |
| 1998 | 5.36 million | +9.4% |
| 1999 | 5.89 million | +9.7% |
| 2000 | 6.13 million | +4.2% |
| 2001 | 6.55 million | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 6.90 million | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 7.15 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 7.89 million | +10.4% |
| 2005 | 8.67 million | +9.9% |
| 2006 | 9.20 million | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 10.06 million | +9.3% |
| 2008 | 10.95 million | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 11.46 million | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 12.23 million | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 12.47 million | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 13.33 million | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 13.80 million | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 14.50 million | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 15.03 million | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 14.67 million | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 14.80 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 14.85 million | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 15.55 million | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 16.06 million | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 16.33 million | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 16.38 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 17.08 million | +4.3% |
| 2024 | 17.54 million | +2.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.12 million | 747,450 | 1.60 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.40 million | 1.73 million | 2.93 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.11 million | 3.01 million | 5.89 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.50 million | 6.13 million | 11.46 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.12 million | 12.23 million | 15.55 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.68 million | 16.06 million | 17.54 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)
More education data for WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 8.74 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 3.82 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 8.80 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 1.85 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 29.02 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.80 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 32.64 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.06 % change on previous year (2024)
All data for WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) was 17.54 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 (excluding High Income)?
- The highest recorded value was 17.54 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income)?
- The lowest recorded value was 747,450 in 1971.
- How does WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) ranks 97th 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 (excluding High Income)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: Middle East & North Africa (excluding High Income) 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