Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: North America
WB: North America: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 19.12 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
19.12 million
Change on year
down 3.9%
Rank
89th
of 221 groups
All-time high
21.53 million
in 2013
All-time low
9.71 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: North America, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: North America recorded 19.12 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.9% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: North America peaked at 21.53 million in 2013 and was at its lowest, 9.71 million, in 1971.
WB: North America ranks 89th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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: North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 14.42 million | — |
| 1971 | 9.71 million | -32.6% |
| 1972 | 10.16 million | +4.6% |
| 1973 | 10.51 million | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 10.81 million | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 11.44 million | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 12.27 million | +7.2% |
| 1977 | 12.22 million | -0.3% |
| 1978 | 12.50 million | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 12.47 million | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 12.78 million | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 13.31 million | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 13.58 million | +2.1% |
| 1983 | 13.64 million | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 13.68 million | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 13.45 million | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 13.89 million | +3.2% |
| 1987 | 13.72 million | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 13.98 million | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 14.78 million | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 15.38 million | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 15.63 million | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 16.30 million | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 16.23 million | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 16.08 million | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 16.06 million | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 16.03 million | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 14.42 million | -10.0% |
| 1998 | 14.48 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 14.99 million | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 14.42 million | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 15.78 million | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 17.18 million | +8.9% |
| 2003 | 17.78 million | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 18.23 million | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 18.25 million | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 18.88 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 19.25 million | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 19.69 million | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 20.55 million | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 20.82 million | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 21.22 million | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 21.44 million | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 21.53 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 21.28 million | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 21.10 million | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 20.88 million | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 20.64 million | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 20.57 million | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 20.55 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 20.53 million | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 19.96 million | -2.8% |
| 2022 | 19.67 million | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 19.89 million | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 19.12 million | -3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.65 million | 9.71 million | 14.42 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.68 million | 12.78 million | 14.78 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.56 million | 14.42 million | 16.30 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.00 million | 14.42 million | 20.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.00 million | 20.55 million | 21.53 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.83 million | 19.12 million | 20.53 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: North America
More education data for WB: North America
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -3.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 13.65 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.3042 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.3046 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.81 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -2.61 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 19.12 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -3.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -3.89 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 11.04 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: North America?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: North America was 19.12 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: North America?
- The highest recorded value was 21.53 million in 2013.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.71 million in 1971.
- How does WB: North America rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: North America ranks 89th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: North America 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