Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: South Asia
WB: South Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 48.55 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
48.55 million
Change on year
up 1.7%
Rank
47th
of 221 groups
All-time high
48.55 million
in 2024
All-time low
2.66 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: South Asia stood at 48.55 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
The figure is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 46.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: South Asia peaked at 48.55 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.66 million, in 1971.
That places WB: South Asia 47th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it 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 WB: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.58 million | — |
| 1971 | 2.66 million | -72.3% |
| 1972 | 9.60 million | +261.4% |
| 1973 | 2.97 million | -69.0% |
| 1974 | 9.62 million | +223.8% |
| 1975 | 9.62 million | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 3.24 million | -66.3% |
| 1977 | 3.24 million | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 3.37 million | +4.0% |
| 1979 | 3.52 million | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 3.61 million | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 3.89 million | +7.5% |
| 1982 | 3.82 million | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 4.42 million | +15.6% |
| 1984 | 4.77 million | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 4.85 million | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 5.08 million | +4.7% |
| 1987 | 5.37 million | +5.8% |
| 1988 | 4.81 million | -10.5% |
| 1989 | 5.07 million | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 5.38 million | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 5.59 million | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 10.07 million | +80.0% |
| 1993 | 10.10 million | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 10.13 million | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 5.70 million | -43.7% |
| 1996 | 6.52 million | +14.3% |
| 1997 | 6.93 million | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 10.31 million | +48.9% |
| 1999 | 10.36 million | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 10.40 million | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 11.00 million | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 11.75 million | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 12.51 million | +6.4% |
| 2004 | 13.04 million | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 13.11 million | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 14.35 million | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 16.51 million | +15.1% |
| 2008 | 19.05 million | +15.4% |
| 2009 | 20.63 million | +8.3% |
| 2010 | 23.19 million | +12.4% |
| 2011 | 29.30 million | +26.4% |
| 2012 | 31.32 million | +6.9% |
| 2013 | 31.02 million | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 33.15 million | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 35.25 million | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 35.77 million | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 36.82 million | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 38.22 million | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 39.63 million | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 40.72 million | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 43.31 million | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 45.20 million | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 47.72 million | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 48.55 million | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.74 million | 2.66 million | 9.62 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.57 million | 3.61 million | 5.37 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.11 million | 5.38 million | 10.36 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 14.23 million | 10.40 million | 20.63 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.37 million | 23.19 million | 39.63 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.10 million | 40.72 million | 48.55 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: South Asia
More education data for WB: South Asia
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -2.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77.39 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.92 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 4.54 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 83.44 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 4.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 43.54 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 152.88 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -2.02 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: South Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: South Asia was 48.55 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 48.55 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.66 million in 1971.
- How does WB: South Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: South Asia ranks 47th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: 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