Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: World
WB: World: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 268.57 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
268.57 million
Change on year
up 1.4%
Rank
4th
of 221 groups
All-time high
268.57 million
in 2024
All-time low
36.21 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: World, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
WB: World recorded 268.57 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and up 26.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: World peaked at 268.57 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 36.21 million, in 1971.
WB: World ranks 4th of 221 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
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: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 71.03 million | — |
| 1971 | 36.21 million | -49.0% |
| 1972 | 44.80 million | +23.7% |
| 1973 | 41.43 million | -7.5% |
| 1974 | 48.82 million | +17.8% |
| 1975 | 49.97 million | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 46.22 million | -7.5% |
| 1977 | 47.49 million | +2.8% |
| 1978 | 48.95 million | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 49.86 million | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 51.46 million | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 53.67 million | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 55.93 million | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 57.28 million | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 65.83 million | +14.9% |
| 1985 | 67.55 million | +2.6% |
| 1986 | 62.83 million | -7.0% |
| 1987 | 65.66 million | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 65.92 million | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 68.54 million | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 69.04 million | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 70.99 million | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 78.18 million | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 80.35 million | +2.8% |
| 1994 | 82.64 million | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 84.94 million | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 84.82 million | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 92.50 million | +9.1% |
| 1998 | 93.47 million | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 98.14 million | +5.0% |
| 2000 | 103.03 million | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 110.69 million | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 119.62 million | +8.1% |
| 2003 | 127.83 million | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 134.86 million | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 141.12 million | +4.6% |
| 2006 | 151.24 million | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 157.20 million | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 165.87 million | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 173.84 million | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 181.99 million | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 191.22 million | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 197.41 million | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 200.70 million | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 213.18 million | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 218.54 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 221.35 million | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 223.27 million | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 225.64 million | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 231.59 million | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 238.81 million | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 248.28 million | +4.0% |
| 2022 | 256.26 million | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 264.99 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 268.57 million | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 48.48 million | 36.21 million | 71.03 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 61.47 million | 51.46 million | 68.54 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 83.51 million | 69.04 million | 98.14 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 138.53 million | 103.03 million | 173.84 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 210.49 million | 181.99 million | 231.59 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 255.38 million | 238.81 million | 268.57 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: World
More education data for WB: World
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes 651.68 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 314.66 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 10.2% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 337.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 206.57 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 34.10 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 89.8% (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, female 199.67 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes 412.76 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 213.09 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: World?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in WB: World was 268.57 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: World?
- The highest recorded value was 268.57 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in WB: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.21 million in 1971.
- How does WB: World rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- WB: World ranks 4th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in WB: World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this WB: World 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release