Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in France

France: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 2.88 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
2.88 million
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
17th
of 200 countries
All-time high
2.88 million
in 2022
All-time low
801,156
in 1971
Years of data
54
1971–2024

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in France, 1971–2024

1.0M1.5M2.0M2.5M3.0M197119972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in France stood at 2.88 million.

That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 20.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in France peaked at 2.88 million in 2022 and was at its lowest, 801,156, in 1971.

That places France 17th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in France, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in France, 1971 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1971 801,156
1972 841,049 +5.0%
1973 906,568 +7.8%
1974 936,052 +3.3%
1975 989,439 +5.7%
1976 1.04 million +5.0%
1977 1.04 million +0.4%
1978 1.09 million +4.2%
1979 1.02 million -6.1%
1980 1.06 million +3.9%
1981 1.08 million +1.5%
1982 1.15 million +6.8%
1983 1.18 million +2.5%
1984 1.22 million +3.2%
1985 1.26 million +3.1%
1986 1.28 million +1.8%
1987 1.29 million +0.9%
1988 1.33 million +2.9%
1989 1.48 million +11.2%
1990 1.59 million +7.5%
1991 1.70 million +7.0%
1992 1.84 million +8.3%
1993 1.95 million +6.1%
1994 2.08 million +6.7%
1995 2.07 million -0.5%
1996 2.09 million +0.9%
1997 2.06 million -1.4%
1998 2.03 million -1.7%
1999 2.01 million -0.8%
2000 2.02 million +0.2%
2001 2.03 million +0.8%
2002 2.03 million -0.1%
2003 2.12 million +4.4%
2004 2.16 million +1.9%
2005 2.19 million +1.3%
2006 2.20 million +0.6%
2007 2.18 million -1.0%
2008 2.16 million -0.7%
2009 2.17 million +0.4%
2010 2.25 million +3.3%
2011 2.26 million +0.6%
2012 2.30 million +1.6%
2013 2.34 million +1.8%
2014 2.39 million +2.2%
2015 2.42 million +1.5%
2016 2.48 million +2.3%
2017 2.53 million +2.1%
2018 2.62 million +3.4%
2019 2.69 million +2.5%
2020 2.75 million +2.3%
2021 2.81 million +2.2%
2022 2.88 million +2.6%
2023 2.85 million -1.1%
2024 2.88 million +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 962,558 801,156 1.09 million 9
1980s 1.23 million 1.06 million 1.48 million 10
1990s 1.94 million 1.59 million 2.09 million 10
2000s 2.13 million 2.02 million 2.20 million 10
2010s 2.43 million 2.25 million 2.69 million 10
2020s 2.83 million 2.75 million 2.88 million 5

Countries ranked near France

  1. 14 Iran 3.34 million compare
  2. 15 Germany 3.27 million compare
  3. 16 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 3.20 million compare
  4. 18 Republic of Korea 2.73 million compare
  5. 19 Pakistan 2.68 million compare
  6. 20 Viet Nam 2.49 million compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in France?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in France was 2.88 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 2.88 million in 2022.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 801,156 in 1971.
How does France rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
France ranks 17th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this France data come from?
The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in France. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/france/

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How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
421 places, 19,011 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) with 690 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.