Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both in Japan
Japan: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both was 3.88 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Japan, 1971–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
Japan recorded 3.88 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Japan peaked at 3.96 million in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1.82 million, in 1971.
Japan ranks 11th of 200 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes … gaps filled both in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1.82 million | — |
| 1972 | 1.93 million | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 1.98 million | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 2.06 million | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 2.16 million | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 2.25 million | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 2.30 million | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 2.44 million | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 2.43 million | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 2.42 million | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 2.41 million | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 2.40 million | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 2.39 million | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 2.41 million | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 2.40 million | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 2.35 million | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 2.41 million | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 2.51 million | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 2.59 million | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 2.68 million | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 2.78 million | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 2.90 million | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 3.37 million | +16.2% |
| 1994 | 3.84 million | +14.0% |
| 1995 | 3.92 million | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 3.93 million | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 3.95 million | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 3.96 million | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 3.94 million | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 3.86 million | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 3.86 million | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.85 million | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 3.85 million | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.85 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 3.86 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 3.87 million | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 3.88 million | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 3.88 million | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 3.89 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 3.88 million | -0.2% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 3.88 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 24.4× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Japan's 3.88 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 103,347, 37.6× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.15 million | 1.82 million | 2.44 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.43 million | 2.35 million | 2.59 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.53 million | 2.68 million | 3.96 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.86 million | 3.85 million | 3.87 million | 7 |
| 2020s | 3.88 million | 3.88 million | 3.89 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More education data for Japan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 627,777 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.50 million (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (1999)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0502 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Japan?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Japan was 3.88 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.96 million in 1998.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.82 million in 1971.
- How does Japan rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- Japan ranks 11th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
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
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes UNESCO Institute for Statistics
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
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.