Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 251,357 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in New Zealand, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in New Zealand stood at 251,357.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in New Zealand peaked at 271,451 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 39,816, in 1970.
That places New Zealand 86th out of 200 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 39,816 | — |
| 1971 | 42,243 | +6.1% |
| 1972 | 62,800 | +48.7% |
| 1973 | 64,926 | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 66,739 | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 66,178 | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 68,758 | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 69,708 | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 74,473 | +6.8% |
| 1979 | 74,232 | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 76,643 | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 80,715 | +5.3% |
| 1982 | 82,666 | +2.4% |
| 1983 | 84,764 | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 95,754 | +13.0% |
| 1985 | 95,793 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 102,684 | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 105,598 | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 114,195 | +8.1% |
| 1989 | 120,821 | +5.8% |
| 1990 | 111,504 | -7.7% |
| 1991 | 128,078 | +14.9% |
| 1992 | 146,215 | +14.2% |
| 1993 | 162,932 | +11.4% |
| 1994 | 169,421 | +4.0% |
| 1995 | 163,923 | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 162,350 | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 256,608 | +58.1% |
| 2014 | 260,847 | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 270,074 | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 271,451 | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 268,646 | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 267,796 | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 255,198 | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 249,917 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 255,916 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 244,493 | -4.5% |
| 2023 | 244,572 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 251,357 | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 62,987 | 39,816 | 74,473 | 10 |
| 1980s | 95,963 | 76,643 | 120,821 | 10 |
| 1990s | 149,203 | 111,504 | 169,421 | 7 |
| 2010s | 264,374 | 255,198 | 271,451 | 7 |
| 2020s | 249,251 | 244,493 | 255,916 | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in New Zealand?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in New Zealand was 251,357 in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 271,451 in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 39,816 in 1970.
- How does New Zealand rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- New Zealand ranks 86th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 — 39 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.