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

Portugal: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 428,206 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
428,206
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
59th
of 200 countries
All-time high
428,206
in 2023
All-time low
50,095
in 1971
Years of data
38
1971–2023

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal, 1971–2023

100.0k200.0k300.0k400.0k1971199720231971: 50.1k1972: 53.4k1973: 55.2k1974: 59.8k1975: 64.7k1976: 79.7k1977: 95.8k1978: 85.4k1979: 92.1k1980: 91.4k1981: 92.2k1982: 95.0k1983: 99.2k1984: 101.3k1985: 112.9k1986: 103.6k1987: 129.3k1988: 138.4k1989: 147.6k1990: 156.7k1991: 185.8k1992: 190.9k1993: 247.5k1994: 276.5k1995: 300.6k1996: 319.5k1997: 335.7k1998: 351.8k1999: 356.8k2015: 337.5k2016: 343.1k2017: 347.0k2018: 356.4k2019: 368.2k2020: 380.2k2021: 403.7k2022: 417.2k2023: 428.2k

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2023, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal stood at 428,206. That is the highest value across all 38 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 26.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal peaked at 428,206 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 50,095, in 1971.

That places Portugal 59th out of 200 countries with data for 2023, 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 Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in Portugal, 1971 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1971 50,095
1972 53,389 +6.6%
1973 55,184 +3.4%
1974 59,845 +8.4%
1975 64,666 +8.1%
1976 79,702 +23.3%
1977 95,841 +20.2%
1978 85,360 -10.9%
1979 92,149 +8.0%
1980 91,373 -0.8%
1981 92,152 +0.9%
1982 94,958 +3.0%
1983 99,165 +4.4%
1984 101,308 +2.2%
1985 112,851 +11.4%
1986 103,585 -8.2%
1987 129,277 +24.8%
1988 138,418 +7.1%
1989 147,560 +6.6%
1990 156,701 +6.2%
1991 185,762 +18.5%
1992 190,856 +2.7%
1993 247,523 +29.7%
1994 276,534 +11.7%
1995 300,573 +8.7%
1996 319,525 +6.3%
1997 335,654 +5.0%
1998 351,784 +4.8%
1999 356,790 +1.4%
2015 337,507 -5.4%
2016 343,117 +1.7%
2017 346,963 +1.1%
2018 356,390 +2.7%
2019 368,181 +3.3%
2020 380,235 +3.3%
2021 403,746 +6.2%
2022 417,215 +3.3%
2023 428,206 +2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 70,692 50,095 95,841 9
1980s 111,065 91,373 147,560 10
1990s 272,170 156,701 356,790 10
2010s 350,432 337,507 368,181 5
2020s 407,350 380,235 428,206 4

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 56 Cameroon 447,513 compare
  2. 57 Austria 442,235 compare
  3. 58 Afghanistan 430,980 compare
  4. 60 Iraq 424,908 compare
  5. 61 Jordan 420,598 compare
  6. 62 Israel 411,478 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Portugal was 428,206 in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 428,206 in 2023.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 50,095 in 1971.
How does Portugal rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
Portugal ranks 59th out of 200 countries with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Portugal 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 Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/portugal/

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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.