Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe and Northern America

SDG: Europe and Northern America: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 52.05 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
52.05 million
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
43rd
of 221 groups
All-time high
54.66 million
in 2010
All-time low
24.83 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe and Northern America, 1970–2024

020.0M40.0M60.0M197019972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe and Northern America stood at 52.05 million.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe and Northern America peaked at 54.66 million in 2010 and was at its lowest, 24.83 million, in 1971.

That places SDG: Europe and Northern America 43rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe and Northern America, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in SDG: Europe and Northern America, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 39.46 million
1971 24.83 million -37.1%
1972 25.77 million +3.8%
1973 26.72 million +3.7%
1974 27.31 million +2.2%
1975 28.14 million +3.0%
1976 29.46 million +4.7%
1977 30.00 million +1.8%
1978 30.38 million +1.3%
1979 30.40 million +0.1%
1980 30.84 million +1.4%
1981 30.99 million +0.5%
1982 32.21 million +4.0%
1983 31.71 million -1.6%
1984 32.66 million +3.0%
1985 31.82 million -2.6%
1986 32.13 million +1.0%
1987 32.33 million +0.6%
1988 32.84 million +1.6%
1989 33.93 million +3.3%
1990 34.63 million +2.1%
1991 34.66 million +0.1%
1992 35.81 million +3.3%
1993 36.06 million +0.7%
1994 36.61 million +1.5%
1995 36.98 million +1.0%
1996 37.67 million +1.9%
1997 37.30 million -1.0%
1998 38.39 million +2.9%
1999 40.07 million +4.4%
2000 40.65 million +1.5%
2001 43.64 million +7.4%
2002 46.71 million +7.0%
2003 48.75 million +4.4%
2004 49.83 million +2.2%
2005 50.79 million +1.9%
2006 52.01 million +2.4%
2007 52.83 million +1.6%
2008 53.55 million +1.4%
2009 54.51 million +1.8%
2010 54.66 million +0.3%
2011 54.60 million -0.1%
2012 53.76 million -1.5%
2013 52.83 million -1.7%
2014 51.89 million -1.8%
2015 50.75 million -2.2%
2016 50.04 million -1.4%
2017 49.64 million -0.8%
2018 49.54 million -0.2%
2019 49.82 million +0.6%
2020 50.28 million +0.9%
2021 50.76 million +1.0%
2022 51.33 million +1.1%
2023 51.92 million +1.2%
2024 52.05 million +0.3%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe and Northern America changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1971 -37.1% 39.46 million 24.83 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 29.25 million 24.83 million 39.46 million 10
1980s 32.15 million 30.84 million 33.93 million 10
1990s 36.82 million 34.63 million 40.07 million 10
2000s 49.33 million 40.65 million 54.51 million 10
2010s 51.75 million 49.54 million 54.66 million 10
2020s 51.27 million 50.28 million 52.05 million 5

Countries ranked near SDG: Europe and Northern America

  1. 40 Netherlands 985,327 compare
  2. 41 Myanmar 932,199 compare
  3. 42 Greece 872,882 compare
  4. 43 Kazakhstan 768,980 compare
  5. 44 Syrian Arab Republic 697,415 compare
  6. 45 Ghana 693,463 compare
  7. 46 Sudan 653,088 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for SDG: Europe and Northern America

All data for SDG: Europe and Northern America →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe and Northern America was 52.05 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
The highest recorded value was 54.66 million in 2010.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
The lowest recorded value was 24.83 million in 1971.
How does SDG: Europe and Northern America rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
SDG: Europe and Northern America ranks 43rd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in SDG: Europe and Northern America?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this SDG: Europe and Northern America 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 SDG: Europe and Northern America. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/sdg-europe-and-northern-america/

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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.