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

SDG: Europe: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 32.93 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
32.93 million
Change on year
up 2.8%
Rank
54th
of 221 groups
All-time high
33.96 million
in 2009
All-time low
15.12 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024

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

010.0M20.0M30.0M197019972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe is 32.93 million, measured in 2024.

The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe peaked at 33.96 million in 2009 and was at its lowest, 15.12 million, in 1971.

SDG: Europe ranks 54th of 221 groups on this measure, 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, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in SDG: Europe, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 25.05 million
1971 15.12 million -39.6%
1972 15.61 million +3.2%
1973 16.21 million +3.8%
1974 16.50 million +1.8%
1975 16.71 million +1.3%
1976 17.20 million +2.9%
1977 17.78 million +3.4%
1978 17.88 million +0.6%
1979 17.93 million +0.3%
1980 18.06 million +0.7%
1981 17.68 million -2.1%
1982 18.63 million +5.4%
1983 18.07 million -3.0%
1984 18.98 million +5.1%
1985 18.36 million -3.3%
1986 18.25 million -0.6%
1987 18.62 million +2.0%
1988 18.86 million +1.3%
1989 19.15 million +1.5%
1990 19.25 million +0.5%
1991 19.03 million -1.1%
1992 19.51 million +2.5%
1993 19.83 million +1.7%
1994 20.53 million +3.5%
1995 20.92 million +1.9%
1996 21.64 million +3.5%
1997 22.89 million +5.8%
1998 23.91 million +4.5%
1999 25.08 million +4.9%
2000 26.24 million +4.6%
2001 27.86 million +6.2%
2002 29.53 million +6.0%
2003 30.97 million +4.9%
2004 31.60 million +2.0%
2005 32.54 million +3.0%
2006 33.13 million +1.8%
2007 33.57 million +1.3%
2008 33.85 million +0.8%
2009 33.96 million +0.3%
2010 33.84 million -0.3%
2011 33.38 million -1.4%
2012 32.33 million -3.2%
2013 31.31 million -3.2%
2014 30.62 million -2.2%
2015 29.65 million -3.2%
2016 29.16 million -1.7%
2017 28.99 million -0.6%
2018 28.97 million -0.1%
2019 29.28 million +1.0%
2020 29.75 million +1.6%
2021 30.80 million +3.6%
2022 31.65 million +2.8%
2023 32.03 million +1.2%
2024 32.93 million +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 17.60 million 15.12 million 25.05 million 10
1980s 18.46 million 17.68 million 19.15 million 10
1990s 21.26 million 19.03 million 25.08 million 10
2000s 31.32 million 26.24 million 33.96 million 10
2010s 30.75 million 28.97 million 33.84 million 10
2020s 31.43 million 29.75 million 32.93 million 5

Countries ranked near SDG: Europe

  1. 51 Belgium 550,999 compare
  2. 52 Romania 538,720 compare
  3. 53 Dominican Republic 532,998 compare
  4. 54 Guatemala 504,766 compare
  5. 55 Sweden 494,296 compare
  6. 56 Cameroon 447,513 compare
  7. 57 Austria 442,235 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for SDG: Europe

All data for SDG: Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe was 32.93 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in SDG: Europe?
The highest recorded value was 33.96 million in 2009.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in SDG: Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 15.12 million in 1971.
How does SDG: Europe rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
SDG: Europe ranks 54th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in SDG: Europe?
Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this SDG: Europe 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. 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/sdg-europe/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/sdg-europe/">Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Europe</a> — Statizoid

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.