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

SDG: Northern America: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 19.12 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
19.12 million
Change on year
down 3.9%
Rank
89th
of 221 groups
All-time high
21.53 million
in 2013
All-time low
9.71 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024

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

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M197019972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Northern America is 19.12 million, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Northern America peaked at 21.53 million in 2013 and was at its lowest, 9.71 million, in 1971.

That places SDG: Northern America 89th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

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: Northern America, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in SDG: Northern America, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 14.42 million
1971 9.71 million -32.6%
1972 10.16 million +4.6%
1973 10.51 million +3.4%
1974 10.81 million +2.9%
1975 11.44 million +5.7%
1976 12.27 million +7.2%
1977 12.22 million -0.3%
1978 12.50 million +2.2%
1979 12.47 million -0.2%
1980 12.78 million +2.5%
1981 13.31 million +4.1%
1982 13.58 million +2.1%
1983 13.64 million +0.4%
1984 13.68 million +0.3%
1985 13.45 million -1.6%
1986 13.89 million +3.2%
1987 13.72 million -1.2%
1988 13.98 million +1.9%
1989 14.78 million +5.8%
1990 15.38 million +4.0%
1991 15.63 million +1.6%
1992 16.30 million +4.3%
1993 16.23 million -0.4%
1994 16.08 million -0.9%
1995 16.06 million -0.1%
1996 16.03 million -0.2%
1997 14.42 million -10.0%
1998 14.48 million +0.4%
1999 14.99 million +3.5%
2000 14.42 million -3.8%
2001 15.78 million +9.4%
2002 17.18 million +8.9%
2003 17.78 million +3.5%
2004 18.23 million +2.6%
2005 18.25 million +0.1%
2006 18.88 million +3.5%
2007 19.25 million +2.0%
2008 19.69 million +2.3%
2009 20.55 million +4.4%
2010 20.82 million +1.3%
2011 21.22 million +1.9%
2012 21.44 million +1.0%
2013 21.53 million +0.4%
2014 21.28 million -1.2%
2015 21.10 million -0.9%
2016 20.88 million -1.0%
2017 20.64 million -1.2%
2018 20.57 million -0.4%
2019 20.55 million -0.1%
2020 20.53 million -0.1%
2021 19.96 million -2.8%
2022 19.67 million -1.4%
2023 19.89 million +1.1%
2024 19.12 million -3.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 11.65 million 9.71 million 14.42 million 10
1980s 13.68 million 12.78 million 14.78 million 10
1990s 15.56 million 14.42 million 16.30 million 10
2000s 18.00 million 14.42 million 20.55 million 10
2010s 21.00 million 20.55 million 21.53 million 10
2020s 19.83 million 19.12 million 20.53 million 5

Countries ranked near SDG: Northern America

  1. 86 New Zealand 251,357 compare
  2. 87 Serbia 249,768 compare
  3. 88 Honduras 247,706 compare
  4. 89 Ireland 247,231 compare
  5. 90 Burkina Faso 225,902 compare
  6. 91 Paraguay 225,211 compare
  7. 92 Palestine, State of 223,977 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for SDG: Northern America

All data for SDG: Northern America →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Northern America?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in SDG: Northern America was 19.12 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in SDG: Northern America?
The highest recorded value was 21.53 million in 2013.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in SDG: Northern America?
The lowest recorded value was 9.71 million in 1971.
How does SDG: Northern America rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
SDG: Northern America ranks 89th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in SDG: Northern America?
Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this SDG: 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: Northern America. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/sdg-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.