Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: North America and Western Europe
UIS: North America and Western Europe: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 38.88 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: North America and Western Europe, 1970–2024
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: North America and Western Europe stood at 38.88 million.
That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: North America and Western Europe peaked at 39.65 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 15.84 million, in 1971.
UIS: North America and Western Europe ranks 52nd 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 UIS: North America and Western Europe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 28.48 million | — |
| 1971 | 15.84 million | -44.4% |
| 1972 | 16.53 million | +4.3% |
| 1973 | 17.37 million | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 18.03 million | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 18.55 million | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 20.12 million | +8.5% |
| 1977 | 20.09 million | -0.1% |
| 1978 | 20.39 million | +1.5% |
| 1979 | 20.39 million | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 20.84 million | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 21.45 million | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 22.58 million | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 22.20 million | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 23.22 million | +4.6% |
| 1985 | 22.58 million | -2.8% |
| 1986 | 23.05 million | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 23.01 million | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 23.84 million | +3.6% |
| 1989 | 25.00 million | +4.9% |
| 1990 | 25.68 million | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 25.76 million | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 27.13 million | +5.3% |
| 1993 | 27.57 million | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 28.20 million | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 28.38 million | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 28.52 million | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 27.43 million | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 28.10 million | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 28.89 million | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 28.48 million | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 30.14 million | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 31.97 million | +6.1% |
| 2003 | 32.94 million | +3.0% |
| 2004 | 33.58 million | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 33.73 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 34.43 million | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 34.78 million | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 35.21 million | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 36.31 million | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 36.99 million | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 37.59 million | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 37.86 million | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 37.83 million | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 37.79 million | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 37.70 million | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 37.70 million | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 37.77 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 38.01 million | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 38.52 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 38.93 million | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 39.20 million | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 39.30 million | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 39.65 million | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 38.88 million | -1.9% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: North America and Western Europe 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -44.4% | 28.48 million | 15.84 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.58 million | 15.84 million | 28.48 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.78 million | 20.84 million | 25.00 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 27.57 million | 25.68 million | 28.89 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 33.16 million | 28.48 million | 36.31 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.77 million | 36.99 million | 38.52 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.19 million | 38.88 million | 39.65 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UIS: North America and Western Europe
More education data for UIS: North America and Western Europe
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -1.94 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 31.98 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1303 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 33.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.1311 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 21.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 21.84 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 17.04 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: North America and Western Europe was 38.88 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 39.65 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.84 million in 1971.
- How does UIS: North America and Western Europe rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
- UIS: North America and Western Europe ranks 52nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UIS: North America and Western 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 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.