Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: World

UNICEF: World: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 268.06 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
268.06 million
Change on year
up 1.3%
Rank
5th
of 221 groups
All-time high
268.06 million
in 2024
All-time low
36.11 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024

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

50.0M100.0M150.0M200.0M250.0M197019972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: World is 268.06 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 26.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: World peaked at 268.06 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 36.11 million, in 1971.

That places UNICEF: World 5th out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.

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 UNICEF: World, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in UNICEF: World, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 70.62 million
1971 36.11 million -48.9%
1972 44.68 million +23.7%
1973 41.30 million -7.6%
1974 48.68 million +17.9%
1975 49.82 million +2.3%
1976 46.05 million -7.6%
1977 47.33 million +2.8%
1978 48.66 million +2.8%
1979 49.66 million +2.1%
1980 51.26 million +3.2%
1981 53.37 million +4.1%
1982 55.71 million +4.4%
1983 56.95 million +2.2%
1984 65.49 million +15.0%
1985 67.14 million +2.5%
1986 62.41 million -7.0%
1987 65.25 million +4.5%
1988 65.51 million +0.4%
1989 68.13 million +4.0%
1990 68.63 million +0.7%
1991 70.58 million +2.8%
1992 77.84 million +10.3%
1993 80.01 million +2.8%
1994 82.29 million +2.9%
1995 84.53 million +2.7%
1996 84.41 million -0.1%
1997 92.10 million +9.1%
1998 93.05 million +1.0%
1999 97.73 million +5.0%
2000 102.62 million +5.0%
2001 110.28 million +7.5%
2002 119.21 million +8.1%
2003 127.42 million +6.9%
2004 134.46 million +5.5%
2005 140.72 million +4.7%
2006 150.84 million +7.2%
2007 156.76 million +3.9%
2008 165.36 million +5.5%
2009 173.32 million +4.8%
2010 181.44 million +4.7%
2011 190.66 million +5.1%
2012 196.86 million +3.3%
2013 200.12 million +1.7%
2014 212.60 million +6.2%
2015 217.96 million +2.5%
2016 220.78 million +1.3%
2017 222.69 million +0.9%
2018 225.08 million +1.1%
2019 231.04 million +2.6%
2020 238.28 million +3.1%
2021 247.76 million +4.0%
2022 255.75 million +3.2%
2023 264.49 million +3.4%
2024 268.06 million +1.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 48.29 million 36.11 million 70.62 million 10
1980s 61.12 million 51.26 million 68.13 million 10
1990s 83.11 million 68.63 million 97.73 million 10
2000s 138.10 million 102.62 million 173.32 million 10
2010s 209.92 million 181.44 million 231.04 million 10
2020s 254.87 million 238.28 million 268.06 million 5

Countries ranked near UNICEF: World

  1. 2 India 43.90 million compare
  2. 3 United States 18.05 million compare
  3. 4 Brazil 10.55 million compare
  4. 5 Indonesia 9.85 million compare
  5. 6 Türkiye 7.00 million compare
  6. 7 Mexico 5.39 million compare
  7. 8 Philippines 5.14 million compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for UNICEF: World

All data for UNICEF: World →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: World?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: World was 268.06 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in UNICEF: World?
The highest recorded value was 268.06 million in 2024.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in UNICEF: World?
The lowest recorded value was 36.11 million in 1971.
How does UNICEF: World rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
UNICEF: World ranks 5th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in UNICEF: World?
Over the last ten years it is up 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this UNICEF: World 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.

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: World. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/unicef-world/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page; please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/unicef-world/">Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: World</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.