Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in WB: Europe & Central Asia

WB: Europe & Central Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 44.64 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
44.64 million
Change on year
up 4.3%
Rank
51st
of 221 groups
All-time high
44.64 million
in 2024
All-time low
16.45 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in WB: Europe & Central Asia, 1970–2024

010.0M20.0M30.0M40.0M197019972024

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in WB: Europe & Central Asia stood at 44.64 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 17.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in WB: Europe & Central Asia peaked at 44.64 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 16.45 million, in 1971.

That places WB: Europe & Central Asia 51st 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 WB: Europe & Central Asia, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number), gaps filled in WB: Europe & Central Asia, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 27.77 million
1971 16.45 million -40.8%
1972 16.96 million +3.1%
1973 17.59 million +3.7%
1974 17.92 million +1.9%
1975 18.25 million +1.8%
1976 18.84 million +3.2%
1977 19.51 million +3.5%
1978 19.64 million +0.7%
1979 19.71 million +0.3%
1980 19.82 million +0.5%
1981 19.43 million -2.0%
1982 20.36 million +4.8%
1983 19.82 million -2.6%
1984 20.79 million +4.9%
1985 20.26 million -2.6%
1986 20.22 million -0.2%
1987 20.59 million +1.8%
1988 20.87 million +1.4%
1989 21.22 million +1.7%
1990 21.44 million +1.0%
1991 21.33 million -0.5%
1992 21.86 million +2.5%
1993 22.22 million +1.6%
1994 23.09 million +3.9%
1995 23.48 million +1.7%
1996 24.54 million +4.5%
1997 25.62 million +4.4%
1998 26.66 million +4.0%
1999 27.83 million +4.4%
2000 29.26 million +5.2%
2001 31.03 million +6.0%
2002 32.90 million +6.0%
2003 34.70 million +5.5%
2004 35.51 million +2.3%
2005 36.62 million +3.1%
2006 37.56 million +2.6%
2007 38.14 million +1.5%
2008 38.52 million +1.0%
2009 38.95 million +1.1%
2010 39.39 million +1.1%
2011 39.23 million -0.4%
2012 38.70 million -1.4%
2013 38.28 million -1.1%
2014 38.05 million -0.6%
2015 37.63 million -1.1%
2016 37.77 million +0.4%
2017 38.14 million +1.0%
2018 38.50 million +0.9%
2019 39.15 million +1.7%
2020 40.00 million +2.2%
2021 41.54 million +3.8%
2022 42.42 million +2.1%
2023 42.82 million +0.9%
2024 44.64 million +4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 19.26 million 16.45 million 27.77 million 10
1980s 20.34 million 19.43 million 21.22 million 10
1990s 23.81 million 21.33 million 27.83 million 10
2000s 35.32 million 29.26 million 38.95 million 10
2010s 38.48 million 37.63 million 39.39 million 10
2020s 42.28 million 40.00 million 44.64 million 5

Countries ranked near WB: Europe & Central Asia

  1. 48 Kenya 611,146 compare
  2. 49 Ethiopia 587,015 compare
  3. 50 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 564,421 compare
  4. 51 Belgium 550,999 compare
  5. 52 Romania 538,720 compare
  6. 53 Dominican Republic 532,998 compare
  7. 54 Guatemala 504,766 compare

See the full ranking of 421 places →

More education data for WB: Europe & Central Asia

All data for WB: Europe & Central Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in WB: Europe & Central Asia was 44.64 million in 2024, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
The highest recorded value was 44.64 million in 2024.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) recorded in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 16.45 million in 1971.
How does WB: Europe & Central Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)?
WB: Europe & Central Asia ranks 51st out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) rising or falling in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this WB: Europe & Central Asia 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 WB: Europe & Central Asia. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number-gaps-filled/wb-europe-and-central-asia/

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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.

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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.