Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 3.70 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
3.70 million number
Change on year
up 17.3%
World rank
10th
of 193 countries
All-time high
3.70 million number
in 2019
All-time low
117,603 number
in 1970
Years of data
37
1970–2019

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh, 1970–2019

01.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M1970199420191970: 117.6k number1972: 136.1k number1973: 140.8k number1974: 183.8k number1976: 158.6k number1977: 181.8k number1978: 154.5k number1979: 232.8k number1980: 240.2k number1981: 244.1k number1982: 297.9k number1983: 386.5k number1984: 436.6k number1985: 461.1k number1986: 465.6k number1987: 415.2k number1988: 366.4k number1989: 370.9k number1990: 434.3k number1999: 709.2k number2000: 726.7k number2001: 878.5k number2002: 855.3k number2003: 877.3k number2004: 821.4k number2005: 911.6k number2006: 1.1M number2007: 1.1M number2008: 1.3M number2009: 1.6M number2011: 2.0M number2012: 2.0M number2014: 2.1M number2016: 2.7M number2017: 2.8M number2018: 3.2M number2019: 3.7M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh stood at 3.70 million number. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.

That represents a change of up 17.3% on the previous year and up 133.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh peaked at 3.70 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 117,603 number, in 1970.

That places Bangladesh 10th out of 193 countries with data for 2019, 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 in Bangladesh, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Bangladesh, 1970 to 2019.
Year number Change
1970 117,603 number
1972 136,113 number +15.7%
1973 140,770 number +3.4%
1974 183,833 number +30.6%
1976 158,604 number -13.7%
1977 181,756 number +14.6%
1978 154,496 number -15.0%
1979 232,780 number +50.7%
1980 240,181 number +3.2%
1981 244,091 number +1.6%
1982 297,930 number +22.1%
1983 386,542 number +29.7%
1984 436,615 number +13.0%
1985 461,073 number +5.6%
1986 465,552 number +1.0%
1987 415,232 number -10.8%
1988 366,355 number -11.8%
1989 370,900 number +1.2%
1990 434,309 number +17.1%
1999 709,224 number +63.3%
2000 726,701 number +2.5%
2001 878,537 number +20.9%
2002 855,339 number -2.6%
2003 877,335 number +2.6%
2004 821,364 number -6.4%
2005 911,600 number +11.0%
2006 1.05 million number +15.6%
2007 1.15 million number +8.7%
2008 1.29 million number +13.0%
2009 1.58 million number +22.2%
2011 2.01 million number +26.9%
2012 2.04 million number +1.4%
2014 2.07 million number +1.5%
2016 2.70 million number +30.5%
2017 2.76 million number +2.4%
2018 3.15 million number +14.0%
2019 3.70 million number +17.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 163,244 number 117,603 number 232,780 number 8
1980s 368,447 number 240,181 number 465,552 number 10
1990s 571,766 number 434,309 number 709,224 number 2
2000s 1.01 million number 726,701 number 1.58 million number 10
2010s 2.63 million number 2.01 million number 3.70 million number 7

Countries ranked near Bangladesh

  1. 7 Russian Federation 5.77 million number compare
  2. 8 Mexico 4.56 million number compare
  3. 9 Japan 3.86 million number compare
  4. 11 Iran 3.62 million number compare
  5. 12 Philippines 3.59 million number compare
  6. 13 Argentina 3.14 million number compare

See the full ranking of 238 places →

More education data for Bangladesh

All data for Bangladesh →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh was 3.70 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
The highest recorded value was 3.70 million number in 2019.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
The lowest recorded value was 117,603 number in 1970.
How does Bangladesh rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Bangladesh ranks 10th out of 193 countries with data for 2019.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Bangladesh?
Over the last ten years it is up 133.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bangladesh. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/bangladesh/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.