Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium
Belgium: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 515,530 number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium stood at 515,530 number.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and up 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium peaked at 526,760 number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 124,857 number, in 1971.
That places Belgium 49th out of 193 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 124,857 number | — |
| 1972 | 127,275 number | +1.9% |
| 1973 | 141,002 number | +10.8% |
| 1974 | 148,628 number | +5.4% |
| 1975 | 152,129 number | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 187,382 number | +23.2% |
| 1979 | 200,136 number | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 198,745 number | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 196,153 number | -1.3% |
| 1982 | 213,281 number | +8.7% |
| 1983 | 219,591 number | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 226,890 number | +3.3% |
| 1985 | 245,762 number | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 247,499 number | +0.7% |
| 1987 | 252,236 number | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 254,329 number | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 260,608 number | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 271,007 number | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 276,248 number | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 307,130 number | +11.2% |
| 1994 | 322,364 number | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 352,630 number | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 358,214 number | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 351,788 number | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 355,748 number | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 359,265 number | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 366,982 number | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 374,532 number | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 386,110 number | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 389,547 number | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 394,427 number | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 393,687 number | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 401,652 number | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 425,219 number | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 445,309 number | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 462,419 number | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 477,712 number | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 488,488 number | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 495,910 number | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 504,745 number | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 508,270 number | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 526,760 number | +3.6% |
| 2018 | 515,530 number | -2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 154,487 number | 124,857 number | 200,136 number | 7 |
| 1980s | 231,509 number | 196,153 number | 260,608 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 319,912 number | 271,007 number | 358,214 number | 7 |
| 2000s | 384,717 number | 355,748 number | 425,219 number | 10 |
| 2010s | 491,683 number | 445,309 number | 526,760 number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 80,763 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 15.7% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 102.11 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 102.1% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Belgium was 515,530 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 526,760 number in 2017.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 124,857 number in 1971.
- How does Belgium rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Belgium ranks 49th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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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About this data
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.