Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Canada
Canada: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.62 million number in 2018. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Canada, 1976–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Canada stood at 1.62 million number.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and up 12.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Canada peaked at 1.94 million number in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1.08 million number, in 1976.
That places Canada 29th out of 193 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Canada, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 1.08 million number | — |
| 1986 | 1.64 million number | +51.8% |
| 1989 | 1.73 million number | +5.4% |
| 1990 | 1.84 million number | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 1.92 million number | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 1.94 million number | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 1.75 million number | -10.1% |
| 1994 | 1.78 million number | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 1.78 million number | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 1.76 million number | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 1.19 million number | -32.4% |
| 1999 | 1.22 million number | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 1.21 million number | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 1.25 million number | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 1.42 million number | +13.4% |
| 2008 | 1.45 million number | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 1.45 million number | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 1.43 million number | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 1.48 million number | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 1.51 million number | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 1.56 million number | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 1.58 million number | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 1.56 million number | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 1.59 million number | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 1.63 million number | +2.0% |
| 2018 | 1.62 million number | -0.2% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 1.62 million number is above the median for high income countries, which is 164,826 number, 9.8× the median. (73 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Canada 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | +51.8% | 1.08 million number | 1.64 million number |
| 1998 | -32.4% | 1.76 million number | 1.19 million number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.08 million number | 1.08 million number | 1.08 million number | 1 |
| 1980s | 1.68 million number | 1.64 million number | 1.73 million number | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.69 million number | 1.19 million number | 1.94 million number | 9 |
| 2000s | 1.36 million number | 1.21 million number | 1.45 million number | 5 |
| 2010s | 1.55 million number | 1.43 million number | 1.63 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More education data for Canada
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 95.11 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 95.01 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133,275 (1996)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 291,075 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 273,465 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.70 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Canada?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Canada was 1.62 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 1.94 million number in 1992.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.08 million number in 1976.
- How does Canada rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Canada ranks 29th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada 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.