Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific
East Asia & Pacific: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 74.55 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
74.55 million number
Change on year
up 1.1%
Rank
9th
of 45 groups
All-time high
74.55 million number
in 2019
All-time low
2.82 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific stood at 74.55 million number. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 40.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific peaked at 74.55 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.82 million number, in 1970.
That places East Asia & Pacific 9th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
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 East Asia & Pacific, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.82 million number | — |
| 1971 | 3.91 million number | +38.6% |
| 1972 | 4.17 million number | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 4.35 million number | +4.4% |
| 1974 | 4.73 million number | +8.5% |
| 1975 | 5.10 million number | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 5.46 million number | +7.1% |
| 1977 | 5.77 million number | +5.7% |
| 1978 | 6.31 million number | +9.3% |
| 1979 | 6.95 million number | +10.1% |
| 1980 | 7.51 million number | +8.1% |
| 1981 | 8.33 million number | +10.9% |
| 1982 | 9.33 million number | +11.9% |
| 1983 | 10.02 million number | +7.4% |
| 1984 | 10.92 million number | +9.0% |
| 1985 | 11.80 million number | +8.0% |
| 1986 | 12.59 million number | +6.7% |
| 1987 | 13.29 million number | +5.6% |
| 1988 | 13.52 million number | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 14.01 million number | +3.7% |
| 1990 | 14.33 million number | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 14.73 million number | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 14.97 million number | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 14.46 million number | -3.4% |
| 1994 | 17.89 million number | +23.7% |
| 1995 | 19.20 million number | +7.3% |
| 1996 | 18.07 million number | -5.9% |
| 1997 | 19.83 million number | +9.8% |
| 1998 | 22.59 million number | +13.9% |
| 1999 | 24.04 million number | +6.4% |
| 2000 | 25.66 million number | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 28.25 million number | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 31.56 million number | +11.7% |
| 2003 | 35.17 million number | +11.4% |
| 2004 | 38.62 million number | +9.8% |
| 2005 | 41.67 million number | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 44.78 million number | +7.5% |
| 2007 | 47.48 million number | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 49.78 million number | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 53.13 million number | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 55.67 million number | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 57.01 million number | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 59.30 million number | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 61.42 million number | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 70.08 million number | +14.1% |
| 2015 | 71.98 million number | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 72.85 million number | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 73.02 million number | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 73.73 million number | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 74.55 million number | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.96 million number | 2.82 million number | 6.95 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.13 million number | 7.51 million number | 14.01 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.01 million number | 14.33 million number | 24.04 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.61 million number | 25.66 million number | 53.13 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.96 million number | 55.67 million number | 74.55 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near East Asia & Pacific
- 6 Türkiye 7.56 million number compare
- 7 Russian Federation 5.77 million number compare
- 8 Mexico 4.56 million number compare
- 9 Japan 3.86 million number compare
- 10 Bangladesh 3.70 million number compare
- 11 Iran, Islamic Republic of 3.62 million number compare
- 12 Philippines 3.59 million number compare
More education data for East Asia & Pacific
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 174.05 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.4731 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0801 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 191.34 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 10.94 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 68.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in East Asia & Pacific was 74.55 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The highest recorded value was 74.55 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in East Asia & Pacific?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.82 million number in 1970.
- How does East Asia & Pacific rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- East Asia & Pacific ranks 9th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in East Asia & Pacific?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this East Asia & Pacific 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.