Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 38.60 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
38.60 million number
Change on year
up 0.3%
Rank
18th
of 45 groups
All-time high
39.25 million number
in 2010
All-time low
14.49 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia stood at 38.60 million number.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 39.25 million number in 2010 and was at its lowest, 14.49 million number, in 1970.
That places Europe & Central Asia 18th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 14.49 million number | — |
| 1971 | 14.79 million number | +2.1% |
| 1972 | 15.25 million number | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 15.76 million number | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 16.19 million number | +2.7% |
| 1975 | 16.79 million number | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 17.43 million number | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 17.90 million number | +2.7% |
| 1978 | 18.30 million number | +2.2% |
| 1979 | 18.39 million number | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 18.57 million number | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 18.68 million number | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 18.87 million number | +1.0% |
| 1983 | 19.10 million number | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 19.31 million number | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 19.59 million number | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 19.69 million number | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 19.75 million number | +0.3% |
| 1988 | 19.92 million number | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 20.28 million number | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 20.80 million number | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 21.34 million number | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 21.75 million number | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 22.29 million number | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 23.16 million number | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 23.62 million number | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 24.37 million number | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 25.37 million number | +4.1% |
| 1998 | 25.96 million number | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 27.15 million number | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 28.50 million number | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 30.33 million number | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 32.23 million number | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 34.10 million number | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 35.00 million number | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 36.23 million number | +3.5% |
| 2006 | 37.26 million number | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 37.90 million number | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 38.32 million number | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 38.77 million number | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 39.25 million number | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 39.19 million number | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 38.69 million number | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 38.30 million number | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 38.06 million number | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 37.63 million number | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 37.77 million number | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 38.14 million number | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 38.49 million number | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 38.60 million number | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.53 million number | 14.49 million number | 18.39 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 19.38 million number | 18.57 million number | 20.28 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.58 million number | 20.80 million number | 27.15 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 34.86 million number | 28.50 million number | 38.77 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.41 million number | 37.63 million number | 39.25 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
- 15 Republic of Korea 3.08 million number compare
- 16 Egypt 2.91 million number compare
- 17 France 2.62 million number compare
- 18 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.47 million number compare
- 19 Thailand 2.41 million number compare
- 20 Colombia 2.41 million number compare
- 21 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.12 million number compare
More education data for Europe & Central Asia
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.52 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 83.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 52.35 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0527 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0564 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Europe & Central Asia was 38.60 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 39.25 million number in 2010.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.49 million number in 1970.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 18th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.