Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in High income
High income: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 53.67 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
53.67 million number
Change on year
down 1.9%
Rank
13th
of 43 groups
All-time high
56.43 million number
in 2012
All-time low
16.77 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in High income, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in High income is 53.67 million number, measured in 2019.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in High income peaked at 56.43 million number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 16.77 million number, in 1970.
High income ranks 13th of 43 groups on this measure, 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 High income, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 16.77 million number | — |
| 1971 | 17.93 million number | +6.9% |
| 1972 | 18.89 million number | +5.3% |
| 1973 | 19.74 million number | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 20.52 million number | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 21.75 million number | +6.0% |
| 1976 | 23.41 million number | +7.6% |
| 1977 | 23.72 million number | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 24.57 million number | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 24.76 million number | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 25.46 million number | +2.9% |
| 1981 | 26.33 million number | +3.4% |
| 1982 | 27.08 million number | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 27.75 million number | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 28.28 million number | +1.9% |
| 1985 | 28.49 million number | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 28.80 million number | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 29.36 million number | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 30.08 million number | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 30.92 million number | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 32.12 million number | +3.9% |
| 1991 | 33.19 million number | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 34.70 million number | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 34.74 million number | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 37.83 million number | +8.9% |
| 1995 | 38.57 million number | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 37.16 million number | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 37.79 million number | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 39.27 million number | +3.9% |
| 1999 | 40.74 million number | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 40.92 million number | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 42.29 million number | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 45.62 million number | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 47.28 million number | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 48.29 million number | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 48.97 million number | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 50.07 million number | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 50.81 million number | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 51.73 million number | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 53.09 million number | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 55.13 million number | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 56.28 million number | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 56.43 million number | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 55.45 million number | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 55.38 million number | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 55.05 million number | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 54.93 million number | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 54.77 million number | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 54.72 million number | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 53.67 million number | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.20 million number | 16.77 million number | 24.76 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 28.26 million number | 25.46 million number | 30.92 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.61 million number | 32.12 million number | 40.74 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.91 million number | 40.92 million number | 53.09 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.18 million number | 53.67 million number | 56.43 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near High income
- 10 Bangladesh 3.70 million number compare
- 11 Iran 3.62 million number compare
- 12 Philippines 3.59 million number compare
- 13 Argentina 3.14 million number compare
- 14 Germany 3.13 million number compare
- 15 South Korea 3.08 million number compare
- 16 Egypt 2.91 million number compare
More education data for High income
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.16 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 15.5% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 99.8% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 6.16 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0043 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 99.6% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 100.0% (2024)
- Labor force, female 45.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in High income?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in High income was 53.67 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in High income?
- The highest recorded value was 56.43 million number in 2012.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in High income?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.77 million number in 1970.
- How does High income rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- High income ranks 13th out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in High income?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this High income 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.