Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Italy
Italy: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.90 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
1.90 million number
Change on year
up 3.2%
World rank
24th
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.03 million number
in 2007
All-time low
687,242 number
in 1971
Years of data
47
1971–2018
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Italy, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Italy recorded 1.90 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.
The figure is up 3.2% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Italy peaked at 2.03 million number in 2007 and was at its lowest, 687,242 number, in 1971.
Italy ranks 24th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Italy, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 687,242 number | — |
| 1972 | 788,690 number | +14.8% |
| 1973 | 808,740 number | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 847,321 number | +4.8% |
| 1975 | 930,211 number | +9.8% |
| 1976 | 976,712 number | +5.0% |
| 1977 | 1.02 million number | +4.5% |
| 1978 | 1.05 million number | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 1.09 million number | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 1.10 million number | +0.7% |
| 1981 | 1.12 million number | +1.8% |
| 1983 | 1.09 million number | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 1.12 million number | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 1.18 million number | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 1.19 million number | +0.3% |
| 1987 | 1.15 million number | -2.7% |
| 1988 | 1.23 million number | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 1.30 million number | +5.6% |
| 1990 | 1.36 million number | +4.8% |
| 1991 | 1.45 million number | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 1.53 million number | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 1.62 million number | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 1.77 million number | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 1.79 million number | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 1.78 million number | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 1.89 million number | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 1.87 million number | -1.2% |
| 1999 | 1.80 million number | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 1.77 million number | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 1.81 million number | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 1.85 million number | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 1.91 million number | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 1.99 million number | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 2.02 million number | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 2.03 million number | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 2.03 million number | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 2.01 million number | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 2.01 million number | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 1.98 million number | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 1.97 million number | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.93 million number | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 1.87 million number | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 1.85 million number | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.83 million number | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 1.82 million number | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 1.84 million number | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 1.90 million number | +3.2% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 1.90 million number is above the median for high income countries, which is 164,826 number, 11.5× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Italy's 1.90 million number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 257,598 number, 7.4× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 911,395 number | 687,242 number | 1.09 million number | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.16 million number | 1.09 million number | 1.30 million number | 9 |
| 1990s | 1.69 million number | 1.36 million number | 1.89 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.94 million number | 1.77 million number | 2.03 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.89 million number | 1.82 million number | 1.98 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 97.84 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 97.94 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Italy?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Italy was 1.90 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 2.03 million number in 2007.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 687,242 number in 1971.
- How does Italy rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Italy ranks 24th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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.