Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan
Japan: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 3.86 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
3.86 million number
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
9th
of 193 countries
All-time high
4.08 million number
in 2006
All-time low
1.82 million number
in 1971
Years of data
45
1971–2018
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Japan recorded 3.86 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan peaked at 4.08 million number in 2006 and was at its lowest, 1.82 million number, in 1971.
That places Japan 9th out of 193 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1.82 million number | — |
| 1972 | 1.93 million number | +5.9% |
| 1973 | 1.98 million number | +2.6% |
| 1974 | 2.06 million number | +4.3% |
| 1975 | 2.16 million number | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 2.25 million number | +4.3% |
| 1977 | 2.30 million number | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 2.44 million number | +5.9% |
| 1979 | 2.43 million number | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 2.42 million number | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 2.41 million number | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 2.40 million number | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 2.39 million number | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 2.41 million number | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 2.40 million number | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 2.35 million number | -2.3% |
| 1987 | 2.41 million number | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 2.51 million number | +4.2% |
| 1989 | 2.59 million number | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 2.68 million number | +3.7% |
| 1991 | 2.78 million number | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 2.90 million number | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 3.84 million number | +32.5% |
| 1995 | 3.92 million number | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 3.96 million number | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 3.94 million number | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 3.98 million number | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 3.97 million number | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 3.97 million number | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 3.98 million number | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 4.03 million number | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 4.04 million number | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 4.08 million number | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 4.03 million number | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 3.94 million number | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 3.87 million number | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 3.84 million number | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 3.88 million number | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 3.88 million number | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.86 million number | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 3.86 million number | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 3.85 million number | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 3.85 million number | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3.85 million number | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 3.86 million number | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.15 million number | 1.82 million number | 2.44 million number | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.43 million number | 2.35 million number | 2.59 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.43 million number | 2.68 million number | 3.96 million number | 7 |
| 2000s | 3.99 million number | 3.87 million number | 4.08 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.86 million number | 3.84 million number | 3.88 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 6 Türkiye 7.56 million number compare
- 7 Russian Federation 5.77 million number compare
- 8 Mexico 4.56 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 Japan
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 440,864 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 58.8% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 11.2% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 101.13 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 101.1% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Japan was 3.86 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 4.08 million number in 2006.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.82 million number in 1971.
- How does Japan rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Japan ranks 9th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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.