Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 28.24 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
28.24 million number
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
19th
of 45 groups
All-time high
28.29 million number
in 2018
All-time low
1.80 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean, 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 Latin America & Caribbean is 28.24 million number, measured in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 33.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 28.29 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.80 million number, in 1970.
That places Latin America & Caribbean 19th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.80 million number | — |
| 1971 | 1.90 million number | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 2.21 million number | +16.7% |
| 1973 | 2.57 million number | +15.9% |
| 1974 | 3.01 million number | +17.2% |
| 1975 | 3.51 million number | +16.6% |
| 1976 | 3.75 million number | +6.8% |
| 1977 | 3.93 million number | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 4.18 million number | +6.2% |
| 1979 | 4.49 million number | +7.5% |
| 1980 | 4.80 million number | +7.0% |
| 1981 | 5.10 million number | +6.1% |
| 1982 | 5.32 million number | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 5.65 million number | +6.2% |
| 1984 | 6.67 million number | +18.0% |
| 1985 | 7.03 million number | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 6.61 million number | -6.0% |
| 1987 | 6.79 million number | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 7.05 million number | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 7.16 million number | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 7.24 million number | +1.0% |
| 1991 | 7.49 million number | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 7.56 million number | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 7.63 million number | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 7.83 million number | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 8.82 million number | +12.7% |
| 1996 | 8.55 million number | -3.1% |
| 1997 | 9.68 million number | +13.3% |
| 1998 | 9.96 million number | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 10.77 million number | +8.2% |
| 2000 | 11.47 million number | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 12.30 million number | +7.2% |
| 2002 | 13.33 million number | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 14.24 million number | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 15.10 million number | +6.0% |
| 2005 | 16.09 million number | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 17.38 million number | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 18.71 million number | +7.7% |
| 2008 | 20.42 million number | +9.1% |
| 2009 | 21.10 million number | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 22.07 million number | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 23.02 million number | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 23.79 million number | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 24.55 million number | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 25.53 million number | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 26.22 million number | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 27.33 million number | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 28.02 million number | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 28.29 million number | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 28.24 million number | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.13 million number | 1.80 million number | 4.49 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.22 million number | 4.80 million number | 7.16 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.55 million number | 7.24 million number | 10.77 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.01 million number | 11.47 million number | 21.10 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.71 million number | 22.07 million number | 28.29 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
- 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
- 22 Spain 2.05 million number compare
More education data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Population ages 15-64 67.7% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0928 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1923 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 61.44 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.34 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 63.30 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 22.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean was 28.24 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 28.29 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.80 million number in 1970.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 19th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean 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.