Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries): Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 27.70 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
27.70 million number
Change on year
down 0.2%
Rank
20th
of 45 groups
All-time high
27.75 million number
in 2018
All-time low
1.54 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) is 27.70 million number, measured in 2019.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 39.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 27.75 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1.54 million number, in 1970.
Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 20th of 45 groups on this measure, 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries), year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.54 million number | — |
| 1971 | 1.80 million number | +17.1% |
| 1972 | 2.10 million number | +16.6% |
| 1973 | 2.43 million number | +16.0% |
| 1974 | 2.86 million number | +17.5% |
| 1975 | 3.34 million number | +16.8% |
| 1976 | 3.56 million number | +6.5% |
| 1977 | 3.71 million number | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 3.92 million number | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 4.22 million number | +7.6% |
| 1980 | 4.51 million number | +7.0% |
| 1981 | 4.80 million number | +6.4% |
| 1982 | 5.00 million number | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 5.23 million number | +4.6% |
| 1984 | 6.23 million number | +19.1% |
| 1985 | 6.58 million number | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 6.13 million number | -6.8% |
| 1987 | 6.29 million number | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 6.55 million number | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 6.67 million number | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 6.75 million number | +1.2% |
| 1991 | 7.00 million number | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 7.09 million number | +1.3% |
| 1993 | 7.19 million number | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 7.41 million number | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 8.44 million number | +13.9% |
| 1996 | 8.19 million number | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 9.33 million number | +14.0% |
| 1998 | 9.61 million number | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 10.38 million number | +8.0% |
| 2000 | 11.07 million number | +6.7% |
| 2001 | 11.88 million number | +7.3% |
| 2002 | 12.90 million number | +8.5% |
| 2003 | 13.77 million number | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 14.47 million number | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 15.38 million number | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 16.46 million number | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 17.61 million number | +7.0% |
| 2008 | 19.18 million number | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 19.86 million number | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 21.00 million number | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 22.09 million number | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 23.01 million number | +4.2% |
| 2013 | 23.91 million number | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 24.96 million number | +4.4% |
| 2015 | 25.70 million number | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 26.83 million number | +4.4% |
| 2017 | 27.48 million number | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 27.75 million number | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 27.70 million number | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.95 million number | 1.54 million number | 4.22 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 5.80 million number | 4.51 million number | 6.67 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.14 million number | 6.75 million number | 10.38 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.26 million number | 11.07 million number | 19.86 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.04 million number | 21.00 million number | 27.75 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- 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
- 23 Viet Nam 1.97 million number compare
More education data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Population ages 15-64 67.7% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0936 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 -0.1513 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 60.53 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.22 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 62.34 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 22.3% (2025)
All data for Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) was 27.70 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 & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 27.75 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.54 million number in 1970.
- How does Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) ranks 20th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & the Caribbean (IDA & IBRD countries) 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.