Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 10.34 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
10.34 million number
Change on year
up 6.2%
Rank
31st
of 43 groups
All-time high
10.34 million number
in 2019
All-time low
484,661 number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Least developed countries, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Least developed countries stood at 10.34 million number. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 81.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Least developed countries peaked at 10.34 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 484,661 number, in 1970.
That places Least developed countries 31st out of 43 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 484,661 number | — |
| 1971 | 505,036 number | +4.2% |
| 1972 | 528,727 number | +4.7% |
| 1973 | 545,728 number | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 577,717 number | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 579,987 number | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 578,562 number | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 646,774 number | +11.8% |
| 1978 | 671,580 number | +3.8% |
| 1979 | 790,596 number | +17.7% |
| 1980 | 842,130 number | +6.5% |
| 1981 | 876,848 number | +4.1% |
| 1982 | 949,322 number | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 1.05 million number | +11.1% |
| 1984 | 1.14 million number | +7.7% |
| 1985 | 1.19 million number | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 1.24 million number | +3.8% |
| 1987 | 1.27 million number | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 1.22 million number | -3.9% |
| 1989 | 1.26 million number | +2.9% |
| 1990 | 1.34 million number | +6.2% |
| 1991 | 1.40 million number | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 1.43 million number | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 1.53 million number | +6.9% |
| 1994 | 1.55 million number | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 1.61 million number | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 1.70 million number | +5.8% |
| 1997 | 1.79 million number | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 1.91 million number | +6.7% |
| 1999 | 2.10 million number | +10.0% |
| 2000 | 2.33 million number | +11.0% |
| 2001 | 2.71 million number | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 2.85 million number | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 3.05 million number | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 3.19 million number | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 3.53 million number | +10.6% |
| 2006 | 3.94 million number | +11.7% |
| 2007 | 4.34 million number | +10.1% |
| 2008 | 4.91 million number | +13.1% |
| 2009 | 5.70 million number | +16.3% |
| 2010 | 6.47 million number | +13.5% |
| 2011 | 7.08 million number | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 7.47 million number | +5.4% |
| 2013 | 7.86 million number | +5.3% |
| 2014 | 8.14 million number | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 8.58 million number | +5.4% |
| 2016 | 8.97 million number | +4.5% |
| 2017 | 9.16 million number | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 9.73 million number | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 10.34 million number | +6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 590,937 number | 484,661 number | 790,596 number | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.10 million number | 842,130 number | 1.27 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.63 million number | 1.34 million number | 2.10 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.65 million number | 2.33 million number | 5.70 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.38 million number | 6.47 million number | 10.34 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More education data for Least developed countries
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 100.7% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 4.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 99.3% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 102.0% (2024)
- Labor force, total, per capita 0.3712 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Least developed countries?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Least developed countries was 10.34 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 10.34 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 484,661 number in 1970.
- How does Least developed countries rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Least developed countries ranks 31st out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 81.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed 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.