Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Low & middle income
Low & middle income: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 173.88 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
173.88 million number
Change on year
up 2.1%
Rank
2nd
of 43 groups
All-time high
173.88 million number
in 2019
All-time low
15.21 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Low & middle income, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Low & middle income stood at 173.88 million number. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 45.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Low & middle income peaked at 173.88 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 15.21 million number, in 1970.
That places Low & middle income 2nd out of 43 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Low & middle income, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 15.21 million number | — |
| 1971 | 15.98 million number | +5.1% |
| 1972 | 16.79 million number | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 17.65 million number | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 18.71 million number | +6.0% |
| 1975 | 19.83 million number | +6.0% |
| 1976 | 20.66 million number | +4.2% |
| 1977 | 21.41 million number | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 22.40 million number | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 23.61 million number | +5.4% |
| 1980 | 24.63 million number | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 26.13 million number | +6.1% |
| 1982 | 27.29 million number | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 28.76 million number | +5.4% |
| 1984 | 31.03 million number | +7.9% |
| 1985 | 32.40 million number | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 33.05 million number | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 34.18 million number | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 34.09 million number | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 34.94 million number | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 35.75 million number | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 36.45 million number | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 36.68 million number | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 37.17 million number | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 38.88 million number | +4.6% |
| 1995 | 41.39 million number | +6.4% |
| 1996 | 43.52 million number | +5.2% |
| 1997 | 47.03 million number | +8.0% |
| 1998 | 50.06 million number | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 54.49 million number | +8.8% |
| 2000 | 59.24 million number | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 64.92 million number | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 71.68 million number | +10.4% |
| 2003 | 78.59 million number | +9.6% |
| 2004 | 84.75 million number | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 90.61 million number | +6.9% |
| 2006 | 97.64 million number | +7.8% |
| 2007 | 105.28 million number | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 113.20 million number | +7.5% |
| 2009 | 119.84 million number | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 127.13 million number | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 135.81 million number | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 141.82 million number | +4.4% |
| 2013 | 145.15 million number | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 157.68 million number | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 162.65 million number | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 165.32 million number | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 167.87 million number | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 170.35 million number | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 173.88 million number | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 19.23 million number | 15.21 million number | 23.61 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.65 million number | 24.63 million number | 34.94 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 42.14 million number | 35.75 million number | 54.49 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 88.57 million number | 59.24 million number | 119.84 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 154.77 million number | 127.13 million number | 173.88 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Low & middle income
More education data for Low & middle income
- Population ages 15-64 65.3% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 27.98 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 26.3% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 102.3% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 27.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0042 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 101.6% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 103.0% (2024)
- Labor force, female 39.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Low & middle income?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Low & middle income was 173.88 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Low & middle income?
- The highest recorded value was 173.88 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Low & middle income?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.21 million number in 1970.
- How does Low & middle income rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Low & middle income ranks 2nd out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Low & middle income?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Low & middle income 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.