Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Malaysia
Malaysia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.22 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia, 1979–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia is 1.22 million number, measured in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.2% on the previous year and up 21.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 1.34 million number in 2016 and was at its lowest, 52,975 number, in 1979.
That places Malaysia 35th out of 193 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 52,975 number | — |
| 1980 | 57,650 number | +8.8% |
| 1982 | 67,368 number | +16.9% |
| 1983 | 68,687 number | +2.0% |
| 1984 | 77,750 number | +13.2% |
| 1985 | 93,249 number | +19.9% |
| 1986 | 109,545 number | +17.5% |
| 1987 | 119,591 number | +9.2% |
| 1988 | 120,714 number | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 109,345 number | -9.4% |
| 1990 | 121,412 number | +11.0% |
| 1991 | 137,826 number | +13.5% |
| 1992 | 160,566 number | +16.5% |
| 1993 | 170,145 number | +6.0% |
| 1994 | 191,290 number | +12.4% |
| 1995 | 210,724 number | +10.2% |
| 1998 | 442,625 number | +110.0% |
| 1999 | 473,357 number | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 549,205 number | +16.0% |
| 2001 | 557,118 number | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 632,309 number | +13.5% |
| 2003 | 725,865 number | +14.8% |
| 2004 | 731,077 number | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 696,760 number | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 737,267 number | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 805,136 number | +9.2% |
| 2008 | 922,239 number | +14.5% |
| 2009 | 1.00 million number | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 1.06 million number | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 1.04 million number | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 1.08 million number | +3.9% |
| 2013 | 1.12 million number | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 1.13 million number | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.30 million number | +15.4% |
| 2016 | 1.34 million number | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 1.25 million number | -6.6% |
| 2018 | 1.28 million number | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 1.22 million number | -5.2% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 1.22 million number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 225,211 number, 5.4× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 1.22 million number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 176,648 number, 6.9× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +110.0% | 210,724 number | 442,625 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 52,975 number | 52,975 number | 52,975 number | 1 |
| 1980s | 91,544 number | 57,650 number | 120,714 number | 9 |
| 1990s | 238,493 number | 121,412 number | 473,357 number | 8 |
| 2000s | 735,767 number | 549,205 number | 1.00 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.18 million number | 1.04 million number | 1.34 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
More education data for Malaysia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 88.9 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 88.03 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Malaysia was 1.22 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.34 million number in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 52,975 number in 1979.
- How does Malaysia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Malaysia ranks 35th out of 193 countries with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.