Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 14.73 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
14.73 million number
Change on year
up 0.7%
Rank
27th
of 45 groups
All-time high
15.01 million number
in 2017
All-time low
655,018 number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 14.73 million number, measured in 2019.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 15.01 million number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 655,018 number, in 1970.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 27th 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 Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 655,018 number | — |
| 1971 | 701,052 number | +7.0% |
| 1972 | 781,245 number | +11.4% |
| 1973 | 884,294 number | +13.2% |
| 1974 | 980,275 number | +10.9% |
| 1975 | 1.10 million number | +12.6% |
| 1976 | 1.26 million number | +13.8% |
| 1977 | 1.40 million number | +11.2% |
| 1978 | 1.50 million number | +7.6% |
| 1979 | 1.59 million number | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 1.72 million number | +8.2% |
| 1981 | 1.89 million number | +10.0% |
| 1982 | 2.05 million number | +8.4% |
| 1983 | 2.17 million number | +5.9% |
| 1984 | 2.31 million number | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 2.41 million number | +4.0% |
| 1986 | 2.56 million number | +6.6% |
| 1987 | 2.68 million number | +4.4% |
| 1988 | 2.78 million number | +3.8% |
| 1989 | 2.82 million number | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 2.95 million number | +4.5% |
| 1991 | 3.00 million number | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 3.25 million number | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 3.58 million number | +10.1% |
| 1994 | 3.87 million number | +8.0% |
| 1995 | 4.23 million number | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 4.70 million number | +11.1% |
| 1997 | 5.18 million number | +10.1% |
| 1998 | 5.63 million number | +8.7% |
| 1999 | 6.24 million number | +10.9% |
| 2000 | 6.55 million number | +4.9% |
| 2001 | 6.99 million number | +6.8% |
| 2002 | 7.38 million number | +5.6% |
| 2003 | 7.70 million number | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 8.38 million number | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 8.96 million number | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 9.48 million number | +5.9% |
| 2007 | 10.30 million number | +8.6% |
| 2008 | 11.22 million number | +9.0% |
| 2009 | 11.56 million number | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 12.33 million number | +6.7% |
| 2011 | 12.54 million number | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 13.39 million number | +6.7% |
| 2013 | 13.86 million number | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 14.64 million number | +5.6% |
| 2015 | 14.96 million number | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 14.98 million number | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 15.01 million number | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 14.63 million number | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 14.73 million number | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.09 million number | 655,018 number | 1.59 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.34 million number | 1.72 million number | 2.82 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.26 million number | 2.95 million number | 6.24 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.85 million number | 6.55 million number | 11.56 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.11 million number | 12.33 million number | 15.01 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
More education data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.65 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91.90 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 68.09 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 63.1% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 31.7% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.113 units per person (2024)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 14.73 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 15.01 million number in 2017.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 655,018 number in 1970.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 27th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.