Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle income
Middle income: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 168.34 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
168.34 million number
Change on year
up 2.1%
Rank
3rd
of 43 groups
All-time high
168.34 million number
in 2019
All-time low
14.56 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle income, 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 income is 168.34 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure 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 Middle income peaked at 168.34 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 14.56 million number, in 1970.
Middle income ranks 3rd of 43 groups on this measure, 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 Middle income, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 14.56 million number | — |
| 1971 | 15.34 million number | +5.4% |
| 1972 | 16.12 million number | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 16.94 million number | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 17.91 million number | +5.7% |
| 1975 | 18.93 million number | +5.7% |
| 1976 | 19.68 million number | +3.9% |
| 1977 | 20.36 million number | +3.4% |
| 1978 | 21.29 million number | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 22.49 million number | +5.6% |
| 1980 | 23.51 million number | +4.6% |
| 1981 | 25.00 million number | +6.3% |
| 1982 | 26.13 million number | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 27.57 million number | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 29.77 million number | +8.0% |
| 1985 | 31.07 million number | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 31.64 million number | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 32.73 million number | +3.4% |
| 1988 | 32.58 million number | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 33.40 million number | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 34.16 million number | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 34.84 million number | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 35.08 million number | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 35.58 million number | +1.4% |
| 1994 | 37.35 million number | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 39.90 million number | +6.8% |
| 1996 | 42.06 million number | +5.4% |
| 1997 | 45.58 million number | +8.4% |
| 1998 | 48.56 million number | +6.5% |
| 1999 | 52.93 million number | +9.0% |
| 2000 | 57.53 million number | +8.7% |
| 2001 | 63.07 million number | +9.6% |
| 2002 | 69.67 million number | +10.5% |
| 2003 | 76.44 million number | +9.7% |
| 2004 | 82.37 million number | +7.8% |
| 2005 | 87.99 million number | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 94.75 million number | +7.7% |
| 2007 | 102.15 million number | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 109.74 million number | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 116.01 million number | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 122.92 million number | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 131.41 million number | +6.9% |
| 2012 | 137.11 million number | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 140.22 million number | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 152.41 million number | +8.7% |
| 2015 | 157.29 million number | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 159.95 million number | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 162.41 million number | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 164.81 million number | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 168.34 million number | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 18.36 million number | 14.56 million number | 22.49 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.34 million number | 23.51 million number | 33.40 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.60 million number | 34.16 million number | 52.93 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 85.97 million number | 57.53 million number | 116.01 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 149.69 million number | 122.92 million number | 168.34 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Middle income
More education data for Middle income
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 25.11 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 24.4% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 66.5% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 103.3% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0042 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 25.11 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 103.1% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 103.5% (2024)
- Labor force, total, per capita 0.4541 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle income?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Middle income was 168.34 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Middle income?
- The highest recorded value was 168.34 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Middle income?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.56 million number in 1970.
- How does Middle income rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Middle income ranks 3rd out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in 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 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.