Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in North America
North America: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 20.57 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
20.57 million number
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
21st
of 43 groups
All-time high
22.50 million number
in 2012
All-time low
9.19 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in North America, 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 North America is 20.57 million number, measured in 2019.
The figure is up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in North America peaked at 22.50 million number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 9.19 million number, in 1970.
North America ranks 21st of 43 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in North America, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.19 million number | — |
| 1971 | 9.43 million number | +2.6% |
| 1972 | 9.92 million number | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 10.30 million number | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 10.63 million number | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 11.28 million number | +6.1% |
| 1976 | 12.27 million number | +8.7% |
| 1977 | 12.17 million number | -0.8% |
| 1978 | 12.52 million number | +2.9% |
| 1979 | 12.57 million number | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 12.95 million number | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 13.55 million number | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 13.89 million number | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 14.00 million number | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 14.08 million number | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 13.88 million number | -1.4% |
| 1986 | 13.89 million number | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 14.17 million number | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 14.46 million number | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 14.78 million number | +2.3% |
| 1990 | 15.38 million number | +4.0% |
| 1991 | 15.63 million number | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 16.30 million number | +4.3% |
| 1993 | 16.23 million number | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 16.08 million number | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 16.06 million number | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 16.03 million number | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 15.25 million number | -4.9% |
| 1998 | 14.48 million number | -5.0% |
| 1999 | 14.99 million number | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 14.42 million number | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 14.83 million number | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 17.18 million number | +15.9% |
| 2003 | 17.90 million number | +4.2% |
| 2004 | 18.23 million number | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 18.24 million number | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 18.88 million number | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 19.18 million number | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 19.69 million number | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 20.55 million number | +4.4% |
| 2010 | 21.86 million number | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 22.50 million number | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 22.50 million number | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 21.53 million number | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 21.28 million number | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 21.10 million number | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 20.88 million number | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 20.64 million number | -1.2% |
| 2018 | 20.57 million number | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 20.57 million number | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.03 million number | 9.19 million number | 12.57 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.97 million number | 12.95 million number | 14.78 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 15.64 million number | 14.48 million number | 16.30 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.91 million number | 14.42 million number | 20.55 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 21.34 million number | 20.57 million number | 22.50 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near North America
More education data for North America
- Population ages 0-14 16.9% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 96.8% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 2.04 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0053 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 96.2% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 97.4% (2024)
- Labor force, female 45.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in North America?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in North America was 20.57 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 22.50 million number in 2012.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.19 million number in 1970.
- How does North America rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- North America ranks 21st out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America 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.