Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan

Pakistan: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 1.88 million number in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
1.88 million number
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
26th
of 193 countries
All-time high
1.94 million number
in 2017
All-time low
104,452 number
in 1972
Years of data
30
1971–2018

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan, 1971–2018

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M1971199420181971: 115.0k number1972: 104.5k number1973: 107.8k number1974: 111.8k number1975: 114.9k number1976: 127.9k number1977: 133.5k number1978: 148.5k number1979: 153.5k number1980: 156.6k number1986: 267.7k number1987: 271.8k number1988: 315.8k number1990: 304.9k number1992: 221.3k number2003: 401.1k number2004: 520.7k number2005: 782.6k number2006: 820.3k number2007: 954.7k number2008: 973.8k number2009: 1.2M number2011: 1.6M number2012: 1.8M number2013: 1.9M number2014: 1.9M number2015: 1.9M number2016: 1.9M number2017: 1.9M number2018: 1.9M number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

Pakistan recorded 1.88 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 92.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan peaked at 1.94 million number in 2017 and was at its lowest, 104,452 number, in 1972.

Pakistan ranks 26th of 193 countries on this measure, 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 in Pakistan, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Pakistan, 1971 to 2018.
Year number Change
1971 114,980 number
1972 104,452 number -9.2%
1973 107,757 number +3.2%
1974 111,826 number +3.8%
1975 114,913 number +2.8%
1976 127,932 number +11.3%
1977 133,465 number +4.3%
1978 148,451 number +11.2%
1979 153,536 number +3.4%
1980 156,558 number +2.0%
1986 267,742 number +71.0%
1987 271,838 number +1.5%
1988 315,793 number +16.2%
1990 304,922 number -3.4%
1992 221,313 number -27.4%
2003 401,056 number +81.2%
2004 520,666 number +29.8%
2005 782,621 number +50.3%
2006 820,347 number +4.8%
2007 954,698 number +16.4%
2008 973,792 number +2.0%
2009 1.23 million number +25.9%
2011 1.57 million number +28.3%
2012 1.82 million number +15.5%
2013 1.92 million number +5.4%
2014 1.93 million number +0.9%
2015 1.87 million number -3.1%
2016 1.86 million number -0.8%
2017 1.94 million number +4.6%
2018 1.88 million number -3.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 124,146 number 104,452 number 153,536 number 9
1980s 252,983 number 156,558 number 315,793 number 4
1990s 263,118 number 221,313 number 304,922 number 2
2000s 811,311 number 401,056 number 1.23 million number 7
2010s 1.85 million number 1.57 million number 1.94 million number 8

Countries ranked near Pakistan

  1. 23 Viet Nam 1.97 million number compare
  2. 24 Italy 1.90 million number compare
  3. 25 Peru 1.90 million number compare
  4. 27 Australia 1.68 million number compare
  5. 28 Saudi Arabia 1.65 million number compare
  6. 29 Canada 1.62 million number compare

See the full ranking of 238 places →

More education data for Pakistan

All data for Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan was 1.88 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
The highest recorded value was 1.94 million number in 2017.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 104,452 number in 1972.
How does Pakistan rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
Pakistan ranks 26th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Pakistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 92.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this 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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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Pakistan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-both-sexes-number/pakistan/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
238 places, 8,058 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.