Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Poland
Poland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 1.49 million number in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
1.49 million number
Change on year
down 3.7%
World rank
33rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.17 million number
in 2008
All-time low
397,897 number
in 1971
Years of data
48
1971–2018
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Poland, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Poland recorded 1.49 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.
That represents a change of down 3.7% on the previous year and down 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Poland peaked at 2.17 million number in 2008 and was at its lowest, 397,897 number, in 1971.
That places Poland 33rd out of 193 countries with data for 2018, 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 Poland, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 397,897 number | — |
| 1972 | 399,060 number | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 429,646 number | +7.7% |
| 1974 | 481,295 number | +12.0% |
| 1975 | 521,899 number | +8.4% |
| 1976 | 575,499 number | +10.3% |
| 1977 | 613,842 number | +6.7% |
| 1978 | 622,631 number | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 626,289 number | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 609,997 number | -2.6% |
| 1981 | 589,134 number | -3.4% |
| 1982 | 544,895 number | -7.5% |
| 1983 | 495,902 number | -9.0% |
| 1984 | 475,816 number | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 456,661 number | -4.0% |
| 1986 | 454,190 number | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 450,205 number | -0.9% |
| 1988 | 458,585 number | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 493,552 number | +7.6% |
| 1990 | 505,727 number | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 544,893 number | +7.7% |
| 1992 | 549,308 number | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 627,308 number | +14.2% |
| 1994 | 747,159 number | +19.1% |
| 1995 | 876,057 number | +17.3% |
| 1996 | 1.02 million number | +16.6% |
| 1997 | 1.18 million number | +15.8% |
| 1998 | 1.19 million number | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 1.40 million number | +17.5% |
| 2000 | 1.58 million number | +12.9% |
| 2001 | 1.77 million number | +12.4% |
| 2002 | 1.91 million number | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 1.98 million number | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 2.04 million number | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 2.12 million number | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 2.15 million number | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 2.15 million number | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 2.17 million number | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 2.15 million number | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 2.15 million number | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 2.08 million number | -3.2% |
| 2012 | 2.01 million number | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 1.90 million number | -5.2% |
| 2014 | 1.76 million number | -7.4% |
| 2015 | 1.67 million number | -5.5% |
| 2016 | 1.60 million number | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 1.55 million number | -3.1% |
| 2018 | 1.49 million number | -3.7% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 1.49 million number is above the median for high income countries, which is 164,826 number, 9.1× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Poland's 1.49 million number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 257,598 number, 5.8× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 518,673 number | 397,897 number | 626,289 number | 9 |
| 1980s | 502,894 number | 450,205 number | 609,997 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 864,435 number | 505,727 number | 1.40 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.00 million number | 1.58 million number | 2.17 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.80 million number | 1.49 million number | 2.15 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More education data for Poland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.55 (2020)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.91 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 322,900 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,398 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 776,213 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 735,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.33 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.60 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.04 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Poland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Poland was 1.49 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 2.17 million number in 2008.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 397,897 number in 1971.
- How does Poland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Poland ranks 33rd out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Poland 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.