Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sweden
Sweden: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 431,065 number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
431,065 number
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
53rd
of 193 countries
All-time high
463,530 number
in 2011
All-time low
128,879 number
in 1975
Years of data
48
1971–2018
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 431,065 number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden peaked at 463,530 number in 2011 and was at its lowest, 128,879 number, in 1975.
That places Sweden 53rd out of 193 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Sweden, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 141,218 number | — |
| 1972 | 141,367 number | +0.1% |
| 1973 | 133,168 number | -5.8% |
| 1974 | 131,614 number | -1.2% |
| 1975 | 128,879 number | -2.1% |
| 1976 | 162,640 number | +26.2% |
| 1977 | 171,181 number | +5.3% |
| 1978 | 190,105 number | +11.1% |
| 1979 | 198,798 number | +4.6% |
| 1980 | 200,999 number | +1.1% |
| 1981 | 171,356 number | -14.7% |
| 1982 | 176,115 number | +2.8% |
| 1983 | 181,103 number | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 184,199 number | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 179,478 number | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 176,589 number | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 175,588 number | -0.6% |
| 1988 | 178,423 number | +1.6% |
| 1989 | 181,146 number | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 184,812 number | +2.0% |
| 1991 | 192,611 number | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 207,265 number | +7.6% |
| 1993 | 222,826 number | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 234,466 number | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 245,932 number | +4.9% |
| 1996 | 261,209 number | +6.2% |
| 1997 | 275,217 number | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 280,712 number | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 335,124 number | +19.4% |
| 2000 | 346,878 number | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 358,020 number | +3.2% |
| 2002 | 382,851 number | +6.9% |
| 2003 | 414,657 number | +8.3% |
| 2004 | 429,623 number | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 426,723 number | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 422,614 number | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 413,710 number | -2.1% |
| 2008 | 406,879 number | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 422,580 number | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 455,025 number | +7.7% |
| 2011 | 463,530 number | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 453,328 number | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 436,603 number | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 429,444 number | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 428,557 number | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 426,188 number | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 426,354 number | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 431,065 number | +1.1% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 431,065 number is above the median for high income countries, which is 164,826 number, 2.6× the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 431,065 number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 257,598 number, 1.7× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 155,441 number | 128,879 number | 198,798 number | 9 |
| 1980s | 180,500 number | 171,356 number | 200,999 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 244,017 number | 184,812 number | 335,124 number | 10 |
| 2000s | 402,454 number | 346,878 number | 429,623 number | 10 |
| 2010s | 438,899 number | 426,188 number | 463,530 number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More education data for Sweden
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.43 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.43 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 77,813 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,302 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 235,975 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 222,360 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 987,895 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 859,847 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8572 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Sweden was 431,065 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 463,530 number in 2011.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 128,879 number in 1975.
- How does Sweden rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Sweden ranks 53rd out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden 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.