Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland
Switzerland: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 306,743 number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
In 2018, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland stood at 306,743 number. That is the highest value across all 47 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 36.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland peaked at 306,743 number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 51,426 number, in 1971.
Switzerland ranks 68th of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 47 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 51,426 number | — |
| 1972 | 53,595 number | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 56,534 number | +5.5% |
| 1974 | 60,329 number | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 62,584 number | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 64,720 number | +3.4% |
| 1977 | 72,375 number | +11.8% |
| 1978 | 74,730 number | +3.3% |
| 1979 | 78,120 number | +4.5% |
| 1980 | 81,530 number | +4.4% |
| 1981 | 85,127 number | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 88,385 number | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 90,568 number | +2.5% |
| 1984 | 95,661 number | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 105,897 number | +10.7% |
| 1986 | 110,111 number | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 117,017 number | +6.3% |
| 1988 | 121,693 number | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 125,158 number | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 132,753 number | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 137,486 number | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 143,067 number | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 146,266 number | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 148,664 number | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 148,154 number | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 148,024 number | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 152,653 number | +3.1% |
| 1999 | 156,390 number | +2.4% |
| 2000 | 156,879 number | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 163,373 number | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 170,085 number | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 185,965 number | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 195,947 number | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 199,696 number | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 204,999 number | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 213,112 number | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 224,469 number | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 233,488 number | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 248,639 number | +6.5% |
| 2011 | 257,696 number | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 269,573 number | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 279,832 number | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 289,722 number | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 294,450 number | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 295,149 number | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 300,618 number | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 306,743 number | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 63,824 number | 51,426 number | 78,120 number | 9 |
| 1980s | 102,115 number | 81,530 number | 125,158 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 145,940 number | 132,753 number | 156,390 number | 9 |
| 2000s | 194,801 number | 156,879 number | 233,488 number | 10 |
| 2010s | 282,491 number | 248,639 number | 306,743 number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More education data for Switzerland
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 58,349 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 4 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.7% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 14.9% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 101.21 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 101.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Switzerland was 306,743 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 306,743 number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 51,426 number in 1971.
- How does Switzerland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Switzerland ranks 68th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.