Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Thailand
Thailand: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 2.41 million number in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand, 1971–2016
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Thailand recorded 2.41 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2016.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand peaked at 2.50 million number in 2007 and was at its lowest, 90,300 number, in 1971.
Thailand ranks 19th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Thailand, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 90,300 number | — |
| 1972 | 100,000 number | +10.7% |
| 1973 | 105,000 number | +5.0% |
| 1974 | 110,394 number | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 136,263 number | +23.4% |
| 1976 | 130,965 number | -3.9% |
| 1977 | 175,438 number | +34.0% |
| 1978 | 216,876 number | +23.6% |
| 1979 | 375,242 number | +73.0% |
| 1980 | 472,995 number | +26.1% |
| 1981 | 361,400 number | -23.6% |
| 1982 | 911,166 number | +152.1% |
| 1983 | 1.06 million number | +16.0% |
| 1984 | 1.12 million number | +6.0% |
| 1985 | 1.07 million number | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 1.03 million number | -4.3% |
| 1988 | 884,237 number | -13.9% |
| 1990 | 952,012 number | +7.7% |
| 1993 | 1.16 million number | +21.4% |
| 1995 | 1.18 million number | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 1.22 million number | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 1.33 million number | +9.2% |
| 1998 | 1.52 million number | +14.2% |
| 1999 | 1.81 million number | +19.2% |
| 2000 | 1.90 million number | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 2.10 million number | +10.3% |
| 2002 | 2.16 million number | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 2.21 million number | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 2.25 million number | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 2.36 million number | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 2.34 million number | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 2.50 million number | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 2.43 million number | -2.9% |
| 2009 | 2.42 million number | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 2.43 million number | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 2.50 million number | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 2.43 million number | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 2.41 million number | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 2.43 million number | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 2.41 million number | -0.9% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 2.41 million number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 225,211 number, 10.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 2.41 million number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 176,648 number, 13.6× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Thailand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +152.1% | 361,400 number | 911,166 number |
| 1979 | +73.0% | 216,876 number | 375,242 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 160,053 number | 90,300 number | 375,242 number | 9 |
| 1980s | 863,395 number | 361,400 number | 1.12 million number | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.31 million number | 952,012 number | 1.81 million number | 7 |
| 2000s | 2.27 million number | 1.90 million number | 2.50 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.43 million number | 2.41 million number | 2.50 million number | 6 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
More education data for Thailand
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.74 (2025)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.18 (2025)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 243,991 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,596 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 758,147 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 716,498 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.26 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.45 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand was 2.41 million number in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 2.50 million number in 2007.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 90,300 number in 1971.
- How does Thailand rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Thailand ranks 19th out of 193 countries with data for 2016.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Thailand 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.