Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Thailand
Thailand: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 2.41 million number in 2016. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2016)
2.41 million number
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
19th
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.50 million number
in 2007
All-time low
90,300 number
in 1971
Years of data
40
1971–2016
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 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% |
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
- 16 Egypt 2.91 million number compare
- 17 France 2.62 million number compare
- 18 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2.47 million number compare
- 20 Colombia 2.41 million number compare
- 21 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 2.12 million number compare
- 22 Spain 2.05 million number compare
More education data for Thailand
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 305,368 (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 69.6% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 14.4% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 12 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 6 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 100.73 (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 100.7% (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.