Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 2.47 million number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
2.47 million number
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
18th
of 193 countries
All-time high
2.50 million number
in 2012
All-time low
601,300 number
in 1971
Years of data
48
1971–2018
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 2.47 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom peaked at 2.50 million number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 601,300 number, in 1971.
United Kingdom ranks 18th of 193 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 601,300 number | — |
| 1972 | 615,800 number | +2.4% |
| 1973 | 622,100 number | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 637,086 number | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 703,645 number | +10.4% |
| 1976 | 732,947 number | +4.2% |
| 1977 | 750,180 number | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 760,085 number | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 783,342 number | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 795,985 number | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 827,146 number | +3.9% |
| 1982 | 858,416 number | +3.8% |
| 1983 | 980,538 number | +14.2% |
| 1984 | 1.00 million number | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 1.01 million number | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 1.03 million number | +2.5% |
| 1987 | 1.07 million number | +3.5% |
| 1988 | 1.09 million number | +1.7% |
| 1989 | 1.11 million number | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 1.18 million number | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 1.26 million number | +6.8% |
| 1992 | 1.39 million number | +10.1% |
| 1993 | 1.53 million number | +10.3% |
| 1994 | 1.66 million number | +8.9% |
| 1995 | 1.81 million number | +9.0% |
| 1996 | 1.82 million number | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 1.89 million number | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 1.94 million number | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 2.08 million number | +7.4% |
| 2000 | 2.02 million number | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 2.07 million number | +2.1% |
| 2002 | 2.24 million number | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 2.29 million number | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 2.25 million number | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 2.29 million number | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 2.34 million number | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 2.36 million number | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 2.33 million number | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 2.42 million number | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 2.48 million number | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 2.49 million number | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 2.50 million number | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 2.39 million number | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 2.35 million number | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 2.33 million number | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 2.39 million number | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 2.43 million number | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 2.47 million number | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 689,609 number | 601,300 number | 783,342 number | 9 |
| 1980s | 976,954 number | 795,985 number | 1.11 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.66 million number | 1.18 million number | 2.08 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.26 million number | 2.02 million number | 2.42 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.42 million number | 2.33 million number | 2.50 million number | 9 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,022 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 281,128 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom was 2.47 million number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2.50 million number in 2012.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 601,300 number in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- United Kingdom ranks 18th out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.