Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in World
World: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 227.56 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
227.56 million number
Change on year
up 1.1%
Rank
1st
of 45 groups
All-time high
227.56 million number
in 2019
All-time low
31.98 million number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in World, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in World is 227.56 million number, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in World peaked at 227.56 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 31.98 million number, in 1970.
World ranks 1st of 45 groups 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 World, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 31.98 million number | — |
| 1971 | 33.91 million number | +6.0% |
| 1972 | 35.68 million number | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 37.39 million number | +4.8% |
| 1974 | 39.23 million number | +4.9% |
| 1975 | 41.58 million number | +6.0% |
| 1976 | 44.07 million number | +6.0% |
| 1977 | 45.13 million number | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 46.97 million number | +4.1% |
| 1979 | 48.37 million number | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 50.09 million number | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 52.45 million number | +4.7% |
| 1982 | 54.37 million number | +3.7% |
| 1983 | 56.51 million number | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 59.31 million number | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 60.90 million number | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 61.86 million number | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 63.54 million number | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 64.17 million number | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 65.87 million number | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 67.87 million number | +3.0% |
| 1991 | 69.64 million number | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 71.37 million number | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 71.91 million number | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 76.71 million number | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 79.96 million number | +4.2% |
| 1996 | 80.69 million number | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 84.81 million number | +5.1% |
| 1998 | 89.34 million number | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 95.23 million number | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 100.16 million number | +5.2% |
| 2001 | 107.21 million number | +7.0% |
| 2002 | 117.30 million number | +9.4% |
| 2003 | 125.87 million number | +7.3% |
| 2004 | 133.04 million number | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 139.58 million number | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 147.72 million number | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 156.10 million number | +5.7% |
| 2008 | 164.92 million number | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 172.93 million number | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 182.26 million number | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 192.10 million number | +5.4% |
| 2012 | 198.25 million number | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 200.59 million number | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 213.06 million number | +6.2% |
| 2015 | 217.69 million number | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 220.26 million number | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 222.64 million number | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 225.07 million number | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 227.56 million number | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 40.43 million number | 31.98 million number | 48.37 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 58.91 million number | 50.09 million number | 65.87 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 78.75 million number | 67.87 million number | 95.23 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 136.48 million number | 100.16 million number | 172.93 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 209.95 million number | 182.26 million number | 227.56 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near World
More education data for World
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 651.68 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 780.85 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.43 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0959 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 34.10 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 65.2% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, per capita 0.08 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in World?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in World was 227.56 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in World?
- The highest recorded value was 227.56 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in World?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.98 million number in 1970.
- How does World rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- World ranks 1st out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this World 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.