Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Italy
Italy: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 1.25 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
1.25 million
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
23rd
of 195 countries
All-time high
1.25 million
in 2023
All-time low
259,015
in 1971
Years of data
52
1971–2023
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Italy, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Italy is 1.25 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 52 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.7% on the previous year and up 17.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Italy peaked at 1.25 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 259,015, in 1971.
That places Italy 23rd out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 259,015 | — |
| 1972 | 292,557 | +12.9% |
| 1973 | 309,535 | +5.8% |
| 1974 | 332,181 | +7.3% |
| 1975 | 364,425 | +9.7% |
| 1976 | 380,408 | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 403,514 | +6.1% |
| 1978 | 426,370 | +5.7% |
| 1979 | 449,858 | +5.5% |
| 1980 | 464,260 | +3.2% |
| 1981 | 476,028 | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 480,616 | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 498,725 | +3.8% |
| 1985 | 534,595 | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 545,902 | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 538,783 | -1.3% |
| 1988 | 579,366 | +7.5% |
| 1989 | 618,391 | +6.7% |
| 1990 | 654,069 | +5.8% |
| 1991 | 690,490 | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 759,521 | +10.0% |
| 1993 | 816,632 | +7.5% |
| 1994 | 911,780 | +11.7% |
| 1995 | 940,048 | +3.1% |
| 1996 | 939,752 | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 1.02 million | +8.7% |
| 1998 | 1.05 million | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 991,450 | -5.8% |
| 2000 | 982,668 | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 1.01 million | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 1.04 million | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 1.08 million | +3.2% |
| 2004 | 1.12 million | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 1.14 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 1.16 million | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 1.16 million | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 1.16 million | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 1.16 million | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 1.14 million | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 1.13 million | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.11 million | -2.4% |
| 2013 | 1.07 million | -3.5% |
| 2014 | 1.05 million | -1.5% |
| 2015 | 1.03 million | -2.3% |
| 2016 | 1.02 million | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 1.02 million | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 1.05 million | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 1.07 million | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 1.13 million | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 1.17 million | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 1.21 million | +2.8% |
| 2023 | 1.25 million | +3.7% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 1.25 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 97,133, 12.9× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Italy's 1.25 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 157,648, 7.9× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 357,540 | 259,015 | 449,858 | 9 |
| 1980s | 526,296 | 464,260 | 618,391 | 9 |
| 1990s | 877,832 | 654,069 | 1.05 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.10 million | 982,668 | 1.16 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.07 million | 1.02 million | 1.14 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.19 million | 1.13 million | 1.25 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Italy?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Italy was 1.25 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 1.25 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 259,015 in 1971.
- How does Italy rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- Italy ranks 23rd out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release