Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal

Portugal: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female was 230,157 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
230,157
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
57th
of 195 countries
All-time high
230,157
in 2023
All-time low
22,248
in 1971
Years of data
34
1971–2023

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal, 1971–2023

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k250.0k1971199720231971: 22.2k1972: 24.7k1973: 26.4k1974: 29.3k1975: 28.3k1976: 35.9k1977: 41.4k1978: 36.2k1979: 43.4k1980: 43.4k1981: 44.5k1982: 47.2k1983: 49.8k1984: 55.5k1985: 59.8k1986: 55.6k1987: 66.6k1991: 103.5k1992: 115.4k1993: 138.8k1994: 157.2k1995: 170.2k1996: 180.5k1998: 197.1k1999: 199.4k2015: 179.8k2016: 182.1k2017: 184.7k2018: 190.6k2019: 198.0k2020: 204.5k2021: 216.2k2022: 223.6k2023: 230.2k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal is 230,157, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 28.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal peaked at 230,157 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 22,248, in 1971.

Portugal ranks 57th of 195 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Portugal, 1971 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1971 22,248
1972 24,651 +10.8%
1973 26,430 +7.2%
1974 29,284 +10.8%
1975 28,297 -3.4%
1976 35,854 +26.7%
1977 41,360 +15.4%
1978 36,238 -12.4%
1979 43,438 +19.9%
1980 43,430 -0.0%
1981 44,549 +2.6%
1982 47,182 +5.9%
1983 49,785 +5.5%
1984 55,541 +11.6%
1985 59,763 +7.6%
1986 55,599 -7.0%
1987 66,566 +19.7%
1991 103,475 +55.4%
1992 115,443 +11.6%
1993 138,823 +20.3%
1994 157,204 +13.2%
1995 170,205 +8.3%
1996 180,506 +6.1%
1998 197,073 +9.2%
1999 199,444 +1.2%
2015 179,790 -9.9%
2016 182,061 +1.3%
2017 184,701 +1.5%
2018 190,586 +3.2%
2019 198,031 +3.9%
2020 204,522 +3.3%
2021 216,232 +5.7%
2022 223,626 +3.4%
2023 230,157 +2.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 31,978 22,248 43,438 9
1980s 52,802 43,430 66,566 8
1990s 157,772 103,475 199,444 8
2010s 187,034 179,790 198,031 5
2020s 218,634 204,522 230,157 4

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 54 Austria 242,725 compare
  2. 55 Israel 237,721 compare
  3. 56 Jordan 234,416 compare
  4. 58 Sri Lanka 222,100 compare
  5. 59 Cameroon 219,663 compare
  6. 60 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 210,402 compare

See the full ranking of 416 places →

More education data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal was 230,157 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 230,157 in 2023.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 22,248 in 1971.
How does Portugal rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
Portugal ranks 57th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 28.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Portugal 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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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-female-number-2/portugal/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
416 places, 17,247 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release