Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Portugal
Portugal: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 230,157 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in Portugal, 1971–2023
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 (number) in Portugal, year by year
| 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% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 230,157 is above the median for high income countries, which is 97,133, 2.4× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 230,157 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 157,648, 1.5× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in Portugal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | +55.4% | 66,566 | 103,475 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
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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CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release