Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female was 1.81 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in United Kingdom, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in United Kingdom is 1.81 million, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 35.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in United Kingdom peaked at 1.81 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 199,800, in 1971.
United Kingdom ranks 13th of 195 countries 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, female in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 199,800 | — |
| 1972 | 207,400 | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 214,800 | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 226,049 | +5.2% |
| 1975 | 252,714 | +11.8% |
| 1976 | 264,254 | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 269,489 | +2.0% |
| 1978 | 271,577 | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 280,640 | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 290,810 | +3.6% |
| 1981 | 302,972 | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 320,237 | +5.7% |
| 1983 | 432,378 | +35.0% |
| 1984 | 444,377 | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 451,258 | +1.5% |
| 1986 | 469,948 | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 493,368 | +5.0% |
| 1988 | 504,815 | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 520,457 | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 560,927 | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 607,040 | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 675,345 | +11.3% |
| 1993 | 757,937 | +12.2% |
| 1994 | 832,896 | +9.9% |
| 1995 | 923,878 | +10.9% |
| 1996 | 919,116 | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 979,659 | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 1.02 million | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 1.11 million | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 1.09 million | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 1.13 million | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 1.24 million | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 1.28 million | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 1.28 million | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 1.31 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 1.34 million | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 1.35 million | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 1.33 million | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 1.38 million | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 1.40 million | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 1.40 million | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.40 million | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.34 million | -4.7% |
| 2014 | 1.32 million | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 1.31 million | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 1.35 million | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 1.38 million | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 1.40 million | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 1.49 million | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 1.55 million | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 1.70 million | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 1.78 million | +4.6% |
| 2023 | 1.81 million | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 242,969 | 199,800 | 280,640 | 9 |
| 1980s | 423,062 | 290,810 | 520,457 | 10 |
| 1990s | 838,464 | 560,927 | 1.11 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.27 million | 1.09 million | 1.38 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.38 million | 1.31 million | 1.49 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.71 million | 1.55 million | 1.81 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- 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)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.0% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 11 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 5 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 102.17 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 102.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in United Kingdom?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in United Kingdom was 1.81 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.81 million in 2023.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 199,800 in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- United Kingdom ranks 13th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release