Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) was 1.81 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
1.81 million
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
13th
of 195 countries
All-time high
1.81 million
in 2023
All-time low
199,800
in 1971
Years of data
53
1971–2023

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in United Kingdom, 1971–2023

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M197119972023

Source: Statizoid (derived).

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 1.81 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 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 (number) in United Kingdom peaked at 1.81 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 199,800, in 1971.

That places United Kingdom 13th out of 195 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 (number) in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number), gaps filled in United Kingdom, 1971 to 2023.
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

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 10 Russia 2.28 million compare
  2. 11 Egypt 1.92 million compare
  3. 12 Japan 1.87 million compare
  4. 14 Bangladesh 1.81 million compare
  5. 15 Germany 1.66 million compare
  6. 16 Iran 1.64 million compare

See the full ranking of 416 places →

More education data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in United Kingdom?
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in United Kingdom was 1.81 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 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 (number) 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 (number)?
United Kingdom ranks 13th out of 195 countries with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 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 Statizoid (derived), published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number), gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Statizoid (derived). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-all-programmes-female-number-gaps-filled/united-kingdom/

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How this figure is calculated

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) with 647 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.

Computed from

Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.

About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number), gaps filled
Source
Statizoid (derived)
Licence
Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page
Coverage
416 places, 17,894 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) with 647 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.