Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in South Asia
South Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female was 20.39 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2019)
20.39 million number
Change on year
up 5.3%
Rank
15th
of 43 groups
All-time high
20.39 million number
in 2019
All-time low
550,015 number
in 1970
Years of data
50
1970–2019
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in South Asia, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 20.39 million number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
The figure is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 134.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in South Asia peaked at 20.39 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 550,015 number, in 1970.
That places South Asia 15th out of 43 groups with data for 2019, putting it 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 South Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 550,015 number | — |
| 1971 | 580,506 number | +5.5% |
| 1972 | 613,410 number | +5.7% |
| 1973 | 645,368 number | +5.2% |
| 1974 | 688,812 number | +6.7% |
| 1975 | 732,001 number | +6.3% |
| 1976 | 770,641 number | +5.3% |
| 1977 | 817,032 number | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 860,769 number | +5.4% |
| 1979 | 927,306 number | +7.7% |
| 1980 | 948,912 number | +2.3% |
| 1981 | 1.05 million number | +10.2% |
| 1982 | 1.10 million number | +5.1% |
| 1983 | 1.25 million number | +13.9% |
| 1984 | 1.35 million number | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 1.44 million number | +6.8% |
| 1986 | 1.54 million number | +6.8% |
| 1987 | 1.62 million number | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 1.54 million number | -5.2% |
| 1989 | 1.63 million number | +6.3% |
| 1990 | 1.76 million number | +7.7% |
| 1991 | 1.84 million number | +4.7% |
| 1992 | 1.85 million number | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 1.89 million number | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 1.93 million number | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 1.97 million number | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 2.37 million number | +19.9% |
| 1997 | 2.55 million number | +7.8% |
| 1998 | 3.01 million number | +18.0% |
| 1999 | 3.51 million number | +16.5% |
| 2000 | 4.02 million number | +14.6% |
| 2001 | 4.35 million number | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 4.69 million number | +7.7% |
| 2003 | 4.94 million number | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 5.17 million number | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 5.50 million number | +6.4% |
| 2006 | 6.08 million number | +10.5% |
| 2007 | 6.89 million number | +13.4% |
| 2008 | 7.92 million number | +14.9% |
| 2009 | 8.70 million number | +9.8% |
| 2010 | 9.98 million number | +14.7% |
| 2011 | 13.02 million number | +30.5% |
| 2012 | 14.80 million number | +13.6% |
| 2013 | 15.18 million number | +2.6% |
| 2014 | 16.56 million number | +9.1% |
| 2015 | 17.47 million number | +5.5% |
| 2016 | 17.75 million number | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 18.51 million number | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 19.36 million number | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 20.39 million number | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 718,586 number | 550,015 number | 927,306 number | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.35 million number | 948,912 number | 1.63 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.27 million number | 1.76 million number | 3.51 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.83 million number | 4.02 million number | 8.70 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.30 million number | 9.98 million number | 20.39 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
- 12 Iran, Islamic Republic of 1.69 million number compare
- 13 Germany 1.53 million number compare
- 14 Bangladesh 1.51 million number compare
- 15 Egypt 1.45 million number compare
- 16 France 1.43 million number compare
- 17 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.40 million number compare
- 18 Thailand 1.39 million number compare
More education data for South Asia
- Population ages 15-64 68.1% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 5.84 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 24.6% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 119.0% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 5.84 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 119.2% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 118.8% (2024)
- Labor force, total 709.68 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in South Asia?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female in South Asia was 20.39 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.39 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 550,015 number in 1970.
- How does South Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female?
- South Asia ranks 15th out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 134.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Asia 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
The total number of female students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.