Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) in Iran
Iran: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) was 1.70 million in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Iran, 1971–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Iran recorded 1.70 million for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in 2022.
That represents a change of up 9.2% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Iran peaked at 2.60 million in 2015 and was at its lowest, 55,681, in 1971.
That places Iran 13th out of 195 countries with data for 2022, 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, male (number) in Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 55,681 | — |
| 1972 | 68,469 | +23.0% |
| 1973 | 80,781 | +18.0% |
| 1974 | 87,002 | +7.7% |
| 1975 | 96,720 | +11.2% |
| 1976 | 109,116 | +12.8% |
| 1977 | 108,196 | -0.8% |
| 1978 | 106,966 | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 663,632 | +520.4% |
| 1999 | 740,058 | +11.5% |
| 2000 | 768,907 | +3.9% |
| 2001 | 825,825 | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 798,076 | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 844,455 | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 951,000 | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 1.04 million | +9.6% |
| 2006 | 1.16 million | +11.5% |
| 2007 | 1.35 million | +15.8% |
| 2008 | 1.60 million | +18.5% |
| 2009 | 1.64 million | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 1.92 million | +16.7% |
| 2011 | 2.08 million | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 2.21 million | +6.5% |
| 2013 | 2.26 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 2.47 million | +9.3% |
| 2015 | 2.60 million | +5.3% |
| 2016 | 2.35 million | -9.9% |
| 2017 | 2.20 million | -6.1% |
| 2018 | 1.93 million | -12.3% |
| 2019 | 1.77 million | -8.4% |
| 2020 | 1.64 million | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 1.56 million | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 1.70 million | +9.2% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.70 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95,141, 17.9× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.70 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 182,307, 9.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) in Iran 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +520.4% | 106,966 | 663,632 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 89,116 | 55,681 | 109,116 | 8 |
| 1990s | 701,845 | 663,632 | 740,058 | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.10 million | 768,907 | 1.64 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.18 million | 1.77 million | 2.60 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.63 million | 1.56 million | 1.70 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
- 10 Bangladesh 2.14 million compare
- 11 Japan 2.01 million compare
- 12 Egypt 1.94 million compare
- 14 Germany 1.62 million compare
- 15 South Korea 1.50 million compare
- 16 United Kingdom 1.38 million compare
More education data for Iran
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 406,399 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 108,066 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 519,698 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 505,053 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.62 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 9.09 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1003 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Iran?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male in Iran was 1.70 million in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 2.60 million in 2015.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 55,681 in 1971.
- How does Iran rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male?
- Iran ranks 13th out of 195 countries with data for 2022.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release