Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number) by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
148
Highest
26.02 million
China
Lowest
7
Croatia
Median
20,850
Years covered
29
1997–2025
Data points
7,760
What the numbers show
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number) is currently reported for 148 countries. The highest value is 26.02 million in China; the lowest is 7 in Croatia.
The median across all reporting countries is 20,850, and the mean is 349,389.
Over the past decade 80 countries rose and 64 fell. The largest increase was in Egypt (up 578,397.0%), and the largest decrease in Lithuania (down 99.9%).
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 … tertiary 5 both sexes: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 26.02 million | 2024 | up 45.1% | rising |
| 2 | United States | 6.00 million | 2023 | down 18.2% | falling |
| 3 | Russia | 3.26 million | 2024 | up 169.3% | falling |
| 4 | Turkey | 2.65 million | 2023 | up 73.3% | volatile |
| 5 | Indonesia | 936,547 | 2023 | down 18.2% | rising |
| 6 | Japan | 721,558 | 2023 | down 5.8% | falling |
| 7 | Colombia | 698,105 | 2022 | up 12.1% | rising |
| 8 | Vietnam | 633,311 | 2022 | down 25.5% | rising |
| 9 | Spain | 618,910 | 2024 | up 69.1% | rising |
| 10 | Nigeria | 555,491 | 2011 | up 81.5% | rising |
| 11 | Venezuela | 509,857 | 2009 | up 127.4% | rising |
| 12 | France | 490,864 | 2024 | down 2.6% | flat |
| 13 | Argentina | 475,700 | 2023 | down 48.9% | rising |
| 14 | Canada | 441,714 | 2023 | up 35.7% | rising |
| 15 | South Korea | 431,394 | 2024 | down 43.8% | falling |
| 16 | Iran | 429,305 | 2022 | down 57.1% | rising |
| 17 | Australia | 397,182 | 2024 | down 38.4% | falling |
| 18 | Thailand | 372,854 | 2024 | up 13.9% | falling |
| 19 | Saudi Arabia | 370,514 | 2024 | up 141.4% | volatile |
| 20 | Ukraine | 367,623 | 2024 | down 35.2% | falling |
| 21 | South Africa | 329,214 | 2023 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 22 | United Kingdom | 327,575 | 2023 | up 0.2% | falling |
| 23 | Chile | 318,986 | 2024 | down 8.1% | rising |
| 24 | Malaysia | 306,001 | 2023 | down 29.7% | rising |
| 25 | Ecuador | 262,510 | 2023 | up 203.9% | rising |
| 26 | Greece | 224,478 | 2012 | up 30.8% | rising |
| 27 | Morocco | 203,406 | 2024 | up 21.1% | rising |
| 28 | Egypt | 173,549 | 2024 | up 578,397.0% | volatile |
| 29 | Cote d'Ivoire | 173,056 | 2024 | up 136.7% | rising |
| 30 | Mexico | 168,785 | 2024 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 31 | Algeria | 136,326 | 2024 | up 138.0% | falling |
| 32 | Ghana | 128,700 | 2024 | down 11.5% | rising |
| 33 | Uzbekistan | 123,185 | 2024 | — | falling |
| 34 | Bangladesh | 108,223 | 2023 | down 20.3% | rising |
| 35 | Cameroon | 102,956 | 2023 | down 5.4% | volatile |
| 36 | Libya | 96,284 | 2003 | — | flat |
| 37 | Pakistan | 94,991 | 2015 | up 604.5% | volatile |
| 38 | Kazakhstan | 90,593 | 2024 | down 45.5% | flat |
| 39 | Guatemala | 81,185 | 2023 | up 10.3% | rising |
| 40 | Tajikistan | 76,709 | 2017 | up 136.6% | rising |
| 41 | Philippines | 72,568 | 2023 | down 68.4% | falling |
| 42 | Austria | 72,293 | 2024 | down 6.8% | rising |
| 43 | Laos | 69,266 | 2023 | up 39.5% | volatile |
| 44 | Belarus | 68,600 | 2024 | down 37.2% | falling |
| 45 | Israel | 64,886 | 2024 | up 2.1% | rising |
| 46 | Kyrgyzstan | 61,037 | 2024 | up 44.0% | rising |
| 47 | Hong Kong | 58,415 | 2024 | down 38.3% | falling |
| 48 | Singapore | 56,675 | 2023 | down 38.8% | falling |
| 49 | Benin | 49,126 | 2010 | up 1,139.0% | volatile |
| 50 | Azerbaijan | 46,245 | 2024 | up 24.1% | rising |
| 51 | Sri Lanka | 45,291 | 2023 | up 96.5% | rising |
| 52 | Sweden | 44,202 | 2024 | up 73.6% | rising |
| 53 | Netherlands | 39,988 | 2023 | up 151.8% | volatile |
| 54 | New Zealand | 39,233 | 2024 | down 31.5% | falling |
| 55 | Jamaica | 37,406 | 2023 | up 4.8% | falling |
| 56 | Lebanon | 36,710 | 2023 | up 79.5% | rising |
| 57 | Congo | 35,650 | 2023 | up 122.1% | volatile |
| 58 | Tanzania | 35,247 | 2024 | up 2,249.8% | volatile |
| 59 | Zambia | 34,886 | 2012 | up 6.2% | volatile |
| 60 | Italy | 33,178 | 2023 | up 1,234.6% | volatile |
| 61 | Cambodia | 33,018 | 2023 | up 49.9% | rising |
| 62 | Palestine | 32,696 | 2023 | up 26.1% | rising |
| 63 | Jordan | 31,520 | 2024 | up 40.7% | falling |
| 64 | Denmark | 31,193 | 2024 | down 6.8% | falling |
| 65 | Uruguay | 29,317 | 2023 | — | rising |
| 66 | Belgium | 28,328 | 2023 | up 17.4% | volatile |
| 67 | Myanmar | 28,258 | 2018 | up 1,323.6% | volatile |
| 68 | Syria | 27,139 | 2016 | down 15.6% | flat |
| 69 | Costa Rica | 26,818 | 2019 | up 24.9% | rising |
| 70 | Kenya | 26,771 | 2019 | down 40.7% | falling |
| 71 | Turkmenistan | 26,728 | 2024 | up 84.9% | rising |
| 72 | Dominican Republic | 23,723 | 2024 | up 87.7% | rising |
| 73 | Kuwait | 21,524 | 2021 | down 29.7% | flat |
| 74 | Portugal | 21,257 | 2023 | up 5,281.5% | volatile |
| 75 | Oman | 20,444 | 2024 | down 4.6% | rising |
| 76 | Ireland | 19,774 | 2022 | down 50.3% | falling |
| 77 | Rwanda | 19,682 | 2024 | up 699.1% | volatile |
| 78 | El Salvador | 17,272 | 2024 | down 0.9% | flat |
| 79 | Niger | 16,853 | 2019 | up 418.2% | volatile |
| 80 | Moldova | 15,830 | 2024 | up 4.9% | falling |
| 81 | Armenia | 15,725 | 2024 | up 43.5% | falling |
| 82 | Burundi | 15,627 | 2025 | up 1,247.2% | volatile |
| 83 | Norway | 13,372 | 2024 | up 37.0% | volatile |
| 84 | Namibia | 13,210 | 2022 | up 6.3% | rising |
| 85 | Latvia | 12,797 | 2024 | down 25.0% | rising |
| 86 | Guinea | 12,593 | 2014 | up 62.8% | rising |
| 87 | Cuba | 11,742 | 2024 | up 248.3% | rising |
| 88 | Lesotho | 11,470 | 2018 | up 534.1% | volatile |
| 89 | Botswana | 11,049 | 2023 | down 52.9% | falling |
| 90 | Hungary | 11,045 | 2024 | down 45.0% | volatile |
| 91 | Honduras | 10,899 | 2024 | up 12.4% | rising |
| 92 | Germany | 10,736 | 2024 | up 2,156.3% | volatile |
| 93 | Slovenia | 9,987 | 2023 | down 25.5% | volatile |
| 94 | Senegal | 9,685 | 2024 | up 4,223.7% | volatile |
| 95 | United Arab Emirates | 9,208 | 2024 | down 4.1% | falling |
| 96 | Panama | 8,371 | 2022 | down 8.6% | falling |
| 97 | Belize | 7,123 | 2024 | up 83.9% | rising |
| 98 | Peru | 6,944 | 2024 | up 25.3% | volatile |
| 99 | Albania | 6,748 | 2024 | up 209.0% | volatile |
| 100 | Eswatini | 6,581 | 2015 | — | volatile |
| 101 | Qatar | 6,525 | 2024 | up 17.5% | volatile |
| 102 | Guyana | 6,050 | 2012 | up 10.6% | rising |
| 103 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5,636 | 2004 | up 291.1% | volatile |
| 104 | Georgia | 4,810 | 2025 | up 106.6% | volatile |
| 105 | Paraguay | 4,726 | 2012 | down 84.4% | falling |
| 106 | Brunei | 4,126 | 2023 | up 46.9% | rising |
| 107 | Bahrain | 3,944 | 2024 | down 8.3% | rising |
| 108 | Barbados | 3,904 | 2011 | up 8.7% | rising |
| 109 | Central African Republic | 3,390 | 2012 | up 523.2% | volatile |
| 110 | Eritrea | 3,295 | 2016 | up 204.2% | rising |
| 111 | Cyprus | 2,825 | 2024 | down 4.5% | volatile |
| 112 | Switzerland | 2,820 | 2024 | down 70.6% | volatile |
| 113 | Mongolia | 2,620 | 2024 | down 35.2% | falling |
| 114 | Togo | 2,580 | 2020 | down 67.2% | rising |
| 115 | Malta | 2,446 | 2023 | down 0.8% | rising |
| 116 | Mauritius | 2,395 | 2024 | down 45.9% | falling |
| 117 | Bhutan | 2,284 | 2024 | up 78.7% | rising |
| 118 | Slovakia | 2,264 | 2024 | down 23.9% | falling |
| 119 | North Macedonia | 1,921 | 2012 | down 38.4% | falling |
| 120 | Madagascar | 1,914 | 2023 | down 46.3% | volatile |
| 121 | Burkina Faso | 1,715 | 2024 | down 51.2% | volatile |
| 122 | Grenada | 1,696 | 2023 | down 23.3% | flat |
| 123 | Mali | 1,497 | 2015 | down 86.0% | volatile |
| 124 | Saint Lucia | 1,314 | 2023 | up 10.6% | volatile |
| 125 | Comoros | 1,080 | 2014 | up 97.4% | volatile |
| 126 | Czechia | 1,070 | 2023 | up 7.9% | volatile |
| 127 | Luxembourg | 829 | 2024 | up 48.0% | falling |
| 128 | Cayman Islands | 816 | 2008 | up 264.3% | rising |
| 129 | Iceland | 794 | 2023 | up 75.7% | falling |
| 130 | British Virgin Islands | 713 | 2024 | down 13.8% | rising |
| 131 | Djibouti | 692 | 2009 | up 449.2% | rising |
| 132 | San Marino | 618 | 2012 | down 23.8% | falling |
| 133 | Romania | 610 | 2011 | down 98.8% | volatile |
| 134 | Bermuda | 583 | 2023 | down 51.7% | falling |
| 135 | Samoa | 458 | 2024 | up 7.8% | volatile |
| 136 | Brazil | 393 | 2024 | down 98.8% | volatile |
| 137 | Poland | 372 | 2024 | down 93.6% | volatile |
| 138 | Aruba | 288 | 2016 | down 80.0% | falling |
| 139 | Seychelles | 248 | 2024 | up 1,027.3% | volatile |
| 140 | Cape Verde | 239 | 2018 | down 58.8% | falling |
| 141 | Mauritania | 237 | 2020 | down 40.0% | rising |
| 142 | Macao | 154 | 2024 | down 70.3% | volatile |
| 143 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 97 | 2023 | down 10.2% | falling |
| 144 | Monaco | 86 | 2024 | down 33.8% | falling |
| 145 | Lithuania | 45 | 2024 | down 99.9% | falling |
| 146 | Andorra | 42.5 | 2024 | up 77.1% | rising |
| 147 | Finland | 21 | 2014 | down 86.8% | volatile |
| 148 | Croatia | 7 | 2023 | down 93.5% | volatile |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- MDG: World 52.70 million
- SDG: World 52.70 million
- UIS: World 52.70 million
- WB: World 52.70 million
- UNICEF: World 52.63 million
- UNICEF: All Unicef Countries 43.50 million
- WB: Ida & Ibrd Total 42.48 million
- WB: Low & Middle Income (july 2025) 41.69 million
- WB: Middle Income (july 2025) 41.12 million
- MDG: Developing Regions 39.85 million
- WB: Ibrd Only 39.84 million
- ESCAP: All Countries (unsdcode:98400) 37.81 million
- WB: Upper Middle Income (july 2025) 34.47 million
- ESCAP: Wb Upper Middle Income Economies (wb_upper_mid) (unsdcode:98437) 34.35 million
- WB: Late-demographic Dividend 32.42 million
- AIMS: Asia and the Pacific 31.23 million
- WB: East Asia & Pacific 30.25 million
- AIMS: East Asia and the Pacific 30.25 million
- UIS: East Asia and the Pacific 30.25 million
- UNICEF: East Asia and Pacific 30.19 million
- SDG: Eastern and South-eastern Asia 29.83 million
- AIMS: East Asia 29.82 million
- UNICEF: East Asia and the Pacific Programme Countries 28.56 million
- WB: East Asia & Pacific (excluding High Income) 28.55 million
- WB: East Asia & Pacific (ida & Ibrd) 28.53 million
- ESCAP: East and North-east Asia (enea) (unsdcode:98408) 27.28 million
- SDG: Eastern Asia 27.28 million
- MDG: Eastern Asia 26.56 million
- ECE: All Countries (unsdcode:98200) 15.42 million
- WB: Oecd Members 14.04 million
- WB: High Income (july 2025) 13.82 million
- MDG: Developed Regions 12.85 million
- SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand 12.08 million
- SDG: Europe and Northern America 11.67 million
- WB: Post-demographic Dividend 10.05 million
- UNICEF: Europe and Central Asia 9.18 million
- WB: Europe & Central Asia 9.17 million
- WB: Early-demographic Dividend 8.40 million
- UIS: North America and Western Europe 7.97 million
- WB: Europe & Central Asia (ida & Ibrd) 7.42 million
About this data
February 2026 Data Release