Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Western Asia

MDG: Western Asia: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes was 3.81 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
3.81 million
Change on year
up 2.8%
Rank
59th
of 218 groups
All-time high
3.81 million
in 2023
All-time low
535,552
in 1997
Years of data
27
1997–2023

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Western Asia, 1997–2023

1.0M2.0M3.0M4.0M1997201020231997: 535.6k1998: 550.8k1999: 577.8k2000: 603.7k2001: 601.6k2002: 625.6k2003: 837.4k2004: 853.5k2005: 919.2k2006: 1.0M2007: 1.1M2008: 1.1M2009: 1.3M2010: 1.5M2011: 1.5M2012: 1.7M2013: 2.0M2014: 2.2M2015: 2.5M2016: 2.7M2017: 3.0M2018: 3.3M2019: 3.4M2020: 3.6M2021: 3.8M2022: 3.7M2023: 3.8M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Western Asia stood at 3.81 million. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 91.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Western Asia peaked at 3.81 million in 2023 and was at its lowest, 535,552, in 1997.

MDG: Western Asia ranks 59th of 218 groups on this measure, 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, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Western Asia, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number) in MDG: Western Asia, 1997 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1997 535,552
1998 550,849 +2.9%
1999 577,794 +4.9%
2000 603,728 +4.5%
2001 601,609 -0.4%
2002 625,635 +4.0%
2003 837,441 +33.9%
2004 853,494 +1.9%
2005 919,169 +7.7%
2006 1.01 million +10.2%
2007 1.08 million +6.4%
2008 1.13 million +4.9%
2009 1.28 million +13.3%
2010 1.45 million +13.6%
2011 1.51 million +3.7%
2012 1.70 million +13.0%
2013 1.99 million +16.8%
2014 2.23 million +12.0%
2015 2.47 million +10.9%
2016 2.75 million +11.1%
2017 3.05 million +11.0%
2018 3.26 million +7.0%
2019 3.40 million +4.3%
2020 3.61 million +6.2%
2021 3.78 million +4.5%
2022 3.71 million -1.9%
2023 3.81 million +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 554,732 535,552 577,794 3
2000s 894,289 601,609 1.28 million 10
2010s 2.38 million 1.45 million 3.40 million 10
2020s 3.73 million 3.61 million 3.81 million 4

Countries ranked near MDG: Western Asia

  1. 56 Lebanon 36,710 compare
  2. 57 Congo 35,650 compare
  3. 58 Tanzania, United Republic of 35,247 compare
  4. 59 Zambia 34,886 compare
  5. 60 Italy 33,178 compare
  6. 61 Cambodia 33,018 compare
  7. 62 Palestine, State of 32,696 compare

See the full ranking of 367 places →

More education data for MDG: Western Asia

All data for MDG: Western Asia →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Western Asia?
Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Western Asia was 3.81 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in MDG: Western Asia?
The highest recorded value was 3.81 million in 2023.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in MDG: Western Asia?
The lowest recorded value was 535,552 in 1997.
How does MDG: Western Asia rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
MDG: Western Asia ranks 59th out of 218 groups with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Western Asia?
Over the last ten years it is up 91.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this MDG: Western Asia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: Western Asia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-5-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/mdg-western-asia/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
367 places, 7,760 data points, 1997–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release