Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: World
MDG: World: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes was 52.70 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: World, 1998–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: World is 52.70 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 21.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: World peaked at 52.70 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 20.19 million, in 1998.
MDG: World ranks 1st of 218 groups on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: World, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 20.19 million | — |
| 1999 | 20.99 million | +4.0% |
| 2000 | 22.12 million | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 22.42 million | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 23.14 million | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 27.05 million | +16.9% |
| 2004 | 29.79 million | +10.1% |
| 2005 | 32.79 million | +10.1% |
| 2006 | 32.84 million | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 33.92 million | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 35.07 million | +3.4% |
| 2009 | 36.58 million | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 39.10 million | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 40.44 million | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 41.70 million | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 39.23 million | -5.9% |
| 2014 | 43.28 million | +10.3% |
| 2015 | 44.11 million | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 43.57 million | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 43.43 million | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 43.87 million | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 45.07 million | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 46.85 million | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 48.79 million | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 50.32 million | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 52.37 million | +4.1% |
| 2024 | 52.70 million | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.59 million | 20.19 million | 20.99 million | 2 |
| 2000s | 29.57 million | 22.12 million | 36.58 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.38 million | 39.10 million | 45.07 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.20 million | 46.85 million | 52.70 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: World
- 1 China 26.02 million compare
- 2 United States of America 6.00 million compare
- 3 Russian Federation 3.26 million compare
- 4 Türkiye 2.65 million compare
More education data for MDG: World
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes 651.68 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 88.7% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female 314.66 million (2024)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational 10.2% (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male 337.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes 206.57 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes 34.10 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, female 199.67 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, both sexes 412.76 million (2024)
- School age population, upper secondary education, male 213.09 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: World?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in MDG: World was 52.70 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
- The highest recorded value was 52.70 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in MDG: World?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.19 million in 1998.
- How does MDG: World rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
- MDG: World ranks 1st out of 218 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this MDG: World 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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About this data
February 2026 Data Release