Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe
UIS: North America and Western Europe: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes was 7.97 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
7.97 million
Change on year
down 3.1%
Rank
39th
of 218 groups
All-time high
9.25 million
in 2013
All-time low
3.36 million
in 2002
Years of data
28
1997–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe, 1997–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe is 7.97 million, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe peaked at 9.25 million in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3.36 million, in 2002.
UIS: North America and Western Europe ranks 39th of 218 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4.96 million | — |
| 1998 | 5.26 million | +6.2% |
| 1999 | 5.43 million | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 5.36 million | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 4.45 million | -17.0% |
| 2002 | 3.36 million | -24.5% |
| 2003 | 4.59 million | +36.6% |
| 2004 | 5.94 million | +29.4% |
| 2005 | 7.80 million | +31.3% |
| 2006 | 6.12 million | -21.6% |
| 2007 | 6.44 million | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 6.80 million | +5.6% |
| 2009 | 6.73 million | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 7.41 million | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 8.27 million | +11.6% |
| 2012 | 9.08 million | +9.7% |
| 2013 | 9.25 million | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 9.12 million | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 9.05 million | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 8.99 million | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 8.75 million | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 8.75 million | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 8.88 million | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 8.06 million | -9.2% |
| 2021 | 7.90 million | -2.0% |
| 2022 | 7.69 million | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 8.22 million | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 7.97 million | -3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.22 million | 4.96 million | 5.43 million | 3 |
| 2000s | 5.76 million | 3.36 million | 7.80 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.76 million | 7.41 million | 9.25 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.97 million | 7.69 million | 8.22 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UIS: North America and Western Europe
- 36 Libya 96,284 compare
- 37 Pakistan 94,991 compare
- 38 Kazakhstan 90,593 compare
- 39 Guatemala 81,185 compare
- 40 Tajikistan 76,709 compare
- 41 Philippines 72,568 compare
- 42 Austria 72,293 compare
More education data for UIS: North America and Western Europe
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -1.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 31.98 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1303 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 33.69 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.1311 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 21.43 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -1.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 38.88 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 606,356 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -1.94 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe was 7.97 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- The highest recorded value was 9.25 million in 2013.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.36 million in 2002.
- How does UIS: North America and Western Europe rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
- UIS: North America and Western Europe ranks 39th out of 218 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this UIS: North America and Western Europe 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