Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes was 327,575 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 327,575 for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in 2023.
The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 748,687 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 272,487, in 2015.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 22nd of 149 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 588,426 | — |
| 1999 | 636,614 | +8.2% |
| 2000 | 612,162 | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 644,514 | +5.3% |
| 2002 | 710,923 | +10.3% |
| 2003 | 748,687 | +5.3% |
| 2004 | 512,831 | -31.5% |
| 2005 | 517,248 | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 511,883 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 516,200 | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 521,518 | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 526,667 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 484,132 | -8.1% |
| 2011 | 444,470 | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 390,791 | -12.1% |
| 2013 | 326,829 | -16.4% |
| 2014 | 285,343 | -12.7% |
| 2015 | 272,487 | -4.5% |
| 2016 | 295,098 | +8.3% |
| 2017 | 287,462 | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 284,245 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 331,169 | +16.5% |
| 2020 | 363,960 | +9.9% |
| 2021 | 414,305 | +13.8% |
| 2022 | 327,881 | -20.9% |
| 2023 | 327,575 | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 612,520 | 588,426 | 636,614 | 2 |
| 2000s | 582,263 | 511,883 | 748,687 | 10 |
| 2010s | 340,203 | 272,487 | 484,132 | 10 |
| 2020s | 358,430 | 327,575 | 414,305 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 3.24 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate 1.79 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.62 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.929 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 3.20 million (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 2.2 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 242,999 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 38,128 (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.81 million (2023)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.98 % change on previous year (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 327,575 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 748,687 in 2003.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 272,487 in 2015.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 22nd out of 149 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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