Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, female (number) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, female (number) was 194,232 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, female in United Kingdom, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, female in United Kingdom stood at 194,232.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, female in United Kingdom peaked at 455,084 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 165,985, in 2015.
That places United Kingdom 16th out of 146 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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, female (number) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 328,655 | — |
| 1999 | 362,426 | +10.3% |
| 2000 | 353,245 | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 374,976 | +6.2% |
| 2002 | 424,997 | +13.3% |
| 2003 | 455,084 | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 342,145 | -24.8% |
| 2005 | 343,934 | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 339,784 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 340,828 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 340,788 | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 341,220 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 311,949 | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 284,480 | -8.8% |
| 2012 | 247,722 | -12.9% |
| 2013 | 202,316 | -18.3% |
| 2014 | 174,319 | -13.8% |
| 2015 | 165,985 | -4.8% |
| 2016 | 176,881 | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 173,777 | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 168,813 | -2.9% |
| 2019 | 193,369 | +14.5% |
| 2020 | 207,479 | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 238,862 | +15.1% |
| 2022 | 197,887 | -17.2% |
| 2023 | 194,232 | -1.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 194,232 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,802, 40.4× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 194,232 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8,695, 22.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 345,540 | 328,655 | 362,426 | 2 |
| 2000s | 365,700 | 339,784 | 455,084 | 10 |
| 2010s | 209,961 | 165,985 | 311,949 | 10 |
| 2020s | 209,615 | 194,232 | 238,862 | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, female in United Kingdom?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, female in United Kingdom was 194,232 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, female recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 455,084 in 2003.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, female recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 165,985 in 2015.
- How does United Kingdom rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, female?
- United Kingdom ranks 16th out of 146 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 5 programmes, female rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 5 programmes, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release