Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe

UIS: North America and Western Europe: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes was 21.28 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
21.28 million
Change on year
down 1.7%
Rank
66th
of 204 groups
All-time high
21.94 million
in 2021
All-time low
18.25 million
in 2005
Years of data
21
2004–2024

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe, 2004–2024

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M2004201420242004: 20.0M2005: 18.3M2006: 20.5M2007: 20.5M2008: 20.5M2009: 21.5M2010: 21.3M2011: 21.0M2012: 20.5M2013: 20.3M2014: 20.4M2015: 20.4M2016: 20.4M2017: 20.5M2018: 20.6M2019: 20.8M2020: 21.8M2021: 21.9M2022: 21.9M2023: 21.7M2024: 21.3M

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe is 21.28 million, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 4.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe peaked at 21.94 million in 2021 and was at its lowest, 18.25 million, in 2005.

That places UIS: North America and Western Europe 66th out of 204 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes (number) in UIS: North America and Western Europe, 2004 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2004 19.98 million
2005 18.25 million -8.6%
2006 20.54 million +12.5%
2007 20.47 million -0.3%
2008 20.47 million -0.0%
2009 21.46 million +4.8%
2010 21.33 million -0.6%
2011 21.02 million -1.4%
2012 20.47 million -2.6%
2013 20.31 million -0.8%
2014 20.43 million +0.6%
2015 20.41 million -0.1%
2016 20.40 million -0.1%
2017 20.54 million +0.7%
2018 20.58 million +0.2%
2019 20.82 million +1.2%
2020 21.85 million +4.9%
2021 21.94 million +0.4%
2022 21.92 million -0.1%
2023 21.66 million -1.2%
2024 21.28 million -1.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 20.20 million 18.25 million 21.46 million 6
2010s 20.63 million 20.31 million 21.33 million 10
2020s 21.73 million 21.28 million 21.94 million 5

Countries ranked near UIS: North America and Western Europe

  1. 63 Azerbaijan 202,433 compare
  2. 64 Tanzania, United Republic of 201,652 compare
  3. 65 Austria 193,739 compare
  4. 66 Burkina Faso 193,214 compare
  5. 67 Norway 192,124 compare
  6. 68 Tunisia 186,401 compare
  7. 69 Serbia 185,112 compare

See the full ranking of 335 places →

More education data for UIS: North America and Western Europe

All data for UIS: North America and Western Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe was 21.28 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
The highest recorded value was 21.94 million in 2021.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes recorded in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 18.25 million in 2005.
How does UIS: North America and Western Europe rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes?
UIS: North America and Western Europe ranks 66th out of 204 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 6 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in UIS: North America and Western Europe?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.2%. 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 6 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes in UIS: North America and Western Europe. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-6-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/uis-north-america-and-western-europe/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 6 programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
335 places, 3,870 data points, 1999–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release