Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in North America

North America: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes was 407,653 number in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
407,653 number
Change on year
down 0.0%
Rank
17th
of 43 groups
All-time high
540,977 number
in 2012
All-time low
318,347 number
in 1998
Years of data
23
1997–2019

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in North America, 1997–2019

0200.0k400.0k600.0k1997200820191997: 335.3k number1998: 318.3k number1999: 330.8k number2000: 319.2k number2001: 326.3k number2002: 350.0k number2003: 336.5k number2004: 410.4k number2005: 416.6k number2006: 425.4k number2007: 434.6k number2008: 502.1k number2009: 500.3k number2010: 524.9k number2011: 540.0k number2012: 541.0k number2013: 442.4k number2014: 443.5k number2015: 447.5k number2016: 451.2k number2017: 404.0k number2018: 407.7k number2019: 407.7k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2019, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in North America stood at 407,653 number.

That represents a change of down 18.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in North America peaked at 540,977 number in 2012 and was at its lowest, 318,347 number, in 1998.

That places North America 17th out of 43 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in North America, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number) in North America, 1997 to 2019.
Year number Change
1997 335,313 number
1998 318,347 number -5.1%
1999 330,848 number +3.9%
2000 319,223 number -3.5%
2001 326,268 number +2.2%
2002 350,031 number +7.3%
2003 336,463 number -3.9%
2004 410,358 number +22.0%
2005 416,588 number +1.5%
2006 425,390 number +2.1%
2007 434,592 number +2.2%
2008 502,064 number +15.5%
2009 500,342 number -0.3%
2010 524,863 number +4.9%
2011 539,961 number +2.9%
2012 540,977 number +0.2%
2013 442,373 number -18.2%
2014 443,467 number +0.2%
2015 447,521 number +0.9%
2016 451,199 number +0.8%
2017 403,993 number -10.5%
2018 407,653 number +0.9%
2019 407,653 number +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 328,169 number 318,347 number 335,313 number 3
2000s 402,132 number 319,223 number 502,064 number 10
2010s 460,966 number 403,993 number 540,977 number 10

Countries ranked near North America

  1. 14 Australia 56,110 number compare
  2. 15 Canada 53,455 number compare
  3. 16 Egypt 45,032 number compare
  4. 17 Malaysia 44,516 number compare
  5. 18 Mexico 43,744 number compare
  6. 19 Indonesia 43,126 number compare
  7. 20 Poland 41,318 number compare

See the full ranking of 178 places →

More education data for North America

All data for North America →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in North America?
Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes in North America was 407,653 number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in North America?
The highest recorded value was 540,977 number in 2012.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes recorded in North America?
The lowest recorded value was 318,347 number in 1998.
How does North America rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes?
North America ranks 17th out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 8 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in North America?
Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this North America data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes in North America. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-8-programmes-both-sexes-number/north-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 8 programmes, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
178 places, 2,921 data points, 1997–2020
Last refreshed

Total number of students enrolled in public and private tertiary education institutions in programmes on the doctoral or equivalent (ISCED 8) level.