Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions
MDG: Developing Regions: Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 38.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
38.7%
Change on year
up 1.2%
Rank
104th
of 221 groups
All-time high
38.7%
in 2024
All-time low
2.8%
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions stood at 38.7%. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 30.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions peaked at 38.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 1971.
MDG: Developing Regions ranks 104th of 221 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.0% | — |
| 1971 | 2.8% | -65.0% |
| 1972 | 5.0% | +77.8% |
| 1973 | 3.6% | -27.3% |
| 1974 | 5.4% | +50.5% |
| 1975 | 5.5% | +1.1% |
| 1976 | 4.0% | -27.5% |
| 1977 | 4.2% | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 4.4% | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 4.7% | +6.2% |
| 1980 | 5.0% | +7.6% |
| 1981 | 5.5% | +10.0% |
| 1982 | 5.6% | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 5.9% | +4.9% |
| 1984 | 7.6% | +28.6% |
| 1985 | 7.9% | +4.1% |
| 1986 | 6.6% | -15.9% |
| 1987 | 7.2% | +8.6% |
| 1988 | 7.0% | -2.4% |
| 1989 | 7.3% | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 7.1% | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 7.4% | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 8.7% | +17.3% |
| 1993 | 8.6% | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 9.3% | +8.6% |
| 1995 | 9.8% | +5.1% |
| 1996 | 9.3% | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 11.2% | +19.9% |
| 1998 | 11.3% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 11.9% | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 12.4% | +4.4% |
| 2001 | 13.1% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 14.1% | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 15.1% | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 16.0% | +6.3% |
| 2005 | 16.8% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | +8.9% |
| 2007 | 19.0% | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 20.2% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 21.2% | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 22.6% | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 24.4% | +7.9% |
| 2012 | 25.8% | +5.8% |
| 2013 | 26.8% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 29.6% | +10.6% |
| 2015 | 30.9% | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 31.5% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 32.0% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 32.4% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 33.3% | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 34.4% | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 35.9% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 37.0% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 38.2% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 38.7% | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.8% | 2.8% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.6% | 5.0% | 7.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.5% | 7.1% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.6% | 12.4% | 21.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.9% | 22.6% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.8% | 34.4% | 38.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near MDG: Developing Regions
More education data for MDG: Developing Regions
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 18.90 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.8747 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 286.02 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 171.20 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual -0.1202 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 210.26 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 1.69 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 1.83 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 103.13 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions?
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in MDG: Developing Regions was 38.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: Developing Regions?
- The highest recorded value was 38.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in MDG: Developing Regions?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 1971.
- How does MDG: Developing Regions rank for gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- MDG: Developing Regions ranks 104th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in MDG: Developing Regions?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this MDG: Developing Regions data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release