School enrollment, tertiary in Iran

Iran: School enrollment, tertiary was 58.7% in 2022. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2022)
58.7%
Change on year
up 8.1%
World rank
65th
of 192 countries
All-time high
70.7%
in 2015
All-time low
2.8%
in 1971
Years of data
34
1971–2022

School enrollment, tertiary in Iran, 1971–2022

0204060801971199620221971: 2.8 % gross1972: 3.3 % gross1973: 3.8 % gross1974: 3.9 % gross1975: 4.1 % gross1976: 4.4 % gross1977: 4.3 % gross1978: 4.3 % gross1995: 17.3 % gross1996: 19 % gross1999: 18.8 % gross2000: 18.8 % gross2001: 19.5 % gross2002: 18.3 % gross2003: 19.4 % gross2004: 21.4 % gross2005: 22.7 % gross2006: 25.3 % gross2007: 29.8 % gross2008: 36.2 % gross2009: 36.5 % gross2010: 42.5 % gross2011: 48.1 % gross2012: 53.9 % gross2013: 56.5 % gross2014: 64.5 % gross2015: 70.7 % gross2016: 67.9 % gross2017: 66.4 % gross2018: 60.9 % gross2019: 58.1 % gross2020: 55.6 % gross2021: 54.3 % gross2022: 58.7 % gross

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

Iran recorded 58.7% for school enrollment, tertiary in 2022.

That represents a change of up 8.1% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary in Iran peaked at 70.7% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 2.8%, in 1971.

That places Iran 65th out of 192 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

School enrollment, tertiary in Iran, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) in Iran, 1971 to 2022.
Year % gross Change
1971 2.8%
1972 3.3% +17.6%
1973 3.8% +13.9%
1974 3.9% +2.5%
1975 4.1% +5.5%
1976 4.4% +7.6%
1977 4.3% -2.3%
1978 4.3% +1.0%
1995 17.3% +301.5%
1996 19.0% +9.4%
1999 18.8% -0.9%
2000 18.8% -0.1%
2001 19.5% +3.8%
2002 18.3% -6.2%
2003 19.4% +6.2%
2004 21.4% +10.1%
2005 22.7% +6.1%
2006 25.3% +11.6%
2007 29.8% +17.8%
2008 36.2% +21.4%
2009 36.5% +0.8%
2010 42.5% +16.6%
2011 48.1% +13.0%
2012 53.9% +12.2%
2013 56.5% +4.8%
2014 64.5% +14.2%
2015 70.7% +9.6%
2016 67.9% -3.9%
2017 66.4% -2.3%
2018 60.9% -8.3%
2019 58.1% -4.5%
2020 55.6% -4.3%
2021 54.3% -2.4%
2022 58.7% +8.1%

Iran compared with similar countries

  • Iran's 58.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 46.6%, 1.3× the median. (56 countries reporting)
  • Iran's 58.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 44.5%, 1.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where School enrollment, tertiary in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1995 +301.5% 4.3% 17.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.8% 2.8% 4.4% 8
1990s 18.4% 17.3% 19.0% 3
2000s 24.8% 18.3% 36.5% 10
2010s 58.9% 42.5% 70.7% 10
2020s 56.2% 54.3% 58.7% 3

Countries ranked near Iran

  1. 62 Russia 60.4% compare
  2. 63 Uzbekistan 59.8% compare
  3. 64 Colombia 59.3% compare
  4. 66 Libya 58.5% compare
  5. 67 Bahrain 58.4% compare
  6. 68 Dominican Republic 57.7% compare

See the full ranking of 237 places →

More education data for Iran

All data for Iran →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, tertiary in Iran?
School enrollment, tertiary in Iran was 58.7% in 2022, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Iran?
The highest recorded value was 70.7% in 2015.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Iran?
The lowest recorded value was 2.8% in 1971.
How does Iran rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
Iran ranks 65th out of 192 countries with data for 2022.
Is school enrollment, tertiary rising or falling in Iran?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Iran data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, tertiary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, tertiary in Iran. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 23 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-tertiary-percent-gross/iran-islamic-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
237 places, 7,325 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.