School enrollment, tertiary in Malaysia

Malaysia: School enrollment, tertiary was 38.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
38.5%
Change on year
up 3.3%
World rank
101st
of 192 countries
All-time high
45.4%
in 2016
All-time low
4.0%
in 1979
Years of data
43
1979–2024

School enrollment, tertiary in Malaysia, 1979–2024

010203040501979200120241979: 4 % gross1980: 4.2 % gross1982: 4.6 % gross1983: 4.6 % gross1984: 5.1 % gross1985: 6 % gross1986: 6.9 % gross1987: 7.5 % gross1988: 7.5 % gross1989: 6.7 % gross1990: 7.3 % gross1991: 8.1 % gross1992: 9.2 % gross1993: 9.5 % gross1994: 10.4 % gross1995: 11.3 % gross1998: 22.9 % gross1999: 24.2 % gross2000: 27.6 % gross2001: 27 % gross2002: 28.9 % gross2003: 31.3 % gross2004: 29.8 % gross2005: 27.1 % gross2006: 27.7 % gross2007: 29.4 % gross2008: 32.9 % gross2009: 35.1 % gross2010: 36.7 % gross2011: 35.6 % gross2012: 36.8 % gross2013: 38.1 % gross2014: 38.4 % gross2015: 44.3 % gross2016: 45.4 % gross2017: 42.3 % gross2018: 43.3 % gross2019: 40.8 % gross2020: 39.7 % gross2021: 38.2 % gross2022: 37 % gross2023: 37.3 % gross2024: 38.5 % gross

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, tertiary in Malaysia is 38.5%, measured in 2024.

That represents a change of up 3.3% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary in Malaysia peaked at 45.4% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 1979.

Malaysia ranks 101st of 192 countries 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 4.0% 4.0% 4.0% 1
1980s 5.9% 4.2% 7.5% 9
1990s 12.8% 7.3% 24.2% 8
2000s 29.7% 27.0% 35.1% 10
2010s 40.2% 35.6% 45.4% 10
2020s 38.1% 37.0% 39.7% 5

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 98 Oman 42.2% compare
  2. 99 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 41.5% compare
  3. 100 Azerbaijan 41.3% compare
  4. 102 Tunisia 38.1% compare
  5. 103 Egypt 38.0% compare
  6. 104 Marshall Islands 37.7% compare

See the full ranking of 237 places →

More education data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, tertiary in Malaysia?
School enrollment, tertiary in Malaysia was 38.5% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 45.4% in 2016.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 1979.
How does Malaysia rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
Malaysia ranks 101st out of 192 countries with data for 2024.
Is school enrollment, tertiary rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Malaysia 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.

Download this data

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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.