School enrollment, tertiary in Nepal

Nepal: School enrollment, tertiary was 21.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
21.3%
Change on year
up 11.9%
World rank
131st
of 192 countries
All-time high
21.3%
in 2024
All-time low
3.0%
in 1983
Years of data
40
1981–2024

School enrollment, tertiary in Nepal, 1981–2024

51015201981200220241981: 3.4 % gross1982: 3.3 % gross1983: 3 % gross1984: 3.4 % gross1985: 3.2 % gross1986: 4.5 % gross1987: 4.7 % gross1988: 5.3 % gross1989: 5.5 % gross1990: 4.9 % gross1991: 5.7 % gross1992: 5.2 % gross1993: 5 % gross1994: 4.6 % gross1995: 4.3 % gross1996: 4.7 % gross2000: 4.1 % gross2001: 4.4 % gross2002: 5 % gross2003: 4.9 % gross2004: 5.7 % gross2005: 7.2 % gross2006: 7.6 % gross2007: 9.5 % gross2008: 10.5 % gross2009: 10.4 % gross2010: 13.3 % gross2011: 13.3 % gross2013: 15.5 % gross2014: 13.2 % gross2015: 12.3 % gross2016: 11.1 % gross2017: 11.4 % gross2018: 12.6 % gross2019: 13.8 % gross2020: 14.2 % gross2021: 15.2 % gross2022: 14.8 % gross2023: 19 % gross2024: 21.3 % gross

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, tertiary in Nepal is 21.3%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 40 years on record.

That represents a change of up 11.9% on the previous year and up 60.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary in Nepal peaked at 21.3% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 3.0%, in 1983.

Nepal ranks 131st 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.

School enrollment, tertiary in Nepal, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) in Nepal, 1981 to 2024.
Year % gross Change
1981 3.4%
1982 3.3% -1.1%
1983 3.0% -9.6%
1984 3.4% +12.3%
1985 3.2% -4.4%
1986 4.5% +40.8%
1987 4.7% +3.7%
1988 5.3% +11.7%
1989 5.5% +4.8%
1990 4.9% -10.2%
1991 5.7% +14.3%
1992 5.2% -8.5%
1993 5.0% -4.1%
1994 4.6% -6.3%
1995 4.3% -8.2%
1996 4.7% +10.9%
2000 4.1% -12.9%
2001 4.4% +7.0%
2002 5.0% +13.1%
2003 4.9% -1.5%
2004 5.7% +16.0%
2005 7.2% +25.6%
2006 7.6% +6.6%
2007 9.5% +24.6%
2008 10.5% +10.2%
2009 10.4% -0.3%
2010 13.3% +27.5%
2011 13.3% -0.3%
2013 15.5% +16.4%
2014 13.2% -14.4%
2015 12.3% -7.2%
2016 11.1% -9.7%
2017 11.4% +3.1%
2018 12.6% +10.3%
2019 13.8% +9.5%
2020 14.2% +2.8%
2021 15.2% +7.3%
2022 14.8% -2.6%
2023 19.0% +28.2%
2024 21.3% +11.9%

Nepal compared with similar countries

  • Nepal's 21.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 14.9%, 1.4× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Nepal's 21.3% is below the median for South Asia, which is 22.5%, 95% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 4.0% 3.0% 5.5% 9
1990s 4.9% 4.3% 5.7% 7
2000s 6.9% 4.1% 10.5% 10
2010s 13.0% 11.1% 15.5% 9
2020s 16.9% 14.2% 21.3% 5

Countries ranked near Nepal

  1. 128 Cambodia 21.4% compare
  2. 129 Botswana 21.4% compare
  3. 130 Ghana 21.3% compare
  4. 132 Sri Lanka 20.7% compare
  5. 133 Turkmenistan 20.4% compare
  6. 134 Myanmar 20.4% compare

See the full ranking of 237 places →

More education data for Nepal

All data for Nepal →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, tertiary in Nepal?
School enrollment, tertiary in Nepal was 21.3% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Nepal?
The highest recorded value was 21.3% in 2024.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 3.0% in 1983.
How does Nepal rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
Nepal ranks 131st out of 192 countries with data for 2024.
Is school enrollment, tertiary rising or falling in Nepal?
Over the last ten years it is up 60.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nepal 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 Nepal. 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/nepal/

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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.