Tertiary education enrollment — all countries

Tertiary education enrollment — World

Tertiary education enrollment in the world in 2024 — 43.6%. Since 1970, the indicator has risen by 26.2 pp.

2024 43.6% +0.4 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 43.6%2024
Period minimum 8.7%1971

Trend over time

1970–2024 · % (gross ratio)

Tertiary education enrollment — World, 1970–2024020406019701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 17.4%1971: 8.7%1972: 10.7%1973: 9.7%1974: 11.3%1975: 11.5%1976: 10.7%1977: 10.9%1978: 11.2%1979: 11.4%1980: 11.9%1981: 12.2%1982: 12.4%1983: 12.3%1984: 13.7%1985: 13.6%1986: 12.5%1987: 13%1988: 13%1989: 13.3%1990: 13.3%1991: 13.5%1992: 14.9%1993: 15.3%1994: 15.8%1995: 16.3%1996: 16.4%1997: 17.9%1998: 18.1%1999: 18.8%2000: 19.5%2001: 20.4%2002: 21.6%2003: 22.8%2004: 23.6%2005: 24.3%2006: 25.7%2007: 26.3%2008: 27.4%2009: 28.3%2010: 29.6%2011: 31.1%2012: 32.3%2013: 33.1%2014: 35.6%2015: 36.6%2016: 37.1%2017: 37.5%2018: 37.9%2019: 38.7%2020: 39.7%2021: 41.1%2022: 42%2023: 43.2%2024: 43.6%
Change over the period: +26.2 pp Annual average: 0.48 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: World

World 43.6%
World 43.6%
Tertiary education enrollment — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 43.6 +0.4 pp
2023 43.2 +1.2 pp
2022 42 +1 pp
2021 41.1 +1.4 pp
2020 39.7 +1 pp
2019 38.7 +0.8 pp
2018 37.9 +0.4 pp
2017 37.5 +0.4 pp
2016 37.1 +0.5 pp
2015 36.6 +1 pp
2014 35.6 +2.5 pp
2013 33.1 +0.8 pp
2012 32.3 +1.2 pp
2011 31.1 +1.6 pp
2010 29.6 +1.3 pp
2009 28.3 +0.9 pp
2008 27.4 +1 pp
2007 26.3 +0.6 pp
2006 25.7 +1.4 pp
2005 24.3 +0.7 pp
2004 23.6 +0.9 pp
2003 22.8 +1.1 pp
2002 21.6 +1.2 pp
2001 20.4 +0.9 pp
2000 19.5 +0.7 pp
1999 18.8 +0.7 pp
1998 18.1 +0.1 pp
1997 17.9 +1.5 pp
1996 16.4 +0.1 pp
1995 16.3 +0.5 pp
1994 15.8 +0.5 pp
1993 15.3 +0.4 pp
1992 14.9 +1.3 pp
1991 13.5 +0.2 pp
1990 13.3 −0 pp
1989 13.3 +0.4 pp
1988 13 −0.1 pp
1987 13 +0.5 pp
1986 12.5 −1.1 pp
1985 13.6 −0.1 pp
1984 13.7 +1.4 pp
1983 12.3 −0.1 pp
1982 12.4 +0.1 pp
1981 12.2 +0.4 pp
1980 11.9 +0.4 pp
1979 11.4 +0.3 pp
1978 11.2 +0.3 pp
1977 10.9 +0.2 pp
1976 10.7 −0.8 pp
1975 11.5 +0.2 pp
1974 11.3 +1.6 pp
1973 9.7 −0.9 pp
1972 10.7 +1.9 pp
1971 8.7 −8.7 pp
1970 17.4

About the indicator

The gross tertiary enrollment ratio — the number of students at universities and colleges (ISCED 5–8) as a percentage of the population in the five-year age interval that follows the end of school. It can exceed 100% because of older students and students from abroad, so in countries that act as magnets for international students the indicator is overstated.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), license CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.