Iran, Islamic Republic of Tertiary Enrollment
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) SE.TER.ENRR
Iran, Islamic Republic of's tertiary enrollment was 53.40% in 2025, ranked 74th globally. This represents a 9.0% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1971–2025.
Overview
Iran, Islamic Republic of's tertiary enrollment stood at 53.40% in 2025, a decline of +5.26pp from 2022. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 53.40% by 2025. Iran, Islamic Republic of ranked 74th globally.
Iran’s tertiary enrollment rose dramatically from a trough of 2.81 % in 1971 to an all‑time peak of 70.69 % in 2015, reflecting sustained expansion of higher‑education capacity over the past five decades. By 2025 the share of the relevant age group in tertiary studies stood at 53.40 %, placing Iran 74th globally and closely aligned with peers such as Kyrgyz Republic (53.88 %) and Palau (53.05 %). The steep climb after the early 1970s coincided with major policy reforms and increased public investment in universities, while the modest decline from the 2015 peak suggests emerging constraints, possibly linked to demographic shifts and economic pressures. With the current enrollment rate still well above the 1971 trough, future progress will depend on the ability to sustain funding, improve quality, and adapt curricula to labour‑market needs, which could either maintain the upward trajectory or precipitate a plateau.
Data & projection
| Year | Tertiary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025* trend | 53.40% | - | - |
| 2025 | 53.40% | −5.26pp | #74 |
| 2022 | 58.67% | +4.38pp | #55 |
| 2021 | 54.28% | −1.35pp | #67 |
| 2020 | 55.64% | −2.48pp | #60 |
| 2019 | 58.12% | −2.74pp | #51 |
| 2018 | 60.86% | −5.49pp | #50 |
| 2017 | 66.35% | −1.56pp | #43 |
| 2016 | 67.91% | −2.77pp | #38 |
| 2015 | 70.69% | +6.19pp | #28 |
| 2014 | 64.50% | +8.04pp | #39 |
| 2013 | 56.46% | +2.56pp | #46 |
| 2012 | 53.90% | +5.84pp | #48 |
| 2011 | 48.06% | +5.51pp | #52 |
| 2010 | 42.55% | +6.06pp | #54 |
| 2009 | 36.48% | +0.29pp | #60 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Iran, Islamic Republic of matched the Stagflation Risk pattern in 2019. Historically, 38% of countries showing this pattern (117 out of 307) saw tertiary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Iran, Islamic Republic of's tertiary enrollment was 53.40% in 2025. Ranked 74th globally. This represents a 9.0% decrease from the previous year.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's tertiary enrollment peaked at 70.69% in 2015.
The lowest tertiary enrollment in Iran, Islamic Republic of was 2.81% in 1971.
Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 74th globally in tertiary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.TER.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
Iran, Islamic Republic of's tertiary enrollment is projected to reach 53.40% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The tertiary enrollment of Iran, Islamic Republic of in 2025 was 53.40%. This ranks 74th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_iran-islamic-republic-of_tertiary-enrollment,
title = {Iran, Islamic Republic of Tertiary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/iran-islamic-republic-of/tertiary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}