University education. Students enrolled. By sex
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SY 2021/22 | 124,049 | 156,236 | 280,285 |
| SY 2020/21 | 121,322 | 150,023 | 271,345 |
| SY 2019/20 | 118,722 | 146,604 | 265,326 |
| SY 2018/19 | 116,692 | 142,548 | 259,240 |
| SY 2017/18 | 114,271 | 137,834 | 252,105 |
| SY 2016/17 | 113,870 | 134,303 | 248,173 |
| SY 2015/16 | 112,108 | 129,826 | 241,934 |
| SY 2014/15 | 110,304 | 125,855 | 236,159 |
| SY 2013/14 | 110,669 | 126,757 | 237,426 |
| SY 2012/13 | 110,805 | 128,875 | 239,680 |
| SY 2011/12 | 114,193 | 131,225 | 245,418 |
| SY 2010/11 | 114,548 | 129,669 | 244,217 |
| SY 2009/10 | 111,019 | 129,067 | 240,086 |
| SY 2008/09 | 105,939 | 124,076 | 230,015 |
| SY 2007/08 | 102,713 | 120,972 | 223,685 |
| SY 2006/07 | 102,125 | 120,150 | 222,275 |
| SY 2005/06 | 100,277 | 118,705 | 218,982 |
| SY 2004/05 | 100,764 | 117,172 | 217,936 |
| SY 2003/04 | 100,985 | 117,675 | 218,660 |
| SY 2002/03 | 100,229 | 116,710 | 216,939 |
| SY 2001/02 | 100,157 | 116,142 | 216,299 |
| SY 2000/01 | 98,594 | 115,196 | 213,790 |
| Source: | |||
| SY 2000/01-SY 2018/19: Ministry for Business and Knowledge. | |||
| SY 2019/20-SY 2021/22: Ministry for Business and Knowledge. | |||
| SY 2019/20-SY 2021/22: Ministry of Business and Knowledge. | |||
| Notes: | |||
| Provisional data. | |||
| The total number of enrolled students includes both bachelor’s and master's students. | |||
| Men | Women | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SY 2021/22 | 701,655 | 895,640 | 1,597,295 |
| SY 2020/21 | 697,219 | 886,041 | 1,583,260 |
| SY 2019/20 | 679,828 | 853,669 | 1,533,497 |
| SY 2018/19 | 676,717 | 831,578 | 1,508,295 |
| SY 2017/18 | 672,485 | 823,708 | 1,496,193 |
| SY 2016/17 | 677,594 | 815,801 | 1,493,395 |
| SY 2015/16 | 681,528 | 811,213 | 1,492,741 |
| SY 2014/15 | 691,266 | 814,913 | 1,506,179 |
| SY 2013/14 | 704,470 | 835,239 | 1,539,709 |
| SY 2012/13 | 708,812 | 839,722 | 1,548,534 |
| SY 2011/12 | 850,344 | 722,273 | 1,572,617 |
| SY 2010/11 | 721,350 | 842,968 | 1,564,318 |
| SY 2009/10 | 687,318 | 808,854 | 1,496,172 |
| SY 2008/09 | 639,222 | 770,099 | 1,409,321 |
| SY 2007/08 | 654,565 | 776,927 | 1,431,492 |
| SY 2006/07 | 651,718 | 775,416 | 1,427,134 |
| SY 2005/06 | 655,183 | 777,833 | 1,433,016 |
| SY 2004/05 | 663,025 | 783,854 | 1,446,879 |
| SY 2003/04 | 675,922 | 812,652 | 1,488,574 |
| SY 2002/03 | 698,308 | 808,839 | 1,507,147 |
| SY 2001/02 | 707,291 | 819,616 | 1,526,907 |
| SY 2000/01 | 724,537 | 830,435 | 1,554,972 |
| Source: Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. | |||
| Notes: | |||
| Provisional data. | |||
| The total number of enrolled students includes both bachelor’s and master's students. | |||
Last update: June 20, 2023.
Methodological note
Higher education is identified as university education, whose purpose lies in the preparation and perfection of professionals, fostering cultural progress and the development of research. It consists of three cycles: an initial cycle lasting three years devoted to the study of basic disciplines; a second cycle of specialization lasting two years, and a final cycle for specific specialization and preparation for research and instruction.
The published results consider enrolled and graduate students in their first and second cycles at centres integrated and affiliated with the university system. They do not consider enrolled and graduate students of degrees issued by the various universities themselves, or in other words, they only account for those enrolled in and graduates of standardized studies, whether these take place in integrated or affiliated centres. Official masters have been included since the 2006/2007 school year, and undergraduate students since 2008/2009.
Note: Until the 2010/2011 school year, the data source was the INE. From the 2011/2012, it has been the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.
The data were revised on 25 June 2014.