| Cover | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | |
| Document Information [Line Items] | |
| Document Type | DEF 14A |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Entity Registrant Name | LAUREATE EDUCATION INC. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000912766 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | 12 Months Ended | ||
| Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | Pay Versus Performance As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Consumer S-K, pay-for-performance Year (1) Summary Compensation Average Non-PEO Average Non-PEO Value of Initial Fixed $100 Net Income Adjusted Total Peer Group Total 2022 4,976,832 3,994,970 1,703,975 1,582,065 111.41 57.27 69.0 27.3 2021 7,318,937 6,650,959 1,793,888 1,444,527 123.61 54.06 203.8 23.3 2020 5,316,862 4,246,567 1,621,301 1,290,355 82.68 72.18 (618.7) 20.1 (1) The Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) in all years presented was Eilif Serck-Hanssen. In 2022, the non-PEO non-PEO non-PEO (2) Amounts reported in these columns represent, for the applicable year, (i) the total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the PEO and (ii) the average of the total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the non-PEO (3) The reconciliation below sets forth adjustments made to the total compensation reported in Summ ary non-PEO Year NEOs Summary tion Table Fair Value Year-End Change in Fair Change Fair Value Compensation Actually Paid ($) 2022 PEO Non-PEO NEOs 4,976,832 1,703,975 (2,550,024 (399,548 ) ) 1,697,901 199,449 (303,661 (33,127 ) ) 339,576 134,991 (165,654 (23,675 ) ) — — 3,994,970 1,582,065 2021 PEO Non-PEO 7,318,937 1,793,888 (2,550,017 (322,321 ) ) 1,863,197 233,999 (235,429 (30,566 ) ) 368,677 46,299 (114,406 (10,141 ) ) — (266,631 ) 6,650,959 1,444,527 2020 PEO Non-PEO 5,316,862 1,621,301 (2,550,020 (643,640 ) ) 1,788,463 454,491 (306,222 (63,284 ) ) 362,103 92,015 (364,619 (53,121 ) ) — (117,407 ) 4,246,567 1,290,355 (4) Represents the value of a hypothetical $100 investment beginning at market close on December 31, 2019, assuming reinvestment of dividends. (5) The peer group used for this purpose, as used in our performance graph pursuant to Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K 10-K, (6) Reflects the dollar amount of net income reported in our audited financial statements for the applicable year. (7) Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP Excellence-in-Process | ||
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA Margin | ||
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | The Principal Executive Officer (“PEO”) in all years presented was Eilif Serck-Hanssen. In 2022, the non-PEO non-PEO non-PEO | ||
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | The peer group used for this purpose, as used in our performance graph pursuant to Item 201(e) of Regulation S-K 10-K, | ||
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 4,976,832 | $ 7,318,937 | $ 5,316,862 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 3,994,970 | 6,650,959 | 4,246,567 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | (3) The reconciliation below sets forth adjustments made to the total compensation reported in Summ ary non-PEO Year NEOs Summary tion Table Fair Value Year-End Change in Fair Change Fair Value Compensation Actually Paid ($) 2022 PEO Non-PEO NEOs 4,976,832 1,703,975 (2,550,024 (399,548 ) ) 1,697,901 199,449 (303,661 (33,127 ) ) 339,576 134,991 (165,654 (23,675 ) ) — — 3,994,970 1,582,065 2021 PEO Non-PEO 7,318,937 1,793,888 (2,550,017 (322,321 ) ) 1,863,197 233,999 (235,429 (30,566 ) ) 368,677 46,299 (114,406 (10,141 ) ) — (266,631 ) 6,650,959 1,444,527 2020 PEO Non-PEO 5,316,862 1,621,301 (2,550,020 (643,640 ) ) 1,788,463 454,491 (306,222 (63,284 ) ) 362,103 92,015 (364,619 (53,121 ) ) — (117,407 ) 4,246,567 1,290,355 | ||
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 1,703,975 | 1,793,888 | 1,621,301 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 1,582,065 | 1,444,527 | 1,290,355 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | (3) The reconciliation below sets forth adjustments made to the total compensation reported in Summ ary non-PEO Year NEOs Summary tion Table Fair Value Year-End Change in Fair Change Fair Value Compensation Actually Paid ($) 2022 PEO Non-PEO NEOs 4,976,832 1,703,975 (2,550,024 (399,548 ) ) 1,697,901 199,449 (303,661 (33,127 ) ) 339,576 134,991 (165,654 (23,675 ) ) — — 3,994,970 1,582,065 2021 PEO Non-PEO 7,318,937 1,793,888 (2,550,017 (322,321 ) ) 1,863,197 233,999 (235,429 (30,566 ) ) 368,677 46,299 (114,406 (10,141 ) ) — (266,631 ) 6,650,959 1,444,527 2020 PEO Non-PEO 5,316,862 1,621,301 (2,550,020 (643,640 ) ) 1,788,463 454,491 (306,222 (63,284 ) ) 362,103 92,015 (364,619 (53,121 ) ) — (117,407 ) 4,246,567 1,290,355 | ||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | |||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | |||
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | |||
| Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group [Text Block] | |||
| Tabular List [Table Text Block] | The non-financial • Adjusted EBITDA Margin • Adjusted Financing EBITDA • Revenue • Unlevered Free Cash Flow • New Enrollment • Total Enrollment Please see “Executive Compensation – Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for more information on these measures and how they are taken into account in determining compensation for each of our NEOs. | ||
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 111.41 | 123.61 | 82.68 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 57.27 | 54.06 | 72.18 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 69,000,000 | $ 203,800,000 | $ (618,700,000) |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 0.273 | 0.233 | 0.201 |
| PEO Name | Eilif Serck-Hanssen | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA Margin | ||
| Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block] | Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP Excellence-in-Process | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Adjusted Financing EBITDA | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Revenue | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 4 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Unlevered Free Cash Flow | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 5 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | New Enrollment | ||
| Measure [Axis]: 6 | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Measure Name | Total Enrollment | ||
| PEO [Member] | Fair Value Of Stock Awards As Reported In SCT [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ (2,550,024) | $ (2,550,017) | $ (2,550,020) |
| PEO [Member] | Year End Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Current Year That Remain Outstanding And Unvested As Of Year End [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 1,697,901 | 1,863,197 | 1,788,463 |
| PEO [Member] | Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Remain Outstanding And Unvested As Of Year End [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (303,661) | (235,429) | (306,222) |
| PEO [Member] | Fair Value Of Awards Granted And Vested In The Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 339,576 | 368,677 | 362,103 |
| PEO [Member] | Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested In The Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (165,654) | (114,406) | (364,619) |
| PEO [Member] | Fair Value At Year End Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Failed To Meet Vesting Conditions In The Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Fair Value Of Stock Awards As Reported In SCT [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (399,548) | (322,321) | (643,640) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Year End Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Current Year That Remain Outstanding And Unvested As Of Year End [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 199,449 | 233,999 | 454,491 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Remain Outstanding And Unvested As Of Year End [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (33,127) | (30,566) | (63,284) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Fair Value Of Awards Granted And Vested In The Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 134,991 | 46,299 | 92,015 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Change In Fair Value Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Vested In The Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (23,675) | (10,141) | (53,121) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Fair Value At Year End Of Awards Granted In Prior Years That Failed To Meet Vesting Conditions In The Year [Member] | |||
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | |||
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 0 | $ (266,631) | $ (117,407) |
