Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 15, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	LAUR
Entity Registrant Name	LAUREATE EDUCATION, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000912766
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 547
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,111,486
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		132,384,106