Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,261,223	$ 983,394	$ 1,277,439	$ 855,933	$ 1,175,893	$ 929,855	$ 1,231,910	$ 906,534	$ 4,377,989	$ 4,244,192	$ 4,291,659
Operating costs and expenses	1,079,724	989,090	1,033,589	918,799	1,004,913	917,353	1,021,342	917,691
Operating income	181,499	(5,696)	243,850	(62,866)	170,980	12,502	210,568	(11,157)	356,787	382,893	336,957
Net income (loss)	200,509	(103,490)	117,098	(120,353)	38,464	80,930	349,238	(102,446)	93,764	366,186	(315,845)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,664)	5,531	(712)	(2,454)	2,844	5,387	(1,849)	(721)	(2,299)	5,661	(403)
Net income (loss) attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	195,845	(97,959)	116,386	(122,807)	$ 41,308	$ 86,317	$ 347,389	$ (103,167)	91,465	371,847	(316,248)
Accretion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	(106,349)	(84,060)	(69,212)	(38,876)					(298,497)	(1,537)	(6,173)
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders	$ 89,496	$ (182,019)	$ 47,174	$ (161,683)					$ (207,032)	$ 370,310	$ (322,421)
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ (1.02)	$ 0.28	$ (1.05)	$ 0.27	$ 0.66	$ 2.60	$ (0.76)	$ (1.20)	$ 2.78	$ (2.44)
Diluted (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ (1.02)	$ 0.28	$ (1.05)	$ 0.27	$ 0.66	$ 2.59	$ (0.76)	$ (1.20)	$ 2.76	$ (2.44)