Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 3,350,224	$ 3,385,876	$ 3,301,864
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs	2,746,868	2,821,291	2,788,691
General and administrative expenses	299,264	315,471	222,496
Loss on impairment of assets	13,110	7,121	0
Operating income	290,982	241,993	290,677
Interest income	11,856	11,865	14,414
Interest expense	(235,235)	(334,901)	(390,391)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(7,481)	(8,392)	(17,363)
Gain (loss) on derivatives	88,292	28,656	(6,084)
Other income (expense), net	12,173	(1,892)	457
Foreign currency exchange (loss) gain, net	(32,409)	2,539	77,299
Gain (loss) on sales of subsidiaries, net	254	(10,490)	398,081
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net (loss) income of affiliates	128,432	(70,622)	367,090
Income tax (expense) benefit	(133,160)	91,308	(34,440)
Equity in net (loss) income of affiliates, net of tax	(2)	152	90
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(4,730)	20,838	332,740
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax expense of $47,382 for 2018, $24,495 for 2017 and $30,561 for 2016	79,080	72,926	33,446
Gain on sales of discontinued operations, net, including tax benefit of $3,466 for 2018 and $0 for 2017 and 2016	296,580	0	0
Net income	370,930	93,764	366,186
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(863)	(2,299)	5,661
Net income attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	370,067	91,465	371,847
Accretion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	(62,825)	(298,497)	(1,537)
Gain upon conversion of Series A convertible redeemable preferred stock	74,110	0	0
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$ 381,352	$ (207,032)	$ 370,310
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ (1.60)	$ 2.50
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.76	0.40	0.28
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	1.79	(1.20)	2.78
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	(0.03)	(1.60)	2.48
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.76	0.40	0.28
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.73	$ (1.20)	$ 2.76