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Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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Amount of gain (loss) from deconsolidation of subsidiary and derecognition of group of assets constituting transfer of business or nonprofit activity, excluding conveyance of oil and gas mineral rights and transfer of good or service in contract with customer.

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Amount of consideration received or receivable for the disposal of assets and liabilities, including discontinued operation.

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The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

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The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

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Describe the approximate term of the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

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Amount of cash paid for interest, including, but not limited to, capitalized interest and payment to settle zero-coupon bond attributable to accreted interest of debt discount and debt instrument with insignificant coupon interest rate in relation to effective interest rate of borrowing attributable to accreted interest of debt discount; classified as operating and investing activities.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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This element represents the cash inflow during the period from the sale of a component of the entity.

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Subsequent Events (Details) € in Thousands, ¥ in Thousands, $ in Thousands, $ in Thousands								3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2018 CNY (¥)	Jan. 25, 2018 HKD ($)	Jan. 15, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 11, 2018 EUR (€)	Apr. 26, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) educational_institution	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) stundent	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 25, 2018 CNY (¥)	Jan. 25, 2018 HKD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 951,189	$ 818,601	$ 1,017,108	$ 598,978	$ 894,416	$ 770,833	$ 978,493	$ 658,122		$ 3,385,876	$ 3,301,864	$ 3,399,774
Operating loss									$ (140,116)	$ (24,860)	$ (196,047)	$ 119,030	$ (125,903)	$ (54,876)	$ (172,643)	$ 62,745		(241,993)	(290,677)	(259,072)
Depreciation and amortization																		264,742	264,879	282,946
Cash interest payments																		384,290	367,334	351,430
Chile
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revenues																		617,213	$ 564,592	$ 536,530
Subsidiaries \| Chile \| Forecast
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of educational institutions (educational institution) \| educational_institution								3
Ownership percentage in equity method investment								30.00%
Subsidiaries \| Chile \| Minimum \| Forecast
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Write-off of net assets due to deconsolidation								$ 600,000
Decrease in revenue due to deconsolidation																	$ 410,000
Subsidiaries \| Chile \| Maximum \| Forecast
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Write-off of net assets due to deconsolidation								$ 850,000
Decrease in revenue due to deconsolidation																	$ 430,000
Kendall College \| Guarantor Subsidiaries
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revenues																		23,300
Operating loss																		23,000
Depreciation and amortization																		$ 1,700
Number of students within the institution (student) \| stundent																		1,100
Lines of credit \| Term Loan \| Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Minimum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate							3.50%
Lines of credit \| Term Loan \| Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Maximum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate							4.50%
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| European University–Cyprus Ltd And Laureate Italy S.r.L.
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net proceeds from dispositions																		$ 275,000
Subsequent Event \| Payment Guarantee \| Construction Contracts \| Kendall College
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Guarantor obligations, amount of loan					$ 14,000
Guarantor obligation, term					P10Y
Payments for transaction fees of guarantor agreement					$ 500
Subsequent Event \| Lines of credit \| Term Loan \| Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Repayments of debt	$ 350,000
Cash interest payments	$ 1,239
Subsequent Event \| Lines of credit \| Term Loan \| Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Minimum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%
Subsequent Event \| Lines of credit \| Term Loan \| Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement \| Maximum
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.50%
Repurchase price, percent	1.00%
Subsequent Event \| Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| European University–Cyprus Ltd And Laureate Italy S.r.L.
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net proceeds from dispositions \| €						€ 232,000
Subsequent Event \| Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| LEI Lie Ying Limited
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net proceeds from dispositions		$ 95,000	¥ 625,000	$ 745,000
Disposal transaction fees		3,000	20,000	23,000
Proceeds from first holdback payment		18,300	120,000
Proceeds from second holdback payment		9,150	60,000
Subsequent Event \| Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| LEI Lie Ying Limited \| Affiliated Entity
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net proceeds from dispositions		33,000	214,840	256,000
Disposal transaction fees		13,000	86,000	102,000
Subsequent Event \| Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale \| LEI Lie Ying Limited
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Consideration received from dispositions		218,000																			¥ 1,430,000	$ 1,706,000
Consideration adjustments from dispositions		$ 7,600	¥ 50,000	$ 60,000