Amount of paid and unpaid preferred stock dividends declared with the form of settlement in cash, stock and payment-in-kind (PIK).

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Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of obligations due all related parties.

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The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

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The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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Amount of cash outflow in the form of ordinary dividends provided by the non-wholly owned subsidiary to noncontrolling interests.

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The number of shares issued or sold by the subsidiary or equity method investee per stock transaction.

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Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment of dividends on Series A Preferred Stock		$ 9,719	$ 0
Laureate Somed Education Holdings SA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent		60.00%
Noncontrolling interest, noncontrolling owners, ownership percent		40.00%
Series A Preferred Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Payment of dividends on Series A Preferred Stock		$ 9,719
Affiliated Entity \| Transactions between Laureate and Noncontrolling Interest Holder of Laureate Somed Education Holding SA
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to related party		9,294		$ 8,953
Affiliated Entity \| Series A Preferred Stock \| KKR
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)	60
Affiliated Entity \| Series A Preferred Stock \| Snow Phipps
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sale of stock, number of shares issued in transaction (in shares)	15
Affiliated Entity \| Series A Preferred Stock \| KKR And Snow Phipps
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividends declared and paid		$ 1,822