Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Summary of Earnings (Loss) Per Share Basic and Diluted (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, Accretion of Redemption Discount					$ 0	$ 61,974
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for continuing operations:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$ 104,500		$ 173,881		(5,814)	8,246
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,315		548		(416)	(1,111)
(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.	106,815		174,429		(6,230)	7,135
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	194		882
Adjusted for: accretion related to noncontrolling interests and equity redeemable at fair value	0		(556)
Accretion of Series A Preferred Stock	0		(4,650)
Gain upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock	0		74,110		0	74,110
Subtotal: accretion of Series A Preferred Stock and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	194		69,786		(457)	(12,383)
Net loss from continuing operations available to common stockholders for basic and diluted earnings per share	107,009		244,215		(5,773)	19,518
Adjusted for: accretion of Series A Preferred Stock	0		4,650
Adjusted for: gain upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock	0		(74,110)		0	(74,110)
Net (loss) income from continuing operations available to common stockholders for diluted earnings per share	107,009		174,755		(5,773)	7,382
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for discontinued operations:
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	33,600		38,072		90,174	56,925
Loss on sales of discontinued operations, net of tax	641,516		12,003		889,521	330,330
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(339)		(92)		(630)	(1,099)
Net income from discontinued operations for basic and diluted earnings per share	$ 674,777		$ 49,983		$ 979,065	$ 386,156
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	224,658		214,864		224,656	201,494
Dilutive effect of Series A Preferred Stock (in shares)	0		9,135		0	22,564
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	224,946		224,354		224,656	224,474
Basic earnings per share:
(Loss) Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48		$ 1.14		$ (0.03)	$ 0.09
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	3.00		0.23		4.36	1.92
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	3.48		1.37		4.33	2.01
Diluted earnings per share:
(Loss) Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.48		0.78		(0.03)	0.03
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	3.00		0.22		4.36	1.72
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.48		$ 1.00		$ 4.33	$ 1.75
Redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for continuing operations:
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity					$ 457	$ 806
Accretion of Series A Preferred Stock	$ 194	$ 263	$ 882	$ (76)
Adjusted for: accretion of Series A Preferred Stock	$ (194)	$ (263)	(882)	$ 76
Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
Numerator used in basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share for continuing operations:
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity			(4,650)
Adjusted for: accretion related to noncontrolling interests and equity redeemable at fair value					0	(559)
Accretion of Series A Preferred Stock			(74,110)		0	(61,974)
Adjusted for: accretion of Series A Preferred Stock			$ 74,110		$ 0	$ 61,974
Stock options
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Dilutive effect of (in shares)	25		0		0	0
Restricted stock units
Denominator used in basic and diluted earnings per common share:
Dilutive effect of (in shares)	263		355		0	416