Stockholders' Equity - Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ 2,830,880	$ 3,107,083	$ 2,327,906	$ 2,050,946	$ 1,971,669	$ 2,115,106	$ 1,767,473	$ 1,587,282
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Laureate Education, Inc
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,149,993)			(1,127,719)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Noncontrolling Interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(108)			459
Foreign currency translation adjustment, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,150,101)			(1,127,260)
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Laureate Education, Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	10,416
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	10,416
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Laureate Education, Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				18,366
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				0
Unrealized gain on derivatives, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				18,366
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Laureate Education Inc.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	1,189			(3,342)
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0			0
Minimum pension liability adjustment, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	1,189			(3,342)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,138,388)	$ (1,060,849)	$ (1,060,565)	(1,112,695)	$ (1,079,860)	$ (1,026,339)	$ (839,322)	$ (925,556)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Noncontrolling Interests
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(108)			459
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (1,138,496)			$ (1,112,236)