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								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 51,736	$ (28,526)	$ 107,820	$ (117,069)	$ 26,107	$ (40,353)	$ 174,410	$ (170,698)	$ 13,961	$ (10,534)	$ 16,374
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(99)	(141)	(79)
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Laureate Education, Inc.									13,862	(10,675)	16,295
Numerator used in basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity									(208)	(292)	317
Adjusted for: accretion related to noncontrolling interests and equity redeemable at fair value									0	(559)	(6,358)
Accretion of Series A Preferred Stock									0	(61,974)	0
Gain upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock									0	74,110	0
Distributed and undistributed earnings to participating securities									0	0	(1)
Subtotal: accretion of Series A Preferred Stock, net, and other redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity									(208)	11,285	(298,492)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations available to common stockholders for basic earnings per share									13,654	610	(282,197)
Adjusted for: accretion of Series A Preferred Stock									0	61,974	0
Adjusted for: gain upon conversion of Series A Preferred Stock									0	(74,110)	0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations available to common stockholders for diluted earnings per share									13,654	(11,526)	(282,197)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(12,531)	(27,137)	30,280	63,329	61,333	(37,905)	37,542	23,914	53,941	84,884	77,390
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 21,372	$ (41,131)	$ 641,516	$ 248,005	$ (15,324)	$ (18,426)	$ 12,003	$ 318,327	869,762	296,580	0
Loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests									919	(722)	(2,220)
Allocation of earnings from discontinued operations to participating securities									0	0	(5)
Net income from discontinued operations for basic and diluted earnings per share									$ 924,622	$ 380,742	$ 75,165
Denominator used in basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									221,928	212,769	172,409
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)									222,471	212,769	172,409
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.24	$ (0.13)	$ 0.48	$ (0.52)	$ 0.11	$ (0.18)	$ 1.14	$ (1.22)	$ 0.06	$ 0	$ (1.64)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.04	(0.30)	3.00	1.37	0.20	(0.24)	0.23	1.81	4.17	1.79	0.44
Basic earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	0.28	(0.43)	3.48	0.85	0.31	(0.42)	1.37	0.59	4.23	1.79	(1.20)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.24	(0.13)	0.48	(0.52)	0.11	(0.18)	0.78	(1.22)	0.06	(0.06)	(1.64)
Income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.04	(0.30)	3.00	1.37	0.20	(0.24)	0.22	1.81	4.16	1.79	0.44
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ (0.43)	$ 3.48	$ 0.85	$ 0.31	$ (0.42)	$ 1.00	$ 0.59	$ 4.22	$ 1.73	$ (1.20)
Stock options
Denominator used in basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
Effect of dilutive stock (in shares)									27	0	0
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Denominator used in basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
Effect of dilutive stock (in shares)									516	0	0
Puttable Arrangements - Common and Preferred Stock
Numerator used in basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
Accretion of redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity											$ (5,183)
Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
Numerator used in basic and diluted (loss) earnings per common share:
Accretion of Series A Preferred Stock											(292,450)
Adjusted for: accretion of Series A Preferred Stock											$ 292,450